It seems I've recently read enough books on strong women for two posts!

Women have long been overlooked, excluded, or their work dismissed as being the ravings of a women in the throes of 'that time of the month'. This was especially true in the fields of math and science. Fortunately that is changing. Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science -- and the World, by Rachel Swaby is a collection of mini-biographies of many of these women. (52, to be exact ;-)) Maria Mitchell was a professor of astronomy at Vasser, ... the women's college .... where there was a curfew ... so the classes had to be taught in the daytime. Hedy Lamarr was more than just a pretty face (be sure to read her description of a trophy wife). The result of her studies is the basis for wireless technology. (I will soon be reading a bio on her). All in all a very nice collection.

She was disturbed by the sinking of ships transporting children (and others) in WWII. It inspired her to design a better torpedo, or at least a better delivery system, something that could be delivered by remote control but with a randomly changing frequency so it would be hard for the enemy to jam. Ideas came from an early version of the remote control and player piano rolls! While not used in war time, it was the foundation for such things as satellite communications, GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth. Hedy's Folly: the Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World, by Richard Rhodes made for interesting reading about someone I knew only as a name.

I've read several books on midwives now and a common them is that they all love what they do. This is not true in The Reluctant Midwife: a Hope River Novel, by Patricia Harman, author of The Midwife of Hope River from the November 18, 2014 post. While Becky Myers loves her work as a nurse, her first time at a delivery was a terrible experience and she has been skittish of them ever since. Fortunately her work in a doctor's office means she doesn't have to deal with actual births. Until an accident, which changes everything. As before, the author has created wonderful characters who are dealing with the hard times during the Depression years.

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Char recommended this, which combines two of my favorite types of books! The History of Mystery, by Max Allan Collins. What a great collection of books, authors, movies and TV shows! From Poe to pulps, comics (books and strips), children's mysteries (such as Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys), to more 'steamy' adult fare, TV shows, movies, and even an interactive digital mystery, (circa 2001) this book has a bit of everything. Along with a nice history of the genre, there are pictures of book and magazine covers, movie posters, and even a few photos from TV and film. See if you agree with the lists the author provides of 'best comic book detective' 'best amateur sleuth tv series' and so on. :-)

Then it was on to some more local history books, one new, one old.

Regular readers of my blog (thank you!) know that I am partial to the Images of America series so when I saw a new, local title, I snatched it off the shelf down at Village Books! Cecil W. Jentges has gathered a wonderful collection of photos in Bellingham. It's a nice look at the past and how the town(s) have changed. I especially liked that the author included a chapter on the not so good things that happened here, too. If you haven't already read them, I suggest partnering this with Murder in the Fourth Corner (January 24, 2015 post) and The Brothels of Bellingham (June 3, 2014 post).

Logging was huge in this area in the past, and you can learn more in 18 Men and a Horse, by Donald H. Clark. It's one of the books published by the Whatcom Museum of History and Art. The logging industry opened up the land that became fertile farms. Be sure to check out when Bloedel Donovan park was in the planning stages!

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Oldies but goodies today, I think, I seem to be in a nostalgic frame of mind recently.

There are three nanny/babysitter books (or series) I remember. Mary Poppins, by P.L. Travers, of course. I read all of them before the Disney movie (which is a favorite) came out. I loved the idea of sliding up the bannister! Later on, I have a fond memory of going to the movie with my Dad. He figured out Dick Van Dyke's dual role long before I ever did! Afterwards we bought the piano music and, much like Walt Disney, Feed the Birds was our favorite.

There are several books in the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle series, by Betty MacDonald, and I read them all, more than once. There were bratty kids, kids who didn't want to pick up their toys, or take a bath, and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle had a solution for every parent. These came out in the 1950's so I'm going to take a guess that they may come across as a bit dated now (stay at home mom, that sort of thing).

 

I think my favorite, though, was Mr. Pudgins. I mean, he had a flying bathtub! And soda pop came out of the tap! To be honest, I've not read any of these in a long time, and I don't plan on doing so as I'd just as soon keep the childhood magic of them, but if you have kids and/or grandkids, give these a try. :-)

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Here are a few more of the mysteries I enjoy so much.

I first mentioned Arianna Franklin in the March 3, 2015 post. Many times it will take an author a year or more to write another book in a series. I don't know about you, but I can forget a lot in that time and always thought a short synopsis would be an excellent idea. Franklin, at least in the Mistress of the Art of Death series would give readers an idea of what had already happened by including bits and pieces of that past in her narrative. It worked! Just nice little nudges as to why the characters were where they were, how they related to each other and so on. She did this beautifully and seamlessly once again in A Murderous Procession. (Sadly, there will be no more as she died in 2011). I see where an unfinished manuscript (not part of the series) was completed by one of her daughters and was published in 2014.

The first book in Colin Cotterill's series about Doctor Siri was an unexpected find for me. I am now a fan and have, or will, read all of them (a new one is just out)! Start with The Coroner's Lunch. Snatched out of retirement and given the fancy, but useless, title of Chief Coroner, an out of date lab, and a staff consisting of a retarded technician and an ugly nurse, they become a team that does not do what The Party wants. Wonderful characters, great writing. (I'm sure, in one of them, all the necessary clues were there for me to figure out the 'who dun it', but what was going on with the characters had me so focused on them, I wasn't paying proper attention to anything else).

It all started with a squeaky floor! Intrigued by a floor that was designed to keep the warlord safe from assassins by singing whenever anyone stepped on it, I picked up Across the Nightingale Floor, by Lian Hearn (Tales of the Otori, Book One). Set in a mythical, ancient Japan, it is a tale a young boy, kidnapped from his peaceful home and brought up by The Tribe and taught a variety of extraordinary skills (My favorite is invisibility). For the most part I found the book magical and captivating. There are three books in the series.

The main character in Sara Hoskins Frommer's mysteries is a viola player! How could I resist? (My good friend, California Reader, plays viola and we were in a symphony together for a while). Murder In C Major is the first in the series. Joan Spencer has returned to her home town and is playing in the local orchestra when the oboist (not well liked) (!) keels over. To the visiting Japanese musician it looks like a fugu poisoning. Was it? The author plays viola in an orchestra so her descriptions of musicians, rehearsals, etc. are dead on! (sorry) ;-) I just discovered that, after a gap of many years, there is a new title out ... I plan on reading it soon.

Dive Deep and Deadly, by Glynn Marsh Alam, is set in the swamps around Tallahassee and is the first in the Luanne Fogerty mysteries. Fogerty is a professor, but also a diver skilled in the dangerous local waters (mostly swamps). She is rebuilding the 'swamp house' she lives in when not investigating murders. It's hot, and muggy, and buggy. There can be various critters living under the house, not to mention they could show up on any of her dives. The descriptions are enough to make me sticky, as if I've worked up a sweat just by sitting in a chair!

And, of course, any of the delightful mysteries by Louise Penny!

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Today is Memorial Day, the day dedicated to honoring those who died while in service to their country. There will be concerts and parades, and the President will perform the long standing tradition of laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. Flags, after being raised all the way up, should then fly at half-mast until noon, in honor of the dead and then raised back to the top of the flag pole in honor of the living. In many cemeteries across the country, flags will be placed at gravestones.

I have just one book today: Where Valor Rests: Arlington National Cemetery. It is from the National Geographic Society which means amazing photographs. I visited Arlington some decades ago now and even at a relatively young age found it to be a reverent and reflective place. This book brought back that feeling.

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I knew that the roots of many common words started with a bird or an animal, I just did not know how many! Dog Days and Dandelions: a Lively Guide to the Animal Meanings Behind Everyday Words, by Martha Barnette, explained them to me. This is a fun book, but read it just a little at a time, otherwise it's just a bit much. (Not an original idea, it's suggested in the introduction). ;-)

That book reminded me of Animalia, by Graeme Base filled with clever text and delightfully detailed illustrations for each letter. Even the tiniest of details starts with the proper letter. Still fun even after all these years. ;-)

New to me was Take Away the A: an Alphabeast of a Book, by Michael Escoffier, and illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo. What a fun alphabet book this is! As the title implies, there are two words using each letter and when that letter is removed, a new word is created. (Four to Fur, Seven to Seen, etc.)

On May 20th, Jeopardy! aired show 7000! That brought back memories of two books. The Jeopardy! Book: the Answers, the Questions, the Facts and Stories of the Greatest Game Show in History, by Alex Trebek and Peter Barsocchini. There's the history of the show, how it got the name Jeopardy!, early contestants, what it's like to be on stage and so on. There's even a copy of the theme music. A bit dated now, but the answers and questions provided are still fun. Prisoner of Trebekistan: a Decade in Jeopardy! was written by Bob Harris, someone who 'won big' after failing the written exam several times. He also had one of the biggest losses, too, as I remember. (It's been a while since I read this). ;-) It's a first hand look at what it was like to be on the show, in several Tournament of Champions, meeting Alex Trebek and others on the crew .... overall just a nice, humorous read.

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I'm never sure just what to call these posts ... a hodge podge of titles? Side trails? Variations on a theme? ;-)

This is a tag-along to the scale post (see author's last name) ... Poseidon's Steed: the Story of Seahorses, From Myth to Reality, by Helen Scales. Here is everything (and perhaps a bit more) you've ever wanted to know about seahorses. I got sort of bogged down once or twice, but overall, this was very interesting.

I'm too old to have been a kid in the '90's and find myself astonished that they are being looked back at with nostalgia already! The Totally Sweet '90s: From Clear Cola to Furby and Grunge to "Whatever", the Toys, Tastes, and Trends That Defined a Decade, by Gael Fishingbauer Cooper and Brian Bellmont is a thoughtful look back at what was popular then and an altogether enjoyable read ... even for someone my age!

First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts, by Lari Don, is the first in a delightfully fun series involving fairy tale creatures and one "human child"... Set in Scotland, it's a tween read. Their search for the missing book of answers involves solving riddles, unusual means of travel, and a fairy who only wears purple.

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At a time when people found entertainment in fairs, circuses and other traveling shows, Beautiful Jim Key was a phenomenon. Believed to be as smart as a 6th grader, the horse could read, do basic math, write, and sort mail (among many other things). His trainer and partner was a former slave, a self trained vet, and an early advocate of training with patience and gentleness rather than force. This is a wonderful read, and one that I've used as a gift. Thank goodness author Mim Eichler Rivas found an old brochure about this amazing team and wrote Beautiful Jim Key: the Lost History of a Horse and a Man Who Changed the World.

There are many, many books about dogs and the amazing things they've done. My most recent read on this subject is Man's Best Hero: True Stories of Great American Dogs, by Ace Collins. I was quite pleased with this collection, most of the dogs were mutts, and most of the stories were ones I'd not read before. We are lucky indeed that dogs consider us worthy of their attention!

Dog Heroes of September 11th: a Tribute to America's Search and Rescue Dogs, by Nona Kilkore Bauer. I see now a second, 10th anniversary edition is available, but I read the first and even now, all these years later cannot even type in the title without tearing up. Moving pictures and text, this is an extraordinary book, but have a box of tissues near by.

I read Lassie: a Dog's Life, the First Fifty Years, by Ace Collins many years ago. I could not find a copy locally so used the information I found at amazon to jog my memory. There's lots of information here: the history behind the story, the trainers and dogs who have portrayed Lassie in tv and film, and all the various Lassie collectibles. There's the original book, too, of course, Lassie Come-Home, by Eric Knight, and, I found a new-to-me true story of a WWI Lassie who saved a sailor's life. Lassie (always played by a male dog) lives on in many movies and shows, lots of books, and in animation.

Found in the battlefield ruins of France, the dog known as Rinty would become a radio, tv, and movie star (his many silent films saved a failing movie studio). Rin Tin Tin: the Life and the Legend, by Susan Orlean, is his story. As with Lassie, the legend continues today.

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magical reads?

Half Magic on hold

Back in my post of July 19, 2014, I suggested the first book about the Waverley family, Garden Spells, by Sarah Addison Allen. There is now a sequel! First Frost, and I enjoyed it as well. There is something magical about these books. They just sort of ..... shimmer. Each member of the Waverley family has some sort of talent (odd talents!) which make for all kinds of interesting situations. :-) Other books by this author are good, too.

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Here is the rest of the scale trail ....

Not all dragons have scales, at least in the books I've read, but the one in Dragon, by Jody Bergsma does and so will be included in this post. :-) This is a beautiful book, Bergsma (a local artist) is extremely talented, and I loved the Celtic elements of her illustrations.

As much as I enjoy looking at scale model train layouts, I really didn't want to read a book about how they are made so I was pleased to discover Playing With Trains: a Passion Beyond Scale, by Sam Posey. Sam loved trains as a child, moved away from it as a young adult, but when his first child was born returned to the scale model trains with a vengeance. I liked that his layouts were .... quirky .... there was a manufacturing plant that polluted a river, the workers were asleep on the loading docks surrounded by beer cans, that sort of thing. Seems tiny details are important, and, if you look closely, often humorous, as in the man heading for an outhouse underneath an ad for Ex-Lax. Someone named John Allen is a master at this, having buildings with windows which show an office or apartment where you might see a messy desk, and so on. Pictures would have been a nice addition, but overall this was a good read.

If you've ever considered a small farm, The New Horse Powered Farm: Tools and Systems for the Small-Scale Sustainable Market Grower by Stephen Leslie is full of useful information. Every thing to get you started, from learning the basic skills (there are farms that offer courses), to selecting the best horse(s) for what you want to do, and how to care for them. There are chapters on plowing, seeding, harvesting, even maple sugaring and logging and whether it's best to use one, two, three, or four horses. All the various types of equipment are explained as well. There is a new interest in this sort of farming and even if you never intended to walk behind a horse with a plow this a great armchair read.

And of course, those pesky musical scales with which all musicians are so familiar! I have several books in my piano bench, the old staple Hanon: the Virtuoso Piano, and for the French Horn, Pottag-Hovey Method for French Horn, Book One, by Max P. Pottag and Nilo W. Hovey, and Rubank Elementary Method for French Horn in F or E-Flat and Mellophone by Joseph E. Skornicka.

From my viola playing friend, comes this recommendation (well, of sorts, she said she liked doing her scales about as much as she did eating her veggies). (A sentiment with which I totally agree)! Scale System: Scale Exercises in All Major and Minor Keys for Daily Study, by Carl Flesch and Max Rostal sounds just as captivating as Rubank! (Ah, the memories ....)

And, a sort of post script this time, a book I have not read. I will not do this very often, but this one, found on amazon, sounded most interesting!

Musical Scales of the World, by Michael Hewitt explores the great variety of scales used around the world. There are scales we recognize with our Western ears, diatonic scales, those used in jazz, in Greek folk music, Asian music, African music and more. The reviews were good, and said that this is an excellent resource for composers for everything from pianos to computers.

See what happens when my original idea doesn't work out?!

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Thanks go to Constant Reader for the recommendation that became the first book in this post, which lead, in a twisty, turny sort of path, to the inspiration for the theme!

Do you know how best to describe a windy day? It's something that is very important, especially in a sail driven ship in days past. Captain Francis Beaufort of the Royal Navy took years to develop the graduated scale that would eventually carry his name. It was adopted by the Royal Navy in 1838. His scale, from 1 - 12, calm, to too strong for a canvas sail, is beautifully illustrated in Close to the Wind: the Beaufort Scale, by Peter Malone. Be sure to study the pictures carefully, especially the changes in the ocean surface.

Reading about Beaufort inspired me to look for other books about names given to scales .... Anders Celsius, Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, Charles Richter, etc. Alas, I was able to find just one, on Richter. (There are bios on the others, but they are part of a collection of World Biographies and available only for e-readers, which I am not using for my blog).

As with a few other biographies involving mathematics, I found some of Richter's Scale: Measure of an Earthquake. Measure of a Man., by Susan Elizabeth Hough to be both interesting and hard to understand :-/ I liked the parts about how he got into the study of earthquakes, and his life away from work, but struggled with how an earthquake is measured. Since this is probably mostly my problem, and wouldn't be for other readers, I am recommending this book. ;-)

With hopes for the 'scale names' post being dashed, my own, slightly warped mind, wandered off in this direction .... animal scales, musical scales, weight scales ... and this is the result!

It seems there were many things Garfield and I had in common. We didn't like mornings, Mondays were hard, and we both tended to the chubby. Garfield Tips the Scales, by Jim Davis, is a fun laugh out loud book about just such struggles.

Wow! There are a lot more 'scaly critters' in this area than I thought! Reptiles of Washington and Oregon, from the Seattle Audubon Society Trailside Series is a wonderful guide to that diversity. A typical field guide, there is a description of each reptile, their habitat, life cycle, and of course, some wonderful pictures.

For some fun, sparkly fish scales, take a look at The Rainbow Fish, by Marcus Pfister. I found the story to be, well, just so-so, but I have friends who tell me their kids loved it and it was read over and over. :-)

I found enough books on this odd turn for 'scale' that it is worthy of two posts!

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Sometimes what's in the back of a daily newspaper is more interesting than the headlines.

Some things never change! The ads found in Strange Red Cow and Other Curious Classified Ads From the Past, by Sara Bader, are pretty much what you'll find today (whether in a newspaper, or on-line). Lost items, found items, things for sale, and, of course, the search for the perfect mate. By keeping the original spelling and language of the various ads, the author kept the 'flavor' of the time in which it was written. This was a lot of fun to read.

From the book on classified ads I seemed to wander on to obituaries. I certainly pay more attention to them than I used to do! Turns out, there is quite an art to writing a good obit, which I learned in The Dead Beat: Lost Souls, Lucky Stiffs, and the Perverse Pleasures of Obituaries, by Marilyn Johnson. There are names for each part (sort of like diagramming a sentence). There are conventions for obit writers (the first one started on a dare, but it was very successful and so they continue). I was especially touched by the response after 9/11 and the "Portraits of Grief" published in the NY Times. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but altogether a good read.

It's always fun to share some of these 'finds', too and before we could just click a mouse, we sent a paper copy. In the old days all copies were made by hand, hopefully by scribes with good handwriting. Ditto paper was step forward, but copies were fuzzy, and would fade (or run). Fortunately someone was thinking about a better way to make copies ... faster and of decent quality. Copies in Seconds: How a Lone Inventor and an Unknown Company Created the Biggest Communication Breakthrough Since Gutenberg -- Chester Carlson and the Birth of the Xerox Machine, by David Owen, is the biography of that man. His childhood was harsh, he was earning money to help support his family by the time he was eight, and he rarely was around kids his own age. He would later credit this for his perseverance and ability to work alone. Designing, improving, and selling his machine made for an interesting read.

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I am not a gardener, in fact, I call wherever I live 'Withering Heights' because, quite honestly, if it doesn't bark or whinny, it's likely to be overlooked. Still, when I saw Northwest Weeds: the Ugly and Beautiful Villains of Fields, Gardens, and Roadsides, by Ronald J. Taylor, well, it just had to be added to my shelf. There's lots of, mmm, 'horticultural' information here, but I did enjoy the beautiful photographs. :-)

I have always had a fondness for dandelions. They are adaptable, growing tall in long grass, but then, if mowed, come back on a short stem. Their yellow flower is bright and cheerful and as a kid I loved blowing on the 'fluffy' stage. Then, when Carl Sagan used this stage as the ship of the imagination on the original PBS show Cosmos, I loved them all the more. Dandelion: Celebrating the Magical Blossom, by Amy S. Wilensky and illustrated by Yumi Heo does just that! Here you'll find poems, recipes, cures and more. There's the expected uses in salads and as a wine, but you can also make jelly, hair rinse, paper, and fritters! Mom made some wine, once, but it was so long ago now I do not remember the taste. Greens in a salad are not bad! Making the chain made for sticky fingers. :-)

Dandelion Wine, by Ray Bradbury fits nicely here, I think, even though it is fiction. I enjoyed this book better when I reread it as an (ahem) more mature adult. I think I understood the nostalgia of that special summer better than I did when I was younger. Bradbury had a talent for creating a sense of wonder.

These two book are a nice departure from the 'how-to' gardening books. A Weed By Any Other Name: the Virtues of a Messy Lawn, or Learning to Love the Plants We Don't Plant, by Nancy Gift is rather like a memoir. Starting with spring, the author takes the reader on a year long tour of various weeds (mostly between Pittsburgh and the south, where relatives live) and shares her favorites with her two daughters. There's even a chapter on Astroturf! Weeds: In Defense of Nature's Most Unloved Plants, by Richard Mabey, is a sort of history book in that weeds across the ages are discussed. I liked the inclusion of weeds in fiction books (think the Harry Potter books), and a nice entry on poppies and that poignant poem In Flanders Fields, by John McCrae, the inspiration for Poppy Day (and later, Remembrance Day).

Wicked Plants: the Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother & Other Botanical Atrocities, by Amy Stewart is both a field guide and a warning. There is the expected information on each plant, where it lives, the growth cycle, etc. but also a detailed description of how it is poisonous (what parts) and when, what the symptoms are, and who might have died from it. Alot of the plants that are common to gardens and homes are beautiful but deadly! This book sort of took me ... sideways I guess ... to a book on my shelf. Every so often I dabble with the idea of writing a mystery. I have a few settings, even a few victims (an evil chuckle here), but just how do I 'do them in'? Deadly Doses: a Writer's Guide to Poisons, by Serita Deborah Stevens, with Anne Klarner, has many suggestions (and more than just plants). Reading almost like a text book, there's where to find each poison, how quickly it acts, what the symptoms are like, any antidotes, etc. which are divided into chapters about toxic plants, animals, commercial products and the like. Sometimes I've used this book when reading a mystery, or watching one on tv, it's pretty interesting.

In the past, a simple solution might have been a spider in an outhouse, as put forth in the song 'Black Widows in the Privy' from the filk music tape The Horse Tamer's Daughter. (I wish it was available in CD!)

And, naturally, I just could not do a post on weeds without something on weed! Even though it won't happen here, Seed to Weed: a Pot Enthusiast's Guide to Growing Marijuana, by Chris Stone was an interesting read. It reminded me a bit of times past when folks had those sun lamp light bulbs, and ferns on their desks or tables. :-)

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Originally Empire of Mud: the Secret History of Washington, D.C, by J.D. Dickey was going in the D.C. post, but then my mind wandered off again and I decided to put it with other books involving mud. It's okay, go ahead and roll your eyes, I do get off on odd tangents now and then!

I thoroughly enjoyed Empire. Well written, well researched, lots of nice photos (and scattered throughout the book, not in one section (I know, I know, that way is cheaper and easier). In early days, D.C. was a frontier town. There were fights, riots, brothels, and slave markets. Poor planning caused canals to be all but useless (someone forgot to take the tides into account). Since it was in a very damp, swampy area, there were mosquitoes and therefore disease. This is a real look at what it was like to live there before, during, and after the Civil War.

Mud, by Mary Lyn Ray, and illustrated by Lauren Stringer is a joyous celebration of the coming of spring. The earth warms, there are new sounds and smells, snow and frost thaw, creating puddles. At this moment, before the new growth starts, there is MUD! Revel in it!

Soon those annoying political ads will start up again. Those that imply (or just downright lie) about the 'other' party and/or candidate. Sadly this has been going on for two centuries (and that's just in this country). The language has changed, but there have been common themes throughout. Slinging Mud: Rude Nicknames, Scurrilous Slogans, and Insulting Slang from Two Centuries of American Politics by Rosemarie Ostler will explain these election strategies from Washington to Obama.

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It is war time and the enemy is sending coded messages about their plans. The code has been broken, and that has created problems. Since what and who and where (as well as how) this is done, is Top Secret, how do you then send these messages on to those who need to know? And how do you convince them the message is accurate and legitimate? And, (very important here) how do you keep the enemy from knowing you've cracked their code? And after the war? Then what? The secrecy was to be maintained. No special awards for these folks, no newsletters, no reunions, it couldn't appear on a resume ... The Secret Lives of Codebreakers: the Men and Women Who Cracked the Enigma Code at Bletchley Park, by Sinclair McKay poses a lot of questions, but is an excellent read!

Paul Lunde is listed as the general editor for The Book of Codes: Understanding the World of Hidden Messages: an Illustrated Guide to Signs, Symbols, Ciphers, and Secret Languages (and what a job he did)! There is an almost overwhelming amount of information in this book! From animal tracks, to ancient languages, smoke signals and semaphore, military codes, commercial codes (think trademark logos), and onto cyber codes and dna .... and so much more. There's even a chapter on magic and fantasy codes. Rich with pictures, diagrams and illustrations, you can spend hours and hours with this book. (I certainly did)!

At Bletchley Place the goal was to crack the Enigma Code. Here, in the United States, the armed forces needed a code that rendered messages indecipherable to enemies listening in. Philip Johnston knew how hard the Navajo language was the learn and speak and he proposed that it would be good for this code. How that happened is explained in Navajo Code Talkers, by Andrew Santella. Yes, it's a kid's book but it gives a good introduction to this amazing group of people. Like the folks at Bletchley, they could not talk about what they did in the war so recognition was a long time coming. Finally, in 1969 that this secret was revealed and the rest of us could learn of their service.

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With Mother's Day so close, the only possible theme for this post is 'Mom'! :-)

I picked up The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less, by Terry Ryan intending to just give it a quick skim so I could include it in this post, and ended up reading the entire book all over again. This is an amazing story of a woman who helped support her family by entering and winning contests. In the late '40's and early '50's there was more to entering these contests than just submitting your name, you had to complete a jingle to create an ad, or write (in 25 words or less) why you liked a product. Terry Ryan's mother had a flare for this and it was a good thing she did. At that time few woman took on a job outside the house (and with 10 kids, how could she?). Her husband was an alcoholic who could be abusive and his paycheck was not a dependable source of income. Evelyn Ryan kept the family going by winning money, food and appliances. This is a wonderful biography of an amazing woman.

It's 1952, Ireland, and an unwed mother has been sent to a convent to deliver her baby. Soon after, the baby, like all the others, was sold to America, the mothers never knowing what happened to their children. Fifty years later one mother goes looking for her son and Philomena: a Mother, Her Son, and a Fifty-year Search, by Martin Sixsmith is that story. It's now a movie and I spent some time trying to imagine what it was like to learn that not only was 'your' story going to be made into a film, but that you would be played by Dame Judi Dench! I've not seen the movie, but the book is excellent.

A Ride on Mother's Back: a Day of Baby Carrying Around the World, by Emery & Durga Bernhard. (The title is a bit of a misnomer as there are fathers, grandparents and even siblings carrying the baby, too). ;-) From dawn to dusk, and around the world babies are snugged to a family member so they are safe, but the adult can work with both hands. A delightful introduction to other cultures, and there is more detailed information about each of the countries included at the back of the book.

Leslie Meier's 15th Lucy Stone mystery is Mother's Day Murder. Lucy is looking forward to a quiet (and fancy) Mother's Day brunch, but it is not to be. An argument between enemies and rivals breaks out that spoils the event ... and then a body is discovered. As the investigation goes on Lucy deals with all sorts of 'mom stuff' as well. A nice cozy series.

And, of course, from the February 11, 2014 post: A Mother's Promise, written by Lisa Humphrey and illustrated by David Danioth. As I said then, and will say again, it's a quiet gem of a book.

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These four books have been hanging around in my 'idea' file for some time now so I am bundling them all together for a hodge podge post. :-)

Four Against the Arctic: Shipwrecked for Six Years at the Top of the World, by David Roberts. An absolutely amazing book about four men who survived a shipwreck in the Arctic Ocean (1743). With minimal supplies and weapons, they survived for six years. (It's a good thing they were all expert hunters, used to the rugged life, and able to do so much with so little).

In June of 1994, author Alvah Roberts, his wife, Diana, and their cat Halifax set out to explore the barren area above the Arctic Circle. They intended to get trapped for the winter together, but a family emergency required that Diane return home. (I'm amazed by how much 'traffic' there was 'way up there!) Alvah and Halifax spent months together, in the darkness, in blizzards and heaps of snow. And lots of polar bears. Come spring, Alvah was a changed man. North to the Night: a Spiritual Odyssey in the Arctic is his story.

Folks are always interested in what the president is doing. What does he like to read, are there favorite movies? Is he up to date on the latest technologies? It's a fine balance here, between being current, but not so current that voters think too much time is being spent on frivolity. What Jefferson Read, Ike Watched, and Obama Tweeted: 200 Years of Popular Culture in the White House, by Tevi Troy explains how this has been done from the time of George Washington to Barack Obama. Sometimes these interests were tweaked a bit to give a different image of the man in charge. It would go well with Spin This: All the Ways We Don't Tell the Truth, by Bill Press from the January 13 post.

Starting at dawn and ending at bedtime, How to Be a Victorian: a Dawn-to-Dusk Guide to Victorian Life, by Ruth Goodman is a fascinating look at a bygone era. The author not only did her homework here, but also made much of the clothing, using the same fabrics and tools then available and then wore them for extended periods of time while doing common chores. The Victorians were certainly much cleaner than I imagined they would be, even though the hot bath or shower we're all familiar with was not common at the time. Dressing took a long time because of all the layers (all with a purpose). Modern day copies may look authentic, but most how have hidden snaps or Velcro to allow for quicker changing. Without clocks in every house hold there were 'knocker-uppers' who went around knocking on windows to wake folks up so they wouldn't be late for work. (Just one question here: Who wakes up the "knocker-upper")?

Reading Hermit With Dog

Seems the best theme I can come up with here is that all of these took place in Washington D.C. at some point. Not my best connection, but I'm sure it won't be the worst! ;-)

This book requires a pair of glasses to enjoy, fortunately there's a pair tucked in the back. Lincoln in 3-D: Amazing and Rare Stereoscopic Photographs of His Life and Times, by Bob Zeller and John J. Richter is a collection of these special photos gathered from the Smithsonian and Library of Congress. As I looked at each picture I tried to imagine what it would have been like to have seen this technique for the first time.

Would FDR have become President without the polio? That's one of the questions raised in The Man He Became: How FDR Defied Polio to Win the Presidency, by James Tobin. I was captivated by the early chapters on how the virus gets into the body, and then how it either is overcome by the immune system, or goes on to replicate and grow. If a proper diagnosis and treatment had come earlier, would it have made a difference? Even knowing the outcome here this was a fascinating read! Thanks to Constant Reader for the recommendation!

Read My Pins: Stories From a Diplomat's Jewel Box, by Madeleine Albright was one of those delightful finds for me. I had a sort of fuzzy memory that there was 'something' about the pins that Albright wore and this book brought that into a nice, sharp image! At some point Ms. Albright realized attention was being paid to the pins she wore so she started picking them with a bit more care and intent. She explains her choices for when she wore which pin here, and it's a fascinating story. I especially liked that few of them were expensive, most were simple costume jewelry.

I had no idea the desserts for the big dinners at the White House were so complicated! Each dinner had it's own 'theme' and the pastry chef did his homework .... who was coming? Any food allergies? Any designs that could be considered offensive? Then, every thing had to be baked (sometimes in the hundreds), and timed so the meal flowed seamlessly from course to course. All the President's Pastries: Twenty-Five Years in the White House. A Memoir, by Roland Mesnier, with Christian Malard (and translated from the French by Louise Rogers Lalaurie) tells all about doing just this. I was impressed with the author. He knew what he wanted to do from an early age and diligently and doggedly pursued that goal. He moved (always at times of his own choosing) from job to job and place to place to learn more, or something new. There were times he didn't (yet) speak the language of where he was headed. This was the first time I'd read an account of what it was like to be in the White House on 9/11. All in all, a most interesting memoir.

To be clear here, White House Nannies, by Barbara Kline, is not a book about nannies in the White House, but rather the name of a nanny placement service run by the author. Being a parent is a hard job. It's harder when one or both parents have jobs outside the home. It's even harder with a high profile job, especially when there's always someone younger (and childless) waiting in the wings. Finding the perfect nanny can be a challenge (there are some rather interesting requests from parents) but Kline has done so for a long time now and these are some of her favorite stories.

My Senator and Me: a Dog's-Eye View of Washington, D.C., by Senator Edward M. Kennedy and illustrated by David Small is a charming look at "Splash", the dog who went to work each day with Senator Kennedy. This children's book is a nice introduction to how the government functions.

Reading Hermit With Dog

I groaned out loud this morning when I discovered it was Star Wars Day ... as in May the 4th be with you ... and then decided I could do a quick, unexpected post!

I remember when the first SW movie came out, such fun! I saw it several times and was pleased when The Art of Star Wars, edited by Carol Titelman was published. Sketches, artwork, posters (in many languages), spin offs, cartoons (picture Darth Vader as a hockey goalie!), drawings from children AND, something I thoroughly enjoyed ... the script! Fun, plain and simple. :-)

Naturally I followed that up with The Art of the Empire Strikes Back, edited by Deborah Call with text by Vic Bulluck and Valerie Hoffman. No script this time, but again, wonderful sketches, drawings and final artwork along with descriptions of some of the ships and planets. Be sure to check out the variations on Yoda.

And, to complete my collection, The Art of Return of the Jedi: Including the Complete Script of the Film by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas. This one is a bit 'leaner' than the other two books in that there's the script and the artwork, but no 'extras' this time. Still, it's nice to have the script and the artwork really is amazing.

May the Force Be With You,

Reading Hermit With Dog

The first Appy book to go on my shelf was The Appaloosa, by Bill and Dona Richardson. Spotted horses have a long history, images have been found in Europe that are 20,000 years old! It was the Nez Perce Indians of the Palouse (areas of Eastern Washington, Oregon, and Idaho) that developed the breed, and where the name came from .. 'a Palouse horse' slurring to Appaloosa. :-) There's more history here, but a warning ... it's sad, and brutal (although not surprising). Then it moves on to chapters on breed characteristics (the mottled skin, striped hooves, white sclera), breeding, showing, and the founding of the Appaloosa Horse Club.

Appaloosa: the Spotted Horse in Art and History with text by Francis Haines has a wonderful collection of pictures showing the Appy in cave drawings, on tapestries, in mosaics, as statues, to the oil paintings of Charles Russell and beyond. There are detailed explanations to go with each, too, which add to the pleasure of reading this book.

The Appaloosa Horse Club is headquartered in Moscow, Idaho and includes the Appaloosa Museum. I've been there a couple of times (although not for years now, and I understand it is bigger these days). On one visit I purchased Appaloosa: a Creative Color Book. Some of the pictures give hints as to what the Appy pattern is and where the spots are, but many don't, allowing the person with the crayons to determine just how his or her Appy will look. Thumbing through it just now I see where two of us who have been at work (hey there TJP!!)

For any of you who like and collect alphabet books, Appaloosa to Zebra: Horses in Rhyme From A to Z , by Christina Wilsdon, would be a nice addition. There are poems on breeds, colors, and horsey activities. My favorite is X (surprisingly) all about horse care.

For fiction, don't forget Ride Like An Indian, to be found in the March 25, 2014 post, and these two fantasy novels by Mary Stanton: The Heavenly Horse From the Outermost West, and the sequel: Piper at the Gate. To be honest here, I don't remember too much, other than the main character was an Appaloosa horse! Still, they are on my 'favorites' shelf so I will move them to the 'to be read' pile and give them a re-read! :-)

And to close, a line from a song by Fred Small and his wonderful CD "Heart of the Appaloosa" a gem of a find from a folk music loving friend of mine who came into work one morning so very long ago now (the format was a vinyl record) and said "You HAVE to hear this song!" He was right, the song (with the same title as the CD) is a history of the Nez Perce and their Appaloosa horses, and what the white man did to them. It is tragic, heroic, and powerful. (The entire CD is amazing, actually, and well worth a listen). The last verse ends with this: "Strong they are, and fearless, and nimble on a hill, listening for thunder, the Appaloosa's living still."

Reading Hermit with Dog