Finished THE COLORS OF ALL THE CATTLE

 

As usual, I adored this book.  I am ashamed to say that Mma. Ramotswe's ideas and solutions rarely occur to me, since her solutions are gentle, caring, and as non confrontational as possible.  I just need to keep reading these books to let her keep reminding me...

I have now started Peace Talks, 16th book in the Dresden Files series.  I've been waiting awhile for this one to come into paperback (my arthritis wants me to read lighter books, but my sense of continuity wants to see how long the book is and how far I have to go.  Also, I like the making progress feeling of turning pages.)  As usual, Harry leaps into at least three huge and dangerous problems within the first hundred pages.  The roller coaster ride that is these books has started...

Finished THE OUTLANDER

 

Finishing this makes me glad I still have 8 more books in this series.  Compelling characters and plot.  Survival as a modern woman doctor and a outlaw wanted for murder is not easy in 18th century Scotland.  Claire and Jamie deal with things as they come, and they do come.

I have now started The Colors of All the Cattle, another in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.  Mma. Potokwane is encouraging Mma. Ramotswe to run for political office.  I personally think this is a great idea...

Read CLIFFORD THE SMALL RED PUPPY

 

 

Yes, I am still reading The Outlander.  It is a long book, but it is also very enjoyable.  There is much more detail than was in the television series: Jaime is taller than Claire by several inches, the action is explained in more detail and some sense of humor.  It is a wonderfully compelling story and I don't care if it does blow my bookreading goal on Goodreads.  I bought the first 8 of these books, so maybe I will get to read them all before I die.

I've been buying books for my nieces and nephews and have ordered a couple Clifford books for each of their households.  The ads for the movie look so great, I regret that I had missed them growing up.  Of course, I had been teaching for 5 years when the first book came out, and I was teaching middle school..  So I got Clifford, the Small Red Puppy for the daughter of my house elves and took the opportunity to read it.  These are lovely books for young children, up to probably 7 years old.  What child can resist a puppy?  I know this child (me) can't.

Finished THE THIRD TWIN

 

Another wonderful thriller from Ken Follett.  I had to stay up late last night to finish it--knowing I'd never sleep if I didn't.  Love books like that, but I do lose sleep that way...

I have now started The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.  We have watched the first 4 seasons on the tv show on Netflix and we didn't want it to end, so I ordered the first 8 books.  They are very big books, so I bet lots happens that wasn't on tv.  Looking forward to them.

Finished THE MEASURE OF A MAN

 

This is what it says it is--a spiritual autobiography.  He accounts how has has grown in understanding of himself and others.  Disappointed at first (expecting a movielogue full of stories),  I grew with the book enjoying the journey with him.

Sidney Poitier wrote and autobiography which was more like what I had originally expected, but wow, it's price is ridiculously high on Amazon.  It is obviously out of print...I will be keeping my eyes open.

I have now started The Third Twin, by Ken Follett, but it's subject matter reminds me of Robin Cook.  Jeannie is looking for identical twins raised apart to study the age old question--does genetics make the person, or does environment?  Using a dental database, she has found two young men who appear alike genetically, one a law student and the other a murderer.  But she is told by both them and their parents that they are not one of a set of twins, they were not even adopted.  And now, there is a third?  I suspect we will find genetics manipulation of a criminal nature..

Finished HAUNTED DESTINY

Again, I very much enjoyed the story.  It had good characters (including the ghosts) a great setting (a cruise aboard an upscale, historic ship), and a good cast of suspects.

I have now started The Measure of a Man  A Spiritual Autobiography.  This is not what I was expecting (a history of his films and his experiences in making them), but rather a record of experiences and how they effected his growth, maturation, character, and spirit.  It is fascinating and beautiful.  He has written an autobiography of the type I was expecting...I need to find it next.

Finished THE HOUSE OF SPIRITS

 

This book left me unsettled.  It is about a dysfunctional family in changing times.  I enjoyed the book in that I love characters and this family has diverse marvelous characters, all of whom have some saving graces.  But the inability to get along caused by their character flaws left me feeling somewhat sad...

I have read the next 50 pages of this.  Jonathan Strange has come into the story and Mr. Norrell has agreed to tutor him in magic.  Their feelings about each other vastly differ.

I am now about to start a new Heather Graham Krewe of Hunters book, Haunted Destiny.  It is set on a cruise ship (I have been on a few) leaving out of New Orleans (I have lived near there for a year), both marvelous settings.  These books tend to follow a similar formula, but the mystery changes as well as the setting and these keep me coming back.