#24 The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker. This story was a godsend in that it didn't seem to follow a formula. Baker is great at descriptions and yes, Truly, the main character, is a giantess. But, the story isn't a total freak show.

It is the story of how the ugly, large, sweet, giantess Cinderella survives all kinds of abuse and ends up with the Prince, while the beautiful sister leads the privileged life but ends up the loser. It definitely is the story of "what goes around, comes around". Truly gets her revenge. The story is filled with memorable, distinct, and unusual characters. I don't want to say too much, because I will give the good parts away.

#23 Circle of Friends by Maeve Bincy. Well, another tale with tons of characters, in fact, everyone mentioned plays a role in this book. This book is mostly about romance and the usual and unusual ways men and women are attracted to each other. The drama takes place between a small town called Knockglen and the city, Dublin. The characters are a group of friends at the university, their parents, and intertwined friends. Binchy's stories are always intertwined. Unusual characters are Eve raised by Sister Francis in the convent and Benny who is a large, but lovable friend from the small town. The usual are Nan, the beautiful controlled girl, and handsome Jack. Add in the rich cousin, the drunken father, the plotting store clerk, a few deaths, and the flamboyant Clodaugh and Fonsie, and you have the making of a good tale. This is the second book I got from my chain letter book exchange. Funny, it came the day after I finished reading Heart and Soul. I think I'll take a break from Maeve. Besides the books are really long and I'm getting behind on my 100 book goal.

#22 Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy. Boy, I would pick a long book which puts me farther behind in my goal to read 100 books this year. But, it was well worth the effort. Binchy is quite the storyteller with each person somehow becoming an important part of the story. The story takes place in Dublin at a new Heart clinic. The new clinic director, her daughters, her ex-husband, and her boss, the new doctor and all of his relatives, the secretary, the nurses, the dietitian and exercise instructor, and of course, all of the heart patients and their relatives and friends. Whew, add romance, add misfortune, add Father Brian and his stalker, and add a happy ending. Also, add humor and the daily struggles of ordinary people, and there's the story. Each life touches another's life.

And, yes, the song "Heart and Soul" could apply to this story.

Book # 21. The Widow's War by Sally Gunning. Women's rights in colonial America? Not many. "A married woman could not own property or sign contracts. A widow was legally entitled to life use of one-third her husband's real estate, actual title to the property customarily passing to the nearest living male heir"- so says the historical notes in the back of this book. And so, Lyddie Berry becomes a widow when her husband dies in a whaling accident. Her independent nature is sparked by her lawyer and friend, Mr. Freeman, her doings with an Indian neighbor, and the ideas put forth by James Otis who speaks of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all- not just men. But then, she has to live with her son-in-law's decisions that run her life going from bad to worse.

I received this book through a chain book exchange with the book coming from New York. It came just when I needed a new book to read. And I really enjoy historical fiction. I think I need to reread Ahab's Wife.

#20 A Garden In Paris by Stephanie Grace Whitson started out pretty strong with a widow who finds a motto in an antique store that gives her some hope for her life. She doesn't get along with her daughter and has been repressed in her marriage. She decides to go to Paris to meet her first love and perhaps recover some of her former self. More than one secret is revealed in this visit. The last part of the book revealed to me that this is considered Inspirational reading- not that I have anything against it. This just is not my cup of tea for reading.

Note: Why is it that in the last few books I have read, the widow is independently wealthy?

Book # 19 the day i ate whatever i wanted and other small acts of liberation by Elizabeth Berg. This book made me chuckle. Thirteen stories about regular women who on an ordinary day go off the deep end. Some of the titles include: Over the Hill and Into the Woods, Double Diet, and the Day I Ate Nothing I Even Remotely Wanted. I got a big kick out of the chapters on Weight Watchers. The questions asked are -what would you do, if nobody was looking? What would you do, if you were going to break out and away? This book will give you some ideas. Even writing without using capitals is liberating.

Book # 18 Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois. Yes, I'm going to count a cookbook. Have I read the book from cover to cover? Sort of. Have I read each recipe? Mostly. I have reread many parts including the first chapters that explain the how to basics. I have made two batches of the master recipe: boule. It was very tasty and easy to do. Then I made the Light Whole Wheat bread. Again, easy to make and very tasty. Much of this depends on the kind and amount of flour I have. I tried the Spinach and Cheese Calzone, in fact a double batch, since it was a way to use the Light Whole wheat recipe. Well, we found it bland, but I will add pepperoni and a sharp cheese if I make it again. I just made a batch of 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread. The great thing is that you keep these bread doughs in the refrigerator and use it as needed. Anyway, my next bread will be something sweet like cinnamon rolls or brioche filled with chocolate ganache. I like this cookbook so much I have ordered a copy for myself. Now I can take this copy back to the library. I'll keep you posted as I cook my way through the book.

Double Read- Book # 16 and #17. The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg.A different twist on what to do if your spouse dies. The main character,Betta, reinvents herself after her husband dies. She sells her home, moves to a small town in the Midwest, reconnects with her college friends, starts a new business, and adds three new men to her life (ages 10 to 65). I liked the idea of her finding pleasure in her simple daily routines. Of course, it helped that she sold her house in Boston for a large sum of money and she doesn't have to worry about making a living. Not exactly the usual, but I enjoyed the book.

Here at the End of the World We Learn to Dance by Lloyd Jones. Boy, what dancing lessons could do for ones romantic life. I say go out and learn the tango and see what might happen. Jones can really weave a story and it isn't all romantic or pretty.

Book # 15 Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford is a great book. I'll let Lisa See give the review from the back of the book: " Jamie Ford's first novel explores the age-old conflicts between father and son, the beauty and sadness of what happened to Japanese-Americans in the Seattle area during World War II, and the depths and longing of deep-heart love. An impressive, bitter, and sweet debut."

I enjoyed the book from start to finish. I think this would make a great movie! I predict it to be coming to a theater near you soon.

Book # 14 A Mad Desire to Dance by Elie Wiesel. Oh wow! An exploration of madness, trauma, silence, the horrors of hate and revenge. Doriel, a survivor of the Holocaust, has lost his mother and father, sister, and little brother. He is haunted by their ghosts and his lack of knowledge of how it all happened. His psychoanalyst helps him delve into parts of his past to retrieve memories which will bring him to a spot where he can begin to experience joy in living.

The book is very deep and I really had to concentrate. It just wasn't a happy read. That doesn't mean it wasn't good. I noticed I'm on a MAD kick.

Book # 13 Maise Dobbs mystery, Among the Mad, by Jacqueline Winspear. This is the sixth book in her historic based series and I love every one. The story takes place in London between Christmas 1932 and the New Year. Maise solves her mystery in a country between wars and reeling from its effect. The mystery is to find a terrorist who has no problem with gassing dogs and birds and threatens to do the same to the London "fat cats". Billy, Maise's helper, his wife, and Maise's friend, Priscilla are fighting trauma. And Maise has to come to terms with her own madness. This could be a modern story involving soldiers and their families who have returned from Vietnam, the Gulf, or Iran. Much has been in the news lately about PT SD and other veteran's issues. Add military intrigue and mental hospitals and you have the makings for a fast moving "who done it".

It seems Maise is working through some of her issues and may even be building up for romance. Maybe in the next book. I can't wait.

Book #12 Audrey Hepburn's Neck by Alan Brown. Toshi is born on the northern peninsula of the northern most island of Japan. He knows very little about his silent father and a mother who leaves them when he is eight. His biggest thrill is receiving a fan letter with a signed photo from Audrey Hepburn when he has to practice his letter writing in English. He has an uneventful childhood, but as a talented artist, he moves to Tokyo. Here he is surrounded by loneliness, obsession, striving to find identity, prejudice, and culture clash with an emphasis on Americans. This story is fast paced and, happily, has a great ending. All of the pieces come together in a well woven tale.

In much of the world, movies play a big part in creating the American image ( cowboys, Indians, rich people, etc) . This book frames this idea well. I think this story would make a good movie.

Whew, I thought I was getting behind.

Book #11 The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner. I really had to concentrate to understand this book about three brothers and Caddy, the sister, Caddy's daughter, the alchoholic father, and the hypocondriac mother along with the black servants. The time is out of sync. The language is hard. The thoughts are choppy and interspersed with each person. Let's say it- it was a hard read. The whole story conveyed disfunction, downfall, and disorder. I know, it is one of Faulkner's most celebrated. I can't say I enjoyed it, but then, I'm glad I read it. All of my reading can't be about cats and mice. Or can it?

Book #10 Redwall by Brian Jacques. Yes, a fantasy, what fun. I needed a break from the heavy stuff, so I found this book up in our library. I loved The Hobbit and Wind in the Willow, so I loved this book. Lovable animal characters, bad, bad rats, a quest for a sword, friendships and hardships are all a part of this book. It is a fast read and probably would be enjoyed by a 5th or 6th grade student. I would recommend it even though there is violence and a little bad language (if anyone is concerned about that).

Book #9 The Reader by Bernhard Schlink. Well, let me quote the back of the book, " When he falls ill on his way home from school, fifteen-year-old Michael Berg is rescued by Hanna, a woman twice his age. In time she becomes his lover. She enthralls him with her passion, but puzzles him with her odd silences. Then she inexplicably disappears." That is a really good description of the beginning. The book is also about Hanna being on trial for horrible crimes as a guard in a Nazi concentration camp. One is faced with many questions as to what would have been done in a similar situation. I think the rest of the story should be saved.

The movie is coming to our theater this week and I hope to see it. I'll be interested to see how the movie reveals Hanna's secret.

Book #8 Hatbox Letters by Beth Powning I finished reading this book a few days ago and really enjoyed the writers descriptions. Saying that, I also felt that they were sometimes long and tedious. But then, the book is about grief and the way it changes but never goes away. The main character has lost her husband and her own identity. She works her way through by reading love letters from her grandfather to her grandmother finding out about their grief and how it affected their lives and hers. It was also about her great great grandparents. It just reminded me about how little we know about our relatives and their struggles. The story hit home with death, aging, retirement... on and on. We all are dealing with grief in one form or another.

Book # 7 Moral Disorder by Margaret Atwood. I don't know what to say. I must have missed something along the way. I found the book interesting, but not compelling. Maybe I need to discuss it with someone. So, sorry about the incomplete review.

B00k#6 is Letter to My Daughter by Maya Angelou. OK, maybe it isn't lenghty, but I've only challenged myself to reading 100 books. Now, I'm not going to include children's books like Eric Carle's Dream Snow. I'm sure it will even out.

I found this book refreshing. I appreciated the entries on humility, charity, and violence. Maya pays tribute to many people who influenced her. I was also interested in her insights on national spirit. It is a quick read, but has much to ponder.

Book # 5 Dewey The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Moron. The story is about a cat who arrives at the library in the book box half frozen. The kitty is the official ambassador for the town Spencer, Iowa. He loved the author, the children, the staff of the library, and became an animal phenomenon. Dewey Readmore Books was a cat with abundant personality. It is all about Dewey's life and relationships.

First off, I'm not a big cat lover, but I definitely understand what a pet can do and if you have never had a pet or lost a dear pet, you won't understand.

The book seems long and redundant. That said, I did enjoy reading it because it is also about a small town library, the family farm crisis, the pride of a community trying to grow and sometimes stuck in its history, and strong family ties. Dewey was the glue to keep everything together. Dewey was the hero.

I wonder how the movie will turn out? Meryl Streep as Vicki the librarian- Wow!

Book #4 Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon is another war story taking place in A.D. 950. This story has mucho slaughter, plunder, and horrors as do other war stories, however, it didn't strike home as grossly. Maybe it's because I felt it was more like an Arabian nights fairy tale or a saga of Norsemen. It has elements of both. The story puts two unlikely good guys, who can be bad, together on a long adventure that has twists and turns with miraculous escapes.

It somehow reminded me of the Lone Ranger and Tonto. There are horses that are secondary characters with unbelievable talents. And elephants are a major factor. I probably should have taken it more seriously because it is about the Jews in the Khazar Empire.

The book has a certain amount of weird humor and an interesting use of language. The author has a knack of making one sentence paragraphs. I enjoyed the book, but couldn't get heavily involved as I do with other stories. But, hey, it's #4.