Book For This Week - 8/21/10

The Rebel

by

Bernard

Cornwell

From The Library Journal

"Running away from his abolitionist preacher father, Nate Starbuck arrives in Richmond as Fort Sumter falls. He becomes an aide to Washington Faulconer, who is raising a legion to defend the South. Nate falls in love with a gorgeous country girl, recruits her father for the legion, and learns just enough soldiering to "see the elephant" at First Manassas and look across the battle line at his brother. Cornwell, noted author of many historical novels (most recently Sharpe's Devil ), provides an excellent depiction of the unrealistic attitudes held by both sides as the Civil War began. This first installment in a projected series featuring Starbuck is highly recommended for historicity, plotting, and general excitement."

(On my way home from work tonight I finished listening to "The Rebel",  which was a gift from a friend here on MP.   I enjoyed the book and have enjoyed one of the Sharpe books in the past.  I would like to listen to more of  Bernard Cornwell's books.  As always,  click on the title and the author's name to learn more.)

Book For This Week - 8/14/10

The Guernsey Literary
and
Potato Peel Pie Society
by
Anne Barrows
and
Mary Ann Shaffer




Watch an interview with the author HERE

From Publishers Weekly:

"The letters comprising this small charming novel begin in 1946, when single, 30-something author Juliet Ashton (nom de plume Izzy Bickerstaff) writes to her publisher to say she is tired of covering the sunny side of war and its aftermath. When Guernsey farmer Dawsey Adams finds Juliet's name in a used book and invites articulate—and not-so-articulate—neighbors to write Juliet with their stories, the book's epistolary circle widens, putting Juliet back in the path of war stories. The occasionally contrived letters jump from incident to incident—including the formation of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society while Guernsey was under German occupation—and person to person in a manner that feels disjointed. But Juliet's quips are so clever, the Guernsey inhabitants so enchanting and the small acts of heroism so vivid and moving that one forgives the authors (Shaffer died earlier this year) for not being able to settle on a single person or plot. Juliet finds in the letters not just inspiration for her next work, but also for her life—as will readers."

(I just finished listening to this book.  Disc four is stuck in my car CD player but thankfully it got stuck when I tried to eject it after I had listened to it and I was able to finish the book on my little walkman player.  Please follow the links by clicking on the title,  the authors name and the word HERE above to learn more info.   This book is so delightful.  WWII is a favorite topic of mine to read historical novels about and this book takes the horror of German Occupation and the concentration camps and balances it with joy,  friendship and love.   A must read folks!  Don't miss it!!!)

‪"Up In The Air"

This pm I rented this movie for Mark and I to watch after dinner. A girl has to admit that George Clooney, even when he plays an ass, is hot. "Up In The Air" is a different sort of movie, it is entertaining along with being thought provoking.

From My Email Bag Tonight -

Girlfriends:

A group of 15 year old girlfriends discussed where they should meet for
dinner.  Finally, it was agreed upon that they should meet at the Dairy
Queen next to the Ocean View restaurant because they only had $6.00
between them and Jimmy Johnson, that cute boy in Social Studies, lives
on that street and they might see him and they can ride their bikes
there.


10 years later, the group of 25 year old girlfriends discussed where
they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed upon that they
should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the beer was cheap,
they had free snacks, the band was good, there was no cover and there
were lots of cute guys.


10 years later, at 35 years of age, the group once again discussed where
they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed upon that they
should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the cosmos were good,
it was right near the gym and if they go late enough, there wouldn't be
too many whiny little kids.


10 years later, at 45 years of age, the group once again discussed where
they should meet for dinner. Finally, it was agreed upon that they
should meet at the Ocean View restaurant because the martinis were big,
and the waiters there had tight pants and nice buns.


10 years later, at 55 years of age, the group once again discussed where
they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed they should meet at
the Ocean View restaurant because the food there was reasonable, the
wine list was good, they had windows that open in case of a hot flash,
and fish is good for your cholesterol.


10 years later, at 65 years of age, the group once again discussed where
they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed that they should meet
at the Ocean View restaurant because lighting was good and they have an
early bird special.


10 years later, at 75 years of age, the group once again discussed where
they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed that they should meet
at the Ocean View restaurant because food was not too spicy, the
restaurant was handicapped accessible and they even had an elevator!


10 years later, at 85 years of age, the group once again discussed where
they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed that they should meet
at the Ocean View restaurant because they had never been there before.