Book 8 My Fave Thus Far This Year!

My Antonia by Willa Cather
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Love this. I read it several years ago and re-read it for a book club. I noticed that a review made a comment about not wanting to read a book with a suicide but that has so very little to do with the book.
Willa Cather is America's greatest female writer and in the top three of all American writers. The words so invoke emotions and memories and homesickness. As I pondered this book days after I read it, I realized that my grandmother was from a Swedish immigrant family and she worked as a maid. No wonder I love this--it's genetic memories.

Please read this and savor the words.


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Book 7 towards my goal

The Expats by Chris Pavone

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I agree with all of the other reviewers of this book--from the five stars to the one star. This book kept my attention although there were some holes and problems, the story itself kept me involved. I liked the characters. I liked Kate. My biggest complaint was that the children seemed to be more like pets. It was easy to set them aside, hire a babysitter, and eventually send them to boarding school--there was simply no depth to the children. I also felt like the occasional more steamy sex scenes were thrown in after the book was written---like an editor said "we need to add some entertainment value, we need to spice up their lives." Stupid.

But I liked the idea of the mom as spy and the cyber banking and security was interesting.

I read this on a trip to London and it filled the airplane time.



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Book 6 towards my goal of 24

Reading Like a Writer: Chapter 2 -  Words by Francine Prose

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Very fun read. You don't often find a non-fiction book about writing that is this entertaining and fun. Within the pages of this book I discovered so many new books I want, and need, to read.  If you're interested in being a writer then this is a must read.



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President's Day Weekend Get-Away 2014

Annie, Mark in the background. Fiery Furnace, Sunday,  February 17, 2014.


























Phil and Annie, Delicate Arch, Saturday, February 15, 2014

Phil and Annie, Goblin Valley, February 16, 2014.

Landscape Arch, February 16, 2014.

Lichen on rock, Arches National Park, February 15, 2014.

Love this book! Great gift idea for birthdays.

Book #3 of my 2014 Challenge

Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is purely entertainment. Don't think too deeply or you'll be disappointed. I read it to keep my mind off a cold and it did that. The main character is a bit hard to accept as the intelligent woman she is supposed to be. She is guilty of being stupid if anything but again, this was fun and light and well-written. Oh, that we all could be wealthy and have wealthy friends and all end up happily ever after.

Read it for fun---not for depth and you'll be just fine.



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