Archive for the ‘Books. Elctronic Reader’ Category

This time of year gifts come to mind. I decided to share a few books and magazine subscription that I like that might offer you something to think about.

Books that I read or want this year are:

Lyndon Johnson and The Great Society. Before Johnson became President he was vice-president to John F Kennedy. Many people remember great historical feats and attribute them to Kennedy. However, it was Johnson who followed through on the Civil Rights and Fair Housing Authority. He was the one who believed in a Great Society of equality but between the Viet Nam war and unrest at home it was not to be. Read about this important era.

Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1. Clemens had his autobiography held for 100 years before he had it published in this first of 2 volumes. I just hope Santa got it before it goes out of stock! This one is getting bought up in droves!

The Secret Adversary. In the style of the Agatha Christie’s whodunit this book is an enjoyable read for mystery readers. Published in 1922 it can still hold the reader in suspense.

Future Shock. Lately Alvin Toffler is back in the news and many of the details of this story show they are being played out in our modern world. See if you can find some similarities as I did.

A History of God. Karen Armstrong does an admirable job of defining Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Her book takes time to get through but for the reader who is interested in world religion this is a must read.

And if you are giving a gift and the book is more than you know your reader will have time for try a magazine subscription. A few of my favorites are:

National Geographic (been a member forever, this one gets passed around the family)

Smithsonian (a look through history, again like all this subscription I try to pass on to another reader)

Cook’s Illustrated (for the cook on your list! This one can be saved and used over and over!)

Real Simple (easy reading with tons of new age tips on home and lifestyle)

Martha Stewart Living (my all time indulgence, it follows all the major holidays with ideas for meals and decorating)

If you are a reader who loves a good mystery but not into reading a complete book then here is a simple subscription solutions. When time is challenged with too many things going you can subscribe to short story magazines.  It can be purchased in hard copy or go to Amazon.com and get the Kindle edition to be downloaded to your electronic reader. In fact all the suggestions I have given you here can be downloaded to your electronic reader. Personally sometimes I want to hold the magazine or keep the book in my library for future reference.

Here are a couple of short mystery story options:

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine (six issues a year)

Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine (monthly

Hope these suggestions offer some options for you!

It has been years since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has had by attention. It wasn’t until my class in European History when my professor referenced a short story of Sherlock Holmes, “The Man with the Twisted Lip” that my attention was focused on Sherlock Holmes again. Doyle wrote the Holmes short stories and novels as a sideline, my professor tells me. And they were serialized in newspapers. As Doyle grew weary of writing about Sherlock Holmes he decided to have him killed off by falling off a cliff. The public was in shock! I was in shock! I was not done with Sherlock Holmes anymore that the public. So with much begging Doyle brought Sherlock Holmes back from the dead.

I fell in love all over again. I got all the Sherlock Holmes series starring Jeremy Brett, you can get the movies on Netflix or you can go to the  Kindle store to download books on some cases of Sherlock’s. I am now and will forever be in love with Mr. Sherlock Holmes and his crime fighting attempts.

Jeremy Brett does Holmes makes a great Sherlock Holmes in his portrayal. And Edward Hardwicke does a fine job of playing Dr. John Watson. The relationship that Holmes and Watson have developed over time is a deep abiding friendship that runs through each and every story as the crime is solved.

Then I find that Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law have recently redone the Sherlock Holmes but alas! There will only be one Sherlock for me, Jeremy Brett. And only one Dr. Waston, Edward Hardwicke. I fear I am love struck with Sherlock that only Jeremy Brett can portray. I fear that I will be unfaithful if I go see Robert Downey Jr. but alas I did and came back to my favorite.

If you go see the new Sherlock Holmes please send me your review!

Words evoke emotions, memories, smells and sensations. Two words that mean a lot to me are the words, “Chapter One”. When settling down to read a book whether a hard bound book, I pod audio or book on Kindle nothing gets the arm chair traveler ready quicker to move from the present day into the world of a good book than reading the first two words, “Chapter One”. No matter what I am ready to read those two words transform me to a world that all the stress and worries of this day to day life cannot encroach upon.

Books can take you anywhere in the world or the universe. And I have found that the genre does not matter. If I am interested I travel to that distant land and find myself caught up in the murder mystery or history or  science fiction. And, what a surprise when you enter the writer’s world because that is their whole purpose for writing, to bring us the reader into their world, is it not?  

There have been books that have caught me off guard. For example, “The Sparrow” by Mary Doria Russell was not expected at all. This book came in the mail and I did not order it. I asked my husband if he did and no, he did not. I kept the book curious as how I got it and why and began my travel off planet. What a surprise when I opened to “Chapter One”. It transformed me to a world of science fiction that I do not usually travel. I was transfixed by this book that took me to a distant planet and the center of the human soul where a Jesuit priest and linguist, Emilio Sanchez leads a scientific mission. And I was so taken by this book that I decided to get the second book of Father Sanchez’s travel entitled, “The Children of God”.  

Then I found myself traveling to the world of children’s fantasy. Remember the movie “The Golden Compass”? Well little did I know that Philip Pullman started this book (the movie is based on this book) as the first of a three book trilogy. The Trilogy includes; “The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Glass” as we follow more of Lyra’s adventures.

If children’s fantasy and sci-fi are not your favorite genre what about picking up a book to read about history? It sounds dry I know but if you love history as I do it doesn’t take much to get started when seeing the words, “Chapter One”. I am reading a great book now entitled, “American Lion, Andrew Jackson in the White House”.  This book takes me  through the life of our seventh President and how he was instrumental in shaping our nation. I find myself traveling through time when a President could come and go from his home or work without an entourage of Secret Service. And I think about names of places I pass on the highway now and where they got their name.

I think most importantly when I go back to thinking about what gets me reading, those words “Chapter One” metaphorically are what puts me in my favorite chair, snuggled in for a good read. There is just nothing like a good book to get us away from the  cares of day. And it is one of those guilty pleasures we need to take advantage of. So what is your favorite book?  As this day to day grind keeps us plugging along why not take a break and visit another place, it all begins with two easy invitational words, “Chapter One”.

I collected ten of the books that I read this last year to share with you. When I completed my list I realized that I spend a lot of time reading novels that suspend belief. As a history student I spend most of my life in the throes of reality while reading of historical events and biographies. The books listed here are a way to let my brain take a vacation. This is the first Toni Morrison book I have read and found it very enjoyable. I recommend all these books. Goodbye Harry Potter, it is time to grow up! The Gardener’s Pocket Bible was a gift, a British garden book. Made me miss my days of European gardening.

Joanne Harris is one of my all time favorites (she wrote Chocolat), I knew Kathy Reichs before the series Bones. I have been with her since she started writing. Carolyn Haines writes a light murder mystery series, her “Bones” series. I love her style in these books. However she has written other books too and they are excellent at well. And Sue Grafton, I have been with since she started the alphabet series. The two books by Philip Pullman are books two and three of The Golden Compass series.

But! I am always looking for new authors!  Can you recommend books or authors to me?

• The Gardener’s Pocket Bible
  Roni Jay
• Gentlemen and Players
  Joanne Harris
• The Girl with No Shadow
  Joanne Harris
• A Mercy
  Toni Morrison
• Bones To Pick
  Carolyn Haines
• T is for Trespass
  Sue Grafton
• Bones To Ashes
  Kathy Reichs
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
  J.K Rowling
• The Subtle Knife
  Philip Pullman
• The Amber Glass
  Phillip Pullman

Princess Bubble is a beautiful fairy tale princess AND an educated, hard-working, well-traveled woman with plenty of moxie.  Authors Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb created the character of Princess Bubble to help combat stereotypes and fight the victim mentality that young girls are indoctrinated with almost from birth.   The book is written from a Christian perspective, encouraging young girls to be princess with morals, ethics, and faith in addition to a pretty dress and lip gloss.

Johnston and Webb financed the book themselves because they believed the young girls in their lives needed a story that inspired them to go after their dreams, not just wait around for someone else to fulfill them.

You can buy Princess Bubble at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.  Share this wonderful story with a little girl in your life and help her become a different kind of princess.

Someone has a lot of time on their hands!  But you have to admit, a scene-by-scene Lego replica of the entire Holy Bible is definitely a claim to fame.  Some of these scenes are absolutely hilarious!  The Brick Testament.