AUGUST 2023

 Hello All,

We met on the last Thursday of August in Geri's back patio and enjoyed the beautiful evening and a wonderful time of sharing books and chatting.  Here are the books that were reported on:

Beth Hedengren

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

An animated film of this had won an academy award so I thought I should listen to this. It was just dreadful. “Boy, what do you want to be?” “Kind.”  It just goes on like that. I couldn’t listen to it. So very trite and self-important.

Lowcountry Boomerang, Lowcountry Boondoggle, Lowcountry Boughs of Holly, Low country Bonfire, Lowcountry Book Club, Lowcountry Getaway. All by Susan M. Boyer. Just about have finished the series. Getaway is the closer. I have a couple more to fill in. Such a fun series full of good cooking and southern charm. 

Theodore Rex by Edmund Morris. 

Second in the trilogy by Morris about Theodore Roosevelt. Fascinating. Paul and I are listening to this as we travel, and we both love it. Very detailed and well researched and very well written. Since I don’t know this period very well, I’m always wondering what will happen next. This one is about Roosevelt’s time as president. 

Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price

A history of the Vikings, rooted in what we know from archeology, by an archeologist. Very interesting. Some surprises: for example, Vikings were quite well groomed, bathing every week and combing their hair and beards. Just started in August. Will be finishing in September or October. Very long!

Our Kids by Robert D. Putnam

By the author of Bowling Alone, this sociological study explores class differences today compared to in the 50s and 60s. Through numerous case studies and statistical charts, Putnam portrays a society where the children of college educated parents have parental, financial, and mentor support while the children of parents with high school degrees or less have not only less  support but sometimes none at all. These differences are not so much determined by race as by class. For example, we learn of three different families in Atlanta, all black. The upper-class family has dinner together every night, and sees that the kids do well in school and participate in sports and extra-curriculars. When a child goes through a rough patch, mom and dad are there to help them through it, with money and emotional support.  Suzanne, a single mom who was neglected by her own parents, works two jobs to provide housing for her four children outside the dangerous neighborhoods of her own youth. She loves her kids, but has no time to guide them, has no understanding of the school system to mentor them. When her children get in trouble, there is little she can do to help them through it.

 

In addition to the stories, Putnam offers many “scissors graphs” showing the increasing disparity between the classes in school sports, obesity, maternal employment, single parenthood, financial stress, church attendance, and friendship networks. 

 

Putnam recommends better governmental programs such as home visiting, pre-kindergarten education, apprenticeships, closer school-community links, and better community colleges.

 

Karla Cox

Aug 31: 

A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey 

Recommended as a National Online Book Club pick, so I thought I would try it… I found it to be well worth reading; emotional, relatable, interesting and poignant. 

Nine Women, One Dress by Jane L Rosen 

A somewhat worldly but still clever and cute story of - just as the title says - nine women oddly linked by the same one dress; and how that one, famous-designer, too-expensive, beautiful little black dress changed their lives. A fun quick read. 

Lowcountry Boughs of Holly  by Susan M. Boyer

#10 in the series includes some new twists for the southern sleuth and her hubby. Some characters from past stories are back; some new friends are made; and life just gets better for the Talbot family - though dangerous on the way. 

I also re-read Lowcountry Getaway (#11), just to wrap the series up as it was intended. It did make more sense in order! 

Life in Five Senses by Gretchen Rubin 

Have I told you lately that I love Gretchen Rubin’s books?!  I’m nothing like her, and maybe we would not be friends in real life - though I like to think, given the chance, we would get along really well. 

She is motivated by a life challenge that causes her to examine the five senses and how important they all are. Forget the notion of a favorite favorite sense, or figuring out which sense you could live without. She helps the reader realize how vital each sense is; but also how the loss or diminishment of one heightens the power and appreciation of others. I definitely learned the truth of that as I lost so much of my hearing rapidly. But cherishing all five is not new to me, so this book was a delightful affirmation.

This is a book that would be fun to read in a traditional book group and discuss; there is way too much wonder in it for a paragraph! A solid 5-star experience. 

 Second Chances at the Cotswolds Candy Store  by Hannah Lynn

A lighthearted heroine saved from the villain type of story, set in the Cotswolds in jolly old England but modern day. 

While not in any way surprising (the plot was transparent and the story always obvious), it was still fun to read. A bit like eating a piece of candy, I suppose. I do have to say, I’ve never seen a book so poorly edited. That’s on the writer as well as the editing department! 

Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy 

This is a parenting book. My kids are grown. So why did I take the time to read it? Because my grandkids aren’t grown; my children are still parenting; I made lots of mistakes as a parent, and I would like them all to do better than I did. 

Highlights: “I am good inside”, “My child is good inside”; TWO THINGS ARE TRUE (e.g., rules are absolute on one side, feelings are real on the other; children must not dictate our climate, we must not ignore their emotions); I AM DOING MY JOB; 

PERSONAL TIME MATTERS… etc. I actually bought a copy to share with family, then learned some family members also have copies, others already had it on their lists. While the author doesn’t have the gospel perspective I cherish, she has the perspective the world needs: people are GOOD INSIDE. 

(This would also be fun to discuss more if we had all read it. Sometimes maybe we should all read a book and discuss it!)

 

The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas

“It was marrying that made women appreciate other women.” So declares Queenie Bean, the narrator of this Kansas dust bowl era story, full of characters and adages and quaintness and heart. And surprises. I loved the story, but my final feelings are mixed… 

(More if any have read it…) 

Swimming in a Sea of Stars by Julie Wright

Based on the entries of a personal diary but departing from that lead character to include several key players, this book starts with trouble, sorrow, and tangled lives. But it ends with the tangles smoothed and bright hope in store for all the characters who are “swimming in a sea of stars”.  The title reflects the truth that there are billions of stars, therefore most are unseen and thus don’t really matter; but in fact each one matters, and each can shine brightly, swimming instead of drowning in that sea. 

The story is straightforward: five HS young people, each carrying serious burdens, become intertwined through the events of one fateful day. To say more would be too much…

(This book is available through Deseret Book, where I read it on my DB Bookshelf app; but local libraries have it as well, though you have to place a hold.)

No One Goes Alone by Erik Larson 

A good old-fashioned ghost story, combined with mystery. Erik Larson is the king of factual fascination; but he was inspired to write this fictional story of some real people mixed with made-up characters (ala Gerald Lund) while researching Thunderstruck, his factual and fascinating account of Marconi and the invention of wireless communication. I honestly don’t know if this is the best way to start on his books, but I guarantee it won’t disappoint (if you like ghost stories, that is). 

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See

Lisa See - who doesn’t look remotely Chinese but is - has written a remarkable book about a remarkable woman. 

Tan Yunxian was a practicing women’s doctor in Wuxi China — in the 1500s! When footbinding and concubines were not just common but essential practices in Imperial, class-based China, Lady Tan was saving lives and changing perspectives. How such a circumstance came to be is this story. 

It is a truly inspiring true story (with some fiction added by the author to enhance the story telling). Lady Tan not only provided medical care based on ancient Chinese herbs and methods; she also stood for justice and truth in spite of Asian culture that made such courage truly difficult. 

I have never starred my reading choices; but I would give this 5 stars.  Thank you, Joann

 

Marlene Matheson

The Wright Brothers, read and written by David McCullough - This was my 2nd time to read this book and I enjoyed it every bit as much as the first time. 

 

Travels With George by Nathaniel Philbreck - The author followed the presidential trip of the Eastern US to promote unity. He learned much about George Washington all along the way.

 

Suffragette, My Own Story by Emmeline Pankhurst. The detailed story of a long and painful struggle in England for women's rights, perhaps more so than in our country.

 

The Midnight Express by Margaret Wetterer, Children's audio book of a true story of a young teenage girl, Kate Shelley and her heroic deed.

 

The Washington Hypothesis by Tim Ballard - How George Washington was guided to accomplish the things he did.

 

 

Maryann Stevens

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett 3.5️ The Cousins & Keating families become intertwined when Bert Cousins crashing the christening party of Frannie Keating falls in love with her mother, Beverly Keating. 

Blended families are common today & this 5-generation tale tracks these two, their ups & downs, isolation, & coming back together through forgiveness. 

 

Chili Queen by Sandra Dallas 4️ Addie French is a truly remarkable sleight of hand artist who now runs a small brothel in very small town in New Mexico. She & bank robber Ned Partner have a long standing relationship that is about to be transformed by the arrival of a former slave, name of Welcome, who Addie hires as cook & general household servant & Emma,  a rejected mail order bride recently arrived from Kansas. 

 

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell 4 ️ historical fictional- characters are factual. Young Duchess Lucrezia d’Medici is married to Duke of Ferrero against her will to further the ambitions of both her father, Duke Cosimo d’Medici & her intended. The author masterfully recreates the world of a powerless, yet pampered rich young Duchess whose only task is to produce an heir. 

 

The Last Midwife by Sandra Dallas. 4.5️great storytelling with just the right narrator. Gracey is a beloved midwife in Colorado’s high mountain mining communities. One night she was called to help with an infant in respiratory distress. Three days later, Gracey is accused of murdering the child. Love & redemption, hate & fear are show their faces. I didn’t give a 5 because I thought the ending was a bit disjointed but I’ll read Sandra Dallas again. 

 

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim 3.5️ Four English ladies of very different social classes & temperaments rent an Italian villa to get away from the dreary English spring, & loveless  lives. Italy transforms them all. 

 

My Invented Country: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile, By Isabel Allende, one of my favorite authors. 3.5 ️Here are some of Allende’s musings I particularly like: 

My life has been a slow dance in a large circle. In real life, it may not always be easy to distinguish between heroes and villains. I have constructed an idea of my country the way you put together a jigsaw puzzle, putting together pieces that fit together. I have read that the mental process of imagining is almost identical to the mental process of remembering. Word by word I have created who I am & the invented country in which I live. 

 

As You Wish: an Inconceivable Tale of the Making of the Princess Bride written & narrated by Cary Elwes (Wesley) 5️ A delightful insider narrative of the making of a wonderful classic. Elwes seems incredibly down to earth. 

 

A Very Typical Family by Sierra Godfrey 4️ This family story recounts love, loss, tragedy, redemption; in that respect it is very typical. Its details are unique, as is the case in all families. I like the writing style & the storyline as well as the narrator. 

I’ll look again for this author. 

 

The Late Scholar by Jill Paton Walsh 4️ A college in the Oxford University community had an opportunity to purchase a parcel of farm land for investment purposes. In order to do so, a majority of the Fellows must agree to sell an ancient manuscript. Killing off opponents is not usually a scholarly method to make decisions but are these ‘accidents’ & deaths of the Fellows coincidental? Peter, Duke of Denver & his mystery writing wife Harriet, are there to find out. 

 

Lowcountry Bookclub by Sandra M Boyer, 3.5️

Shelby Poinsett is pushed from the third floor window of her home. Her suffering, loving husband is charged with murder. Can Liz Talbot & Nate Andrews find the real murder in just two weeks pre trial?

 

Florence Nightingale: She Persisted series by Shelli R Johannes & Chelsea Clinton 5️ for grades 4-7. 

 

The Reckoning by Tony Schwartz & Kimberly Manns 4️. Non-fiction part 1 of series of interactive lectures. First half-searching for you ‘Core self.’ Not very helpful because I know my core self is a daughter of my Heavenly Father who loves me. Next part very helpful. 1- Your ‘Defender self’ will jump to the fore when you feel threatened. In my case that defender is obnoxious & aggressive. If you can recognize that feeling of threat, you can co-opt the moment & stay in charge of you responding behavior. 

2-You cannot stay at peak energy & performance all day. Try 90 minutes of intense, focused activity & then move to a rest activity, 5-20 minutes. You’ll be more productive in the long run. 

Spending & refueling. Use of energy. Rest & Renewal - how do you do it? 

Mental. Emotional. Spiritual. Energy. Take a daily assessment. 

 

Intelligences:

Mental- Cognitive, masculine 

Heart-relationships, emotional, feminine 

Body- gut instinct, intuition, nutrition

Spiritual- a sense of higher purpose 

 

JoAnn Abegglen

1. The Magnificent lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki. 

This is a charming true story of a lady who was very bright and a social influencer over 75 years. 

2. The keeper of Happy endings. By Barbara Davis. 

This is the charming story that takes place in WW II in Paris. A young girl who creates wedding dresses falls in love with a young rich American. She goes to America to wait for the War to end. Life takes many turns for her which makes this an enchanting story.

Liz Orton

Glenn Beck’s Becoming George Washington. A fun read which highlights some pivotal moments of George  Washington’s life and how we need to emulate his virtues.

Nancy Nay

From Deseret Book: “The law of love: loving as God loves, seeking another's healing, expecting nothing in return—is a simple principle with profound, life-changing implications. Steve Young shares insights from his own multifaceted life as well as from others who are scientists, fellow Latter-day Saints, Anglican, atheist, Baptist, Catholic, Confucian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and secular people of wisdom, as well as from the scriptures.” In simple language and employing a conversational tone, Steve Young with great humility and generosity of spirit shares the guiding theme he has adopted in his own life, “the law of love.” I loved this book, and after reading it, I’m convinced that Steve Young is as great a person as I’ve always suspected he is! 

Geri Christensen

HOME FRONT  by Anne Perry

Like many couples, Michael and Jolene Zarkades have to face the pressures of everyday life―children, careers, bills, chores―even as their twelve-year marriage is falling apart. Then a deployment sends Jolene deep into harm's way and leaves defense attorney Michael at home, unaccustomed to being a single parent to their two girls. As a mother, it agonizes Jolene to leave her family, but as a solider, she has always understood the true meaning of duty. In her letters home, she paints a rose-colored version of her life on the front lines, shielding her family from the truth. But war will change Jolene in ways that none of them could have foreseen. When tragedy strikes, Michael must face his darkest fear and fight a battle of his own―for everything that matters to his family.At once a profoundly honest look at modern marriage and a dramatic exploration of the toll war takes on an ordinary American family, Home Front is a story of love, loss, heroism, honor, and ultimately, hope.
A story of a troubled marriage, war and a family healing and coming back together. Very good but long. 4 stars

TRIPLE JEOPARDY by Anne Perry

The second thrilling mystery in an exciting new generation of Pitt novels, from the New York Times best-selling author and queen of Victorian crime, Anne Perry. 

"Anne Perry's Victorian mysteries are marvels of plot construction" (New York Times). 
Daniel Pitt is delighted that his sister is visiting London with her American husband Patrick, a policeman, and their young daughter. But Patrick's trip has another purpose, for which he enlists Daniel's help. Philip Sydney, a young British diplomat, is accused of robbery and assault in Washington, but he has taken diplomatic immunity and fled to England. The perfect opportunity to obtain justice presents itself when Sydney is accused of a small embezzlement at the British Embassy in the USA, but as Daniel digs deeper into the case it becomes clear that vengeance is involved. 
When a witness is murdered in America suspicion of guilt falls on Sydney. But is somebody trying to frame him? And, if so, who and why? Daniel follows a trail that uncovers another murder, and leads from Washington to the idyllic Channel Islands, then to a dramatic scene in court that almost defies belief....

Very good!  4.5 stars

ONE FATAL FLAW    BY Anne Perry

When a desperate woman comes to Daniel Pitt seeking a lawyer for her boyfriend, Rob Adwell, Daniel is convinced of the young man’s innocence. Adwell has been accused of murder and of setting a fire to conceal the body, but Daniel is sure that science can absolve him—and Miriam fford Croft is the best scientist he knows. Miriam connects Daniel with her former teacher Sir Barnabas Saltram, an expert in arson, and together, they reveal Adwell’s innocence by proving that an accidental fire caused the victim’s death. But it’s not long before Adwell is killed in the same fiery fashion. If these deaths are, in fact, murders, what essential clue could Daniel and Miriam have missed?

As their investigation deepens, one of Saltram’s former cases comes into question, and Miriam finds herself on the defensive. If the reasoning Saltram used in that case is proved false, several other cases will have to be re-tried, and Saltram’s expert status—not to mention Miriam’s reputation—will be ruined. Haunted by Saltram’s shady tactics in and outside of the classroom, Miriam is desperate to figure out truths both past and present and protect herself in the face of Saltram’s lies. What started as an accidental fire in Adwell’s case seems to be linked to a larger plot for revenge, with victims accumulating in its wake, and Miriam and Daniel must uncover who or what is stoking these recurring flames—before they, too, find themselves burned.

Enjoyable story.  3.5 stars