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Book Reviews: March 2017

The books I enjoyed in March took me soaring above the clouds, from Prince Edward Island to this side of Paradise, and along dark and filthy alleyways of Argentina. I traveled from the Cold War through those magical days when all the world raced to be first into space. And then on to solve a kooky mystery on Turpentine Lane. I met a quirky boy named Frank who dressed as though he channeled F. Scott Fitzgerald. Or Charles Lindbergh.

I’ve been busy.

And these books taught me things. Opened my eyes. I thought new thoughts because of these books.

Indulge me for a moment while I tell you about a sad, stab-me-in-the-heart, March experience… I recently participated as an author vendor at a craft fair, and for every book I sold, 20 people told me, Oh, I don’t read or I can’t tell you the last time I read a book, or I only read my Bible. And they said it almost with a look of disdain as though I tried to sell them whiskey at church.

Really?
I believe Jesus would want us to read all sorts of books. Not just His.

If I hadn’t read these March books, so much of what I learned or the new ideas I thought would be replaced with what? And yes, there’s plenty to learn when reading fiction. Each book represents a different place to travel and new people to meet, but even more importantly, books turn on the spigot of our minds.

Now, I’ll jump from my soapbox and into the books.Continue Reading

What timing. A couple of weeks ago, I returned from Austin to find my Little Free Library almost completely empty. Sometimes the “take a book, leave a book” idea leaves my library out of balance, and that’s okay because—think about it—if you go for a walk and happen upon a Little Free Library that contains a book you want to read, you may not have another book with you to leave in its place. Understandable. It’s all good in the end because there are other times my book supply runneth over from donations from friends and neighbors.

Here’s where the good timing came into play… I also returned to find an entire box of books in my mail—a donation to my Little Free Library from my publisher. (So yes, I’m required to tell you I received free books but all opinions are my own.) The books were those published by SYP Publishing over the last few years. The variety is great, from fishing tales to suspense and thriller and every genre in between. Many are award-winning books from the Florida Authors and Publisher’s Association. (SYP is located in Tallahassee so that ‘splains the Florida connection.)

Of course now I have a dilemma because I want to read each book even though I already have a stack of books waiting for me.Continue Reading