Jamie by Lori Foster

Lori Foster introduced a psychic secondary character during the Winston brothers’ books. Every town needs its resident nut case and Jamie Creed lived and haunted Visitation. No one knows his past although the women (Cyn, Luna, Shay, Juli, and Alyx) are trying to bring him down off his mountain and into society. But it takes a stranger, climbing his mountain in a storm to bring him out of himself and force him to face his past with the racy results that one expects from a Lori Foster novel. Yes, her novels border on pornographic. Have you ever thought of acting out one of the scenes with your husband? It can be kind of fun if you’re both in a silly mood.

Reforming the Rake by Sarah Elliott

Okay, so I happen to like Regency and Victorian Romances. They're the fluff in my reading diet.

So what happens when a rake wants to be married but can’t admit it? He compromises himself. What happens to a young girl who loves horrid novels and thinks that men should be like heroes in novels? Miscommunication; which is the trademark of romance novels. A pretty good read actually. I love the twist she finds out about her parents too.

I think this is Sarah Elliott's first novel but I could be wrong.

Sunshine and Shadow

I have to admit I know this pattern as Around the World instead of Sunshine and Shadow. This book has a weak mystery but is much more about Benni’s character and how her past fits in with her present. I loved the ending, even though I saw it coming.

Steps to the Altar by Earlene Fowler

I'm not a fan of mystery stories although I do love CSI. Earlene Fowler's Benni Harper is an exception to my dislike. I like how Benni stumbles into messes and just does her best to cope with the hand that she's been dealt. I like how the novel includes her life outside the story and the cast of supporting characters are full bodied and worth getting to know. I love how the plots tie into the titles which happen to be named after quilt blocks. (Does that answer how I got interested in this series?) This episode deals with marriage and the miscommunications that we get ourselves into. Who hasn't taken something wrong? or stood fast when they should have apologized? How about accusing the other person of doing something that you are doing yourself? and through the questions runs the issue of a murder that occured in the 1940's. Was it a domestic violence situation gone bad? Or was it exactly as the town believed?
Well, I'm off to the next novel in the series.

A Gift of Dragons by Anne McCaffrey

I received this illustrated collection of short stories as a gift. All these Pern stories have been published elsewhere but it was a great way to remember the books that I read as a teenager. Pern was a great escape and it's wonderful to see my kids go there too. I so wanted a fire lizard when I first read Dragonsinger, Dragonsong, and Dragondrums. Then I wanted to be a Dragon rider with my own golden queen after I discovered Dragonriders of Pern. I was so pleased when my daughter dressed as Melody for the "come as your favorite literary character" Halloween party. The sad part is that not even the teachers knew who she was. Luckily, she just figured that all the people she was in school with were ignorant and just followed trends. It seems most of them came as characters from Harry Potter. (Yes, she read all those books too and we've been at most of the midnight book release parties.) But McCaffrey's Dragons... as a teenager, I loved the idea of having someone who knows your every thought, your every feeling and is there to help and comfort you. Someone who is connected to you and always there. A presence that is in your mind and loves you unconditionally. I so wanted that psychic connection with someone who understood me. This book reminded me of all that. I'm so glad my kids are reading them too.

My List of Books to Buy or just Check out from the Library (or read if I own them already)

Heloise and Abelard - Burge
Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn - Radish
The Age Related books of Judith Borst
** The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy - Hirsch ** (This is a buy)
Reading Magic - Mem Fox
Hatchet - Gary Paulson
** The Collected Works of Neil Maxwell **
The Four Agreements
The Power of Intention - Dr. Wayne Dyer
Jamie - Lori Foster

Artscape by Fredrick Ramsay

I agree with the rule of 50 as a general principle. The Rule of 50 is reading 50 pages before deciding that a book is not for you. The exception is that if you are over 50, subtract your age from 100 and that’s the number of pages you slog through before you put it down.
I’m sorry but I only made it to page 33 before deciding that I really could not go any further in this first novel by an unknown writer. The characters are trite and flat. The sheriff; a psychologically damaged, ex-CIA agent still dealing with his Jewish heritage and small town roots. The all-women’s college president, claiming to be a reformed Marxist but calling the sheriff a fascist for his suggesting that her students have a picture ID (I didn’t know there was a college that didn’t issue a picture student ID). And the terrorists planning the crime (including a disassociated FBI agent) – It’s so blatant from the first chapter that they did a dry run. I know it’s going to get into FBI vs. CIA and I just can’t do that anymore. Before page 25 it’s announced that they have an inside connection. Just to be fair, I’ve skipped around in the later chapters and it doesn’t get any better. I’m still trying to decide how this made the Reader’s Favorite list at the library. I’m also looking for even one metaphor.

What's on your Nightstand (Tues Nov 2, 2005)

It's Tuesday and time for “What's on your Nightstand” on AM820. On my nightstand this week is a museum catalog. There are 3 great exhibits in Utah right now. The BYU Museum of Art has an exhibit called Adam’s Dream which is a great collection of surrealistic photographs. If the new acquisitions are on display, don’t miss Exchange #8 and the Picture of Christ by the Circle of Rembrandt.
The LDS Church Museum of History and Art has a collection of Rembrandt Biblical prints. It will be there through mid-December. When you look at the detail, and realize that these are all done by hand, it’s just unbelievable and humbling.
The Leonardo has its grand opening exhibit – EXODUS. This is a photographic exhibit but I haven’t seen it yet so I’m a bit leery of recommending it to the listeners.
I would recommend though, if you don’t understand what you’re looking at when you go to a museum, get a book on understanding art and teach yourself a bit about symbolism and art history.