A Reliable Wife

By Robert Goolrick...on the back cover "He placed a notice in a Chicago paper, an advertisement for 'a reliable wife'.  She responded that she was a 'simple, honest woman'. "  This is the line that interested me in the book...and as I read the book I wondered what would happen.  It seemed to go one way, and then it went the other...and with more twists of plot, kept me reading until the very end.  Descriptive, like a novel written in another time...a romance, revenge, hatred, and redemption.  Many qualities I look for in a book.  I enjoyed the historical fiction aspect of it as well.  I recommend.

Books Books and More Books

I have been systematically going through my book collection.  It is really hard.  I have books that I salvaged when I worked at the Emerson R Miller Branch of the Newark Public Library in Newark, Ohio...ones that were withdrawn and I saved.  I have books that I have purchased through book sales, yard sales, flea markets, and stores.  I have books given to me by friends, family and my husband.  I have books my father purchased for me at auctions when I was young.  I have books whose authors I have tried to collect everything they have ever written.  I know that for some, this weeding process is easy.  Whatever you haven't touched or read recently...toss, give away, etc.  For me it is like getting rid of members of my family.  Many of them have memories attached to them.  And...what complicates things is that I am a Librarian...so getting rid of books is painful.  I realize carrying them around is silly.  So I have started going through them and deciding which ones will stay and which ones will go.  Unfortunately some of them are also getting thrown away...the books are too damaged or torn to keep.  What is funny is that some of these books have been with me since the 80s...people would often not help me move because over 50% of my possessions were books...and now, I am saying goodbye to some of them.  It is sad, yet freeing in a way.  Also, most of my books will go to a good cause.  I am giving the best ones to the Friends of the Liberty Lake Municipal Library for their book sale in October.  Some will get added to the collection at the Library and others will be sold and that money will go towards programming, materials and items the Library may need.

Let's Take the Long Way Home

A Memoir of Friendship...by Gail Caldwell.  I loved the idea of this book...talking about a friendship.  For women friendship is a mixed bag...we are fortunate if we can sustain a friendship because so many other things take up our time and energy.  Apparently author Gail found a friend in Caroline.  I don't think this will spoil the review...as this is what is said in the cover...but Caroline dies of cancer....Gail is left to pick up the pieces and mourn the loss of a friend.  She does this by recapping how they met, what they did together and how it all ends.  You almost feel like you are intruding into their relationship.  I wasn't especially sucked into the story or the content...but what I did take away from it was how precious friendship is and can be.  It made me think of my friendships both current and past...and for that I enjoyed the book.

Star Island

By Carl Hiaasen...can I just say this?  I LOVE this author.  I love his crazy characters...I love to hate his villains...I love what bizarre things happen to the cast of characters as the story unfolds.  This book was just as funny and unpredictable as his others.  There are several plots that eventually overlap and intertwine...which makes for fun reading.  This story talks about a rising star who is too into drugs and alcohol and sex...the obsessed paparazzi that follow her and those lives that get caught in the mix.  One of his reoccurring characters makes an appearance in the book as well.  Fun read!

Ramona and her Father

By Beverly Cleary...I am enjoying my trip down memory lane...re-reading the Ramona books.  It is a fun and light way to fall asleep!  I simply can't wait to read more.  I had forgotten that Ramona's dad lost his job and how the family tries to adjust.  The whole smoking issue...that was interesting as well.  Recommend as a read aloud for a family or for your child who is reading chapter books.  Fun and funny!

The Killing Room

By John Manning...okay, I was SUCKED in...and totally horrified.  As the pages turned I was wondering what was going to happen next...and who was behind it all.  This definitely reminded me of some of the great scary horror books of my youth...however a good friend told me that the book got hokey...and she wasn't kidding.  I was with it until the plot took a shocking twist and then it was just dumb...which was very disappointing.  I was interested that this book was made into a movie...maybe I will watch it.  It will probably give me nightmares!

Mockingjay

By Suzanne Collins...this was MUCH anticipated.  Book 2 left me hanging and I had a little less than a month before I could read this book!  Well, I wasn't disappointed.  This was the first book where I found myself wanting more action...but the story unfolded in a great way...and if had read faster I would have finished faster.  Loved the characters, the development of the plot and the eventual end.  Highly recommend...and if you haven't read any of this series...what are you waiting for?