Murder on Christmas Eve, edited by Cecily Gayford, is a another collection of short stories just perfect for this time of year. I love the cat, who caught the murderer (but for a very cat like reason, nothing really mysterious here), and a burglar, who, inspired by Poe, does his thieving in plain site. Be leery of popular products on store shelves. And don't drink any strange tea! (These are not spoilers, honest)!

I have long enjoyed Jennifer Chiaverini's Elm Creek Quilts series, and this stand alone book, Christmas Bells, did not disappoint. Switching between when Longfellow wrote a poem called Christmas Bells (the 1860's) to a present day choir singing I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day there are compelling stories and characters from both eras. The present day story might be a bit more interesting because we know what happened in the past ... but that is just a 'maybe' on my part. ;-)

For a nice holiday mystery read The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, by David Rosenfelt. It's part of his Andy Carpenter Mystery series, so expect some court room scenes. A friend has been arrested for murder and Andy is sure she is innocent. Then a gun if found, in her basement that is linked to a murder some years earlier. There are dogs, of course, and some good twists. Hint: remember what happens right at the very beginning. ;-)

This is the last post for 2017, Happy New Year everyone!

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Who dances in the snow? Not the bear, or squirrel, or rabbit ... Winter Dance was inspired when the author Marion Dane Bauer witnessed just who does dance in the snow! Pictures by Richard Jones. Delightful!

I loved this book! Find out why Winter is the Warmest Season, by Lauren Stringer. She did the story and the pictures, and created a wonderful, delightful book! If I had youngsters needing gifts, they'd be getting it for Christmas.

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Looking for an old fashioned mystery? Set in a mansion, in the snow, with old secrets, and bodies that vanish? If so, here's just what you want: A Christmas Case: a Posie Parker Novella, by L.B. Hathaway. On Christmas Eve each of the guests at Rebburn Abbey are asked to share a personal mystery, solved ore not, with the others. (This really can't be good, can it?!) Of course, the guests are not all what they seem. There's a hidden passage and a new body in an old crypt, too. Perfect for this time of year!

We Wish You a Murderous Christmas is another in the A Year Round Christmas Mystery series by Vicki Delany. Although the small town of Rudolph, NY celebrates Christmas all year long, the excitement builds as December 25th approaches. This year is not so merry, however. The son of the local inn keeper has returned with big (and not popular) ideas for "improving" the town. (Was it wrong to give a little cheer when his body was found)? (Not a spoiler, his death is mentioned on the back cover). ;-) Overall, not a bad winter read. (Note to dog lovers: yes, I do think the dog had to spend too much time in a crate).

Laurien Berenson writes a nice mystery series about Melanie Travis and her Poodles, the most recent being Wagging Through the Snow. Melanie's brother has bought a run down tree farm at a recent auction (without telling his business partner). His plan is to get it up and running by Christmas ... about a week away. When checking out the property, a body is discovered. Secrets from long ago surface as the investigation progresses. A fairly quick read, good for these busy days! (Series title is A Melanie Travis Canine Mystery).

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Twelve authors and twelve illustrators combined their skills to create twelve stories about the twelve Doctors in Doctor Who: Twelve Doctors of Christmas. It'd be fun to say I read this in the twelfth month, but I actually read it in the ninth. Still, I am posting it in the twelfth month ... I sometimes read holiday books early so I have them ready to go when the actual season comes. ;-) What does the Doctor do on Christmas? Where (and when) is he? A delightful collection, one for each Doctor.

Out door lighting at this time of year has gone from the simple to the extreme. There are over the top displays that include one house to an entire neighborhood. In fact, when a house is sold in one of these neighborhoods, it's often part of the sale that the new owner will continue with the display. Merry Christmas America! Megawatt Displays Across the U.S.A., by Bruce Littlefield is a rather nice 'tour' of many of these homes, what their display is like, how they got started and so forth. It came out in 2007 so be thinking as you read (and look at the pictures) there are some now even more ... megawatt than these!

I read this clear back in May but decided to wait and include it here, for obvious reasons. ;-) God Rest Ye Grumpy Scroogymen: New Traditions for Comfort and Joy at Christmas, by Laura Jensen Walker and Michael K. Walker is a nice collection of ideas for making the holidays less stressful, whether you are on your own, or part of a large family. You should find yourself laughing as the authors share stories of their holidays ... good and bad.

Here's a book from the old series Christmas Around the World put out by World Book: Christmas in Canada. While dated (published in 1994) I am hoping that many of these traditions continue to today, especially the Christmas Lights Across Canada ceremony! Here, on the first Thursday in December the lights on the government buildings across Canada are all turned on at the same time! (A quick search tells me that yes, this amazing tradition will happen this year on December 7th). A nice read that includes a great variety of traditions, crafts, recipes, and carols.

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Tired of growing sunflowers and petunias, Wilma was ready for something new. What will be next? The title is the clue: Christmas Farm, by May Lyn Ran and illustrated by Barry Root! The pictures are wonderful and you'll learn a bit about growing Christmas trees, too.

It's the night before Christmas, but Ollie is not dreaming of sugar plums. Instead, she hears bells, which wake her up. Where are they coming from? Follow along on a most magical adventure that could only happen on the most magical of nights in The Little Reindeer, by Nicola Killen.

This is a picture book which, I have been told, will be especially enjoyed by boys! Santa's Underwear, by Marty Rhodes Figley and illustrated by Marty Kelley. It's Christmas Eve and Santa is dressing for his big night when he discovers that his red flannel long johns are missing. The pair for February (with hearts) and March (shamrocks) just aren't right, and the summer undies offer no protection from the cold of winter. What is he to do?

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Marcus Sedgwick loves snow. He moved to be where there is a lot of it, and has written a reflective little book titled Snow. There are six chapters because a snowflake has six sides. He discusses the various origins of the word (from many languages), as well as of art and science of snow. There's a section about climate change too, suggesting that there could be a time when there is no more snow. An interesting read.

Crimson Snow: Winter Mysteries, edited by Martin Edwards, is a collection of old British Mysteries. The writers, many popular in their day, were not familiar to me (with the exception of Margery Allingham) but the stories were great! There are ghosts, and bodies that vanish (with no footprints in the snow), locked rooms, and one with an ending I was not expecting at all. Not a cozy! ;-)

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How early do you start thinking about decorating your house for Christmas? Try February! That's when the First Ladies have to start on ideas for The White House! Christmas with the First Ladies: The White House Decorating Tradition from Jacqueline Kennedy to Michelle Obama, by Coleen Christian Burke tells how (and why) each woman came up with a theme, who made the decorations, how what was going on around the country affected the decorations and so on. It's a huge task!

It took me a while to get around to reading The Snow Child, by Eowyn Ivey even though I had enthusiastic recommendations from Skiing Grandmother and County Reader almost a year ago. Set in Alaska, in the 1920's, it's a retelling of an old Russian fairy tale. The writing is quite good, and the twist on the old tale interesting, but I don't think I liked it quite as much as those who suggested it! Read it in front of the fire, or under a warm blanket, the descriptions of the weather are chilling. :-)

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Here's a fun version of one of my favorite cold weather songs: Walking in a Winter Wonderland, based on the song by Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith, as sung by Peggy Lee, and illustrated by Tim Hopgood. Loved the pictures and the 'flip' ... there's no Parson Brown!

Follow a little girl as she tries to learn who left the footprints outside her bedroom window in Tracks in the Snow, by Wong Herbert Yee. Look for animals and birds as you read. Sweet!

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Mornings are changing in the coming weeks so I may post these the evening before my 'usual' day. :-)

I found Truce: the Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting, by Jim Murphy, to be an interesting read. While designated a juvenile read, it was full of detail and featured some rather grim photos. It seemed to be a war where little progress was made, so trenches were dug ... 475 miles long, from the North Sea to the Swiss Border. Sometimes they were no more than 50 yards apart. They were hot in summer, cold in winter, and when the rains came, extremely muddy. The troops were far from supplies and replacements, dead bodies attracted rats, they were infested with lice and fleas, they were bored. The commanders (25 miles away) kept ordering raids, which only resulted in more death. Where the trenches were closer, soldiers exchanged conversation, and, sometimes, tins of food. This worried the commanders. And then came a bigger bother: Christmas. Good information presented well, I wish I had it for some of my history classes! Other books on this subject may be found in the post for December 17, 2016.

Fields of Battle: Pearl Harbor, the Rose Bowl, and the Boys Who Went to War, by Brian Curtis is a borderline "you read what?" book. It started out with a lot of information about football that, to be honest, just was not of interest to me ... but then things changed and it was a great read! College football was the most important thing going, until it wasn't. December 7, 1941 changed everything. There was some debate as to whether the Rose Bowl should even be played, but the decision was made that it would be good for morale, that life should go on, and so forth. The game was moved away from the west coast, however, and was played in Durham rather than Pasadena. Oregon State College beat Duke (something of a surprise) and then the players and many of the coaches headed off to war. (At least 70 players and coaches from the 1942 Rose Bowl served in the military). Some served together, others met up during various battles, once, two of the coaches (from opposing teams) came face to face with each other in a foxhole in Bastogne. You learn what happens to the men after the war, too. A very personal accounting here, as you get to know these men and sometimes, their families. Hard to put down.

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I've always loved snow globes so was pleased to find Celebrating Snow Globes, by Nina Chertoff and Susan Kahn. To be honest, I did forget how tacky some of them were! Just a fun book, with great pictures. There were (and are) snow globes of people (movie stars to presidents), landmarks, sports, pretty much anything you can think of. My favorite was the bare tree with autumn leaves as the 'snow'. I once gave a snow globe to some friends of mine ... it was a 'California' snow globe (but any warm state would work). It was filled with water and featured several lumps of coal, a pipe, and a top hat floating around. It was hysterical! :-)

And look! A mystery series featuring snow globes! Snow Way Out, by Christine Husom, is the first in her Snow Globe Shop mysteries. Cami has recently returned to her small home town and is working in a little store called Curio Finds that features snow globes. One evening she finds one she does not recognize that has a scene of a man sitting on a bench in the park. On her way home she comes across that very scene, only the man on the bench is dead. The next morning the unfamiliar snow globe is gone. It will happen again. Not a bad start to this new series! And, for you crafty types, there are instructions on making your own snow globes.

Frosty, the Dead Man, by Christine Husom, actually the third in the Snow Globe Shop mysteries, but I found it before I did the second book. I had no problem reading them out of order. It's nearing Christmas now, and to prepare for the upcoming surge of shoppers, more snow globes have been ordered, this time from a company not used before. The first shipment contains just four snow globes, three with more traditional themes, one with an odd theme of a hunter and three bears. Curiously this one sells first, several other customers come in and ask about it, and then the buyer ends up dead. Another shipment arrives, also with just four snow globes, but this time with one missing ... one with a bear theme. Was it stolen by a store employee? Why? (I actually figured out part of the answer this time)! As with the first book, there are instructions for making snow globes, but this time the 'snow' is more kid friendly.

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You all knew this one would be coming, yes? Winter Walk, by Virginia Brimhall Snow. :-) See what the grandmother and her grandkids find as they wander through the woods in the snow. As with her other books, there are activities and fun trivia, too. Just a wonderful series.

Talk another walk in the snow with When the Snow Falls, by Linda Booth Sweeney and illustrated by Jana Christy. A great story (be sure to read it out loud) and wonderful pictures about an outing with Grandpa, Grandma, and the dog.

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Treasures from Kiwi topped the week recently: two that were enjoyed over and over again by all family members. Not only do they tie together nicely, but there is a nice connection to other books from my posts, too!

Brian Jacques, The Redwall Cookbook, illustrated by Christopher Denise is full of recipes that sound really good! Divided into seasons, the instructions all indicate whether a young reader can make them on their on own or need adult supervision. Lots of butter! (And lots of veg, too). There are Redwall tales for each season, too.

A read that goes well with that was The Great Redwall Feast, by Brian Jacques and illustrated by Christopher Denise. A special meal is being planned for the abbot, but he awakes from his nap, how do you keep the surprise a surprise? Part adventure, part surprise, and a puzzle, too! Delightful! (And I've not even read the other Redwall books)!

At first I wasn't sure if I should use Bookshelves and Cabinets from Sunset because while I loved the pictures and got some good ideas, to be honest I really didn't read all the instructions on how to make them. Then, when I was reading Bookshelf, by Alex Johnson I realized these two books made for a wonderful contrast! The shelving units in the Sunset book are beautiful and functional (and I'm told the instructions are good, too). The designs in the other book seem to me to be just that ... designs. They are unique, and creative, and fun to look at, but I cannot imagine them actually holding books. Both were interesting, take a look!

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I have read and enjoyed many books about the post office. Here's another in the Postmistress Mystery series by Jean Flowers. This time Cassie Miller, who works in her small home town in the Berkshires, is dealing with Valentine's Day and the chaos it causes. (It's second only to Christmas in the volume of cards that are sent). There is a dance coming soon, and Cassie has been asked to give a talk about the history of the post office at the local college. Oh, and of course, there is a body. Addressed to Kill is one of those nice cozy mysteries perfect for a stormy autumn day. There is some fun Post Office trivia too. There is one, and only one, branch of the P.O. that does not fly the U.S. Flag. Why?

Need an activity for a rainy day? How about making shadow puppets? It's low tech, certainly, although a few props are allowed for some of the more detailed figures. Me and My Shadows: Shadow Puppet Fun for Kids of All Ages, by Elizabeth Adams and revised by Bud Banis shows dozens of these figures with detailed instructions on how to create them. Long fingers would help! (And yes, I did end up humming a certain song all day long)! ;-)

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Seems Canadian author/illustrator Ian Wallace really does have a cupboard full of interesting things from his travels across Canada. Find out what some of them are in The Curiosity Cabinet. Be sure to read the notes at the end, I'd missed several of the things he included in his drawings.

Red Again, by Barbara Lehman, is a wordless book. I'm not quite sure I 'got' all of the story it tells, but was intrigued enough to include it so that others can give it a try! (Seems it's a follow up to The Red Book, which I've not seen, but maybe that's the best place to start)? :-)

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Greetings all! I had some connection issues this morning so I am doing my Tuesday morning post on this Monday afternoon while everything seems to be up and running. Computers! ;-)

I Shot the Buddha, by Colin Cotterill, is the 11th in the Dr. Siri Paiboun mysteries. If you are not familiar with it, I suggest you give it a try! Start with The Coroner's Lunch. This time, Siri and his wife are on the trail of a missing monk. Visiting and resident spirits play a part in their investigation (and giving a new definition to possession being nine-tenths of the law). Keep an eye on the dog! Oh, and instead of being an armchair traveler, how about being a sedentary nomad?

It looks as if I've not included any of the earlier Patrick Taylor books, which comes as a surprise, because I've read them all! An Irish Country Practice is the newest, but start with An Irish Country Doctor. Dr. Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly is the GP in the small town of Ballybucklebo. Over the years his practice has grown and partners have joined his practice. In this most recent one they take on a newly graduated doctor. This book feels a bit darker and sadder than early books, there are issues with abuse, addiction, and so forth, but it's still a great read. I love the feeling of community in this rural area of Ireland, and there are some lovely touches of humor.

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This read started with a show Canadian Reader was watching ... an amazing show, she said, and one that was not airing in the U.S. (at least not then). However, I was able to find the book that inspired the series: Anzac Girls: the Extraordinary Story of our World War I Nurses, by Peter Rees. Powerful, intense, and well written this is a detailed and descriptive look at the brave women from Australia and New Zealand that served in WWI. Conditions are terrible, and go from bad to worse. It's a wonder anything could be done at all given the constant shortage of staff and supplies. Fair warning here, it is grim and sometimes almost overwhelming.

From this, Canadian Reader took me on to Coventry, by Helen Humphreys. It is November 14, 1940, a night of the "Bomber's Moon", a full moon that illuminates every building despite the town being in total black out conditions. Since it is an industrial town, it is targeted by the Germans. This is the story of the bombing raid that destroyed the town.

After these two very intense (but very good) reads I was in the mood for something lighter so was pleased to come across another of the periodicals from Centennial Presents. This time it was The Wonder of Disney: 80 Years of Animation. Walt Disney was not the best student, why, even in art class he didn't always follow instructions and put faces on the bouquet of flowers the class was drawing. Movies, and especially animation, intrigued him and it was while he was working at a commercial art studio when he met Ubbe "Ub" Iwerks. Together they would change the industry. From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (surely it would flop, who wanted to sit through 80 minutes of a cartoon?) to Frozen 2, this is a brief history of the Disney films. Nice pictures, too! ;-)

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Here's a wonderful version of one of my most favorite songs from one of my most favorite movies! Singing in the Rain, based on the song by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown with pictures by Tim Hopgood. Follow the happy dancers from the city to the rain forest in the joyful illustrations. (This is supposed to be a spring rain, but I decided not to wait until then to post this). ;-)

Here's another charming book from Kenard Pak. Watch the season change as you read Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter. Wonderful illustrations, I've already read it twice and will do so again soon. The summer to autumn book may be found in the October 6, 2016 post.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Books of a Feather is another in the Bibliophile Mystery series by Kate Carlisle. This is a fun series and I've enjoyed learning about restoring old books. We see more of Brooklyn's hippie parents this time, who bring a chaos all their own! Be aware of all the connections with birds this time .... :-)

This is another early Christmas read, but I thought I'd put it with another mystery that featured birds. How the Finch Stole Christmas, by Donna Andrews is the next of the Meg Langslow series. These are always a fun and easy read, which make them perfect for when things get hectic and you just want a bit of a sit with a cup of tea and a book. There is the often drunk, always cranky 'over the hill' star of the Christmas play, an over abundance of illegal birds confiscated in a raid (and needing a place to stay), a possible puppy mill ... what could go wrong?

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The Paris Spy, by Susan Elia Macneal is the seventh in the Maggie Hope Mystery series. This has been an excellent series, although I found this one a little sad. Maggie is undercover, in Paris, with two other agents. Their cover is blown and the results are not good. Who is the mole? On a mission of her own, Maggie is searching for her half-sister, who has vanished after being rescued from a concentration camp. Back in England we meet up with the man who will be responsible for misleading the Nazi forces (as in Magic Men). (See post of August 1, 2015 for books on this fascinating subject). I'm thinking we'll see more of him in the next book. The description of Paris, and how quiet it was, brought to mind the old song "The Last Time I Saw Paris" (by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II), a lovely and sad, nostalgic look at the city before the Nazi occupation.

An unexpected connection came in Smoke and Mirrors, by Elly Griffiths (and with fairy tales, too, actually). And, it's my first Christmas read for this year, as well! This is the next book in The Magic Men series, the first being The Zig Zag Girl (April 25, 2017 post). It should be a happy time, Christmas is coming, but instead the police are looking for two missing children, found dead in a setting with fairy tale overtones. Is it a clue, or a misdirection? (See the post of November 9, 2017, for a fun twist on fairy tales).

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As much as I enjoyed Night Shift, by Jerrie Hartland, I couldn't help wonder if perhaps it is a big dated? (Copyright is 2007). Are all these jobs still done at night? I could be wrong! I love how one job connected to the next, and the next.

Here's a sweet little book about two special times of day: dawn and dusk. Good Day, Good Night, by Margaret Wise Brown and pictures by Loren Long. Really, just a nice story, good to read out loud, or for a beginning reader to read on their own.

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What was 'in' when you were young? Your parents? Your kids? I thoroughly enjoyed The Mindset Lists of American History: From Typewriters to Text Messages, What Ten Generations of Americans Think is Normal, by Tom McBride & Ron Nief was a great romp through history. From what was new to what each generation took as normal, this was a great look at how things change (and how fast). Could you hitch a horse to a wagon? Would your grandchildren recognize a rotary phone? My mother was right, history is fun!

For some reason the subtitle of the Mindset book got me not only thinking about typewriters, but looking for books as well! First to come my way was Typewriter: a Celebration of the Ultimate Writing Machine, by Paul Robert and Peter Weil. The typewriter is much older than I thought, and there were lots of odd designs in the beginning! It took Remington (known for guns and sewing machines) (some early models even used the foot pedal the carriage return) to make it functional. In all the earliest models you typed 'blind' in that you could not see your work. The first use of the @ symbol was in 1536 (it represented a unit of wine). The first 'chat' could have happened as early as 1895 .... as long as you were connected to the other machine via wires, and no more than 10 miles apart that is. You could actually exchange type back and forth! (Remember, this was the era of Morse Code messages). There are wonderful pictures in this book, but I would have appreciated seeing how the paper fit into some of the earlier, odder models.

Typewriter: the History - the Machines - the Writers by Tony Allan (consultant Richard Polt) was a delightful read! I loved the pictures of the advertising and the trivia ... ! The qwerty row once included a period (after the e). The first significant literary work to be submitted to the publisher in typewritten form was Life on the Mississippi. A typewriter was taken to (and used) at the top of Mt. Everest (1922). Some mysteries (real and fictional) used the typewriter to solve the crime. And if you miss the sound of a manual typewriter? There's an app for that!

Did your parents or grandparents ever tell a "when I was a child ..." story? It was usually something along the lines of "I had to walk five miles to school, and it was uphill. Both ways!!" Mine would be that I typed all my papers (and a few for others) for college on a manual typewriter. With no white out (there was a funny little paper you used, retyped the error on that, then made your correction). And we were not allowed to use the easy erase paper (it smeared extremely easily).

Manual typewriters are making a comeback for one simple reason. They cannot be hacked.

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Seems November is 'real jewelry month' ... so I offer these suggestions in celebration! (And more than one person has pointed out that these could also go on my "You Read WHAT?" post of January 3, 2015)!

The Best of Costume Jewelry (revised 4th edition with updated prices) by Nancy N. Schiffer. I rather like the description in the front of "affordable opulence" as the pieces seen here are nice, rather than, well, tacky, like some costume jewelry I've seen. Not that I've done a lot of looking, of course, but still, this jewelry would look nice with your best outfits. The pictures were wonderful ... you got a nice, close up look. :-)

Now, the jewelry seen in those old movies was the real thing and you can learn about that in Hollywood Jewels: Movies-Jewelry-Stars, by Penny Proddow, Debra Healy, Marion Fasel (and photography by David Behl). From silent films to musicals, famous directors and stars, black and white to color this is a history of the 'bling' seen there. Easy to read, great pictures!

Today is Veteran's Day. I have done posts on this subject in the past but I could find no new books this year (maybe I just didn't allow myself enough time). I thank you for your service.

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Such a clever book! Mirror Mirror: a Book of Reversible Verse, by Marilyn Singer and illustrated by Josee Masse, is a spin on fairy tales. There are two view points for many of the old familiar tales, each using the exact same words/lines but reversing them each time! This book is a lot of fun, spend some time with it! I shared this with Kiwi, who wondered if the youngsters today would be familiar with the old fairy tales ... would they? (Animated versions count). If not, then this probably wouldn't mean much to them. It might just be a picture book for us older types! Such a treat!

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Chasing Dirt: the American Pursuit of Cleanliness, by Suellen Hoy is a dense and detailed book. (Take a look at the Notes section, wow)! Early on the U.S. was just plain dirty ... seems some visitors even commented on it. Imagine, as cities grew, having to haul ALL your water up several flights of stairs. Or every business (including slaughter houses) tossing refuse onto the street (unpaved, muddy, etc). There was no plumbing, no sewers. No wonder yellow fever or cholera ran amok. Bathing was considered unhealthy. Things needed to change. Committees (usually women) were created (all volunteers) to come up with answers. One woman, Caroline Bartlett Crane was especially aggressive here ... she visited and established standards for everything from the slaughterhouses to the family home. Soon there were street cleaners (dressed all in white) that swept up and hauled away the garbage, etc. on the street, children would be taught basic hygiene in school, factory workers were taught at work, immigrants when they arrived ... it took some time, and was met with some reluctance, but the U.S. became one of the cleanest countries. The scope is huge here, the author discusses everything from city streets and alleys, factories and slaughterhouses, homes and tenements .... it's quite the read. And, thankfully, no test at the end! ;-)

On Island: Life Among the Coast Dwellers, by Pat Carney, is a collection of short stories about the people that live on a small island off the west coast of Canada. Most are true, the author said, and since no names are used, none had to be changed! I love the sense of community in this quirky little town, and one story, Storm, I liked so much I read it twice. One I didn't like much at all, but mostly this was a nice read.

After many years of living in England, Bill Bryson returned to his home in Iowa. He then took a drive, a long drive, one that covered 38 of the lower 48 states, and that became the book The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America. As usual with his writing, it was funny, sarcastic, irreverent, and affectionate, but this time I thought it bordered on the cruel every now and then. I loved his description that to get a view in Iowa all you needed to do was stand on two phone books. (Published in 1989, we were still using them). He visited the town of Bryson just because of the name! His comment on how he forgot just how vast this country is was brought into focus when he said that Illinois was twice as big as Austria. I got out my map!

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While the book Servants (October 10, 2017 post) was a history of servants in general and what they did, They Also Serve is a personal memoir of just one person, author Bob Sharpe. Mr. Sharpe started with helping in the family garden, but soon moved to a 'big house' where he worked 16 hour days, 7 days a week (he got Christmas off) for 8 years. (He started when he was 8). He worked his way up through the ranks from hall boy, to valet, and finally, butler. A nice, respectful read.

If you like food and movies then here's a fun book ... and there are trivia quizzes, too! Lights! Camera! Cuisine!: Cooking Fabulous Food From the Films You Love, by Holly Erickson. Included with a synopsis for the film there is a recipe or two, a nice idea of a menu for a complete meal, and, sometimes, a way to substitute for a difficult recipe, or a hard to find item. The recipes look easy to follow (but do remember, I don't cook!). A couple of things bugged me though: the list of movies in the answer key in the back ... all the movies that start with 'The' were under T (or A if they started with that). And, one glaring error in the trivia quizzes ... so were there others? Still, a fun read.

From Canadian Reader came a recommendation for Cynthia Riggs and her Martha's Vineyard Mystery series. The first title was not available locally so I started with the second: The Cranefly Orchid Murders. Phoebe lives on a prime piece of land. She is old, and estranged from her family so decides to sell rather than let any of them inherit it. Many groups want it, from a developer who plans on a gated community with million dollar homes, to a group of doctors who plan on an exclusive golf course, to the conservation group who would leave it as is. Naturally this sparks all kinds of reactions! I had an "aha" moment and thought I'd figured it out, but I was wrong! A nice cozy. :-)

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What to do on a wet, cold day? Ride the subway! Follow along with a father and his two kids as they spend the day on various routes of this underground form of transportation. I found the illustrations in Subway, by Christoph Niemann a bit unusual at first, but I got so I rather liked them.

This is just such a 'dog' book! Ball, word and pictures by Mary Sullivan. Note singular use of word ... it's just that! Told from the viewpoint of the dog, it's how he spends his day waiting for his human to come home from school, and what he wants to do when she does. The title is a rather unsubtle hint! :-)

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Here is a fitting read for today: World's Scariest Places: Haunted, Creepy, Abandoned, from Centennial Presents. (Part of Centennial Media which publishes periodicals on a variety of topics). This is a collection of articles about cemeteries, houses, woods, towns, etc. all with an unexplained story or two. Nice photos, and balanced writing as well, (nothing too sensationalistic). :-)

While I selected this book to use for the Halloween post, it really could be used at any time. Any time you wanted to serve something disgusting that is! The Gross Cookbook, by Susanna Tee is a collection of recipes for things that are completely and safely edible, but that look, well, disgusting! You can make a Baked Human Hand, Big Green Boogers, Chewy Caterpillars, and even (brace yourself) Cat Poop in a Litter Box. Clever, fun to read, and includes warnings as to when a young cook should ask for assistance.

I know I usually post picture books on Thursday, but today is Halloween, and this fit that perfectly! Zip! Zoom! On a Broom!, by Teri Sloat and illustrated by Rosalinde Bonnet is a counting book ... first up, then down, as witches fill the night with mischief and mayhem.

Happy Halloween!

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When Broadway Went to Hollywood, by Ethan Mordden was both funny and frustrating. The 'powers that be' often tried to make musicals without the music that made the show popular. They wanted 'names' in the lead roles, not really caring if that person could sing or dance (or, in a few cases, even act). (Exceptions include Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald). Songs might be reassigned to a character who has no reason to sing said song. This happened over and over. Why? It does not make sense, and often ended up in an expensive, over blown, muddled version of the show. I chuckled over the author's description that producers (most of them musically illiterate) "sorta kinda" followed the original story. Oh, and one producer? He actually said "that rainbow number has go to go" from The Wizard of Oz. (p. 152) A few were done well such as The Music Man and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

The recommendation for Home to Woefield, by Susan Juby, came from Canadian Reader, who laughed so hard it brought on a coughing jag. While I did not laugh that hard, I did enjoy this tale of a city girl (but seriously into local foods, being 'green', etc.) who inherits a farm and sets forth with all kinds of ideas to make it work. There are some decidedly quirky characters, including Bertie, the sheep.

Here's the second in the Mystery of the French Countryside books by Martin Walker: The Dark Vineyard. Many wonderful wines are made in the area, all with small vineyards and local workers, but bigger companies have taken an interest and are offering to buy the locals out. There is a fire (was it arson?) and a beautiful young woman, and, of course, bodies. Again, well written, with a wonderful sense of place.

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Simon has been the most wonderful new bed and he is very excited to take a nap and try it out, but his owner takes him on a walk first. When they return, Simon finds an interloper on his new bed. What can he do? Simon's New Bed, by Christian Trimmer and Melissa van der Paardt will give you the answer.

Harry and Walter, written by Kathy Stinson and illustrated by Qun Leng is a wonderful story of a very special friendship. Changes come, however, and not always for the best. Or are they? Loved this book!

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Murder in Whistler, by Dianne Harman, is the second in her Northwest Cozy Mystery series. Hoping for some time alone, Dee Dee and Jake have headed to Whistler. Naturally, they come face to face with a murder. As before, there is a nice pacific northwest feel to the book. I'm liking the characters, too.

Somebody new is moving to Thrush Green and the small town is abuzz with who and what he might be. Why did he retire here? What is his plan? Winter in Thrush Green, by Miss Read is the second in her series about a charming small town in the Cotswolds. Lovely seasonal descriptions.

Before you start On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service, by Rhys Bowen, be sure you have nothing else planned! When she learns that Georgiana is headed to Italy to stay with a sick friend, the Queen asks her to "check up" on her son and "that woman" (as in Wallis Simpson). There is a murder, of course, a maid that is almost too good to be true, and the unexpected appearance of Georgie's mother ...so many things! Hard to put down. :-)

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If you watch any of the Property Brothers shows on HGTV then you should enjoy It Takes Two: Our Story, by Jonathan and Drew Scott. Energetic, possibly hyperactive, they are into, well, just so many things! Acting, magic, design, building, working with various charities and so on, here is how they got their start ....at 7 years old, making fancy hangers! I love their strong family ties (there is an older brother, too).

For a look at what it is like to drive a big truck for a living read The Long Haul: a Trucker's Tales of Life on the Road, by Finn Murphy. Mr. Murphy moves furniture, and yes, that is much different than the other big rigs you see on the road, and he explains how it is different. What it's like to box up everything for a family that is moving, deal with the emotions of that family, and see that their stuff arrives with no damage (Packing the truck is quite the interesting job ... sort of like that old game Tetris, the author said). This was an excellent read on something that was totally foreign to me!

I've seen books on finding lost art, often (probably because it makes for exciting reading) in huge quantities. In a twist on that, author Nancy Moses takes just a few objects (painting, original manuscript, mummy, etc.) and follows them from their creation to where they are now. Stolen, Smuggled, Sold: On the Hunt for Cultural Treasures proved to be an exciting read. :-)

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The moon is big and bright and beautiful so Possum wants to have a party, the last one before winter, but will anyone come? Possum's Harvest Moon, with words and pictures by Anne Hunter has the answer.

Here's another book about the harvest moon: Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, by Grace Lin. It's time for a midnight picnic! Lanterns are lit, mooncakes are shared, and wishes are made for the year to come.

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When you think of New York City do you think of Grand Central? It was almost demolished at one point! Grand Central: How a Train Station Transformed America, by Sam Roberts, is a wonderful history of that amazing building. When it first opened there were sitting areas for women, places to get your shoes shined, and a restaurant,one that is still open today. (The Oyster Bar, it opened in 1913). There are hidden stairwells, and one mostly vacant platform with armed guards. Jackie Kennedy was a prime mover in saving Grand Central (see next book). Nice history, great archival photos, author has a wicked sense of humor.

This is a picture book, yes, (and with some rather odd illustrations, I thought), but it's also a nice little history of how a great American landmark was saved: When Jackie Saved Grand Central: the True Story of Jacqueline Kennedy's Fight For an American Icon, written by Natasha Wing and illustrated by Alexandra Boiger. Read how Jackie was able to inspire not just New Yorkers, but people nation wide.

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How have humans used horses through time? Susanna Forrest explores that question in The Age of the Horse: an Equine Journey Through Human History. Divided by the 'how' makes for interesting, if sometimes a bit dry, reading. Whether for farming, transportation, war, recreation, and more the horse has had a major impact on us. (I skipped the chapter on horse meat). Loved the bits on the young women of China who play polo, and the horses used for therapy for soldiers with PTSD, and that it took three kinds of power to replace the horse in transportation! (Steam engines for long distance, electricity for mass transit, and the automobile). Time span here is eons, scope is global. Well researched.

Kiwi was the first to find this book. It is one of those social history books we both enjoy! Or we should... we both found the writing a bit dry! Still, the author did an incredible job on his research, and it is a wonderful topic so I'm including it here with the idea that some of you will enjoy it thoroughly. :-) The City is More Than Human: an Animal History of Seattle, by Frederick L. Brown tells of the animals in (literally!) Seattle and the surrounding areas and when and how that changed. The first animals banned were cattle and bulls, but milk cows were allowed to wander at will for years longer! (Sadly, about that same time, they tried to ban non-white humans, too). Horses were allowed on the streets for much longer, of course, because of the jobs they did. There are chapters on dogs and cats, fish,and so on. I'd say give this book a try, you might just find it totally fascinating. :-)

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The Tree Lady: the True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever, by H. Joseph Hopkins and illustrated by Jill McElmurry came via a recommendation from Kiwi. It is a picture book biography of Katherine Olivia Sessions, a woman who did all kinds of things a woman shouldn't do, especially in 1881 ... such as go to college (and graduate with a degree in Science, something no woman had done before). Her interest in trees and in planting them in and around San Diego created the area that became Balboa Park.

I passed the information about this book on to County Reader, who is familiar with the area, and I had relatives who lived nearby. See what Kiwi started? I love sharing books!

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The Vanishing Thief, by Kate Perker, is the first in her A Victorian Bookshop Mystery series. Store owner Georgia Fenchurch belongs to the Archivist Society, a secret band of private investigators. This time a man has been abducted, or so a neighbor claims. Was he? And if so, why? Lots of interesting little twists, good characters. And, in a nice tie in with a book I'm reading about servants, a wonderful description of one servant, who did just what she was supposed to do .... disappear when her duties were done!

The work was hard, the hours long, the rules strict, but it was something so ingrained in British society that it delayed the acceptance of labor saving devices (from the vacuum to electricity and much more) for years. Servants: a Downstairs History of Britain from the Nineteenth Century to Modern Times, by Lucy Letherbridge is a carefully researched and well written study. There were servants for every chore, big or small, to the point where the master or mistress of the house was pretty much helpless without them! Later, factory work was considered preferable because the hours were set, your time off was yours, and there was no "expectations" for your behavior. (This was a surprise as I've read about conditions in the factories)! The wars changed everything ... servants were fewer and often came from another country. In the 1960's biographies from former servants became popular. (Many of the period pieces we enjoy on TV, etc., get it wrong). Oh, and to tie in with the comment made in the recommendation above? One description of a servant was that she was "pleasantly unobtrusive". Indeed, there would be curtains, or hidden doors, or passages behind book shelves so a servant could vanish from sight quickly.

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I have seen the Miss Read books on shelves for years (decades) but never read one until Constant Reader said how enjoyable they were. There are two series and in this case it's the Thrush Green series. Set in a small town, on the first day of May (that's when the small, traveling fair comes each year) Thrush Green is the introduction to a wonderful small town and it's quirky residents. If you want a delightful, gentle read, look no further.

If you think the headlines today are full scandals, think again! According to author Michael Farquhar, they have nothing on those of the past. Decide for yourself with A Treasury of Royal Scandals: the Shocking True Stories of History's Wickedest, Weirdest, Most Wanton Kings, Queens, Tsars, Popes, and Emperors. Not for the faint of heart, many of these were extremely cruel people. A few were funny, though, as strange rituals (and even one invasive surgery) were copied by those seeking favor. Diogenes would have given up. An index would have been nice.

Note: Thrush Green was a wonderful, refreshing, relaxing read after this! :-)

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After watching a show on the Golden Gate bridge I thought I needed to find a book, and what a find it was! Granted, This Bridge Will Not Be Gray, story by Dave Eggers and art by Tucker Nichols, is a children's book, but the text and unusual art work make it a worthy read for us older folks, too. It's a nice little history of the bridge and how it was built, and why it is the color it is.

Keeping with the easy-to-read theme here, I read The Building of the Golden Gate Bridge, by Arnold Ringstad. It's a nice history of the bridge and (no surprise, given the title) how it was built! Good explanations of the foundations (one end is much deeper than the other), how the cables were strung, safety nets, and ... the color!

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