Teaser Tuesday 385: The Witches

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


This week's teaser is from another Roald Dahl children's book, The Witches, which was banned by some libraries in England because of perceived misogyny (Dahl claims that only women are witches). Other reasons this book has been challenged include: does not teach moral values, children in it are rude and unmannerly, glorifies witchcraft and the occult, violence, derogatory to children and hurts their self-esteem, and crude language (one character is called a slut).

I myself had two separate encounters with witches before I was eight years old. From the first I escaped unharmed, but on the second occasion I was not so lucky.

(My Grandmother – Second Chapter)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

This is not a fairy tale. This is about real witches.

Grandmamma loves to tell about witches. Real witches are the most dangerous of all living creatures on earth. There’s nothing they hate so much as children, and they work all kinds of terrifying spells to get rid of them. Her grandson listens closely to Grandmamma’s stories—but nothing can prepare him for the day he comes face to face with the Grand High Witch herself!

Teaser Tuesday 380: A Wrinkle in Time

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


This week's teaser is from A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. I first read this book as a child, and did not recall it having such religious overtones, which did not appeal to me and kept pulling me out of the story. The things that go over our head as a child -- or that we forget about as an adult. Still a good read, but perhaps not as great as I remembered it. This book has been challenged/banned for a number of reasons:

* Challenged at the Polk City, Fla. Elementary School under allegations that the story promotes witchcraft, crystal balls, and demons. (1985)
* Challenged in the Anniston Ala. schools under objection to the book’s use of the name of Jesus Christ in relations to other artists, philosophers, scientists, and religious leaders (1990)
*Frequently challenged for “undermining religious beliefs.”
* Ranked no. 22 in the ALA’s 100 most banned books for 1990-2000.

"Don't hope it was a dream. I don't understand it any more than you do, but one thing I've learned is that you don’t have to understand things for them to be."

(Chapter 2)

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Series: Time Quintet #1

It was a dark and stormy night; Meg Murry, her small brother Charles Wallace, and her mother had come down to the kitchen for a midnight snack when they were upset by the arrival of a most disturbing stranger.

"Wild nights are my glory," the unearthly stranger told them. "I just got caught in a downdraft and blown off course. Let me sit down for a moment, and then I'll be on my way. Speaking of way, by the way, there is a such thing as a tesseract."

A tesseract (in case the reader doesn't know) is a wrinkle in time. To tell more would rob the reader of the enjoyment of Miss L'Engle's unusual book.

Teaser Tuesday 377: Odd and the Frost Giants

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


This week’s teaser comes from a children’s book by Neil Gaiman called Odd and the Frost Giants. This was a good, fast read, and I recommend it to anyone interested in Norse mythology.

There was a boy called Odd, and there was nothing strange or unusual about that, not in that time or place. Odd meant the tip of a blade,, and it was a lucky name.

He was odd, though. At least, the other villagers thought so. But if there was one thing that he wasn’t, it was lucky.

(Opening of Chapter 1)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The winter isn't ending. Nobody knows why.

And Odd has run away from home, even though he can barely walk and has to use a crutch.

Out in the forest he encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle - three creatures with a strange story to tell.

Now Odd is faced with a stranger journey than he had ever imagined.

A journey to save Asgard, City of the Norse Gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it.

It's going to take a very special kind of boy to defeat the most dangerous of all the Frost Giants and rescue the mighty Gods. Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever.

Someone just like Odd...

Teaser Tuesday 372: Anne of Green Gables

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


This week's teaser is from one of my favorite books growing up: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.

"You mean, hateful boy!" she exclaimed passionately. “How dare you!”

And then—Thwack! Anne had brought her slate down on Gilbert’s head and cracked it—slate, not head—clear across.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When Anne Shirley arrives at Green Gables farm on Prince Edward Island, she surprises everyone: first of all, she is a girl. Marilla Cuthbert and her brother, Matthew, had specifically asked for an orphan boy. She has bright red hair that won't manage and a mouth that won't shut. Nothing will ever be the same at Green Gables!

A favorite story of generations of girls ever since it was first published in 1908, Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic story of one girl's profound effect on a small Canadian community has stayed in print for nearly one hundred years and has been made into a popular TV series and even a musical.

Teaser Tuesday 361: The Saturdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


Something a bit different this week—a classic children’s book, The Saturdays, by Elizabeth Enright, first published in 1941. Growing up, one of my sisters and I jointly owned a book by Enright called The Four-Story Mistake. It was one we both read multiple times, but strangely, I had never read anything else by Enright until now. I happened upon The Saturdays at the monthly library used book sale for only fifty cents, in like-new condition, so had to snap it up. This was an easy and fun read finished in one day.

It was easy to make this picture alive. Randy Stared at it fixedly, hardly breathing, hardly thinking, and pretty soon she thought she could smell the mixture of damp earth and burning leaves and smoke from distant chimney pots; she thought she could hear the hum of the city and the clear voices of children somewhere out of sight. A day had come and gone, years ago, and still it was alive.

(Chapter 2)

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Series: Melendy Family #1

When your Saturday comes, what will you do with it?

The four Melendy children live with their father and Cuffy, their beloved housekeeper, in a worn, but comfortable, brownstone in new York City. There’s thirteen-year-old Mona, who has decided to become an actress; twelve-year-old mischievous Rush; ten-and-a-half-year-old Randy, who loves to dance and paint; and thoughtful Oliver, who is just six. Tired of wasting Saturdays doing nothing but wishing for larger allowances, the four Melendys jump at Randy’s idea to start the Independent Saturday Afternoon Adventure Club (I.S.A.A.C.). If they pool their resources and take turns spending the whole amount, they can each have at least one memorable Saturday afternoon of their own. Before long, I.S.A.A.C. is in operation and every Saturday is definitely one to remember.

Thursday Thirteen 450: Recently Acquired — Print Edition

A couple weeks ago, I posted a list of thirteen ebooks recently acquired. This week I thought I'd post a list for the "traditionalists" — a list of some of the actual printed books I've recently picked up from the local used book store or the library's monthly used book sale. These were all in good to like-new condition. So far, I have only read one of these. Click on any link for more information about any title.


01. The Circle by Dave Eggers (Fiction; Book to Movie)

02. Spouse on Haunted Hill by EJ Copperman (Cozy Mystery)

03. Better Off Thread by Amanda Lee (Cozy Mystery)

04. Dressed to Kilt by Hannah Reed (Cozy Mystery)

05. To Have and Have Not by Ernest Hemingway (Classic)

06. Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton (Young Adult)

07. In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume (Women’s Fiction)

08. Table for Five by Susan Wiggs (Romance/Women’s Fiction)

09. Everything is Illuminated by Foer (Lit Fiction)

10. Invisible Man by Ellison (Classic)

11. The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George (Lit fiction)

12. Hidden Figures by (Nonfiction; Basis of the recent movie)

13. Farewell, My Lovely by Raymond Chandler (Classic Mystery)



LINKING TO: Thursday Thirteen

Teaser Tuesday 348: The Boxcar Children

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


This week's teaser is from a classic children's book by Gertrude Chandler Warren, The Boxcar Children. I came across this one recently, and couldn't resist picking it up and rereading it. I'll pass it on to one of our neighborhood Little Free Libraries when it warms up enough to walk again (and I'm not still sick). Published in 1942, this book was so popular, it spawned an entire mystery series still read by kids today.

One warm night four children stood in front of a bakery. No one knew them. No one knew where they had come from.

(Opening Paragraph)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

One warm night four children stood in front of a bakery. no one knew them. No one knew where they had come from. Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are orphans. Determined to make it on their own, they set out to find a safe place to live. They discover an old, red boxcar that provides shelter from a storm. Against all odds, they make it into their home-and become The Boxcar Children!

Teaser Tuesday 339: Matilda

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jenn of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


This week’s teaser is from Matilda by Roald Dahl. I think most children will love this one, but I can see some adults objecting to the violence prevalent throughout

"Save us!" the mother screamed, almost throttling her husband.

"I'm getting out of here," the father said, greyer than ever now. They all fled, slamming the door behind them.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Matilda is a little girl who is far too good to be true. At age five-and-a-half she's knocking off double-digit multiplication problems and blitz-reading Dickens. Even more remarkably, her classmates love her even though she's a super-nerd and the teacher's pet. But everything is not perfect in Matilda's world. For starters she has two of the most idiotic, self-centered parents who ever lived. Then there's the large, busty nightmare of a school principal, Mrs. ("The") Trunchbull, a former hammer-throwing champion who flings children at will and is approximately as sympathetic as a bulldozer. Fortunately for Matilda, she has the inner resources to deal with such annoyances: astonishing intelligence, saintly patience, and an innate predilection for revenge.

She warms up with some practical jokes aimed at her hapless parents, but the true test comes when she rallies in defense of her teacher, the sweet Miss Honey, against the diabolical Trunchbull. There is never any doubt that Matilda will carry the day. Even so, this wonderful story is far from predictable. Roald Dahl, while keeping the plot moving imaginatively, also has an unerring ear for emotional truth. The reader cares about Matilda because in addition to all her other gifts, she has real feelings.

"Matilda will surely go straight to children's hearts." —The New York Times Book Review

Thursday Thirteen 438: Recently Read

Below are featured the latest books completed this year. I am now 74/80 in this year's goal for the Goodreads Challenge. As always, click on any cover or link for more information.














ABOUT THE BOOKS:


ROW 1: Aunt Dimity Goes West is the twelfth book in this popular series by Nancy Atherton. While the majority of the series is set in the UK, this one takes us to a mountainside in Colorado. Really liked this one. Peg Cochran was the Featured Cozy Author for October, and Berried Secrets is book one of her Cranberry Cove series. Will definitely get round to reading book two at some point. Éclair and Present Danger is another first-in-series and an okay read.

ROW 2: A couple months ago, B&N had a HUGE sale on all books by Georgette Heyer and — I confess — I went a bit nuts, picking up a ton of books by her I did not have. Hey, they were only $1.99 each when they usually charge $14 per ebook. Who wouldn't take advantage of a sale like that?! (Incidentally, I just checked, and Heyer's books are currently $4.99 ea — not as good as the sale a couple months ago, but still a huge savings.) Anyway, Envious Casca was one of her mysteries I picked up and was a good read. Fogged Inn by Barbara Ross in book four in her Maine Clam Bake series, and I liked this one more than book three. Golden Malicious is the seventh book in Sheila Connolly's Orchard series, and I have a few more to catch up on — and that's just in this series.

ROW 3: Kate Carlisle's Bibliophile series is one I am quite behind in, Murder Under Cover only being book four of ten. Likewise with Elizabeth Lynn Casey’s Southern Sewing Circle series — Pinned for Murder is book three of eleven. The reading of this one was well-timed, as it begins just after a hurricane has hit — and I read it as Matthew was bearing down on the East Coast. The Red Book of Primrose House was another good read, and is book two of Marty Wingate's Potting Shed series.

ROW 4: Appropriately enough, I finished Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie on Halloween. Another good mystery from the Grand Dame of the genre! Midnight Crossroad was read in anticipation of an appearance by Charlaine Harris at the Wisconsin Book Festival in October. It was without a doubt one of the best events of the long weekend. She is hilarious and quite personable. If you are unfamiliar with her name, Harris wrote the Sookie Stackhouse series (Basis for HBO's True Blood), the Midnight, Texas trilogy (now the basis of an NBC series to debut in February), the Aurora Teagarden series (now a Hallmark series), and two other series. 11 is a rom-suspense by Kylie Brant, part of a 12-book boxed set I purchased for my Nook some time ago, and it was quite the page-turner.

ROW 5: Matilda was read for a "pink" challenge, and is the fourth book read this year by Roald Dahl and, you may have noticed — the only book on the list without a mystery element. Pure coincidence, I assure you.


Your turn: What are you reading?



LINKING TO: Thursday Thirteen

Teaser Tuesday 331: United We Spy

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jenn of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


I cannot tell you how ecstatic I was to (finally!) find a copy of United We Spy by Ally Carter at the library’s monthly used book sale in July. I have been haunting local book stores and library sales for months. Even better? It was in like new condition! How much did I enjoy this book? I was so immersed in the action that I actually missed by bus stop.

He pointed a finger in my direction. "You should have had the decency to die when we needed you to."

"Sorry," I admitted. "I've been going through a bit of a rebellious streak."

(Chapter Two)

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Series: Gallagher Girls 6


Cammie Morgan has lost her father and her memory, but in the heart-pounding conclusion to the best-selling Gallagher Girls series, she finds her greatest mission yet. Cammie and her friends finally know why the terrorist organization called the Circle of Cavan has been hunting her. Now the spy girls and Zach must track down the Circle's elite members to stop them before they implement a master plan that will change Cammie-and her country-forever.

Get ready for the Gallagher Girls' most astounding adventure yet as Ally Carter's New York Times best-selling series comes to breathtaking conclusion that will have readers racing to the last page.

Teaser Tuesday 330: The Outsiders

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jenn of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


Welcome to Banned Books Week! This week I have another frequently challenged book for you, The Outsiders by SE Hinton, which is the September group read for TNBBC at Goodreads. This is one I read a few times back in middle and high school, and my sister and I also watched the movie several times around that time as well. The book is frequently challenged due to its portrayal of gang violence, strong language, family dysfunction and underage smoking and drinking.

When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home. I was wishing I looked like Paul Newman — he looks tough and I don’t — but I guess my own looks aren’t so bad.

(Opening paragraph)

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Originally published in 1967

According to Ponyboy, there are two kinds of people in the world: greasers and socs. A soc (short for "social") has money, can get away with just about anything, and has an attitude longer than a limousine. A greaser, on the other hand, always lives on the outside and needs to watch his back. Ponyboy is a greaser, and he's always been proud of it, even willing to rumble against a gang of socs for the sake of his fellow greasers--until one terrible night when his friend Johnny kills a soc. The murder gets under Ponyboy's skin, causing his bifurcated world to crumble and teaching him that pain feels the same whether a soc or a greaser.

Thursday Thirteen 431: Recently Read

Yes, it’s that time again — below are the most recent books I've delved into this year. This selection of books crosses multiple genres — mystery, romance, classics, young adult, and even a couple banned books. As always, click on any link or cover for more information. 
















ABOUT THE BOOKS:


ROW 1: I thought I had read the Irish Born trilogy by Nora Roberts years ago, when it was originally published, but apparently not. This series follows the lives of Irish sisters Maggie, a glass blower, and Brianna, owner of a B&B, and their previously unknown to them American half-sister, Shannon, an artist.

ROW 2: The Cozy Mysteries Featured Author Row . . . Juliet Blackwell was the CFA in July, and I managed to read two books by here, each from a different series. First up was Secondhand Spirits, first book in her Witchcraft series, about witches in San Francisco (no, not the Charmed ones). This book was okay, with two notable exceptions. First, there are no mountains in Wisconsin, as the author falsely stated within the first sixty pages. That sentence nearly had me throwing the book across the room. The second issue was her “just then-itus,” which I’m sure you all know by now annoys me to no end. I did enjoy Dead Bolt, the second book in her Haunted Home Renovation series. I immensely enjoyed Crime and Poetry by Amanda Flower, the Aug FCA. This is the first in her Magical Bookshop series, and I look forward to book two out later this year. Absolutely love the crow, Faulkner!

ROW 3: I was hoping to like Criminal Confections equally as much, but no. You’d think one couldn’t go wrong with a book about chocolate, but you would be wrong. There were numerous aspects of this book that annoyed me. Musseled Out (third in series) and Supernatural Born Killers (ninth of series) were much more to my liking.

ROW 4: Third Girl was the August book for the Agatha Christie group at Goodreads. While I had seen a movie version a few years back, I had not read the book before. It was interesting to note some of the changes made for the movie script, and which occasionally led to some confusion while reading the book. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was the August group classics read. While I was familiar with some of the main points of the story — I remember a movie version when we were kids, and later in middle school, saw a scene of it enacted — I had never actually read the book, which is frequently challenged for language, violence, and age-inappropriateness. Neither had I previously read the September classic, The Call of the Wild. Good, but again one that is frequently challenged due to violence and age-inappropriateness.

ROW 5: Four years ago, I stumbled onto a YA series by Ally Carter about an all-girls school for spies, The Gallagher Girls. I managed to find all but the last one, United We Spy (which came out around the time I found book one of six) over the next few years, but this one eluded me. Then this past summer I stopped in at the library’s monthly used book sale and not only did I finally find a copy, it was in like-new condition. That, added to two recent releases found for a steal, totally made my day. The book was worth waiting for, though I had a bit of an “oops” totally Ally Carter's fault.

I always read on the bus to and from work, but am always aware of where we are . . . what major streets or familiar landmarks we are passing along the route. Except for one night. I was so into the action scene that I missed my stop, had even somehow completely blocked out the audio announcement of key stops. I suddenly looked up and felt a moment of panic when I didn’t instantly recognize where we were — and breathed a sigh of relief when I then heard the audio announce a certain street. Thankfully, I only had to walk back about six blocks — which would have been more of a relief had it not been after dark and the street better lighted.


Your turn: What have you been reading lately? Have you ever been so engrossed in a book that you forgot where you were, or missed a bus/train stop?



LINKING TO: Thursday Thirteen

Teaser Tuesday 324: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by Jenn of Books and a Beat. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

* Grab your current book or recent read.
* Share a few "teaser" sentences from somewhere in the book.
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away. You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teaser!


I don’t know why I had never read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl before now, but when I happened upon a copy for fifty cents at the library used book sale, I snapped it up and devoured it in one day (along with a bit of chocolate, of course). It was interesting noting the differences between the classic movie and the book as I read, and I had to I follow it up with another viewing of the movie, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Since most people have read the book and/or watched one of the two movie versions, or are at least familiar with the premise, I feel I can share the following without spoiling anything.

Charlie picked it up and tore off the wrapper . . . and suddenly . . . from underneath the wrapper . . . there came a brilliant flash of gold.

Charlie's Heart stood still.


(Chapter 11)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Willy Wonka's famous chocolate factory is opening at last! But only five lucky children will be allowed inside . . . and what Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, Mike TeaVee, and Charlie Bucket find it is even wilder than any of the wild rumors they've heard!

Thursday Thirteen 424: Beatrix Potter

Today, July 28, is the 150th birthday of beloved children's author, Beatrix Potter. Here is a bit about her:

1. She was born Helen Beatrix Potter on July 28, 1866 in Kensington, London, England.

2. Beatrix Potter was a noted writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist.

3. Potter was educated by a series of governesses, and she and her brother, Walter Bertram, were quite isolated from other children. Though they had few friends, they had numerous pets, and vacationed in Scotland and England's Lake District, where she developed a love for flora and fauna, which her parents encouraged.

4. Around age 14, Beatrix started a diary written in a code of her own devising. Her Journal was important to the development of her creativity -- it not only served as a sketchbook, but recorded her impressions of society, art and artists, and recounted stories and observations of daily life.

5. Started in 1881, the journal ends in 1897 when her artistic and intellectual energies were absorbed in scientific study and in efforts to publish her drawings.

6. Beatrix remained friends with her third and last governess, Annie Moore throughout their lives and Annie's eight children were the recipients of many of Potter's delightful picture letters. It was Annie who later suggested that these letters might make good children’s books.

7. Potter was in her 30's when she began writing and illustrating children's books full-time, starting with The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

8. With an inheritance from her aunt and the proceeds from her books, Potter purchased Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey, Lake District, in 1905. In subsequent years, she purchased additional farms to preserve the country landscape.

9. She married William Heelis, a respected local solicitor from Hawkshead, in 1913 at the age of 47.

10. Beatrix Potter was not only a celebrated writer and illustrator, she designed spin-off merchandise based on her children's books for British publisher Warne, including: painting books, board games, wall-paper, figurines, baby blankets and china tea-sets. This continued until the duties of land management and diminishing eyesight made it difficult to do so.

11. Potter wrote 24 children's books that include such noted titles as The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck, The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, and The Tailor of Gloucester.

12. Beatrix Potter died of pneumonia and heart disease on December 22, 1943 at her home in Near Sawrey. She was 77.

13. Potter left nearly all her property to the National Trust, and is credited with preserving much of the land that now constitutes the Lake District National Park.





LINKING TO: Thursday Thirteen

Thursday Thirteen 422: Recently Read

Below are featured the last thirteen books completed this year. So far, I have completed 47 books in my goal of 80 -- which includes five classics in a goal of ten, and 20 out of 40 criteria for the 2016 Ultimate Challenge (my goal was to do at least half, so yay me!). As always, click on any cover or link for more info.















ABOUT THE BOOKS:


ROW 1: Lemon Pies and Little White Lies is book four in Ellery Adams’ Charmed Pie Shoppe series, which is based on the legend of Merlin and Morgan La Faye. Diane Vallere was the June Featured Author in the Cozy Mysteries group at Goodreads, and I read two books in her Material Witness series, Suede to Rest and Crushed Velvet.

ROW 2: More cozy mysteries. Killer Maize is part of a Farmers’ Market series by Earlene Fowler was a September 2013 Featured Author. I read book one of her Bennie Harper quilting series way back then, but never seemed to get round to book two, Irish Chain, until now. Leann Sweeney was an October 2012 Featured Author, and her Cats in Trouble series, of which this is book seven, is a favorite of mine. How can you go wrong with cats and quilts? Book eight is out later this summer.

ROW 3: Yes, more cozies. Boiled Over is the second book in Barbara Ross’s Maine Clambake series, and there are two more in Mount TBR. Death is Like a Box of Chocolates is a first in series by a new-to-me author, Kathy Aarons, and is set at a combined book and chocolate store—how perfect is that? Sheila Connolly is another favorite author, and was a cozy Featured Author in October 2015. Sour Apples is book six in her Orchard series, and she writes a number of other series as well, including one set in Ireland, and a glass-blowing series under the name of Sarah Atwell.

ROW 4: O, Pioneers! by Willa Cather was a reread for me, and a second quarter group read for a GR romance group. I liked this one when we read it in college, and enjoyed it even more this time around. It also fit an Ultimate Challenge criteria of a classic from the 20th century. Skin by Roald Dahl was a May group read, the criteria for that month being a book of short stories (it narrowly edged out a collection by Hemingway). I wasn’t planning to read this one, but then stumbled across a cheap copy at Half Price Books. A couple of the stories seemed vaguely familiar, though I did not recall reading them previously. As much as I love the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, I had never read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, also by Roald Dahl. This fit the Ultimate Challenge criteria of a book you can read in a day (155 pages). Naturally, I had to watch the movie again when I was done. (And yes, there was some chocolate consumption while reading and watching.)

ROW 5: Journal of a Solitude by May Sarton is a nonfiction book I stumbled upon in the bookstore clearance section. I don’t read a lot of nonfiction, but something about this one—a journal spanning a year in the author’s life as she approaches age 60— drew me to it. May Sarton was an American poet and novelist who also published a number of personal journals.



YOUR TURN: What are you reading these days?





LINKING TO: Thursday Thirteen