This is a sweet little book! As the blurb on the jacket said, not only are no two snowflakes alike, neither are sisters! Find out how two young sisters spend a snowy day. Snow Sisters! Two Sisters, One Snowy Day, by Kerri Kokias and Teagan White is charming!

This is a 'change of season' picture book. It even says so right in the subtitle! Author/illustrator Il Sung Na shows how seasons and animals change, starting and ending with the rabbit. Find out how animals cope in Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit: a Book of Changing Seasons. (Loved the shells on the turtles)!

Reading Hermit With Dog

The Plot is Murder is the first in series called "A Mystery Bookshop Mystery" and is by V.M. Burns. It is a mystery story within a mystery story as the main character is trying to write her first book (set in 1938) while dealing with a murder that took place outside her bookstore here in the present. Not a bad debut! Love the grandmother and her band of retired ladies!

I've enjoyed the Aunt Dimity series, by Nancy Atherton, ever since I found the first book so many years ago, and the most recent, Aunt Dimity and the Widow's Curse was no exception. This time the adventure starts at a quilting bee, where the Widow Craven admits to a murder. Of course, Lori and Bree have to investigate! When they get to the nearby town, scene of the supposed murder, TWO versions of past events unfold. Which one is true? A delightful read for a rainy winter afternoon. :-)

Here's a book that was recommended to Canadian Reader but I managed to read it first: The Invisible Library, by Genevieve Cogman. The Librarians here are those who travel to alternate worlds (there are several Londons, for example) to bring back books that cross time. This time it's a copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales. Quite a nice read with interesting twists and some wonderful closing lines to chapters! Canadian Reader will get it next .... (later) ... she enjoyed it and has requested the next in the series. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog

Here's a curious and fun little book: The Gentlewoman's Book of Sports from the Pushkin Press of the London Library. It's a collection of articles written by woman, about sports they played, from a time (1892) when it was thought women could not, should not, do such things! A wonderful addition to my 'strong women' trail. :-)

Also along the sports trail (aka the 'you read what?' trail) was The Stupidest Sports Book of All Time: Hilarious Blunders, Bloopers, Oddities, Quotes, and More from the World of Sports, by Kathryn and Ross Petras. Absolutely hysterical! Points made for the other team, running the wrong way, dumb (really dumb sometimes) comments ... all in all a most enjoyable book.

Five Presidents: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford is the second book I've read by Clint Hill (with Lisa McCubbin). In the times before computers, files were kept on threats against the POTUS and his family. Information on the most serious was put on 3 x 5 cards and handed out to members of the Secret Service. This is how it was when Clint Hill started. What was it like to be responsible for their safety? And what about the president who liked to take unplanned detours to go get ice cream? Hill and McCubbins have a nice style, this is an easy to read glimpse of a job few of us know much about.

Reading Hermit With Dog

Instead of the picture books, which I usually post midweek, I have two books for tweens and teens this time.

Here's a book that just might get a younger reader interested in reading about history: Bugged: How Insects Changed History, by Sarah Albee, with illustrations by Robert Leighton. Bugs of all kinds are included: from those that make silk, or an amazing red dye, to those that bring disease and plague. When humans wandered across the world they took with them germs and lice, etc. bringing new diseases to new lands. When scientists discovered germs, no one believed that something that small could make something as big as a human sick. Next came ideas for cures and prevention. Not a bad read! There is a recipe for chocolate covered crickets, too.

This is a book I liked well enough that I am recommending it to anyone with a daughter, niece, or grand-daughter! Motor Girls: How Women Took the Wheel and Drove Boldly Into the Twentieth Century, by Sue Macy. Meet Lillian Sheridan, who, with a few other women, sold cars in Seattle in the 1920s. Or Mary Henderson who has just one patent to her name (1903) ... for a windshield wiper. Women were winning races and when they were eventually banned from the track (you know, because it was so dangerous, not because they were winning), one went on to race speed boats, others went on to drive ambulances. This is just a great read, don't miss it! (It's a National Geographic Book, so the pictures are wonderful)!

Reading Hermit With Dog

Here's a wonderful recommendation from Tall Reader: The Long Walk Home, by Will North. When his wife dies (well, ex-wife, but you'll learn all about that) Alec starts out to fulfill one of her final wishes which is to have her ashes scattered on a mountain top in Wales where they once hiked. And so begins a moving, touching story.

Thanks to Canadian Reader I have several more of the Isle of Man Cozy Mysteries, by Diana Xarissa to read! The second in the series is Aunt Bessie Believes (yes, they are coming in alphabetical order). When a totally disagreeable women dies, it looks as if it is due to her heart condition, but (of course) it isn't! The plot thickens when her long lost brother shows up. Or is he? Just a great series in true cozy tradition!

Canadian Reader also got me started on the Inspector Bruno books by Martin Walker. While this one, Black Diamond (it's a truffle!), had a bit too much about various gangs in the French countryside, I mostly enjoyed it. (And other readers might enjoy such action). There is a rugby game between the 'oldsters' (coming up on 40) and the young men that was wonderful! I'm enjoying the character development, too.

Reading Hermit With Dog

The title of this book first caught my eye, and made me chuckle. Then, I learned from the back of the cover that Roz Warren has written several books of humor, and after that I wanted to give Our Bodies, Our Shelves: a Collection of Library Humor, a try. Full of stories about what it's like to work in a public library I found myself nodding and laughing on just about every page. Patrons record over a video (remember VHS tapes?) much to the surprise of a group of nuns who thought they had checked out something else. Patrons sneak long overdue books back in and put them on the shelf to avoid a fine. Just how quickly will the swim suit issue of Sports Illustrated be stolen? These things really happen! Fun! :-)

Books Make a Home: Elegant Ideas for Storing and Displaying Books, by Damian Thompson would go nicely with two of the books on the post of December 5th. It's a nice blend of the two: there are some wonderful bookshelves (but no instructions on how to make them) as well as some designs that are interesting but (to me at least) would not be very useful for actually holding books! I was puzzled by the idea of stacking books (and even using that for the base of a glass topped table), but then, I like easy access to my books. ;-)

The Book Lovers' Miscellany, collected by Claire Cock-Starkey is just that ... a nice little collection of tidbits about books. There are entries about ink, paper, oldest book found, dust jackets, fonts, popular books through the ages ... and so on. Perfect to read during commercials during a favorite TV show, and easy to hold in one hand while drinking a cup of tea (and maybe a cookie or two) with the other.

Reading Hermit With Dog

Have you seen any of the Little Free Library boxes? This book (to me, anyway) is a spin on those! Red Knit Cap Girl and the Reading Tree, by Naoko Stoop, shows how something very similar was created in the woods. Delightful!

I was pleased when I found The Bear and the Piano, by David Litchfield, because it looked like it would fit well with my 'piano trail'. And, really, it does, but I have a personal misgiving here (and that's all it is) ... I've just never liked animals in human clothing. So, if that does not bother you, check this book out! And if it does, well, check it out anyway, I did! ;-)

Reading Hermit With Dog

Walking into a small store in Paris changes Thad Carhart's life. Find out how in The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier. This is a charming book about reconnecting with a past love and the quirky people that helped. There are chapters on the history of the piano, restoring and tuning them, along with the unusual finds the store owner finds. This book inspired a new trail, but would it be books about the piano? France? We'll see!

One about France actually popped up first: French Toast: Celebrating the Maddening Mysteries of Parisians. This is a memoir by Harriet Welty Rochefort who was born in Iowa but went to Paris during college. She married a Frenchman and settled there to raise their family. Here she discusses the perplexities, complexities, and puzzlement of the French. An amusing and informative read!

Then came The Piano Maker, by Kurt Palka. From her earliest days Helene Giroux was taught not only how to play a piano, but how to build and tune them as well. Her family has done so for generations. Sadly, times change, and she ends up taking refuge in a small town in Nova Scotia. She is a woman with a secret. Nicely written.

A woman with a secret is also part of the story line in Piano Tide, by Kathleen Dean Moore. I was caught up in the first chapter because in order to deliver an upright piano to a small town in Alaska, the tide must be in. Small towns often struggle for survival, and here it is no different. How far do you go? Clear cut a forest? Ruin salmon runs for a fancy bottled water? Watch out for this one, I was reading and doing other things at first, then I was just reading, stopping just long enough to feed the dog! The people will really catch your interest. Thanks go to County Reader for this recommendation. (Sorry it took so long for me to get to it). :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog

England. 1953. The upcoming coronation of Elizabeth II has everyone buying a new fangled device called the television. A body is found with the ace of hearts on top of the corpse. While many may think this is a card of love, to magicians it's much more sinister. The Blood Card, by Elly Griffiths, is the third in the Magic Men series. This time, in addition to bodies, there is a bomb threat, but is it against the coronation, or the variety show that will air that same night? Clear some time to read this one, it was hard to put down.

One of the books in A League of Literary Ladies Mystery series was the reason dinner was very late one night! Author Kylie Logan admits to being a huge fan of Agatha Christie and wants her books to be in a similar style. I think she hit the mark here with And Then There Were Nuns. (Of course, it's been (ahem) a while since I read And Then There Were None) Who would be after nuns? And why? Again, just a nice cozy read, with some good twists to the plot. :-)

Do you like to bake? Are you creative in the kitchen? I am neither, so found myself most intrigued by A Sweet World of White House Desserts: From Blown-Sugar Baskets to Gingerbread Houses, a Pastry Chef Remembers, by Roland Mesnier. Note, there are no recipes included because each dessert was unique for the occasion, whether it was a state dinner, a celebration (birthday, holiday), or a special event. Check out some of Mr. Mesnier's amazing creations and remember, sometimes as many as 650 were needed. He was proud of the fact that in 25 years he never served the same dessert twice! Wonderful pictures!

Here's another title from the Mindset People ... The Mindset List of the Obscure: 74 Famously Forgotten Icons from A to Z, by Tom McBride and Ron Nief. Here they describe several things that were once popular. It includes items that were found in every home, well known phrases, and people from stage and screen ... and radio. See how many are familiar! I'm not sure if this is amusing or depressing, but it was a fun read. (See post from November 14, 2017 for another Mindset book).

Reading Hermit With Dog

The timing of the arrival of these wordless books (at the same time!) would do a musician proud! Even though he was told to head directly to his lesson, our young brass player gets distracted in Tuba Lessons, by T.C. Bartlett and illustrated by Monique Felix. Seems many animals are interested in the music he makes! I love how the staff becomes part of the adventure.

The Conductor, by Laetitia Devernay, was not what I was expecting (a musical theme) (silly me!), but I ended up quite enjoying the book anyway. Finding himself in a grove of trees, this conductor conducts them, instead of musicians! A very nice spin. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog

There is no doubt that a wonderful dog named Tara made a huge impression on author David Rosenfelt. He and his wife even run a dog rescue foundation in her name, so I was not surprised to find a book called Lessons from Tara: Life Advice from the World's Most Brilliant Dog. These are things learned from Tara, and the other dogs in the Rosenfelt life (and there are dozens). Fun and insightful you'll find chapters on everything from public speaking, to acceptance, to respect for others, coping with the ups and downs of life .... all coming from experiences with dogs.

It was nice going from this to the next Andy Carpenter Mystery, Collared, by David Rosenfelt. This time it's a dog tied to the door of a shelter that starts the investigation into a kidnapping from a few years back. There are some interesting twists this time, and folks are not always what they appear to be. More courtroom than CSI than other mysteries I read, it makes for a nice change. Author has a sarcastic style that I enjoy.

I'll admit I was a bit reluctant to read Saving Sadie: How a Dog That No One Wanted Inspired the World, by Joal Dere Dauer with Elizabeth Ridley, as these books can be so very sad ... and (fair warning here) parts are ... but ... mostly this is a story of survival and recovery of an amazing dog and the human who saw something special in a dirty, badly injured dog. Sadie and Joal will go on to offer support to kids suffering from bullying, soldiers recovering from brain injuries, and so much more. Thanks go to Riding Reader for this one!

Reading Hermit With Dog

For a fun (and for some of you, useful, maybe?) connection, partner Tequila Mockingbird from the February 9, 2016 post with The Cocktail Guide to the Galaxy: a Universe of Unique Cocktails from the Celebrated Doctor Who Bar, by Andy Heidel. The connections with so many SF books and authors and shows and movies ... well, it was just a great read! I have not tried any of those included here, but it seems they've all been field tested as being excellent.

I had mixed reactions to The Library of Unrequited Love, by Sophie Divry and translated from the French by Sian Reynolds. When a librarian (assigned to the books on the lower level of the library) comes across someone who got locked in the library overnight, she gets started on a one-sided conversation that goes on and on. I found myself agreeing sometimes, and not others. Sometimes I thought she was spot on, other times I felt like she was whining. It's a short book, just 93 pages long, so I suggest giving it a try and seeing what you think!

Here's something for my strong women trail and well as the 'you read what?' trail! Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win, written and illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky. Designed for tweens, I think, this is a great collection of short bios, fun pictures, and bits of trivia about athletic women from early times to present day.

Reading Hermit With Dog

It took me a while to realize that the Jack in the title is the dog! Now, if I'd seen the earlier books by this author/illustrator, I would have known that, but I haven't, and I didn't! Jack and the Night Visitors, by Pat Schories is a wordless book about some unusual creatures who arrive late one night outside the window of Jack and his human's bedroom. When the situation gets out of hand, it's Jack to the rescue. Cute!

For some reason, if I am going to have an odd day (not so much a bad day, just one that is awkward, or seems off a bit), it often seems to come on a Tuesday. I might not be the only one who does! Check out Tuesday, by David Wiesner for what must be one of the oddest Tuesdays ever! Don't miss the dog!

Reading Hermit With Dog

It may be the start of a new year, but there are a few books I read for, or over, the Christmas holiday that I still need to post. It seemed like too long a time to wait until next December! ;-)

Rhys Bowen's newest Molly Murphy book is a holiday mystery: The Ghost of Christmas Past. Hoping to spend a quiet Christmas at home, plans change with an invitation to join Molly's mother-in-law in the country. Years ago, at this time of year, there was a kidnapping. The footprints in the snow vanished at the river, there were no other prints to be found, no ransom note ever arrived ... just what happened? How Molly figures everything out made for a nice winter read.

This book was in my stocking: Christmas Trivia, from Publications International, Ltd. Full of information on the traditions (new and old), the food, decorations, variations on Santa, carols, to the hottest gifts over time it's a fun book to read and share. Just one curious observation on my part, though .... there was not one mention of the song White Christmas!

In the effort of full disclosure here, I did not read all of this book ... it was just too big and it was over the holidays and others were waiting for it. Still, what I did read was amazing so I thought I'd go ahead and include it anyway. Journey: an Illustrated History of Travel, by Simon Adams, R.G. Grant, and Andrew Humphreys is a big (and heavy) book about, well, travel. Rich and detailed there's lots of information here, and because it's a Smithsonian book, wonderful pictures as well. From walking the earth to walking the moon and everything in between it's an amazing journey. (Sorry!) ;-)

I'm liking the change of when I post my blog, so look for new ones Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog