"While Irish Eyes are Smiling" -Suzanne Supplee

Young Adult romances can be simpler love stories; this one fits the bill. It takes place in Ireland during a Study Abroad program.

Delk Sinclair decides to go to Ireland instead of hanging around Nashville, TN. She's running away from her debutante ball, step-mother, and memories of her mother's death from illness. While in Ireland, Delk makes friends, meets Pather, a boy who's also lost his mother, and confronts herself and her relationships at home, all while traveling among the beauty that is Ireland.

I was slightly impressed by this book. It's still a "cheap" paperback but Delk's character development was surprising. She is presented as shallow but not mean or dumb. Her growth is believeable, especially since the "terribleness" she attributes to her life is the normal exaggerations of a teenager. All in all, cute!

Read Also:

It turns out I don't read a lot of contemporary YA fiction but an oldie (and I mean the 80's) Tough-Luck Karen by Johanna Hurtwitz is about a girl who has a lot of things going wrong in her life. She'd go crazy if it weren't for her love of cooking.

Linda Crew's Children of the River is about a girl from Cambodia making her way in America.

The Grand Plan to Fix Everything by Uma Krishnaswami.

"Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant" -Tony Cliff

I came across this book twice before I finally read it. It was a fun, funny, easy read.

Delilah Dirk is an adventurer with skills ranging from sword fighting to dancing to piloting in situations ranging from polite society to the jungle to tough cities. She takes up with Selim, a Turkish Lieutenant with a taste (and nose) for tea, accidentally in Constantinople. They face a lot together, come to understand each other, and even sacrifice for each other until they stumble upon a friendship they built. It's a happy story considering all the bloodshed...

Read Also:

Shannon Hale's Rapunzel's Revenge and its sequel Calamity Jack are very similar in attitude, writing style, and even artwork. Very funny and exciting!

The "Asterix" series by Iscenko & Goscinny.

Stewart Ross wrote a set of 4 Beginner Reader graphic novels set during Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and China. Although, they are not funny.

"The Crochet Answer Book" -Edie Eckman

I don't usually read entire books that can be considered reference books. Like encyclopedias, you look up what you need, not read from cover to cover. In this case, I read the entire book. I've taken up crocheting again and this time, I'm going wild! I read this to see what tips I could pick up to ease, enhance, and smooth out my crocheting. None of it was a revelation, but there were useful hints throughout.

The format is broken into sections (Yarn, Finishing, Stitching, etc.) and it's treated like a Q&A.

The most helpful section was on blocking and starching which I'd never thought about though I knew I needed to do something similar for some of my projects. The cleverest tip is using a latch hook to weave in the tail ends of the yarn. The funniest tip was [Q: What's the difference between "1 sc" and "sc 1." A: Nothing, they're the same.]

Read Also:

Some of my favorite crochet books are 75 Birds, Butterflies, and Little Beasts to Knit & Crochet by Lesley Stanfield and other similar titled books by her.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amigurumi by June Gilbank was inciteful for stuffed projects.

Basic Crochet Stitches by Erika Knight. Okay, I haven't read this one yet, but it's in the queue!

"Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders" -John Mortimer

You may have heard of the British television show and Yes, this is one of the books the series was based on.

Rumpole is writing his memoirs, recounting his first case as lead council. A boy is on trial for the murder of his father and his father's best friend. The case brings back memories of WWII, airplane pilots, and accusations of treason. While Rumpole glories in his first case, a few past flames resurface.

The writing is a little more styled. I'm not unfamiliar with it but I do a lot of rereading to make sure I understand what's going on. I really liked Rumpole; he's fun and rebellious but disciplined.

Read Also:

Rumpole is a little like Perry Mason, series by Erle Stanley Gardner, in that the lawyer solves the case and the defendant is always not guilty.

British murder mysteries: Agatha Christie's are the best!

"Don't Let the Republican Drive the Bus" -Erich Origen

What I hoped for was a funny political commentary, what I got was a biased democratic take on the republicans. I'm not defending either party nor am I saying neither is without fault. What I disliked about this book is the lack of proof. On the other hand, a republican could write a book called "Don't Let the Democrat Drive the Bus" so I guess it evens out.

And what was even more shocking was the disclaimer on the back of the book: "This book is a parody and has not been prepared, approved, or authorized by the creators of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! or their heirs or representatives." Why would you let someone use your idea (especially a great children's book) if you don't support what they're using it for? Oh well.

Read Also:

If you're interested in other, funnier political picture books, Stephen Colbert's I Am a Pole (and You Can Too!) is hilarious!

Now, Mo Willems's "Pigeon" series is really cute!

"Sweet Land of Story" -Pleasant DeSpain

After going to Devil's Tower, I looked around for the tale about how it was formed. I came across this collection of folk tales from across America. Sweet Land of Story: 36 American tales to tell has supernatural, nature, tall tales, and comedy.

Besides Pecos Bill, Johnny Appleseed, and Paul Bunyon, there's also historial figures such as Calamity Jane, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Jesse James. There's a tale of how dogs became domesticated, a commentary on marriage, and morality tales. A quick read.

I especially liked the talle "La Escalara Famosa (The Famous Stair)" from New Mexico. It's a real structure, a spiral staircase, built by a stranger and still survives today. I think I'd like to go see it...

Read Also:

Sadly, through most of this book, I was picturing all the movies and cartoons they've made: Disney's "Pecos Bill" and "Johnny Appleseed" cartoons; MGM's "Calamity Jane" musical; and Barbara Stanwyck's "Annie Oakley" movie.

"The Amaranth Enchantment" -Julie Berry

I can't believe this is my first post of 2014!! So late in the month. Ah well, that's the way it goes etc. etc.

I haven't done much reading these past holidays because of my change in commute. I drive more than sit on a bus which reduces my "spare" time for reading. I know, shame on me. But this one was a fairly quick read regardless.

This Cinderella-esque tale is about Lucinda, a girl whose parents died when she was young, leaving her penniless. She's taken in by her uncle and step-aunt who treats her like a servant. She meets a prince when he comes into the shop but she also meets a thief, Peter. Peter teaches her how to steal and Beryl (essentially an alien & fairy godmother) gives her an opportunity to regain her property. Book includes a ball, surprise clothes & carriage, and even teasing over the midnight hour.

It was not a bad read. I don't even remember why I got it in the first place. A little bit too supernatural for a good fairy tale-to-novel transition though.

Read Also:

Jessica Day George's Princess of the Glass (book 2 of the trilogy).

Cameron Dokey's Before Midnight, part of the "Once Upon a Time" series.

Paula Brandon's "Veiled Isles" trilogy struck me as an adult version of the same book (complete with zombies!)