In a nostalgic moment (I was cleaning out a closet and came across a box of marbles that belonged to my Dad) I found Marbles: a Player's Guide, by Shar Levine and Vicki Scudamore and illustrated by Emily S. Edliq. I was more interested in the history chapters than the games (I had no idea there were so many!), but if you want to try some, all the rules, etc. are included.

On the same night as I saw the show about the Golden Gate bridge I also saw one on Alcatraz. One of the hosts was the daughter of one of the Wardens, and she wrote a book: Breaking the Rock: the Great Escape from Alcatraz, by Jolene Babyak. The breakout was a result of a decrepit building, reduced staff, budget cuts, an 'easing' of some of the rules, and determined prisoners. I'm impressed by the research (records were incomplete, or just plain missing), and the time the author took to get interviews (with the understanding that what she was told might be lies and/or exaggerations. Not a bad read. :-) The author has a nice style.

From Kiwi comes a reflective, descriptive book of southwest Washington in Wintergreen: Listening to the Land's Heart, by Robert Michael Pyle. The chapters on the rain, and the green were spot on, the chapters on logging .... were sad, I thought. I read this on a cloudy day, which was perfect.

Reading Hermit With Dog