A rich man visits his childhood home and introduces his new fiancee. Almost immediately, someone tries to kill him. He suspects it is one of his sisters, but which one? They all have a motive, but who is capable of the crime? One sister is blind, one is deaf, and one has only one arm. The suspense escalates and comes to a violent conclusion.
This is not the best of Armstrong's books (I like A Dram of Poison best), but it is good. The characters are all well done, and lots of creepy suspects. A fun thriller that kept me up until I could see whodunnit.
Also:
Duty and Desire and These Three Remain, by Pamela Aidan
These two books are the last in the series about Fitzwilliam Darcy, the Mr. Darcy of the Pride and Prejudice story. I reviewed the first one, An Assembly Such as This, earlier this month.
After enjoying the first book, I was really disappointed by the second. It starts off fine, but then takes a strange sort of Gothic turn, with spooky happenings and twisted family relationships. Darcy goes to a house party of an old school friend, and gets caught up in something weird. It had a strange conclusion and just seemed totally out of place. Don't bother with this one.
But the last book in the series, These Three Remain, is much more readable. Darcy meets up again with all the characters from Jane Austen's original book, and we get to read his side of the romance again. More of Mr. Collins, Miss Bingley, and Lady Catherine. I liked that we got to read about the cousin, Anne, he was supposed to marry. The proposal scene was just as good told in this story. In fact, Aidan quotes verbatim the dialogue in Austen's book. All in all, a really fun book. You can just read book 1 and book 3, and not lose anything. I got this one at the library and I recommend it to any Jane Austen fans. Irish pointed out another good version of the story in her post on my last review, so I want to check that one out now. Thanks!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Kitty Update
After a rough night (the kids were all worried), Spooky is MUCH improved. I'm not sure if it was the prayers or cleaning out his wound, but I suspect it was both. I am so relieved as I just didn't want to lose my cat. Ellen would have been especially heartbroken, since he is her baby. But today, his wound is scabbed over and looks great - no swelling, no redness, no sign of infection at all. It looks to be healing just fine. I am so grateful!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
My poor sick kitty
My poor little kitty is not feeling so good. Ellen was petting him and found a sore. I thought, 'no big deal, he gets those.' But I came to look. Ewwwwwwww!He did indeed have a sore, a thumb-nailed sized open sore that oozed LOTS of pus and a little blood. It smelled horrible, I mean, incredibly horrible. It made me want to throw up.
Randy got some Bitter Yuck from the pet store to spray on his wound so he will quit licking it, but I'm not sure it will do the trick. Looks like we'll get to spend our extra cash (HA!) on a trip to the vet. Poor Spooky. The kids are all worried. Happy kitty vibes would be much appreciated.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Book Review: An Assembly Such as This: A Novel of Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman
There seem to be a lot of books based on Jane Austen's works lately and I've been reading a few of them. I heard a lot about this series and was anxious to get it from the library. I started it as soon as I got it and found it a quick read.
The basic idea is to tell the story of Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Darcy's point of view. I saw the BBC version with Colin Firth not too long ago on PBS, so the story was still fresh in my mind.
There seem to be a lot of books based on Jane Austen's works lately and I've been reading a few of them. I heard a lot about this series and was anxious to get it from the library. I started it as soon as I got it and found it a quick read.
The basic idea is to tell the story of Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Darcy's point of view. I saw the BBC version with Colin Firth not too long ago on PBS, so the story was still fresh in my mind.
I liked the story and I liked her interpretation of the characters. Darcy is still Darcy, Elizabeth is still Elizabeth, and most of the other characters are just like in the original. The author in fact quotes from the original often, but then we get what's going on inside Mr. Darcy's head to make the scene a little different.
But she has to diverge from the original story when Darcy and the Bingleys go off to London, and that's where I didn't enjoy the book as much. The whole political undercurrents were out of place. The author either didn't explain them enough or should have left them out entirely, which I think would have been better.
Still, I put the next in the series on hold at the library and will be eager to read it.
(sidenote: why do this as a series anyway? My guess is to make more money out of it, but it's really unnecessary. The original was in one book. Do we really need 3 now?)
The basic idea is to tell the story of Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Darcy's point of view. I saw the BBC version with Colin Firth not too long ago on PBS, so the story was still fresh in my mind.
There seem to be a lot of books based on Jane Austen's works lately and I've been reading a few of them. I heard a lot about this series and was anxious to get it from the library. I started it as soon as I got it and found it a quick read.
The basic idea is to tell the story of Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Darcy's point of view. I saw the BBC version with Colin Firth not too long ago on PBS, so the story was still fresh in my mind.
I liked the story and I liked her interpretation of the characters. Darcy is still Darcy, Elizabeth is still Elizabeth, and most of the other characters are just like in the original. The author in fact quotes from the original often, but then we get what's going on inside Mr. Darcy's head to make the scene a little different.
But she has to diverge from the original story when Darcy and the Bingleys go off to London, and that's where I didn't enjoy the book as much. The whole political undercurrents were out of place. The author either didn't explain them enough or should have left them out entirely, which I think would have been better.
Still, I put the next in the series on hold at the library and will be eager to read it.
(sidenote: why do this as a series anyway? My guess is to make more money out of it, but it's really unnecessary. The original was in one book. Do we really need 3 now?)
Monday, June 9, 2008
Dan the Needle Man - Ow, Ow!
I'm about done with needles. I've been seeing an acupuncturist for the last few years, and I can really say that I've noticed an improvement. Just lately it's helped with muscle tension in my shoulders and neck, which is so painful it keeps me from sleeping at night. Since I have Chiari, some of the pain is nerve pain, and some is muscle pain. Only surgery can help with the nerve pain. Even strong painkillers can only dull the pain; they don't make it go away.
But the acupuncture has been a good way to treat the muscle pain. Problem is, it hurts! A lot! And the more tender and sore the area is, the more it hurts!
I love my acupuncturist. His name is Dan Clark and he works at Lotus Spring Acupuncture and Wellness in American Fork. But seriously, enough is enough. I just can't take another needle for a while. I'm glad I tried it, but I was just about in tears today with this session and I'm done.
I called the surgeon to see if he's had any cancellations, but no such luck. I'm feeling a little sorry for myself today. Last week I was dizzy for the first part of the week and had serious headaches for the last part and I'm about tired of this whole thing. And my appointment is not until September 16th, and then surgery would be later still.
I guess that's about it. I just needed to get that all out and now maybe I can quit whining and just get on with my summer.
This concludes the self-pity portion of our blog. We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Recipe: Cherry Chocolate M&M cookies
Cherry Chocolate M&M Cookies
I found these at Target last week and got them to share. Then I had the bright idea that these would make yummy cookies. When it comes to chocolate, I'm pretty much a genius.
Ingredients:
1 chocolate cake mix (not the add butter kind)
2 eggs
1/3 c. oil
1 Tb. milk or water
1 pkg. Cherry M&Ms (you won't need the whole package, which leaves plenty snack on)
Preheat oven to 350°. Mix together all ingredients except M&Ms. You will have a thick batter. You can add another Tb. of liquid if you need to. Then stir in about 1 c. of the M&Ms. Drop by spoonfuls and bake until done. We made big cookies, so I had to bake them about 14 minutes. Then let them rest just a bit before removing from cookie sheets.
I adapted a recipe from 101 More Things to do with a Cake Mix for this one. Very nice.
Ad for the Summer Reading Program
This is a shameless plug for those of you who live close enough to sign up for the Summer Reading Program at the Provo Library. You need a Provo or Orem library card to register. It started officially on Monday, but we signed up yesterday and can't wait get started.
For adults and teens, it works like this. For every book you read (or listen to) you can submit a book review. You can even email them in, once you're registered, which is what I'm planning on doing this year. Then every week they draw one of the names of people who reviewed a book that week and give away prizes. Lots of prizes. We win at least one every year. In year's past, we've won a windchime, passes to the Climbing Gym, free books, free DVDs, and gift certificates to local restaurants. We've never won the grand prize, but maybe this is our year. Last year they gave away a computer and an iPod.
For children, they have to read so many minutes a day, and they decide how many they want to read. Then at the end, they win a prize pack which has coupons for free ice cream, free kids meals, and a ticket to the summer reading pool party in Provo. It's always really crowded, but it's fun.
And for you folks who can't participate in this summer reading program, I bet your library has something just as much fun.
Happy reading!
For adults and teens, it works like this. For every book you read (or listen to) you can submit a book review. You can even email them in, once you're registered, which is what I'm planning on doing this year. Then every week they draw one of the names of people who reviewed a book that week and give away prizes. Lots of prizes. We win at least one every year. In year's past, we've won a windchime, passes to the Climbing Gym, free books, free DVDs, and gift certificates to local restaurants. We've never won the grand prize, but maybe this is our year. Last year they gave away a computer and an iPod.
For children, they have to read so many minutes a day, and they decide how many they want to read. Then at the end, they win a prize pack which has coupons for free ice cream, free kids meals, and a ticket to the summer reading pool party in Provo. It's always really crowded, but it's fun.
And for you folks who can't participate in this summer reading program, I bet your library has something just as much fun.
Happy reading!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Book Review: The Mummy Case
The Mummy Case, by Elizabeth Peters
I got this one as an audiobook from the library. I was hoping it would be good, as they had several other in this series. Peters is a prolific writer with at least three series, the Amelia Peabody books, the Jacqueline Kirby books, and the Vicky Bliss books, plus several books that are not part of a series. I really like the Vicky Bliss books. Vicky is a tall, blonde, kick-butt art historian always looking for stolen art treasures. Borrower of the Night is the first one in that series. I hate the Jacqueline Kirby books. But I couldn't remember whether I liked the Amelia Peabody books. Amelia is a Victorian Egyptologist. I remember reading the first one in the series, Crocodile on the Sandbank, but it was so long ago that I couldn't remember what I thought. And my sister is a big fan of the series, so I thought maybe I would like it too.
But I hated it! The book is told as if it's taken from her diary, so it's all in first person. That's OK, but it means if you don't like the main character, you'll be spending a lot of time with someone who bugs you. And I didn't like her at all. Amelia talks way too much, she's annoying coy about her love life with her fabulous husband, Emerson, and she complains all the time about her son. That was when I really just decided it wasn't worth listening. All she says about her son, named Ramses for mysterious reasons I didn't catch, is that he's too loud, too dirty, and always causing trouble. Well, I have a son like that, but I am pretty happy with him. So really, give it a rest already! I didn't even finish the first tape.
Then I thought maybe it was the narrator that was so irritating, and I could give the book another chance. So I found a copy at the library and thumbed through it. Nope. It was just as bad. I flipped through to the end, but it was the same style all the way through and I just didn't care what happened to any of the characters.
It's funny that one writer can have such a wide range of voices in writing. I also found 2 Vicky Bliss books at the library sale and picked them up. I already finished Silhouette in Scarlet, which is set in Sweden. It was a lot of fun, and now I'm looking forward to Night Train to Memphis.
I got this one as an audiobook from the library. I was hoping it would be good, as they had several other in this series. Peters is a prolific writer with at least three series, the Amelia Peabody books, the Jacqueline Kirby books, and the Vicky Bliss books, plus several books that are not part of a series. I really like the Vicky Bliss books. Vicky is a tall, blonde, kick-butt art historian always looking for stolen art treasures. Borrower of the Night is the first one in that series. I hate the Jacqueline Kirby books. But I couldn't remember whether I liked the Amelia Peabody books. Amelia is a Victorian Egyptologist. I remember reading the first one in the series, Crocodile on the Sandbank, but it was so long ago that I couldn't remember what I thought. And my sister is a big fan of the series, so I thought maybe I would like it too.
But I hated it! The book is told as if it's taken from her diary, so it's all in first person. That's OK, but it means if you don't like the main character, you'll be spending a lot of time with someone who bugs you. And I didn't like her at all. Amelia talks way too much, she's annoying coy about her love life with her fabulous husband, Emerson, and she complains all the time about her son. That was when I really just decided it wasn't worth listening. All she says about her son, named Ramses for mysterious reasons I didn't catch, is that he's too loud, too dirty, and always causing trouble. Well, I have a son like that, but I am pretty happy with him. So really, give it a rest already! I didn't even finish the first tape.
Then I thought maybe it was the narrator that was so irritating, and I could give the book another chance. So I found a copy at the library and thumbed through it. Nope. It was just as bad. I flipped through to the end, but it was the same style all the way through and I just didn't care what happened to any of the characters.
It's funny that one writer can have such a wide range of voices in writing. I also found 2 Vicky Bliss books at the library sale and picked them up. I already finished Silhouette in Scarlet, which is set in Sweden. It was a lot of fun, and now I'm looking forward to Night Train to Memphis.
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