Finished GOOD WIVES by Louisa May Alcott

I think the edition of Little Women that I read as a child must have included this book also, since I knew everything that happened in it.  Not that that was bad.  I enjoyed the description of the men the girls married and the description of how the romances proceeded.  I remember being disappointed in how things turned out for two of the sisters, but I now am not disappointed any more understanding better how these choices came about.

The next of my piles of books was The Rejected Writer's Club.  But having just read The Little Paris Bookshop followed by Good Wives, I decided I can't take any more saccharin at the moment so skipped the next pile and went to Robin Cook's Host.  I will add my other two Alcott books to the The Rejected Writer's Club books.  Host begins with a woman whose husband died during routine surgery at a nearby hospital being murdered in a horrible home invasion.  Now another man, entering the same hospital to have routine surgery is rendered comatose and probably brain dead.  Both hospital incidents are unexplained.

Finished THE LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP

I completely enjoyed this book for a totally different reason than I expected to.  I could not help love Monsieur Perdu--such a gentle insightful soul, obviously caring about the people that surround him.  But, instead of a lesson in gentleness, this was a lesson in dealing with grief.  And as such, it is enjoyable, fun, but also instructive.  I also love Nina George's writing style, but actually, I am probably talking about Simon Pare's writing style (translator.)  The use of language also drew me into this gentle caring world.

Now I have started Good Wives, the sequel to Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott.  Of course, I read Little Women a couple of times when I was a child and over the years, have seen many film recreations of it, the most recent being the PBS edition.  I had known about the sequel Jo's Boys, but had not even realized that there were actually 3 sequels.  This book is the first, starting with Meg's wedding.  It may be a bit too "goody-goody" after the book I have just finished (The Little Paris Bookshop), but I'm pretty sure I will enjoy it.

Finished SANDSTORM

Wow!  This was a tense roller coaster ride.  These Sigma Force books are Indiana Jones meets Ken Follett (the spy novels.)  That is, high adventure with international purport.  The sandstorm is the least of their problems.  Also I was able to understand the scientific explanations given which is not always true of Arthur C. Clark or Stephen Donaldson.  So, Rollins is also, obviously a natural born teacher.  Appreciated the history and the postscript telling us what in the novel was based in fact.  I could not put it down!

I am now reading The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George.  Monsieur Perdu sells books specifically chosen to treat and allieviate the problems of life.  I have often selected books to read with my students to be both cautionary tales as well as conversation starters about many of the pitfalls of adolescence.  So I am prepared to be in love with this book.  And, it will be a welcome respite from the tension of the book I have just finished.

Finished HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS THE 101 GREATEST SONG-AND-DANCE MOVIES OF ALL TIME

This time, the musicals are treated with less respect and more humor than the Broadway Musicals were.  The tone on many of the description of many of these is tongue-in-cheek, responding to the often "formula" groups of movies.  However, the bios of the artists--actors, directors, producers, choreographers, composers and lyricists are well done and very respectful.  I suspect it is the studios and the studio system which drew Ken Bloom's often sardonic tone.  That said, I enjoyed it and often laughed at the descriptions.  This book is in my reference library.

That was my bathroom book.  I am now putting The Enchanted World  Ghosts into that room.  This is a whole set of books put out by Time Life Books in 1984.  I have the whole set which I purchased as reference books for my reading.  I often encounter beings I have never heard of or want more information about.  This set has been very helpful.  Now, finally, (after 34 years) am going to take the time to read them all cover to cover.

                              

Finishe PEOPLE OF THE BLACK SUN and with it PEOPLE OF THE LONGHOUSE

The story of The People of the Longhouse was four books long, and I loved all of it.  It ended bitter sweet  (as do most stories based on life or legend.)  I loved the evolution of the characters and of the relationships that tied children of different peoples together from the first book through the last.  As always, these books are steeped in spiritualism and mysticism which plunge the reader into the culture of the distant past.

I am now about to start James Rollins' Sandstorm.  This is the first of his Sigma Force books, but it is my second.  I so enjoyed Map of Bones I bought the first and third in the series immediately.

Finished WHEN DAY BREAKS

Again, I didn't get the culprit pegged until Clark wanted me to.  There were a lot of suspects and red herrings, but that is what I expect from a good mystery.  It was also exciting, edge of the seat reading toward the end, especially.  I love this author.

Now I have started People of the Black Sun, by Kathleen O'Neal and W. Michael Gear, which is the fourth of their People of the Longhouse saga, a novelization of the legend of how the Iroquois established their federation, the model for our first independent government and then for our present constitution.  It starts off immediately after the battle that The Broken Land ended with.  The people are recovering a devastating conflict that has left villages burned and 90% of the warriors of some tribes dead.  We are already seeing armistices between some of the tribes begin to take place for mutual defense.

Finished HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

Though not as long, and therefore as satisfying, as most of the original series, this is every bit as exciting and inventive.  The Potter's middle child, Albus Severus, feels alienated from his father and attempts to go back in time to right a wrong with grievous results.  The theme of this is very adult having to do with the pitfalls of raising children, and shows that J. K. Rowling hasn't got an handle on it yet, either.  But, who has?  It is an interesting look at the tribulations of father/ son (parent/child) relationships.

I am now about to start When Day Breaks by Mary Jane Clark.  It says it is the tenth of the Key News books, but I've only read 8, not in order, and two come after this book...