The Ladies Auxiliary, Tova Mirvis: 4 Stars

So, I loved the writing style of this book. It really was quite refreshing, and the story itself was interesting. I grew slightly tired of the food descriptions, but I also understand that much of the Orthodox Jewish religion deals with restrictions on foods and appropriate eating. Many of the insights into this community were very beautifully described and made me feel a bond with this community in how their religion helps to define them. It gave me a renewed feeling of calm and peace about my own beliefs in that we're all just trying to be better people in our own way.

Sometimes my views about things make me feel like I might not be living my religion in the "right" way, but it's all I know how to do or be. I like the invigorated rejuvenation that the book brings to light and think it's nice to have this type of injection into our system every couple of years. I like how religion isn't portrayed as stale and constrictive, and I am constantly amazed at how, living in such a free land, we can sometimes be made to feel silly for the things that help shape who we are.

The Harlequin Tea Set and Other Stories, Agatha Christie: 4 Stars

As charming as ever, Ms Christie gives us some quick refreshing stories that really make us reevaluate how astute we might really be. I love her quick twists and her seemingly dodgy way of providing details. All the short stories in this book contain interesting outlooks on people and motives. I'm always surprised by what motivates people. I am so naive sometimes still, and I love being that way :)

Hang In There (i.e. The Upcoming Reading List)

OK ... I know I haven't been reading stellar literature lately (or even great paperbacks) so just to show you I sometimes read good things, I thought I'd give you a quick taste for some of the upcoming books:

The Path to Power -- Margaret Thatcher
The Blind Assassin -- Margaret Atwood
The Writer's Diary -- Virginia Woolf
An Interview with a Vampire -- Anne Rice
Walden and other Writings -- Thoreau
Honeymoon with My Brother -- Franz Someone I Just Heard About
How the World Makes Love -- Franz Again
House Thinking ....

I'm hoping this gets you back in the mode to check it out every once in awhile.

Cheerio!
tt

Murder on the Gravy Train, Phyllis Richman: 1 Star

I know, I know. I suffered through another one of her dull books. You knew the outcome from page 12 if not before. Same as before - enough about food that my appetite was sufficiently killed for the next week, and I have in no way been tempted by any of the descriptions within the pages. I already had it checked out of the library, and I feel bad for bringing back books that I never read because I wasted my time and possibly someone else's by even checking it out in the first place. I boared my way through it, but it was not pleasurable. Sometimes, reading can be so demanding on me. *Sigh* Please don't bother suffering through book 2.

I heard there was a book 3 ... not even going there.

The Butler Did It, Phyllis Richman: 1 Star

Good grief. Maybe it takes a special person to suffer through loads and loads of descriptions of food, and I just might not be that person, but I probably should have skipped through half the book instead of suffering though (and I'm a fast reader). You get bogged down in tedious self-indulging chapters where nothing is progressing except food induced comas (and i wasn't even eating at the time). I was just so bored by the effort spent on some of the restaurant "knowitall" non-advice that I almost couldn't finish the book.

Snore.