A Carrion Death by Michael Stanley

Title: A Carrion Death
Author: Michael Stanley
ISBN: 9780061252402/ Harper Collins, 2008
Genre: Police procedural, #1 in the Detective Kubu mystery series
Rating: A

First Line: The hyena moved off when the men shouted.

The half-eaten body of a man is found on a remote game reserve, and Assistant Superintendent David Bengu of the Botswana Police Department is sent to investigate. Known as "Kubu" (Setswanan for "hippopotamus"), Bengu is a large man who's deceptively amiable. The more he searches for the killer, the more clues he finds that all seem to lead back to Botswana's largest company: the Botswana Cattle and Mining Company...and the bodies begin piling up.

Kubu looked out of his window. I've made an idiot of myself to an inspector from the South African Police. I've asked my friend to do something inappropriate that I can't justify in any logical way. And I now have six bodies, or parts of bodies, and missing persons--count them, six--and I don't know why or who or what is going on. But I'm going home to the wife I love, and my dog, and my dinner. I think I'll treat us to a decent Shiraz. So the hell with all of them!

He locked his office and left.

This book is compulsively readable. Kubu has an annoying boss, Mabaku, who likes to hobnob with the rich and shameless, but (wonder of wonders), Mabaku wants everyone held accountable to the same rules, which makes a refreshing change. Kubu is a determined investigator who still insists on regular meals and time spent with a family that he adores. The intricately woven plot moves quickly, but also gives a very strong sense of place:

Now it was a Gaborone suburb with shopping malls and fast-food outlets. All that remained of the past were the baboons that frequently swarmed over the buildings and parking lot. Soon someone would complain loudly enough, and they would be captured and moved, or shot for being a nuisance. You can't stop progress, he mused, but wouldn't it be nice if we managed it better?

As I read and pieced together clues, I also learned about mining diamonds, Bushmen, and traveling in the Kalahari Desert. Those who enjoy Alexander McCall Smith's No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency stories will find A Carrion Death presents a grittier and sometimes grisly portrait of Botswana, but a portrait that is just as captivating and addictive. Once again I've found a new mystery series to follow. The South African writing team of Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip have a winner on their hands.

It's All About Attitude

A big Thank You to Lilly of Reading Extravaganza for giving me the Lemonade Award for blogs that show great attitude and/or gratitude. I don't know about the rest of you, but I find it's easy to have a great attitude when I'm part of the wonderful book blogging community!

Scene of the Blog-- Michele of A Reader's Respite!

This week we're taking a trip to beautiful Washington state to visit with Michele of A Reader's Respite. I have to admit that her blog design is one of my favorites. I love her sense of humor, and since I'm a little slow, it took me two visits to the Respite before I learned not to drink my caffeine free Diet Pepsi while reading her posts. Diet Pepsi up your nose just isn't an Emily Post thing to do when visiting such a classy blog!

Like many other book bloggers, Michele is a busy wife and mother, but her occupation is just a tad different: she's an airline pilot. (If I were ever on one of her flights, I wonder if I'd be brave enough to run the old chestnut "Did we land, or were we shot down?" past her?)

Enough of my jawing! It's time to satisfy our inner Peeping Toms and take a look at where Michele does her blogging! As usual, click on the photos if you'd like to see them full size.

This is where I spend most of my days, getting random flashes of brilliance which I then forget before I can jot them down.

This is our household's infamous "Mom's Chair." No one dares sit there except Mom. Ever. It's generally where Mom blogs when she's not flying.

This is a photo of my blogging computer with a paperback on it to give size perspective....it's a tiny little thing.

Can I be honest here and say that looking at that cockpit gives me the shakes? I've always said that I'd love to learn to fly, but I'm really referring to something like an old bi-plane. (What can I say? I saw Out of Africa a few too many times!)

I smiled when I read about the Mom's Chair. My own mother had a chair with an unwritten--but very well known--rule just like that. Michele's chair looks almost too comfortable. I can see myself curling up there with a book and then nodding off. And that netbook is almost microscopic! As foggy as I am when I first wake up, there's no way I could even see that first thing in the morning, let alone find the keys to type on it!

Thanks so much, Michele, for letting us take a peek at your creative space. We really appreciate it! Where are we going next Wednesday? Let me give my globe a twirl.... We'll be visiting England to take a peek at where Lindsay creates Books Do Furnish a Room!

Wordless Wednesday

Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum
Tucson, Arizona

Click to view full size. For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

The Cold Blue Blood by David Handler

Title: The Cold Blue Blood
Author: David Handler
ISBN: 0312986106/ St. Martin's Minotaur, 2001
Genre: Cozy Mystery, #1 in the Berger and Mitry series
Rating: A

First Line: He called himself Stan, although Torry was pretty sure Stan wasn't his real name.

The two main characters: Mitch Berger, New York film critic and reclusive curmudgeon; and Lieutenant Desiree Mitry of the Connecticut State Police, six-foot-one, long dreadlocks, legs up to there, and a rescuer of feral cats.

Hooked yet?

I was, but I was also in for a shock. For some reason when the term "curmudgeon" is used to describe someone, I automatically think of that person as being over fifty years of age. Mitch Berger is barely in his thirties, and has been thrown for a loop by the death of his beloved wife. He's lived and breathed movies his entire life, and being a film critic is the perfect job for him:

"I discovered that I come alive in the dark," he said. "Not so much like a vampire but more like an exotic form of fungus. A darkened movie theater is my natural habitat."

Enough time has passed after his wife's death that Mitch begins to feel a need for a change of scenery, someplace where he can work on his latest book. He finds a place on Connecticut's Gold Coast:

Because this was no ordinary outbuilding. It was a genuine antique post-and-beam carriage house with exposed beams of hand-hewn chestnut. The room, which was a good-sized one, had a big fieldstone fireplace at one end, wide-boarded oak floors and floor-to-ceiling windows that afforded a totally unobstructed view of the water in three different directions. It was a bit like being on the bridge of a ship at sea.

Although Mitch had just thought of staying at a B&B for a couple of weeks, after seeing this carriage house, he couldn't help himself and rented it immediately from its blue-blooded Yankee owner. Mitch moves in, the sea air begins working its magic on him, he decides to put in a garden...and when his spade uncovers a dead body, he has the pleasure of meeting Lieutenant Desiree Mitry. What did the good lieutenant think when she first laid eyes on Mitch?

Mitch Berger had the saddest eyes Des had ever seen on any creature that was not living at the Humane Society, its wet nose and furry paws pressed to the door of its cage.

A few pieces of the plot are well-known devices: the small town community that shuns outsiders; the rich folks who expect doffed caps and tugged forelocks and know that the laws do not apply to them. Well-known and well-worn or not, what drew me into this book hook, line and sinker were Handler's way with words and his characterizations. Handler has an eye for detail and a talent for snappy dialogue. Although Berger and Mitry are the stars of the book (each with a personal arsenal of life's scars), there are other characters that stand out and remain in my memory: the single mother who makes a fatal mistake, the old "Cranky Yankee"....

It's been a long time since I was so charmed by one book that I immediately started grabbing as many of the other books in the series as I could get my hands on, but that's what I did when I finished The Cold Blue Blood. I have the next three books in the series waiting to be read. I know I'm in for a treat!

Northwest Rainforest Pioneers: Narratives and Photography

Title: Northwest Rainforest Pioneers: Narratives and Photography
Author: Claudia Harper
ISBN: 1571883452/ Frank Amato Publications, 2004
Genre: Poetry, Photography
Rating: DNF

I did not realize from the book's description at Paperback Swap that this is a collection of the author's narrative poems and photography. If I had, I would not have ordered it. My success rate is rather hit or miss with this type of book, and I always want to base a reading decision upon physically seeing the book and going through its pages.

I barely started reading when I knew that I was not going to finish. I love poetry and photography, but I'm very subjective about both. Harper's narrative poems just didn't "grab" me, and I didn't care for her photographic technique.

In a case like this, I feel as though I should create a new rating category: NMC--"not my cuppa". NMC would mean that I made an entirely subjective judgment call in not finishing the book, and that my decision should not be taken into consideration if you're deciding whether or not to read this book!

What Big Cat Are You?

You Are a Black Panther

You see through people. You understand others' motives and plans. You have a knack for predicting the future. You just know what people are going to do. People are attracted to you. You are naturally able to influence other people's thoughts. You have the charisma to be a beloved guru or dictator. It's all about how you handle it.

What Big Cat Are You?

Some of this actually comes pretty close to the truth, but I have to admit that I just think black panthers are cool in a very scary way. And...I have no aspirations to be either a guru or a dictator!

Mailbox Monday-- A David Handler Marathon

Another slow week for me. Our visiting family has returned to England, and my head is still reeling from the silence! I only sent 3 books to new Paperback Swap foster homes, and I received 3...all from Paperback Swap, and all by the same author.

One of the few books I read while our family was here was David Handler's The Cold Blue Blood. You'll see a review of it here on Kittling: Books tomorrow. All I'll say now is that I fell in love with the book and the characters, clicked over to Stop, You're Killing Me! to see what the next books in the series were, and then ordered the next three from Paperback Swap. They all arrived last week, so if I'm ever in the mood for a David Handler Marathon, I'm all set! (Inquiring minds want to know: who's the last author you fell in love with and immediately went looking for more of his/her books?)

Here's the breakdown of the books I received last week:

• The Hot Pink Farmhouse by David Handler (PBS), #2 in the Berger & Mitry mystery series set in Connecticut. (Berger is a New York film critic, and Mitry is an Amazonian Connecticut state trooper.)
• The Bright Silver Star by David Handler (PBS), #3 in the Berger & Mitry mystery series.
• The Burnt Orange Sunrise by David Handler (PBS), #4 in the Berger & Mitry mystery series.

A big thank you to Marcia of The Printed Page for hosting this fun meme. If you'd like to join in, or if you'd just like to see more answers, click on that hungry-looking mailbox at the top of this post!

Musing Mondays-- Non-Fiction, Anyone?

Do you read non-fiction regularly? Do you read it in a different way or place than you read fiction?

I do read non-fiction regularly, although not as often as I did in the past. I'm not quite sure what caused the shift away from non-fiction. Lately it seems that if I do indulge, it's to find myself reading books about the pioneering history of the western United States or something in naval history.

I really don't read these books in a different way than I read fiction. I still sit with my little pad of Post-it notes to mark passages that I want to remember or to include in a review. The only difference I can think of is that I'll check out the bibliography in the back of a non-fiction book to see if any book is mentioned that I might want to read.

Normally I read one book at a time, so fiction or non-fiction, that book travels back and forth with me to work, to appointments, or any other place that I might find myself with a few minutes to read. Once in a blue moon I'll make an exception over a particularly weighty non-fiction tome. If the book is large enough to make me feel like I've signed on for the clean and jerk, I have a tendency to keep it at home and I'll choose a lighter weight paperback to stick in my purse.

What about you? Does non-fiction appeal to you at all? If it does, do you treat it differently from the fiction books you read? Inquiring minds want to know!

If you'd like to see more answers in this fun meme hosted by Rebecca at Just One More Page, click on the Musing Monday graphic at the top of this post.

Poll Results Are In!

The results are in for the Reviewer Handicap, in which I asked what type of book review was most difficult for you to write.

A total of 105 people voted. My thanks to each and every one of you. Let's see the breakdown of the votes:

• 10 people said that they read reviews, they don't write them. Thank you, All Powerful Ten, you help keep this book blogging community in business, and we appreciate you!
• 22 people said that the most difficult review for them to write was of a book that they read and hated. Not me! I find that the more a book engages strong emotion within me, the easier it is for me to write about it. Unfortunately it's extremely easy for me to become very sarcastic when reviewing a book I hated, and it's something that I work to keep a lid on. I'd rather keep my mouth shut than risk knowingly hurting someone's feelings.
  
• 24 people said that the most difficult review for them to write was of a book they loved so much that it left them speechless. Not me. Once again, it's that strong emotion thing. I may splutter around for a while, but sooner or later I'll kick into gear...to the point where I can hear people yelling, "Shut up already!"
  
• 49 people (or 46% of the people who voted in the poll) said that the most difficult review for them to write was of a book they didn't care for one way or the other. I would whole-heartedly agree. If absolutely nothing really engaged my interest in the book, I'm going to find it very difficult to work up enough interest to write the review!

Once again, I'd like to thank all the folks who voted in this poll. I appreciate your continued participation. Although I may come right out and say how I voted in the poll, that doesn't mean I think my answer is the "correct" one. Polls to me are all about opinions. As far as Kittling: Books' polls are concerned, there are no wrong opinions...just differing ones of equal value!

Weekly Link Round-Up

I'm so used to the pitter patter of many feet that this house seems oddly silent. It was a wonderful two weeks having family from England here, but now that I no longer have two blogging students by my side, it's time to see where my browsing took me this past week!

Out and About in Book Blog Ville

• Today's Adventure is giving away a copy of Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer. I've been wanting to get my hands on a copy of this book for a long time, but since this is Vanessa's first giveaway, I won't tell you to stay away!
• The hot topic this past week was negative book reviews. Trish of Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? has an excellent post, "When Do Negative Reviews Go Too Far?"
• Bethany of B&b ex libris asks, "What Makes a Good Review?"
• Bookgasm has a post about the Books vs. Kindle Showdown.
• Natalie of Book, Line and Sinker wants to know "Turtle or Hare: How Does Your Reading Speed Compare?"

Fun Stuff

• What Color Are You? quiz
• The Literary Apocalypses quiz
• The Opening Lines from Literature quiz
• from Susan, the Book Chook herself, Glogster--"Poster Yourself"

Other News

• I don't know about the rest of you, but Susan Boyle's triumph on Britain's Got Talent really choked me up. I wondered just how long it would take before she had a makeover, and the answer is "not long". Here's an article the UK's Daily Mail published, called "Hairy angel no more."
• 28 Beautiful and Inspiring Earth Day photos
• Twilight fan? How about the Twilight Tourist Package?
• If you don't know what fore-edge painting is and how it relates to books, take a look at Martin Frost's incredible art!

Techie Stuff

• Blog Design: What You Don't Know About Your Blog Audience Can Hurt
• The new Monetize tab on Blogger.
• What are blog metrics?
  

New to My Google Reader

• mis(h)takes
• Stone SouP
• The Book Stacks
• Unmainstream Mom Reads
• Fleur Fisher Reads
• Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic
  

I hope you enjoy this round-up of links I found interesting, informative or just plain fun. Tune in again next Sunday when I'll have a whole new batch!

Saturday Soliloquy-- Inanimate Storytellers

Are you the type of person who steps into an old house and a shiver runs up your spine because you can hear the bricks and beams whispering to you, telling you of all the stories they have to tell?

Are you the type of person who walks into an antique shop and becomes mesmerized by the shimmer of light on a hundred-year-old piece of cut glass? Do you stand there running a finger gently along its curves, wondering about the dinner parties it's graced?

Do your hands lovingly caress an old leatherbound book, wondering how many people have opened it and read its pages?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it sounds to me like you've fallen victim to inanimate storytellers. I ought to know; I answered yes to all three! I can even tell you when I fell victim to this phenomenon, and--as usual--a book triggered it all.

As an only child and an only grandchild, I was gathering quite the collection of dolls. (When I was six, I donated almost all of them to an organization helping needy children.) The back porch in our small apartment was glassed in, and Mom turned it into my playroom. With my imagination, I really didn't play "house" with my dolls; we all went on adventures in different time periods and different countries. Seeing this, Mom found the perfect fourth birthday present for me: Rachel Field's Hitty Her First Hundred Years.

















Now this was my kind of doll! She had all sorts of adventures: a crow stole her and took her up to its nest, she went on a whaling ship and was shipwrecked, she spent some time with missionaries in Asia...I was hooked and have loved the book ever since.


My grandmother made me my own "Hitty". She was named Lucy and had a china head, arms and feet...and a complete wardrobe of nightgown, shirtwaist and skirt, everyday dress, traveling outfit, and a ball gown. It wasn't unusual for Lucy to ride in the basket of my bicycle when I rode out into the country for new adventures. I'd show her to you, but she's packed away in storage.

A few years later, my grandmother began collecting antique dolls. Here she is with part of her collection.












Sorry about the poor quality of the photos; they're scans of old slides. Almost every doll you see was dressed by my grandmother from the "skin" out. She was an incredibly talented lady. I'd watch her research clothing and time periods, sketch out patterns, cut the fabric, and sew the costumes, using tiny buttons, tucks, beads and bits of lace. I learned how old many of the dolls were, and I can remember wondering if they'd had adventures like Hitty. Surely they had.

When my grandmother began doing work on our family tree, she spent a lot of time visiting the older members of our family to record their memories. In a few cases, she'd return home with heirlooms, like Kate and Martha who have been in our family for well over one hundred years.



Kate and Martha are still in their original dresses, and I would imagine that they still have many family secrets that they've neglected to tell me. (Yes, they live with me now.)

Yes, Hitty made me believe in inanimate storytellers, and I believe that they are all around me. All I have to do is look and listen.

What are some of your inanimate storytellers? I'd love to know!

Review-- Wild Indigo

Title: Wild Indigo
Author: Sandi Ault
ISBN: 9780425219010/ Berkley Prime Crime, 2008
Genre: Mystery, #1 in the Wild series
Rating: A

First Line: I got there too late to save Jerome Santana.

We first meet Bureau of Land Management resource protection agent Jamaica Wild when she fails to save a man from a buffalo stampede. In short order, the leadership of the Tanoah Pueblo in New Mexico's high desert blames her for starting the stampede and for being on their land during Quiet Time when no visitors are allowed. Jamaica finds herself banned from the pueblo and suspended from her job. Something about Jerome Santana's death doesn't seem right to her and her integrity is at stake, so she decides to investigate.

Ault blends the legends and traditions of several Pueblo cultures to immerse the reader in a very different way of life and to give a very real sense of the high desert of New Mexico. The author also doesn't dodge the difficulties of many Native Americans in today's society:

"She already had her Becomes Woman ceremony and everything, where she had to grind corn for four days and everyone went from house to house singing her name. I went there for the ceremony, and I felt ashamed that there was no father there to sing for her. I missed my people then, and I felt like I lived in three worlds-- my home at Cochiti, my life here, and the modern world we have to live in now in order to survive. It's not easy when you have all that to deal with."

The cultural and physical settings are powerful. The pacing moves right along, and the plot has enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing as to what's really going on, but it was the character of Jamaica Wild herself that grabbed me the most. Jamaica is no greenhorn at living in what can be a very hostile environment. She has caches of gasoline, water and food at various points throughout the land she patrols. She enjoys the company of people, but also values solitude. She's adopted a wolf pup she's named Mountain, and their relationship will ring true for any reader who's had a close connection with an extraordinary animal. An older woman in Tanoah Pueblo is Jamaica's mentor because she truly wants to learn the culture and traditions of the people with whom she works. No matter how strong the action and the plot, Jamaica and Mountain are the true draws of this book, and they are the reason why I'll be reading the other books in this series.

If you've enjoyed the mysteries of Nevada Barr and Tony Hillerman, I think the chances are excellent that you would enjoy this series, too.

It's Time for...Friday Feud!

Welcome to this week's edition of Friday Feud here on Kittling: Books! The rules are simple:

• Do not duplicate answers.
• Post all your answers in this comment section of this post.

Now...let's play the feud! This week's question:

Name a famous John.

Review-- Poison Pen

Title: Poison Pen
Author: Sheila Lowe
ISBN: 9780977627608/ Capital Crime Press, 2007
Genre: Mystery, #1 Claudia Rose Forensic Handwriting
Rating: B

First Line: "No, girlfrien'."

Publicist-to-the-stars Lindsey Alexander was ruthless. She was a backstabber. She was a manipulator of the first degree. When her nude body is found in a Jacuzzi with a suicide note nearby, former friend Claudia Rose is dumbfounded. Lindsey is the last person she would expect to commit suicide. Lindsey just had too much fun making other people suffer. When Lindsey's business manager hires Claudia to prove that Lindsey did not write the suicide note, the forensic handwriting expert finds herself up to her eyeballs in danger.

Although I sometimes have a tough time reading a book that centers around a thoroughly nasty murder victim, I had no problem turning the pages of Poison Pen. There are several reasons for this. One, I've been interested in handwriting analysis since I was in the eighth grade and helped my English teacher grade handwritten papers. (I was the only person who could read one particular student's handwriting.) As I read each person's paper, I began to pair certain characteristics of their writing to their personalities. I still do that today, although handwriting can certainly be much more difficult to find! Now that you know this, it would be easy for you to surmise that I enjoyed the fact that Claudia Rose is a forensic handwriting expert.

I also liked the fast pace of the book and the setting of southern California, but to me the best part of the book was Lowe's characterizations. I liked Claudia Rose. This character has just the right blend of intelligence, naivete, and willingness to take a risk. She also has a smart mouth from time to time, which is a plus. (At least to me!)

I don't know how many times I've read scenes when the amateur sleuth is being grilled by the police, and I've wanted to add my own smart-mouth commentary. I didn't have to when I read this book:

She rolled her eyes. "Have you seen the amount of blood in there, Columbo?"

"You know, Ms. Rose, you might want to consider changing your attitude. At the very least, you're a witness at a serious crime, and I expect you to explain yourself, not smart off."

Claudia stared at him.

You go, girl! Don't back down! (She didn't.) Fast pace, good setting, interesting occupation, excellent characters, and a killer who isn't easily guessed...I'm already looking for the next book in this series, Written in Blood!

Two by Two

They seem to arrive in pairs, these awards. Perhaps they've heard there's safety in numbers.Not that I'm complaining. I certainly appreciate the recognition even though I don't always follow the rules where they're concerned. Today I learned that Desert Rose Booklogue has awarded me with yet another Zombie Chicken Award.

"The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all..."

I have a small flock of Zombie Chickens now. I think that's why the neighbor kids aren't leaving their basketball in my front yard anymore.... Thank you, Desert Rose!

I also learned that Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit has awarded me with the Friendly Blogger Award. Thank you, Serena!

Following my unwritten rule of being unpredictable, I choose to pass this one along to a stellar list of exceptionally friendly bloggers that I've had the pleasure to get to know in the past year. These folks have all gone out of their way to make me feel a part of the book blogging community:

Belle, Ms. Bookish
Kathy, Bermudaonion's Weblog
Beth, Beth Fish Reads
Lilly, Reading Extravaganza
Jenclair, A Garden Carried in the Pocket
Kristen, BookNAround
Jenners, Find Your Next Book Here
Jen, The Movieholic and Bibliophile's Blog
Kris, not enough books
Margot, Joyfully Retired

Scene of the Blog-- Swapna Krishna of S. Krishna's Books

This week we all get to meet one of the busiest book bloggers in the blogosphere, Swapna Krishna of S. Krishna's Books. Busy? She's been married less than a year, she's studying for her Master's degree in the Washington, DC metro area, and she still finds time to read lots of books and blog about them! She's very close to her grad school finals, yet found the time to read over fourteen books in a little over eleven hours in this past weekend's Readathon. Wow!

Something tells me that this is one organized woman who knows how to prioritize her time in order to enjoy the things that are truly important to her. If you haven't visited her blog, please make the time to do so. It's excellent!

Let's take a look at her blogging space. (Click on the photo to view it full size.)

There really isn't much explanation. The chair is my "reading chair" where I do all my reading. I usually take my laptop over to the chair and do most of my blogging sitting in it as well.

Short and to the point for a busy blogger! In this case the photo more than fills in any gaps. That's a very comfortable-looking chair and ottoman. The pillow glows in the light from the lamp. There's a drink at hand on the table, and a view available out the window. A stack of books and her laptop completes the scene. All in all, a lovely, welcoming space to be creative!

Thanks so very much for allowing us to take a peek at your blogging space, Swapna. We really appreciate it!

Where will Scene of the Blog take us next week? We'll be taking a trip to Washington state to visit Michele of A Reader's Respite. See you then!

Wordless Wednesday

Point No Point Lighthouse, Washington

For more Wordless Wednesday, click here.

Review-- The Stettheimer Dollhouse

Title: The Stettheimer Dollhouse
Editor: Sheila W. Clark
ISBN: 9780764948022/ Pomegranate, 2009
Genre: Non-Fiction
Rating: B

First Line: One of the most celebrated and distinctive objects in the Museum of the City of New York's Toy Collection is the Stettheimer Dollhouse, made between the world wars by Carrie Walter Stettheimer (1869-1944).


The oldest of three wealthy sisters, Carrie Walter Stettheimer assumed the responsibilities of running a large and very social household while her two younger sisters pursued their own artistic talents. For nineteen years Carrie worked on this dollhouse, and it's obvious just from looking at the rooms that she had to have had her own artistic aspirations. She made many of the furnishings by hand, and she purchased and embellished many others. As a window into the world between the wars, Carrie's dollhouse is of importance, but what truly sets it apart from all others is its art gallery. Many of the Stettheimers' friends were well-known artists, and they contributed tiny works of art to the dollhouse.

Both photos and text are fascinating and make me want to learn more about the Stettheimers. The book also reminds me of when I wanted my own dollhouse to furnish when I was a little girl. The Stettheimer Dollhouse would be of interest to anyone who collects dollhouses and miniatures.

Other Reviews:

Rose City Reader

Are You Dusk or Dawn?

You Are Dusk

You are a naturally idealistic and creative person. You look forward to nights where everything is possible. You spend most of your energy on play. Work is okay, but the true you emerges after the work day is done. You're an offbeat type that doesn't like rules or schedules. Life's too short to waste at a desk in a cube. Whether you spend your night socializing or working on side projects, you like that your time is yours.

Are You Dusk or Dawn?

Mailbox Monday-- Thank You, Bookcloseouts!

It was a slow week for sending books to new homes (only four), but I expected that. I haven't gone out of my way to post new books at Paperback Swap, and Denis, our four house guests and I all headed up to the Grand Canyon for an overnight trip. Rain, sleet, hail, snow, howling winds...and eventually sunshine and views that took our breath away. The eleven books that I received last week all appeared on Saturday. One from Paperback Swap, one from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer Program, and the rest from Bookcloseouts.com (9 books--mostly hardcovers-- for $25). Here's what the mail carrier brought me Saturday:

--Dragonfrigate Wizard Halcyon Blithe by James M. Ward (BC). "The fantastical adventures begun in Midshipwizard Halcyon Blithe (2005) continue. Now a seasoned wizard-warrior, Blithe becomes second-in-command of the prize crew when his frigate captures an enemy vessel--and promptly faces a full-fledged enemy dragonship. Escaping by the skin of his teeth, Blithe is sent to another dragonship crewed by dwarves, whose politics and seamanship are enough to turn a seasoned mariner's hair gray. He acquits himself with honor, and the series seems to promise at least one more book."

--The Sisters Mortland by Sally Beauman (PBS). "Wyken Abby, an old convent, is the home to the sisters Mortland--Julia, the fierce eldest sister; Finn, the sweet and stubborn middle sister; and Maisie, the youngest, at 13, and the opening narrator. It is the summer of 1967, and the Mortland family is enjoying the company of Dan, Finn's boyfriend, and Lucas, a visiting artist who comes to paint the sisters. Maisie weaves her strange tale of her family and their secrets until a tragic accident occurs. Jump ahead a little more than 20 years, and Dan takes up the narrative, filling in most of the blanks left by Maisie, including the repercussions the accident had on the family."

--City of Shadows by Ariana Franklin (BC). "The German government is in crisis, inflation is staggering, anti-Semitism is rife, citizens are starving and Hitler has begun his rise to power. Horribly scarred Esther Solonomova works as a secretary for fake Russian nobleman Prince Nick, the owner of several Berlin nightclubs (think Cabaret) catering to the rich, the foreign and the deviant. Nick finds an inmate in a local asylum who claims to be the Grand Duchess Anastasia, sole survivor of the slaughter of Russia's royal family. Prince Nick renames the inmate Anna Anderson, installs her in an apartment with Esther and sets in motion plans to get his hands on the money and jewels that Anna will claim as the heir to the Russian throne. But a mysterious Nazi is trying to murder Anna, and those near her begin to die."

--The Princess of Burundi by Kjell Eriksson (BC). "Former small-time crook Little John Jonsson is found brutally murdered, with clear evidence of torture. The Uppsala police force investigates and eventually identifies the killer. The author skillfully constructs the personality of each character, revealing, for example, the weaknesses inherent in policeman Ola Haver and Ann Liddell versus the hidden strengths of the victim's brother, Lennart Jonsson, and son, Justus. Haver leads the investigation while managing a strained relationship with his wife and an attraction to his former boss, Liddell. Lennart Jonsson's guilt and grief over his brother's death eventually destroys him, but not before he exacts his revenge (albeit unrecognized) and becomes a hero. Justus had a secret pact with his father that may have saved Little John's life had he shared it with his mother or the police. The likely suspect is a demented, pathetic person who knew his victim as one of his tormentors in school a period that haunts him in his adult life. The entangled relationships among the police, the victim, and the victim's family are compelling."

--Frozen in Time: The Enduring Legacy of the 1961 U.S. Figure Skating Team by Nikki Nichols (LT-ER). "On February 15, 1961, all 18 members of the U.S. World Figure Skating Team were killed in a plane crash, along with 16 coaches, officials, and family members. Frozen in Time takes readers inside the lives of the young skaters who died in the crash, revealing their friendships, romances, rivalries, sacrifices, and triumphs."

--Gods and Pawns by Kage Baker (BC). "These eight stories, reprinted for the first time in this collection, delve further into the history and exploits of the Company. The book opens with the novella, "To the Land Beyond the Sunset," starring Lewis and Mendoza, and involving a strange tribe in Bolivia whose members claim to be gods. "Standing in His Light" features Van Drouten's role in the career of the artist Jan Vermeer. Other stories include "Welcome to Olympus, Mr. Hearst," which opens up intriguing questions about The Company, and the original novelette, "Hellfire at Twilight," which concludes the volume and tells of Lewis infiltrating the famous Hellfire Club in eighteenth century England. Gods and Pawns is a compelling read for every Baker fan, and essential for Company addicts."

--The Star Garden by Nancy E. Turner (BC). "Turner follows up the best-selling These Is My Words (1999) and Sarah's Quilt (2005) with another novel-written-as-a-diary chronicling the turn-of-the-century exploits of Arizona pioneer Sarah Agnes Prine. Basing Sarah on her own great-grandmother, the author's personal connection to the main character authenticates this tale of courage, determination, and audacious will on the frontier. As Sarah struggles to keep both her ranch and her extended family afloat amid hard times, she is pressed by one neighbor to marry him while another neighbor plots to gain control of her land. When she is offered the chance to realize a long-held dream, she must reevaluate what is truly important in her life."

--Cross by Ken Bruen (BC). "In Cross, the sixth book in Ken Bruen's brutal and brilliant Jack Taylor series, the Galway private investigator (think a more tortured and tragic--and Irish--Jack Reacher) is on the hunt for a psychopath, while his surrogate son/mentee, victim of a shooting meant to kill Jack, lies near death in a hospital."

--A Carrion Death by Michael Stanley (BC). "Assistant Superintendent David Bengu earned his nickname, Kubu (hippopotamus), for his size, generally amiable nature, and occasional ferocity, all of which are evident in this lengthy but fast-moving story, the debut of writing team Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip. Kubu is called out to a remote tourist camp in Botswana when the manager finds a hyena chewing on human remains. What first seems to be a simple case of death by desert turns into something much more complex, as the Botswana Cattle and Mining Company turns up in every corner. Soon people start to go missing, beginning with a geologist whose specialty is diamonds. Rich with the atmosphere of modern Botswana, and peopled with interesting and well-drawn characters, this is an exciting debut, which will leave readers looking forward to reading the next investigation of Assistant Superintendent Kubu."

--The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama (BC). "Tsukiyama is a mesmerizing storyteller who focuses on family, tradition, and the solace of nature and art. Of both Chinese and Japanese descent, she has explored the history and culture of both lands, here imagining life in Japan during its most catastrophic time as experienced by the orphaned brothers Hiroshi and Kenji. Raised by their loving grandparents in Yanaka, a residential area of Tokyo, they are opposites. Big, strong, and confident, Hiroshi believes he is destined to be a sumo wrestler. Slight, quiet, and artistic, Kenji discovers his love for mask making and Noh theater by accident. They each secure mentors, but just as the good brothers embark on their demanding apprenticeships, war breaks out. Tsukiyama's spare prose reflects the clean-lined, distilled-to-the-essence aesthetic of Japanese art as she writes appreciatively and informatively about the arts of sumo and Noh, and piercingly about the horrific deprivations and tyranny of war, the firebombing of Tokyo, the American occupation, and the rapid evolution of modern Japan."

--Blue Heaven by C.J. Box (BC). "Siblings Annie and William Taylor, ages 12 and 10, witness a gruesome murder in the woods outside the small Idaho town of Kootenai Bay, nicknamed Blue Heaven for its abundance of retired LAPD officers. Annie and William make a run for it after they're spotted by the killers, a group of crooked LAPD cops who retired to Idaho eight years earlier after pulling a complicated heist in California that left a man dead. Rancher Jess Rawlins becomes the children's only hope of survival after they take refuge in his barn. Jess must stay one step ahead of the killers, who have volunteered to help the local authorities investigate the children's disappearance. Annie and William's mother is frantic, as the scheming officers try to persuade her the children are gone for good."

To see what other folks received in their mailboxes last week, just click on that hungry-looking gator 'box at the top of this post to be taken to Marcia's The Printed Page. Thanks for hosting this fun meme, Marcia!

Musing Mondays-- Favorites So Far in 2009

Coming towards the end of April, we’re a third of the way through the way through the year. What’s the favourite book you’ve read so far in 2009? What about your least favourite?












I would have to say that my two favorite books so far this year are He Saw a Hummingbird about a man who loses his sight to diabetes but goes on to adapt his photographic equipment to do something that no one else had done before: take quality photos of hummingbirds, and Flight, a time-shifting tale about a young man in search of his identity. (If you click on the book covers, you'll be taken to my reviews of both books.)

As far as my least favorite book of the year so far, I'd have to say that it's the only book I haven't finished-- The Dragonfly: A Bury St. Edmunds Historical Time Travel Novel. The writer's style worked my last nerve to the point where I put that book down and chose another.

What about all of you? Do you have any "picks" and "pans" so far this year? I'd love to hear about them!

Weekly Link Round-Up

This week's link round-up may be a little herky jerky. You see, I have a partner in here who's watching You Tube videos complete with rap music on Denis's laptop. I guess that's payback for me sneaking photos of Luke while he was in the pool! Let's see what I managed to find during a very hectic week (complete with a snowy overnight trip to the Grand Canyon).

Conversations in the Book Blogosphere

• I really enjoyed Bethany's post wondering if there is an "in" crowd and an "out" crowd in the book blogging community, although I found it a bit too late to really put in my two cents' worth.
• Bethany also had a follow-up post about the same subject.
• Alyce of At Home With Books asked us if there is such a thing as too many memes, or if we liked them at all.
• Speaking of memes, if you haven't seen Elizabeth's weekly 451 Fridays meme, you're missing out on interesting posts. Based on Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, she asks us which five books we would save from burning, and which one we are so passionate about that we'd be willing to "become" that book. I'm going to participate because I finally figured out the book I'd become. (Took me long enough!)
• Dorte of DJ's Krimiblog snagged one of my favorite crime fiction writers, Ann Cleeves, as a guest blogger.
• If you'd like to see a really comprehensive book review policy and guideline, check out Kerrie's post on her blog, Mysteries in Paradise.

Bookish News

• According to the BBC, books are being loaned to commuters on the London Underground in a scheme aimed at giving readers an alternative to free newspapers.
• Iraq, once a country of fervent readers, now starves for books.
• Judith Krug, founder of Banned Books Week, died this week.
• The Library Journal has a mystery preview article, saying, "In tough times, readers turn to mysteries."
• Read how Skylight Book customers helped a high school English class.
• Reading tools from Reading Comfort.
  

Social Media

• 13 Twitter tips and tutorials for beginners.
• 11 useful Twitter tools that don't require your password.

Blogging Tools

• Would you like to be able to find out if any of the material from your blog is being copied? Smashing Apps has information about an application called Tracer.

New to My Google Reader

• Lesley's Book Nook-- "Nature and books belong to the eyes that see them."
• How Books Got Their Titles
• things mean a lot-- "a place where I talk about books"
• Under the Boardwalk
• Savidge Reads-- "Books, books, and possibly more books"
• Bookbath-- "Exploring Reading and Writing Experiences"
• The Little Reading Nook
• Shelf Life-- "So many books, so little time"
• Outlandish Observations (Any Diana Gabaldon fans out there?)
• Word Lily

What's in store for next week? Even I don't know that!

Luke, my Blogging Buddy

Saturday Soliloquy-- I Prefer Them Wild

My grandmother was known for her flower garden. She had gardening books. She pored for hours over seed catalogs. She knew exactly where each plant was, and she knew exactly when it should bloom. As one wave of color subsided, another wave rose up to take its place. Neighbors on their evening constitutionals would stop to talk with her, exclaim over the flowers, and ask for tips. It wasn't unusual for complete strangers driving by to stop and do the same.

After pulling up a few of her prized day lilies, my grandfather was banned forever from her flowerbeds. (Decades later in Arizona, after seeing his handiwork with a weed eater, I would ban him from mine.) When I was the age I was in the photo above, all I knew was that Butch's flowers were pretty, I wanted to know what they were, and I wanted to help her take care of them. (In case you're wondering, until her death at the age of 76, I always called my grandmother Butch and she loved it.) By the way, the lady sitting next to me in that photo is my grandmother!

When it came to her flowers, Butch didn't give her trust easily. It took me quite a while before she allowed me to weed and deadhead unsupervised. I felt I was Queen of the World when she did. I learned the names of all her flowers, but when we went walking in the woods, I must've driven her to distraction by pointing at all the wildflowers and asking their names. So, when I reached the age of nine, she decided to help both of us and gave me a copy of Thornton W. Burgess's Flower Book for Children.
















It didn't take me long to devour the book from cover to cover, following along with Peter Rabbit as he learned about wildflowers. I wish I could say that my property is an equal to my grandmother's, but it isn't. The difference isn't just a matter of climate; it's a matter of attitude. I've chosen desert trees, shrubs and flowers that require little water and little attention. While I enjoy flowers and the joy they can bring to any landscape, my true interests lie elsewhere. I've found that my love of flowers is more in keeping with Burgess's dedication to his flower book:



I truly love seeing wildflowers in their native habitat, and I can roam for hours with my camera taking photographs. There's nothing like getting out of the Jeep on a lonely trail and seeing tiny beauties at my feet, although sometimes I need a helping hand to hold them still in a stiff breeze. (The hand and rings belong to my niece, Karen.)


I've come a long way from that one flower book when I was a child. Today I have books on cacti, succulents and other desert plants, but these three are on the shelf right above my head:



A Field Guide to the Plants of Arizona
Wildflowers of the Desert Southwest
Sonoran Desert Wildflowers

I don't cultivate flowers. I seek them out where they grow naturally. Although I love photographing old favorites, nothing pleases me more than to find a new wildflower-- one that I have to look up in one of these excellent reference books. If you've ever thought of doing the same thing, make sure your reference book is divided by color. I once bought a reference book for British wildflowers sight unseen and discovered when it arrived in the mail that I had to be an expert to be able to find what I was looking for. I was more than slightly peeved! If your book has the flowers grouped by color and you find a new-to-you bloom that's red, all you have to do is go to the red section and begin paging through. Easy peasy.

As you can see, once again one book fueled a lifelong interest. This time, flowers. Did you receive a book as a child which did the same for you? I'd love to hear about it!