2021 - Second Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, the page count, and a grading scale (5 thumbs up - Highly Recommend, 4 thumbs up - Enjoyed, 3 thumbs up - Good, but not as satisfying as I'd hoped, 2 thumbs up - Meh, and 1 thumb down - Regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the second quarter of 2021 (for my full review, click on title):

The Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens by Paul David Tripp - Rather than simply surviving the teen years of parenting, view it as an opportunity to instill guidance that reflects the grace of God and His views on culture and behavior, while recognizing that their struggles are often our own. 291 pages, 👍👍👍👍👍

Ex Libris: 100+ Books to Read and Re-read by Michiko Kakutani - A beautifully displayed compendium of recommended books for entertainment and edification. 301 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury - In a future society that burns books, Fireman Guy Montag wakens from his stupor to recognize the value and contribution of books. As timely a tale as when it was written. 249 pages (I listened in audio form, 5 CDs, 6 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks: A Librarian's Love Letters and Breakup Notes to the Books in Her Life by Annie Spence - Such a clever idea and conversational voice, but crass and vulgar when it really didn't have to be. Sob! 241 pages, 👍👍👍

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith - Mma Ramotswe opens her detective agency and takes a few intriguing cases. 235 pages (I listened to Lisette Lecat's excellent narration, 7 CDs, 8-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep by Tish Harrison Warren - An intimate look at Compline prayer from the Anglican tradition - beautiful and inspirational. 187 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

On Living by Kerry Egan - A chaplain's reflections on stories from her dying patients. 206 pages, 👍👍-1/2

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard - Roosevelt and his son explore the Amazon along an unmapped river. 415 pages (I listened in audio form, 5 CDs, 6 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Twilight at the World of Tomorrow: Genius, Madness, Murder and the 1939 World's Fair on the Brink of War by James Mauro - History of the 1939 New York World's Fair. 432 pages (I listened in audio form, 10 CDs, 12 hours), 👍👍-1/2

Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt - Helpful hints on how to extend your reach if you have something to say or sell. 227 pages, 👍👍👍

Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith - Second installment in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series - engagement progress, extended family, and intriguing cases. 240 pages (I listened in audio form, 7 CDs, 8 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Green Hills of Africa by Ernest Hemingway - Detailing a month-long hunting trip in Africa, with a side dish of literary discussion. 304 pages (I listened in audio form, 6 CDs, 6 hours), 👍👍-1/2

Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith - The 3rd installment in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books finds Mma Ramotswe tending an ill fiancé and investigating a case of poisoning. 227 pages (I listened in audio form, 7 CDs, 8-1/4 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Secrets of Sloane House by Shelley Gray - Rosalind Perry takes a position in a wealthy household in Chicago in hopes of finding  information about her missing sister. 316 pages, 👍👍👍

Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions by Guy Kawasaki - If you want someone to do something, buy something, or invest in your idea, you must learn to enchant them. 240 pages, 👍👍👍-1/2

The Kalahari Typing School for Men by Alexander McCall Smith - 4th installment in the series - When a rival detective agency opens, run by a man, Mma Ramotswe shines in comparison. 192 pages (I listened in audio form, 6 CDs, 7-1/4 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Business Made Simple: 60 Days to Master Leadership, Sales, Marketing, Execution, Management, Personal Productivity and More by Donald Miller - What a mouthful of a sub-title! What a clear-cut guide to business and marketing! 240 pages, 👍👍👍

The Stories of Ray Bradbury by Ray Bradbury - 100 of Bradbury's entertaining short stories. 1059 pages, 👍👍👍

The Last Garden in England by Julia Kelly - Beautiful cross-generational story about a single garden as witness to tenderness, tears, and trauma spanning 1907 to 2021. 368 pages (I listened in audio form, 9 CDs, 11 hours), 👍👍👍👍-1/2

Marketing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step Storybrand Guide for Any Business by Donald Miller with Dr. J.J. Peterson - Intriguing ideas of viewing business in light of people's need for and reaction to story. Clear and concise marketing guide! 185 pages, 👍👍👍👍

The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith - 5th book in the series - Mr. JLB Matekoni faces many troubles (among them a proposed parachute jump thrust upon him by the insistent orphan farm matron) while Mma Ramotswe wearies of waiting for their promised wedding. 198 pages (I listened in audio form, 7 CDs, 7-3/4 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

It Happened at the Fair by Deeanne Gist - A love story set at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with excellent historical details and believable characters. 404 pages, including the Author's Note, well worth the read, 👍👍👍👍

Send for Me by Lauren Fox - A multi-generational tale of German mothers and daughters as they flee Germany and resettle in America. 272 pages (I listened in audio form, 6 CDs, 7 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Book Review: Send for Me

My German grandmother immigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her family as a young girl. I don't have many memories of her. Most of my memories come from a two-week spell when she watched me and my younger brother while our parents traveled to England. My other three siblings went to my paternal grandmother (always a warm, welcoming woman who stocked chocolate milk and homemade cookies whenever we visited). She was nurturing, but my parents were reluctant to ask her to take on five children. They probably assumed I (at 12) could take care of Tim (2). 

I'm sure it was difficult for my grandmother to host us. We, no doubt, threw her entire existence into an uproar. Widowed for nine years already, instead of cooking for one, she had a regular schedule of restaurants for each day of the week. I remember she complained when we didn't eat all our food (yet she always had Tupperware in her purse to remedy this problem). At one point, Tim closed the small folding cot on me and she had to rescue me. She had painful bunions and limited patience. I know she tried to entertain us. She took us to a 4th of July fireworks demonstration. Unfortunately, terrified, Tim flailed and screamed. This didn't go down well with her, despite my attempts to remind her he was just a baby and couldn't help being afraid. I was relieved when my parents arrived to fetch us back home.

My sense was that she was a brisk German woman who expected much and tolerated little. I'm guessing she spoke a combination of German and English while my mother was growing up, because my mother passed down a smattering of German phrases, like "Ach, du lieber ganzen (oh, you lovely goose)," and German songs (Mein hut es hat drie ecken, drie ecken hat my hut, und had es nicht drie ecken, dann var es nicht mein hut - My hat it has 3 corners, 3 corners has my hat, and had it not three corners, it would not be my hat).

All of that to explain why this Lauren Fox book, Send for Me, resonated with me. It is a multi-generational tale of the love and conflict between mothers and daughters. Klara (type A) is quite impatient with her dreamer of a daughter, Annalise. Although they work together at the family bakery in Feldheim, Germany, their bond is simultaneously fierce and flimsy. As Annalise grows up, marries, and has a daughter of her own, the climate in the country grows threatening for this Jewish family. Annalise manages to emigrate to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but cannot escape the traumas associated with this perilous time. Her daughter, Ruth, has a daughter, Clare. Clare is on the cusp of committing to a relationship when she finds Klara's letters to Annalise.

What I loved: hearing the native German pronunciations from the expert narrator, Natasha Soudek; exploring the ideas of motherhood and the mother-daughter bond; imagining the intensity of what the Jews faced. What I disliked: Klara was cold and bitter; Clare was loose and disconnected; the author's use of present tense felt awkward. Still, I really enjoyed this audio book. It is definitely one I would recommend to German Americans.

Book Review: It Happened at the Fair

I'm glad I discovered another author who writes fantastic Christian fiction where the story and historical elements supersede the emphasized message. It Happened at the Fair sets the scene of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair so well. From descriptions of the buildings to historical details about the philosophy of lip-reading, this book is packed with substance. Plus, it delivers a satisfying love story. You could tell the author immersed herself in research to present this tale with historical accuracy (and an outstanding author's note at the end distinguishes the fictionalized from the factual).

Cullen McNamara never expected to travel to the World's Fair. His father risks all to present him with an opportunity to display and sell his automatic sprinkler invention. But Cullen fights hearing loss and struggles with the noise in the exhibition hall. His accidental introduction to Della Wentworth leads him to hire her as a lip-reading tutor. As his affection for Della blossoms, he faces several quandaries: what to do about the girl back home, how to earn enough money to save his farm when he can barely communicate with customers, and how to convince others that his system works.

Deeanne Gist brings her research to life for the reader. Her characters face internal and external obstacles with realistic responses. They interact with the fascinating historical time and setting. I look forward to exploring further Gist novels. Thankfully, my library holds another World's Fair novel written by this capable writer.

Book Review: The Full Cupboard of Life

When readers binge on a lengthy series, they often struggle with details blurring. This happened to me in my original reading of the Harry Potter series. I stopped after the first three books because everything was running together in my brain. (Aside: before picking it up again, an individual hearing my enthusiasm for the books, assumed I had read them all and shared a shocker that spoiled my surprise.) Thus, I am attempting to put a bit more space between the books in this series now.

In this fifth installment of the series, Mma Ramotswe is wondering if she will ever make it to the altar. But Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni has other anxieties plaguing him. The insistent orphan farm matron has tricked him into making a sponsored parachute jump. Plus, he feels he must confront a fellow mechanic who has sabotaged a client's car. I'm right there with him in his fear of confrontation. Thankfully, Mma Ramotswe saves the day, cleverly shifting the situation.

Once again, Mma Ramotswe's internal dialogue delighted. Oh, so hilarious! While other readers might tire of hearing about the "old Botswana morality" and how times are changing, I lap up these details. These books present Botswana culture and people so well. Wouldn't it be fun to take a trip to Botswana with events planned around these books? I'm sure some travel agent has pursued such an idea. Perhaps I should add that to my bucket list.

Book Review: Marketing Made Simple

Fresh on the heels of reading Business Made Simple (released 1/21), I picked up its successor (released 3/21), Marketing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step Storybrand Guide for Any Business. You may wonder, "Why this spate of business/marketing books?" While I have no desire to go into business, I have a book I'm desperate to bring to market. These days, even if you go the traditional publishing route, they expect you to market yourself. I will admit, my discomfort is monumental! I'm thrilled with the writing, just mortified by the marketing. Still, if I had to turn anywhere for wisdom and advice, Donald Miller (and his Storybrand program) is a solid choice. He provides succinct and successful marketing plans.

I took more notes from MMS than BMS. Miller walks you through all the important steps to creating a successful and enticing website. His advice is very customer-centric. He asks, "How will you solve your customer's problem? And how will you present this in story form to draw them in and keep them interested?" With less than ten seconds to lure them in, your hook must be solid, clear, and promising. Moreover, if you do not build trust, they will not respond. Unlike, "if you build it, they will come," Miller's advice is more like "if they trust you, they will buy." The author provides plenty to think about and work on; indeed, Miller's book offers value that helps you offer value!

Book Review: The Last Garden in England

I have the blackest thumb in the world. Indeed, I could probably wilt artificial flowers. John would love my help in the garden, but I lack interest, enthusiasm, or skill. At the beginning of this book, The Last Garden in England, I worried I might cast it aside. The details about gardening made my eyes glaze. However, Julia Kelly sucked me in after a few initial boring gardening chapters. At heart, the story mattered to me.

The book cycles between three different time periods: 1907, 1944, and 2021. The author completed this well before the pandemic, as it gets not a single mention. I hope that will not dissuade future readers. The book provides three touching stories woven together by one garden. In 1907, Venetia Smith designs a garden for Highbury House. Her plans and her behavior are nouveau and daring. The garden ends up holding personal significance for her in a way that goes beyond simple execution of imaginative ideas. In 1944, the story centers on Diana Symonds who owns Highbury House after the death of her husband in the war. The house, now requisitioned, serves as a hospital. Diana's story weaves along with that of her cook, Stella, and a land girl named Beth Pedley. In 2021, Emma Lovell is now attempting to restore the garden to its original luster. Frustrated with a locked section called the "Winter Garden," Emma seeks to uncover the plans and the true story of its creator.

I expected to encounter difficulty keeping the names and characters separate. I believe that is why the audio book selected several narrators (a few I found grating). This wasn't a problem. The character name and date introduce each section. Plus, the tale includes some promiscuity, yet I would still consider it a fairly clean read. The author handled it with utmost discretion and didn't wane into gratuitous sensual scenes. Just enough for you to fill in the gaps on your own, my personal preference. I enjoyed this story so much, I will look for more from Julia Kelly.

Grrr - Leave it Alone!

Photo by Ross Findon on Unsplash

The tendonitis in my right thumb is healing, after weeks of wearing a brace. But now, I can thank Blogger for a new pain in my wrist. For years, I have posted the links to my book reviews on the sidebar in reverse order (most recent review posted on top). I'm sure it doesn't matter. I have no evidence to suggest visitors click on a specific review because they see it listed on the side. But, it matters to me.

A week ago, I opened the Link List gadget and discovered Blogger changed the format. If my list had been small, this wouldn't bother me in the slightest. But, I've read 40 books so far this year. Suddenly, I couldn't post the most recent read at the top. It placed each fresh addition at the bottom of the list. Grrr!

So, I spent a half hour switching the link positions. What a frustrating process. Each time I attempted to move a title to the bottom of the list, I had to do so one shift at a time (all while trying to avoid confusion over where it belonged in the list). The constant strain of holding down and then clicking the mouse button has given my right wrist a horrendous workout. Why, oh why, must they attempt to fix something that isn't broken??? Even though I preferred it the other way, if they change it back again, I'm going to SCREAM!

Book Review: The Stories of Ray Bradbury

After enjoying Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, I grew obsessed with finding the short story that introduced me to Bradbury long ago. I read the tale in a small school anthology and, in my mind, it had something to do with a character who felt small bugs crawling on his scalp and extremities. It sufficiently creeped me out and etched Bradbury's name forever in my psyche. I so hoped I would find the tale in this large 100-story anthology. Alas, I did not locate any story involving an attack of invisible microorganisms.

I recalled having read "Fever Dream," a story about an ill boy (could it be that my mind meshed this story with another read in the same anthology by a separate author?) who believes something is taking over his limbs and stealing his body as a host. I remember reading "There Will Come Soft Rains," at some point in school. And I have a vague memory of reading the story about the nursery walls that somehow become the African jungle (can't recall the title of that one).

Since I was primarily seeking one story, I skimmed through quite a few of them (did not read the full 100). Still, I enjoyed many of the stories: "Some Live Like Lazarus," "The Screaming Woman," "I Sing the Body Electric!," "The Inspired Chicken Motel," "Have I Got a Chocolate Bar for You," "A Story of Love," and "The Parrot Who Met Papa." I appreciated the introductory chronology, as it helped me to place much of Bradbury's life in history. I believe I'm done with my Bradbury fixation, for now. It was fun while it lasted.