Kopek The Destroyer: Causes of Indigestion for a Wolfy Puppy by Phil Owens

"Phil and the wife somehow fill their recently renovated new house with animals. They start with two rabbits, they then acquire a guinea pig, next along comes Tim, their grouchy 15 year old Border collie. After two more rabbits, they somehow end up owning a cat.
When Tim goes to the great field in the sky, They decide to get a puppy. Phil has had dogs all his life, but they were in the main, older rescue dogs, and the wife’s experience was limited to Tim. A puppy is a new experience for both of them, and an experience it certainly turns out to be.
There are plenty of incidents to cope with as their new puppy grows up, many of which contribute to the slow deterioration of their newly renovated home."

This was a fun and quick read. Anyone with any experience bringing a new puppy into their home will definitely relate to the trials and tribulations, and those many endearing moments a new puppy brings. I am absolutely sure that somewhere in the many anecdotes involving Kopek and also those of his other furry housemates, you will find something that will make you laugh, and also gasp. You will quite likely be reminded of one of your own favoured pets. The pictures of Kopek are a wonderful addition and I only wished there were more that maybe included him amidst some of his handiwork. With all the mischief of an unrepentant child, Kopek will steal your heart.

The Red Siren: Charles Towne Belles by M.L.Tyndall

This was a fun and amusing read. A Christian romance involving a wayward female pirate and a god-fearing officer of the Royal Navy who is out to capture her in more ways than one. One of the things I found amusing was the female pirate. There was something very modern about her attitude and perspective that didn't quite fit with the times the story was set in. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but it did add an element of enjoyment to the story. I also found her sisters to be quite a bit more independent than I would have expected for the times.

The story is well written with the requisite trials and tribulations and the nefarious suitor who is after the hand of the heroine dispite the fact that she makes it well-known to him that his intentions are unwelcome. He provides the means by which the pirate-lady is led back to her faith in God. She then comes to rely on Him and her faith and finds that through God all things will work out in the end.

All in all an enjoyable, light-hearted read.

The Glister by John Burnside

I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. Mildly scary, puzzling, odd and yet strangely familiar. Prior to starting it, I jumped to a conclusion that 'glister' stands for George Lister (G Lister). Easy enough conclusion I suppose, however it isn't ever mentioned in the book. In fact I'm not sure what 'The Glister' really is. This is a strangely dark book about events that take place in an extremely polluted town situated near a now shut down and decaying chemical plant. The plant has polluted the area around it, and is affecting the people who still live nearby. All of this is just part of the background of the story.

I think that I can recommend this book only to those who enjoy a dark, horror-type story.

The Life and Times of Lawrence of Arabia by J. Anderson Black

I've always had a fascination with Lawrence of Arabia. Who wouldn't after seeing Peter O'Toole's portrayal in the movie. When I first saw the movie, it inspired me to draw, but seeing it again recently, it inspired me to want to read more. Consequently I've searched out a couple of books. The first is this one, The Life and Times of Lawrence of Arabia by J. Anderson Black which I aquired through BookMooch.

What a cute little book! It's hardcover, and tiny, not only in size, but is only 72 pages long. I read it in short order of course and was as captivated as always with Lawrence's story. I did find that the book covered his life in good detail, mentioning some things that were only alluded to in the movie. The pictures included were a nice surprise. Although Lawrence is most famous for his activities involvingthe Arab revolt against Turkish rule in World War I, there was much more to this fascinating man.

There were many interesting tidbits that have increased my desire to learn more, and I look forward to my second book arriving soon.

If you have an interest in Lawrence's story, or the politics of the Middle East and Arabia, this book is a quick and concise read.

The Mighty Queens of Freeville by Amy Dickinson

I really liked this book. It was an easy, quick and enjoyable read. Just the thing to be able to pick up in between all the busy-ness of this holiday season.

Amy Dickinson tells us her story in a very simple and wonderful manner. From the breakup of her marriage, leaving her a single parent to her move back to the states and her struggle with the decisions she must now make for herself and her daughter, to her success in her career and in life. And she is successful and she does it with a lot of grace and a good helping of humour.

I'm not familiar with Amy Dickinson's advice column "Ask Amy" or her program on NPR, "Talk of the Nation". I can only imagine that they are full of the same warm, wonderful character as her book. There were many parts of Amy's story that I identified with and I loved the strength and wittiness with which she approached her life. Throughout the book we also see how having the support and caring of close family is what gives us that strength.

I was sorry to come to the end of The Mighty Queens of Freeville. It's definitely a book I recommend.

Soldier's Heart by Elizabeth D. Samet

Soldier's Heart: Reading Literature Through Peace And War At West Point has won multiple awards. Los Angeles Times Book Prizes, New York Times Book Review Notable Book of 2007, USA Today Best Book of 2007, and Christian Science Monitor Best Book of 2007.

It deserves those awards. It is not, however, a quick, or light read. It's the kind of book that requires the reader to pay attention. It is thought-provoking and illuminating and it will make you think.

Elizabeth Samet takes us through her years of teaching literature at West Point, from her early arrival for her first interview, to her continuuing communications with the soldier's she taught over the ten years she spent there. This is a memoir of her experiences and observations and is filled with many references to the books she used in her classes and some of the insights that both she and her students gained from studying them. It made me want to read some of these books too, as I feel I would understand them now in a different perspective. When I first started this book, I felt disconnected and that it probably has more relevance to American people in general, and to those more intimately connected to West Point specifically. Now I have to say that I feel it is worth reading for it's glimpses of life at West Point, and in the military, but also for the literature itself. In the back is included a list of recommended books and films and I'm thinking I might just try to work my way through them!

Stand-In Groom by Kaye Dacus

This may be the first Christian Romance I've read and I enjoyed it very much. The characters were engaging and believable and the storyline moved along quite well. It is set in Bonneterre, Louisiana and sprinkled with little bits of cajun and creole spice.

Anne is a strong, independent woman who has survived the loss of her parents at an early age, and then the loss of her first love when a young woman. Although she was raised in a strong and loving extended family with a faithful reliance on God, these events colour her perspective on relationships. Despite these trials, Anne has become a successful wedding planner whose abilities are becoming known to the rich and famous. Enter the Bride-to-be and the Stand-In Groom and our story begins.

What follows is a heart-warming story of faith and love. I definitely recommend this book to lovers of romance novels!

Waiting For Coyotes Call: An Eco-memoir from the Missori River Bluff by Jerry Wilson

A book worth reading. A book with a message. A book worth the time to absorb and understand. I found this book to be as much a memoir of the land itself as it was a story of the author's life on the Missouri River Bluff. It is clear from the beginning that Jerry Wilson loves the land and enjoys all that it has to offer. And the Missouri River Bluff has plenty as we find out!

It's hard to pick any one point that I enjoyed in this book. There were many. The description of the construction of his eco-friendly house interspersed with the many little historical tidbits was fascinating. His ramblings around the property and the many opportunities to observe the abundance of native wildlife, birds and plant life and the attention and care he gives to them. (Being a bird-lover myself, I found myself wishing for pictures!) His obvious love and caring for the land and his desire to do what he can to benefit the eco-system. It is very evident throughout the book that it is well-researched and presented in a comfortable and friendly manner.

This book inspired me. It also had me wondering what it would be like if our school texts presented this kind of subject matter in this manner....

Where Am I Wearing by Kelsey Timmerman

Thank you Kelsey Timmerman! Thanks for being curious enough to notice and wonder where our clothes are made and then to followup by investigating. I would think the majority of consumers never give much thought to where their clothes are produced, and less to the people who make them. I think I had some vague idea that there were big machines somewhere, mechanically churning out item after item and only being manned by a human who pressed the on and off switch. This book brings the reality into focus.

Kelsey writes with an honesty and openness about what he learns as he investigates where various items of his clothes were made. He takes us to the countries, allows us to meet some of the workers, and in doing so, we also learn a little bit about their lives and what it means to them to be working in the garment industry. We also learn a little history about the garment industry, as well as what role politics play in it all.

I think this is a book that everyone needs to read. It opens your eyes and makes you think, and it even had me checking the labels on my clothes, too! (My current label says Made in India)

Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland

Any Given Doomsday is well-written and fast-paced. I found the story to be imaginative, and the characters solid. For anyone interested in the paranormal, fantasy, and stories involving vampires, shape-shifters and other such creatures, this book is for you. The main female character, Liz, finds out early on that all is not what it seems in the world she grew up in, and that those she has been closest to have secrets.

Liz is fiesty, strong, and refreshing, and she never gives up even when she discovers she might be the only one able to stop doomsday from happening. As the story evolves, we see her struggle to understand and deal with the changes in herself, and the world around her. Until now, she felt like only she was different, but her encounters with creatures like skin-walkers, fairies and dhampir and other creatures of legend prove that she is not alone.
For an urban fantasy, which is what this book is, I believe it fits the genre quite well and when taken at face value, it is an interesting and involving story. I would willingly read the next books in this series.

There is a short story called "In The Begining..."that is a prequel to this book, that I was also able to read. It was short (16 pages) and simplistic and did not prepare me for the complexity of "Any Given Doomsday". It's main purpose seemed to be to introduce the reader to Liz's psychic abilities, and to describe the events that led to Liz losing her partner while she was a cop. Although it is nice to have that information, it isn't necessary to the main book.

Any Given Doomsday by Lori Handeland

Any Given Doomsday is well-written and fast-paced. I found the story to be imaginative, and the characters solid. For anyone interested in the paranormal, fantasy, and stories involving vampires, shape-shifters and other such creatures, this book is for you. The main female character, Liz, finds out early on that all is not what it seems in the world she grew up in, and that those she has been closest to have secrets.

Liz is feisty, strong, and refreshing, and she never gives up even when she discovers she might be the only one able to stop doomsday from happening. As the story evolves, we see her struggle to understand and deal with the changes in herself, and the world around her. Until now, she felt like only she was different, but her encounters with creatures like skin-walkers, fairies and dhampir and other creatures of legend prove that she is not alone.

For an urban fantasy, which is what this book is, I believe it fits the genre quite well and when taken at face value, it is an interesting and involving story. I would willingly read the next books in this series.

There is a short story called "In The Beginning..."that is a prequel to this book, that I was also able to read. It was short (16 pages) and simplistic and did not prepare me for the complexity of "Any Given Doomsday". It's main purpose seemed to be to introduce the reader to Liz's psychic abilities, and to describe the events that led to Liz losing her partner while she was a cop. Although it is nice to have that information, it isn't necessary to the main book.