Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Book Reviews from participants in the Pollinate Your Mind Summer Reading Club Going back to Central by Lon Emerick: Non-fiction: this book follows a retired Northern Michigan University professor and his journey up to Central, a former mining community in Michigan's Kewanaw Peninsula, from Marquette. He is in search of exploring the past of his Cornish ancestors. History, but not dry history, and wonderful human and descriptive narrative of the scenery and people who settled the Upper Peninsula. Easy, enjoyable reading. Monk Upstairs by Tim Farrington: The book drags on until midway but the second half gets you to stop/think/be thankful and the end, though tragic, was beautifully written. Farrington hits the nail on the head regarding human emotion and life! Wonderfully written. Weird Michigan by Linda Godfrey: Interesting book about Michigan tourist spots (lesser known ones), hauntings, and UFO hot spots. Baking: From my home to yours by Dorie Greenspan: Some really good recipes. Tried some and mmm good. Lost Souls by Lisa Jackson: Lame. Weak characters, undeveloped plot. Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson: Very good book. Lots of real life events and glad some "full gospel" books are being written. Home to Holly Springs by Jan Karon: This is a wonderful story about the perfect timing of God in working out the rough and unfinished edges of our lives. Full of unexpected surprises and blessings. Excellent read for those of faith and those searching. Santa's Twin by Dean Koontz: Creepy and cool-not for kids-it has great illustrations. Tribulation Force by Tim LaHaye: A great continuation from the first book in this series, Left Behind. The series is a fictional story of the Rapture of the church and life on earth after. Very thought provoking and hard to put down. I read half the book in one day. Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire: What an eye opening book about perceived beauty and ugliness. I really enjoyed this book. Get off the Unicorn by Anne McCaffrey: Some slow stories, especially in the beginning, but I found a few-including "Horse from a Different Sea", "Great Canine Chorus", and "The Smallest Dragonboy", as well as a few other to my liking. All right book, overall. The book has nothing to do with unicorns, not sure where the title came from. Miracle at Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith: This book is as delightful as all of the author's previous books. A mix of human nature, down to earth acceptance of what life brings and a bit of mystery thrown in. I love it! 4:16:10 PM     News from the Pollinate Your Mind Summer Reading Club This week's winners were Sandra Talsma who won a Bee pin from Jilly's, a shy person who won a $15 gift certificate from Alpha and Omega Antiques, and another shy person who won a voucher for tickets to the West Shore Symphony Orchestra. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to our sponsors! 2:50:56 PM     Book Reviews from participants in the Pollinate Your Mind Summer Reading Club Devil's Workshop by Stephen Cannell: Well written, good plot, lots of action. Good Read. Riding the Snake by Stephen Cannell: Action packed, fast moving, hard to put the book down. Tin Collectors by Stephen Cannell: Intriguing, fast moving lots of action, a little romance, a tear-jerking ending. Viking Funeral by Stephen Cannell: Eyeopener, based on facts of the corruption in our large corporations. Lots of action, a little romance. Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon: Although some books that wint eh PUlitzer leave the reader questions "Why?", this bok does not disappoint. chabon illuminates yet anotehr shameful chapter in US history when our government denied persecuted European Jews US Visas to their ultimate peril, yet saw fit to try to cenor the comic book industry. I highly recommend. I heard that song before by Mary Higgins Clark: I really enjoyed this book, there wer so many twists and turns. It was great. On the street where you live by Mary Higgins Clark: I figured out who did it within the first 2 chapters. Not her best. We'll Meet Again by Mary Higgins Clark: I enjoyed this book. I didn't suspect the person that did it, though. Rip it up! The black experience in rock and roll by Kandia Crazy Horse: A history of rock n roll from those who made it, and continue to make it! Calder Pride by Janet Dailey: Good romance book. 8 steps to create the life you want by Creflo Dollar: Lots of good steps to better your life and many practical applications to get you there. 2:48:08 PM     Pollinate Your Mind: Summer Reading 2008 This week 53 people participated in the Summer Reading club and read 137 books! So far, 101 people have read 369 books. Last week's winners were Vicki Sherwood who won a $15 gift certificate from Alpha and Omega Antiques, Nikki Kirskey who won 2 Golden Corral gift certificates, and Jennifer Darling who won 2 ticket vouchers to the West Shore Symphony. This week's books were: Author Title Abel, Kenneth Cold Steel Rain Abrams, Nita Question of Honor Ahern, Cecelia There's no place like here Albert, Susan Wittig Nightshade Asher, Jay Thirteen Reasons Why Bailey, Alison China Berenson, Alex Ghost War Black, Joel Stepliving for teens Blake, Rich Day Donny Herbert Woke Up Bolton, Vivienne Big book of paper crafts Bradford, Barbara Taylor Remember Bradford, Barbara Taylor Secret Affair Brett, Simon Stabbing in the Stables Brockmeier, Kevin View from the seventh layer Brown, Matt Manhunter/Deadwood Brown, Sandra Send No Flowers Brown, Sandra Switch Brown, Sandra Tomorrow's Promise Brown, Sandra Words of Silk Bynum, Juanita My spiritual inheritance Cannell, Stephen Devil's Workshop Cannell, Stephen Riding the Snake Cannell, Stephen Tin collectors Cannell, Stephen Viking Funeral Case, Frederick Trilliums Chabon, Michael Amazing adventures of Kavalier and Clay Clancy, Tom SSN Clark, Mary Higgins I heard that song before Clark, Mary Higgins On the street where you live Clark, Mary Higgins We'll meet again Clark, Mary Jane Lights out tonight Connolly, John Unquiet Cook, Robin Critical Cornwell, Patricia Front Cornwell, Patricia Predator Crazy Horse, Kandia Rip it up: the black experience in rock and roll Cussler, Clive Chase Dailey, Janet Calder Pride Dean, Paula It' ain't all about the cookin Dodd, Christina Lost in your arms Dollar, Creflo 8 steps to create the life you want Due, Tananarive Good House Emerick, Lon Going Back to Central Evans, Tabor Longarm and the Blackmailers Fairstein, Linda Bone Vault Fairstein, Linda Cold Hit Fairstein, Linda Dead House Farrington, Tim Monk upstairs Gaffney, Ed Enemy Combatant Godfrey, Linda Weird Michigan Greenspan, Dorie Baking: from my home to yours Harrison, Kim Dead witch watching Hill, Susan Pure in Heart Insight Guide New York Jackson, Lisa Lost Souls Jackson, Neta Yada Yada Prayer Group Karon, Jan Home to Holly Springs Keim, Kevin Grand Old Flag Kenyon, Sherrilyn Dance with the Devil Kingsbury, Karen Family Koontz, Dean Santa's Twin LaHaye, Tim Tribulation force Levy, Debbie Richard Wright a Biography Lozan, Michael Sharing the Wealth Lucas, George Return of the Jedi Maguire, Gregory Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister McCaffrey, Anne Got off the unicorn McCaffrey, Anne Power Lines McCaffrey, Anne Power Play McCaffrey, Anne Powers that be McCall Smith, Alexander Miracle at Speedy Motors Meyer, Joyce Battlfield of the Mind Michaels, Fern Free Fall Michaels, Fern Hide and Seek Michaels, Fern Hokus Pokus Michaels, Fern Jury Michaels, Fern Lethal Justice Michaels, Fern Payback Michaels, Fern Sweet Revenge Michaels, Fern Vendetta Michaels, Fern Weekend Warriors Mills, Beverly Cheap Fast Good Mina, Denise Slip of the knife Morris, Gilbert When the Cat's away Noire Baby Brother Noire Candy Licker Oke, Janette Calling of Emily Evans Oke, Janette Gown of Spanish Lace Oke, Janette Like Gold Refined Oke, Janette They called her Mrs. Doc Oke, Janette Woman named Damaris O'shaughnessy, Perri Case of Lies Parr, Delia Carry the light Patterson, James 5th Horseman Patterson, James Cradle and All Patterson, James Double Cross Patterson, James Judge and Jury Payton, K. M. Blind Beauty Plum-ucci, Carol What happened to Lani Garver Popageorge, Tod American Sports, 1970 Rankin, Ian Watchman Reinhart, Peter Bread Baker's Apprentice Roberts, Nora Highnoon Ryan, Sara Empress of the World Sandford, John Phantom Prey Schein, Elyse Identical Stranger Shlaes, Amity Forgotten Men Smart Guide New York Steele, Shelby Bound Man Stewart, Mariah Last Words Tan, Amy Opposite of fate Tan, Amy Saving Fish from drowning Thompson, Bill Michigan Bird Watching Thompson, colleen Head On Van Lustbader, Eric Bourne Betrayal VonZiegesar, Cecily Gossip Girl Wainscott, Tina Until the Day you Die Weber, Carl Something on the side Wiggs, Susan Hostage Wiggs, Susan Snowfall at Willow Lake Wilkinson, Bruce Dream Giver Woodiwiss, Kathleen Petals on the River Woodiwiss, Kathleen Reluctant Suitor Woods, Sherryl Seaview Inn Zahn, Timothy Heir to the Empire table producing by T2T 2:45:37 PM     Energy Saving Tips From Gov Gab: Lots of energy saving tips for reducing the amount of gas you need. 2:33:49 PM     RegToy From Lifehacker: "Free PC tweaking utility RegToy exposes all sorts of Windows settings that you'd normally have to dig into the registry to get to." 2:28:15 PM

© Copyright 2008 Jocelyn Shaw. Last update: 11/18/2008; 2:42:52 PM. Photo curtesy of Marjorie O'Brien