NOTE:  I am depressed at the number of books which sucked!  Is this because of my mood, our choices in literature, or something else.  But remember these are the books I am donating to the library - maybe I keep the good ones?
 
APOLOGY:  My apologies to the library for donating so many sucky books - but maybe others will like them!
 
Title: How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny
Genre:  Mystery
Date read:  November, 2014

Started well - Canadian police officer investigating a murder.  Backstory about a previous incident in his career and police corruption.  Plot about a plan to blow up a bridge.  Mystery town outside big city where people live in seclusion.  Much ado about the quintuplets.

Unfortunately the story became muddled.  The bomb plot was absurd.  The backstory on corruption was hinted at repeatedly but not explained.  Ultimately I do NOT recommend this book.

Rating (0-10): 4 - Started well but ultimately flopped.
Disposition: Give to library

Title: Beach House Memories by Mary Alice Monroe
Genre:  Chick-Lit?  Romance?
Date read:  September, 2014

I got this book in the hopes of enjoying the ambiance of beach life as I remembered from my youth.

Woman with husband and two kids summers at beach house.  She tracks sea turtle nests and finally makes ends meet with the turtle guy who, naturally, is then killed in a plane crash.  She reconnects with her husband and gets beaten.  But she stays - why - because she is an idiot.

Rating (0-10): 3 - Heroine a fool - I want to eat some sea turtles after this book!.
Disposition: Give to library

Title: Knockdown by Sarah Graves
Genre:  Mystery
Date not read:  November, 2014

Book was about beach house, summer, house restoration.  Again I liked the proffered ambiance.  But...twice I started this book, second time I got halfway through before quitting.

Female "heroine" has a past which comes back to haunt her.  The potential assailant is disgusting.  In order to demonstrate how bad he is she has him murder a few people along the way - the girl's death reminded me of A Casual Vacancy - very sad.  By the time I gave up on this book I was hoping both the antagonist and the heroine would die!

Rating (0-10): 2 - Repugnant characters - I wanted them all to die!.
Disposition: Give to library

Title: Havana Storm by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler
Genre:  Action Adventure
Date read:  December, 2014

Reasonable CC book with usual first chapter historical event followed by action on the sea and under the sea.  Featured Dirk Pitt's two kids.  Story centered around undersea mining of high grade uranium ore near Cuba and a mesoamerican treasure whose location is revealed by a broken stone.

Rating (0-10): 7 - Good CC fare - nice to have main characters and not others in the CC family but I did not find the story riveting.
Disposition: Give to library

Title: The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
Genre:  Chick-Lit?  Romance?
Date read:  Somewhere in Time

Woman is no Southern Belle - she loves her sweets hidden in the closet.  That is - until she discovers someone hiding in the closet.  Story revolves on this relationship.

Rating (0-10): 6 - Good read but ultimately sad ending - no great magic.
Disposition: Give to library

Title: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
Genre:  Chick-Lit?  Romance?
Date read:  Somewhere in Time

Sidney returns from bad marriage with kid - there is an apple tree in the back yard.  Book is a nice mood piece.

Rating (0-10): 7 - Good read with some magic.
Disposition: Give to library

Title: someday this pain will be useful to you by Peter Cameron
Genre:  ?
Date read:  Somewhere in Time

About a screwed up loner kid who starts out screwed up - continues screwed up - and ends up screwed up.  Diane recommended this book so I did read it but...

Rating (0-10): 5 - A totally pointless book - read enjoyable at points.
Disposition: Give to library

Title: Finding Serenity by Jane Espenson (ed.)
Genre:  nonfiction, commentary
Date read:  Somewhere in Time

A set of essays on the Firefly / Serenity series - too cerebral for me so I read only some of the essays.  Serenity was a great show.

Rating (0-10): 6 - Had its moments but too much philosophy read into stories.
Disposition: Give to library

Title: Mounting Lenses in Optical Instruments by Paul R. Yoder Jr.
Genre:  nonfiction
Date read:  not read

Just to be complete - am donating this book.

Rating (0-10): NR
Disposition: Give to library

Title: The Mayan Secrets - A Fargo Adventure by Clive Cussler and Thomas Perry
Genre:  Action Adventure
Date read:  Somewhere in Time

Don't remember much but CC books are always good to read.

Rating (0-10): 7
Disposition: Give to library

Title: Low Pressure by Sandra Brown
Genre:  Mystery
Date read:  Somewhere in Time

Good mystery - got us started on Sandra Brown,  Girls sister is killed at company picnic before a tornado - she investigates.

Rating (0-10): 8  Interesting mystery
Disposition: Give to library

Title: The Thrill of Victory by Sandra Brown
Genre:  Romance
Date read:  Somewhere in Time

Female tennis player and sportswriter hate each other - she gets sick - they hook up - live happily ever after?.

Rating (0-10): 3  Women can't be this dumb!  Still an OK read.
Disposition: Give to library

Title: Unbroken
Genre:  Nonfiction WWII
Date read:  December, 2014

Teenage delinquent, olympic runner, becomes pilot.  Ditches in the Pacific in 1943, drifts 47 days.  Spends two years in a Japanese prison camp.  Gets out, has PTSD, gets religion, does well.  Book made me so angry at the Japs.  Had to jump ahead to reassure myself of a happy ending after all the suffering.

Rating (0-10): 8  Kept reading to find the happy ending
Disposition: Give to Jeremy.

Books and Authors I have read:

Sandra Carey Cody - Jenny Conners Mystery Series (mother with two kids who works at an old age home and solves murders).

Left at Oz

Consider the Lily

Put Out the Light

By Whose Hand 

Kristin Hannah

Home Front - wife and mom goes to war - dad copes poorly

Tracking Books

Books being sent to Robin, Jeremy, Autumn on June 19, 2014
Books mailed Friday, June 20; due Friday June 27.

Cinderella by Walt Disnet - Twin Books
Beauty and the Beast by Walt Disney - Twin Books
My First 1000 Words by Walt Disney
Fuzzytail Friend Lift and Look Animal Book by Lisa McCue
The Mouse Before Christmas by Michael Garland

Horses by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois
Unicorns II by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois
Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe
Nighty-Nightmare by James Howe
Holiday Inn by James Howe

The Celery Stalks at Midnight by James Howe
The Little Leftover Witch by Florence Laughlin
Short Palys based on Aesop's Fables by Albert Cullum
The Dragons of Blueland by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Star of Shadowbrook Farm by Joanna Campbell

The Wild Mustang by Joanna Campbell
Battlecry Forever by Joanna Campbell
You Be the Jury - Courtroom V by Marvin Miller
You Be the Jury - Courtroom IV by Marvin Miller
You Be the Jury - Courtroom III by Marvin Miller

You Be the Jury by Marvin Miller
The Saddle Club - Riding Class by Bonnie Bryant
Midnight - Champion Bucking Horse by Sam Savitt
The Littles Take a Trip by John Peterson
I am a Kitten by Ole Rison

I, Houdini by Lynne Reid Banks
Animal Rescue Farm - The Stolen Horse by Sharon M. Hart
Baby Dinosaurs by Peter Dodson and Peter Lerangis
Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl
Strange but True - 22 Amazing Stories by Donald Sobol

I Can by Helen Oxenbury
The Cat Who Came for Christmas by Cleveland Amory
Winter of the Owl by June Andrea Hanson
Hannon Police Horse by Jank and Patricia Demuth

A milk crate of books Robin says she is not interested in.  Last chance for Robin/Jeremy; Dan/Carrie to review and request books be kept before donating to library.  If you want any of them I will either keep them here or send them to you as per your wishes.

Silver Creek Riders 1 Back in the Saddle by Beth Kincaid
Silver Creek Riders 2 True Romance by Beth Kincaid
Silver Creek Riders 3 Winning by Beth Kincaid
Orphaned Pup by Elanor Ladd
Triple Threat by Claire Birch

Tight Spot by Claire Birch
Harry Cat's Pet Puppy by George Seldon
The Great Quarterback Switch by Christopher
The Kid Who Only Hit Homers by Christopher
Choose Your Own Adventure 1 - The Cave of Time

Choose Your Own Adventure 58 - Statue of Liberty Adventure
Choose Your Own Adventure 99 - Revenge of the Russian Ghost
Choose Your Own Adventure 112 - Skateboard Champion
Choose Your Own Adventure 115 - The Island of Time
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

The Littles Go To School by Peterson
The Littles Go Exploring by Peterson
The Littles Go Exploring by Peterson (copy 2)
The Littles Give a Party by Peterson
Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques

The Outcast of Redwall by Brian Jacques
The Bellmaker by Brian Jacques
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Edwards
Salamandastron by Brian Jacques
Scholastic Dictionary of Synonyms

Castle Spellbound by John DeChancie
I Am Leaper by Annabel JohnsoGreat Ghost Stories
Christmas With Ida Early by Burch
Ralph S Mouse by Beverly Cleary
Goosebumps - Welcome to Dead House by R. L. Stine

Earthstar Magic by Chew
Magic The Gathering - Tapestries - An Anthology
Bummer Summer by Ann M. Martin

Another milk crate of books Robin says she is not interested in.  Last chance for Robin/Jeremy; Dan/Carrie to review and request books be kept before donating to library.  If you want any of them I will either keep them here or send them to you as per your wishes.

Woof by Allan Ahlberg
Tom Sawyer Abroad by Mark Twain
101 Bossy Cow Jokes by Hall and Eisenberg
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Summer of the Monkees by Wilson Rawls
Waterworld by Max Allan Collins
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Mysteries of Bizarre Animals and Freaks of Nature by Phyllis Emert
The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Rascal by North
The Curse of King Tut's Tomb by Jay Montavon
Choose Your Own Adventure - 43 - The Great Zopper Toothpaste Treasure by Bach and Brost
Choose Your Own Adventure - 45 - You are Invisible by Saunders

Little House on the Prairie by Wilder
Stolen Pony by Rounds
Blind Outlaw by Rounds
The Blind Colt by Rounds
Catwings by LeGuin

Dogsong by Gary Paulsen
Danny the Champion of the World by Dahl
The Secret of the Indian by Lynne Reid Banks
The Mystery of the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
Little House in the Big Woods by Wilder

The Adventures of Pinnochio by Carlo Collodi
Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
The Lost Work - Ladybird Children's Classic
Dumb Like Me, Olivia Potts by Lila Perl

Explorer Books: Wolves by Andrews
A Perfect Crime by Peter Abrahams
Dead Body Language by Penny Warner
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Black Beauty by Selell

Mariel of Redwall by Brian Jacques
The Saddle Club - 10 - Riding Camp by Bonnie Bryant
The Saddle Club - 11 - Horse Wiser by Bonnie Bryant
The Saddle Club - 12 - Rodeo Rider by Bonnie Bryant
The Saddle Club - 22 - Fox Hunt by Bonnie Bryant

The Saddle Club - 38 - Horse Trade by Bonnie Bryant
The Saddle Club - 49 - Stable Farewell by Bonnie Bryant
The Saddle Club - 51 - Pleasure Horse by Bonnie Bryant
The Saddle Club - 54 - Gold Medal Rider by Bonnie Bryant
The Saddle Club - 55 - Gold Medal Horse by Bonnie Bryant

The Saddle Club - 66 - Saddle Sore by Bonnie Bryant
The Saddle Club - 67 - Summer Horse by Bonnie Bryant

Books also going away

1990 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Volume 1
1996 Scott Specialized Catalogue of U.S. Stamps
2001 Scott Specialized Catalogue of U.S. Stamps & Covers
2005 Scott Standard Stamp Catalogue Volume 1
2005 Scott Standard Stamp Catalogue Volume 2
2005 Scott Standard Stamp Catalogue Volume 3

I have the 2011 Specialized Catalogue and the 6 Standard Volumes
I have the 2001 Classic Specialized Catalogue of Stamps and Covers 1840-1940
I have the 1935 single volume catalogue

Movie Reviews - MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Movie:   My Sassy Girl

Genre:   Romantic Comedy

Source:  Livermore Library DVD

Date Seen:  June 1, 2014

Typical girl meets guy, pursues him for a while, and then breaks it off for a year.  We must guess the reason.  They reunite after one year.  Mindless but sort of fun. ***/*****

Movie:   Easy Virtue

Genre:   Romantic Comedy

Source:  Livermore Library DVD

Date Seen:  June 1, 2014

British guy shows up at his home with a new bride - an American female race driver,  Acceptance is hard and she finally just gives up and leaves.  WTF? Was fun to watch until the ending which was lame. **/*****

Author: Sandra Brown

We read one book by Sandra Brown and liked it so the next day I bought 30 of her books on ebay for about $1/book.  Later we learned she writes both mystery and romance novels and that we had a mixture of such books.  We are working our way through the books slowly and I will review each book individually.

Title: Tempest in Eden by Sandra Brown
Genre:  Romance
Date read:  May, 2014

Nude model Shay goes to a cabin in the woods to meet her mother and new husband only to encounter his son, the minister Ian.  After a chance encounter, much confusion, ups and downs, ins and outs, they finally make ends meet.

Rating (0-10): 5 - it is okay but not earth shattering.
Disposition: Give to library

Title: The Alibi by Sandra Brown
Genre:  Mystery
Date read:  May, 2014

Real estate tycoon murdered, district attorney spent the night with a key suspect.  Good mystery, lots of fun and turns.

Rating (0-10): 8 - was wanting it to end so I could find out who dunnit!
Disposition: Give to library

Title: A Kiss Remembered by Sandra Brown
Genre:  Romance
Date read:  Spring, 2014

Amazingly awful book - the guy is an absolute sexist pig and yet after an illicit (and probably illegal) kiss in school the heroine (fool) lusts after this guy until late in the book they make ends meet.

Rating (0-10): 3
Disposition: Give to library

Title: hello darkness by Sandra Brown
Genre: Mystery
Date read:  Spring, 2014

Good mystery but with many perverted characters and not the storybook ending one would want for the kidnapped character.  Kids - even screwed up kids - should not die in books.

Rating (0-10): 7
Disposition: Give to library

Number 2

Second Post

TrackingFrank - Welcome and First Post

This blog is my blog.
I am keeping Track of my life.

WARNING - boredom alert - if you are not me this blog may bore you to death!

I want to keep track of the books I have read - so I can donate them to the library and not have them lying around - I may well include SPOILERS.

I am an avid model railroad enthusiast and will document the development of my collection and layout.

I am going to write some essays here.

First image added to my blog.

Welcome to TrackingFrank.