Thursday, August 21, 2008

Book Reviews from participants in the Pollinate Your Mind Summer Reading Club Lost City of the Incas by Hiram Bingham: Bingham's personal account of his discovery of Machu Pichu (Peru) is so extraordinary, it's hard to believe it's true-but-it is, which makes the account totally fascinating. Bingham is Indiana Jones but he's reality not fantasy. A riveting read. Come on Down by Stan Blits: This was a trip down memory lane. They sure spent a lot of money for a long time. Bob Barker was animal rights activist later on changed things a bit. Complete Idiot's guide to motor scooters by Bev Brinson: This book should be read by anyone thinking of buying a scooter. It will be very helpful. I found covered it very well, something even I didn't know. Puss n cahoots by Rita Mae Brown: Interesting book. good read. Like how the author writes "with" her cat. Solitary Envoy by T. Davis Bunn: I couldn't put the book down. I will be reading the whole series! Excellent read, 2 thumbs up...way up! Southern Cross by Patricia Cornwell: Not my favorite. Didn't grip. Kay Scarpetta was not in the book. DK Eyewitness Travel-Peru by DK Publishers: DK produces the best guides available, a combination of history, touring, advice, and bountiful gorgeous pictures. Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich: Perfect summer reading. Kick Me: Adventures in Adolescence by Paul Feig: The book consists of a collection of short stories about the author's childhood and teen years. Extremely humorous and brings you back to your teen years when you thought everyone was out to get you and embarrass you. Buried Treasures: Tasty tubers of the world by Beth Hanson: Interesting guide to both wild and cultivated tubers. Quicksand by Iris Johansen: A great read. Eve Duncan and company are great characters that hold your interest throughout the whole story. Pontoon by Garrison Keillor: Another entertaining story about life and the characters of Lake Woebegone. Garrison Keillor reads and his voice always gives the story the oomph it deserves. Sleepless in America by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka: This is the best sleep book I've read. It's so good that I am planning on buying it. Get out of that pit by Beth Moore: Wonderful. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson: A must read. A true story about a hero in Pakistan who undergoes tremendous hardship to build a school. Where people hate America they love Mortenson for the good he does. Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger: Interesting premise. Henry is born with a genetic defect that moves him from his present into the past or future and back again. The book follows his love affair with Clare through all her (and his) ages. Quite entertaining. Different reading for me, but enjoyable. Blind Beauty by K. M. Peyton: Worth reading twice plus. Excellent read. Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter: Ashley tells the story of her life growing up in foster care. She reveals the horrors of the foster care system and urges all to do what they can to save the life of a child. Lands of Charm and cruelty by Stan Sesser: A will written political/travel book. Not slanted toward the "tourist" traveler. A snap shot of 20th century SE Asia's politics and environmental issues. Humility by Everett Worthington: Good reading and inspirational although along religious lines. Touch of Frost by R. D. Wingfield: I've enjoyed this series by Wingfield. Unfortunately he died so the series did not continue after 4-5 books. Well written main character is a hoot. Very crass to others. His crassness comes because of the seriousness of his job and this is his way of letting off steam. He is a detective on a police force in a larger city in England. 11:04:06 AM     News from the Pollinate Your Mind Summer Reading program This week 32 people read 96 books, which brings the total for the summer up to 157 people and 1135 books! Last week's winners were Nell Williams who won a gift certificate to the Waterfront Galley, Nancy Bruhn who won a 2 piece Lee's Chicken dinner, and Sue Neading who won a gift certificate to the Waterfront Galley. Congratulations! The books read this past week were: Author Title Adams, Douglas Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy Albom, Mitch Five people you meet in Heaven Arnold, H Man in space Bain, Donald Murder on parade Bain, Donald Vote for murder Baty, Chris No plot? No problem! Bingham, Hiram Lost city of the Incas Blits, Stan Come on down Block, Lawrence Burgler who thought he was Bogart Block, Lawrence Burglers can't be choosers Block, Lawrence Dance at the slaughterhouse Block, Lawrence Eight million ways to die Block, Lawrence Even the wicked Block, Lawrence Hit list Brande, Dorothea Becoming a writer Brinson, Bev Complete idiot's guide to motor scooters Brown, Rita Mae Puss n cahoots Bunn, T. Davis Solitary envoy Chrisp, Peter Ancient Egypt Revealed Christie, Agatha Patriotic Murders Christie, Agatha Peril at End House Clark, Mary Higgins I heard that song before Clifford, Mary Louise Women who kept the lights Cohen, David Day in the life of Israel Cohen, Paula Jane Austen in Scarsdale Cornwell, Patricia Front Cornwell, Patricia Southern Cross Crais, Robert Chasing darkness Deaver, Jeffery Broken Window Deberry, Virginia Gotta keep on trying Discovery Channel Insight Guides-Peru DK Publishers DK Eyewitness travel-Peru Earley, Tony Blue Star Evanovich, Janet Fearless Fourteen Evanovich, Janet Fearless Fourteen Evanovich, Janet Lean Mean Thirteen Feig, Paul Kick me Freethy, Barbara Silent Fall Grady, Wayne Great Lakes Grafton, Sue P is for Peril Grafton, Sue S is for Silence Grant, John Great American rail journeys Hanson, Beth Buried Treasures: Tasty tubers from around the world Howard, Linda Kill and Tell Jackson, Lisa Lone Stallion's Lady Jackson, Neta Yada Yada prayer group gets down Johansen, Iris Quicksand Keillor, Garrison Pontoon Kellerman, Jonathan Private Eyes King, Russell Altas of human migration Kleypas, Lisa Blue-eyed devil Kurcinka, Mary Sheedy Sleepless in America Leonard, Elmore Western Stories Ludlum, Robert Bourne Identity MacAlister, Katie Blow Me down MacAlister, Katie Hard day's knight MacAlister, Katie Just one sip MacAlister, Katie Last of the red hot vampires Mahdy, Christine Mummies, myth, and magic McCarry, Charles Second Sight McCulloguh, David John Adams McNaught, Judith Almost paradise Moore, Beth Get out of that pit Mortenson, Greg Three cups of tea Mouw, Richard Calvinism in the Los Vegas airport Muench, David Rocky Mountains Napthali, Sarah Buddhism for Mothers Niffenegger, Audrey Time traveler's wife Patterson, James Maximum Ride Peyton, K. M. Blind Beauty Pogrebin, Abigail Stars of David Raymond, Robert Australia: the greatest island Rhodes-Courter, Ashley Three little words Robards, Karen Bait Robards, Karen Beachcomber Robinson, Peter Friend of the Devil Sesser, Stan Lands of charm and cruelty Silber, Joan Size of the world Silva, Daniel Moscow Rules Sparks, Nicholas Choice Tanenbaum, Robert Escape Thayer, Nancy Moon Shell Beach Tovey, Doreen Cats in the belfry Tovey, Doreen Comfort of cats Tovey, Doreen Donkey work Tovey, Doreen Double Trouble Tovey, Doreen Raining cats and donkeys Visalli Chicago Wagner, Meir Righteous of Switzerland White, Stephen Dead time Wick, Lori Just above a whisper Wick, Lori Leave a candle burning Wick, Lori Moonlight on the millpond Wingfield, R. D. Touch of Frost Woodiwiss, Kathleen Come love a stranger Worthington, Everett Humility table producing by T2T 10:29:36 AM

© Copyright 2008 Jocelyn Shaw. Last update: 11/18/2008; 2:44:13 PM. Photo curtesy of Marjorie O'Brien