Reviews of Books

The Remorseful Day by Colin Dexter.
      Ah. Great book. Great characters. This is the last in the Inspector Morse series. A series worth the time to read because of how well you get to know Inspector Morse and trusty Lewis. As Squirms says about Arnold Lobel (see below), they are my friends. I'd like to have a silent conversation with Morse and his blue eyes across a pub table. And to enjoy fish, chips, and eggs with Lewis after a long day at work.

Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough.
      I do enjoy reading about others' lives. And the more I read about Theodore Roosevelt, the more I respect him. I particularly liked that McCullough gives information on his family members too, like older sister Bamie. It seems Bamie might need her own biography written.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.
      I read this because it is classified (in bookstores, school lists) as a classic. It's poetic. The writing is pretty. There are several phrases that are just beautiful. I had a difficult time getting drawn into the story and had to force myself to read. However, an english teacher / book lover that I trust assured me that it's one of her favorites so I'm glad that I finished it. If I read more of Hurston I may need to find her poems instead of novels though.

Capital Dames by Cokie Roberts.
      This is most current in my memory; and it's a book written from letters and historical documents about the belles of Washington DC in the 1860's so of course I loved it! Roberts follows the women of DC and others who come to DC, from before the Civil War through just after, and then thankfully gives a short epilogue for each. This book offers so much detail and insight to this time period, and so many facts that I didn't know about these women. It also showcases the heartbreak that the war caused, from her focus on one city and it's people - friends, coworkers, families all effected. It brings light to a side of the Civil War that I had not studied or considered.
      It also made me take note of a certain historical marker in front of a home for sale in our surrounding area. Virginia Clay-Clopton's former home. A belle during the Pierce administration and wife of a US Senator and then wife of an Alabama Supreme Court Justice, she became involved in the suffragette movement in her later years. Now, if I can just convince R that we should buy a house built in the early 1800's....

Mouse Soup and Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel.
      The Squirms whole heartedly approves of these books. One of them is read at least once a day, usually more, and she has declared that Arnold Lobel is my friend. After reading Mouse Soup she must know who paints each book we read. These are both gifts from R's parents, and it should be noted that it's nice to have a former elementary reading teacher in the family. And although I do have some concerns about the Owl and his seemingly complete lack of common sense, Squirms adores him and almost has Owl at Home memorized.




And in case anyone was wondering, Chaco does make boots (I haven't purchased any, just a discovery). And buying Halloween candy before the 31st is a bad idea (this I did purchase, and then eat).