Congratulations to:
Week 9 Winners –
Juanita Compton
Marilyn Underkofler
Mona Christian
& GRAND PRIZE WINNERS –
Elena Link (GPS donated by Rocky’s Marine)
Marisa Schmidgall (Quilt donated by Sally & Al Dwyer)
March 17, 2009
The Music of What Happens by John Straley
Rate It!: 3 moose
Review: I enjoyed reading another of Straley’s books in the “Cecil Younger” series. What I enjoy about his writing is that the setting is southeast Alaska, but he doesn’t hit the reader over the head to impress us with his local savvy. He seamlessly weaves in (sorry about that metaphor…) aspects of southeast Alaska living, like running a boat, cumbersome travel, the weather, etc. while keeping the story moving and keeping those details relevant to the plot and characters. Incidental characters – background singers in the story – retain local flavor as well as the landmarks.
I preferred “Death and the Language of Happiness”, but it still was fun to read. ml
The Quilter’s Apprentice
Rate It!: 5 moose – everyone should read it!
Review: Delightful book about young woman whose husband takes job in another town and while she looks for employment becomes involved in quilt making and lasting friendships. Quilt history and quilt patterns make it not only interesting but also a topic that I now know much more about. Very enjoyable. mu
The Good Diamond by Skye Kathleen Moody
Rate It!: 5 moose – everyone should read it!
Review: Crime novel about a blue diamond that leads to murder and intrigue. Main character Venus Diamond, fish and wildlife agent, solves mystery. mu
The Meadow by James Galvin
Rate It!: 4 moose
Review: it was an interesting read. half poetic, half narrative about life living in the barrenness and beauty of wyoming, colorado, and montana. some aspects of it reminded me of alaska! i liked the presentation of the text and the writing style. sw
Knit Two by Katie Jacobs
Rate It!: 4 moose
Review: This book is the second, by this author, about a group of women that have a common friend. Because of that friendship they start a knitting club. Some of them are expert knitters and some are beginners. But they form a bond. We learn about their lives and how they support each other in times of difficulties. Many issues are brought up and discussed, such as inter-racial marriage and the children that are born mixed. They also have to deal with the death of their common friend and how it effects them. It is a good read. mm
The Year China Discovered America by Gavin Menzies
Rate It!: 5 moose – everyone should read it!
Review: This book, from the New York Times Bestseller List, offers an amazing amount of evidence that supports Chinese exploration and charting of much of the world in the early 1400s, and exploration and settlement of the New World before Europeans. Mr.Menzies has collected and organized an astonishing collection of evidence, and writes in a very readable,descriptive way that makes it seem more like a mystery novel than historical report.
The details of every day life-clothing, food, conditions on the hundreds of Chinese ships, etc.-make it a great read for anyone interested in early exploration. mc
Restless Waters by Jessica Speart
Rate It!: 4 moose
Review: This is one of 3 authors I’ve found that pair outdoors and mystery with romance and adventure. The female heroine in this book is Rachel Porter, US Fish & Wildlife agent, who is stationed in Hawaii and deals with everything from the illegal exotic pet trade and invasive species, to what she stumbles upon and finds out to be an underground operation relating to shark-fin soup & even native hawaiin beliefs. The book has romance with her beau Santou and a dog named Spam–fitting for Hawaii! It was well-researched plot and fast-paced read but still detailed enough to paint a good mental picture. Nice to read about someplace WARM in the winter too! aw
Small Wonder – Essays by Barbara Kingsolver
Rate It!: 4 moose
Review: In this persuasive and thoughtful collection of essays, Kingsolver makes a convincing case for her philosophy of inhabiting our environment with sensitivity and respect. cm
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
Rate It!: 4 moose
Review: This book is a collection of short stories that explore bonds between family members and between friends. Rich characterization make this collection a joy to read. cm
