Freedom Walkers

Freedom Walkers: the Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott By Russell Freedman

My Daughter read this book for the Battle of the Books competition. It caught my eye, so I decided to read it.

The book takes us back to the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement and it did not start with Rosa Parks. There were other ladies before her who refused to get up and were arrested. Mrs. Parks was the ideal defendant to take bus segregation issues into the federal court. The book also explains what happens to the leaders of the boycott and the car pools.

I thought it was a good book. I am glad it was chosen for The Battle of the Books competition. It is a wonderful introduction to the Civil Rights Movement. I even learned something new, that there were other ladies before Rosa Parks and that the bus boycott lasted a year. If you know a child between 4-6th grade definitely get it for them.

This is the second book that I read from The Battle of the Books. I read one from last year's list. It was called Hanna's Suitcase by Karen Levine.

The Poisonwood Bible

I read this book for the TBR challenge. This was my first book completed for this challenge, 11 more to go.

This is a story about a family of Evangelical Baptists who go to Africa to be missionaries. Through the narration of 5 different viewpoints, the mother and the 4 daughters, we see how cultures clash, learn about African (Congo) politics and the status of women. We see a family fall apart and then come back together.

I found The Poisonwood Bible difficult to get into at the beginning. I believe that it was due to the writing style of the author. I either became use to the style or the story became to enthralling to put the book down. After the first 100 pages the book became easier. The further I got in the book, I wanted to know more about the characters

Overall, I found the book a good read. I would definitely recommend it.

Familiar Escape

This book is part of series about a cat detective. This is the first one that I read in the series. It is about Molly whose sister is murdered and her niece has disappeared. Not believing that her niece is dead as the local police state; she hires Familiar to find here niece. Molly goes to the local jail to interview the man who is accused of killing Molly's sister Anna in the hopes that he will help find her niece. He states that he did not kill Anna and that he wants to help find the person who did.

I found that this book started out slow. I kept plugging away. It became better about half way through. If you are patient this is nice light read. I do want to read the other books in this series, so that says something about this book.

2008 TBR Challenge

I have decided to participate in this challenge. I have to read 12 books on my TBR List. The books must be on my list for more than 6 months. I finally completed my list. So here it is.

1. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
2. The Concubine's Tattoo byLaura Joh Rowland
3. The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve
4. Cup of Clay by Carole Nelson Douglas
5. Seed Upon The Wind by Carole Nelson Douglas
6. Rebel by Bernard Cornwell
7. Queenbees and Wannabees by Rosalind Wiseman
8. Seal Island by Kate Brallier
9. Nerd In Shining Armor by Vicki Lewis Thompson
10. The Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
11. A Vision of Light by Judith Merkle Riley
12. The Courts of Love by Jean Plaidy

My alternatives

1. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
2. In Broad Daylight by Harry N. Maclean
3. Flowers in the Rain by Rosamunde Pilcher
4. East and West by Gerald Green
5. Hide and Seek by James Patterson
6. To Touch The Earth by Fran Kendall
7. The Daughter of the Pangaron by David Divine
8. Savage Sunrise by Cassie Edwards
9. Airforce Wives by Ruth Walker
10. The Seventh Stone by Nancy Freedman
11. Comeback by Dick Francis
12. The Last Chance Cafe by Linda Lael Miller

Between this and the decades challenges, I hope I can complete all the books I plan to read for 2008.

Oct Dec 2007 book list

1. The Shunning by Beverly Lewis
2. Dark Seduction by Brenda Joyce
3. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
4. 74 Seaside Ave. by Debbie Macomber
5. Dream Chasers by Anne McAllister
6. The Overland Trail by Wendi Lee
7. Night Watch by Jo Leigh
8. Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich
9. Family Blessings by Fern Michaels
10. Home for the Holidays by Debbie Macomber
11. Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke
12. A Regency Christmas by Various Authors
13. A Victorian Christmas by Various Authors
14. Her Christmas Protector by Terri Reed
15. The Rancher's Christmas Baby by Cathy Gillen Thacker
16. Dream Hunter by Sherrilyn Kenyon
17. Seize the Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon
18. I am Legend by Richard Matheson
    

Christmas Book reviews

A Regency Christmas contains 5 short stories related to Christmas. My favorite story was "Three Good Deeds" by Barbara Metzger. It is about 3 boys who try to do three good deeds to make up for breaking a window in church.

A Victorian Christmas is another book that contains 5short stories related to Christmas.My favorite out of this book was "The Black Beast of Belleterre" By Mary Jo Putney. It is another version of the Beauty and the beast fairy tale. James was disfigured due to a fire and he thought he was very ugly and that no one would love him. He became known as the black beast of Belleterre. He then meets the beauty Ariel. He marrys her to save her from another who is very lecherous and seen three wives die. Do they fall in love? You have to read the short story to find out.

Her Christmas Protector By Terri Reed this book is about Faith Delange. She has run away from an abusive marriage. She trys to hide from her ex husband on an isolated ranch. She helps the rancher, Luke Campbell, take care of his mom who is recovering from a heart attack. She is afraid to confide in Luke. Her ex husband does track her down with the help of Reva, who likes Luke and is afraid of losing him to Faith. It was not a bad book. It does have a religious slat to it. The Religious aspect is not hit you in the face. It is woven in the story very nicely. It is part of the characters and who they are.

Christmas challenge book reviews

Home for the Holidays by Debbie Macomber

This book contain two books that were previously published. The first one was The Forgetful Bride. I did not like this one two much. It was about Childhood friends who were married in a pretend ceremony. They met up years later and one of them teases the other claiming that they were really married. The other book When Christmas Comes I liked much better. I enjoyed the story concept of house switching. This one was a much better read.

Sugar Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

This was a murder mystery that was solved in one night. The whole town or what seems like the whole of Lake Eden attend their annual Christmas Buffet. Someone is murdered with an antique Christmas knife. Hannah Swensen and her sisters help Mike a detective with the police solved the murder. It was an ok read. If you like to cook, at the end of the book is a whole section of recipes for everyone to try. A murder mystery and cook book in one who could ask for anything more.