November Challenge - Mystery Monday

November 10th -  Mystery Monday - Elvis and the Dearly Departed by Peggy Webb

Elvis and the Dearly Departed
by Peggy Webb

I have always heard, "Don't judge a book by its cover," but when you work with four-year-olds all day, everyday that is JUST what you do! My students can't read so that is exactly HOW they judge a book. If their attention is captured by the picture on the cover, that is the book they are going to check out. Well, this is the case with Peggy Webb's book Elvis and the Dearly Departed, my Mystery Monday selection for this week. My attention was initially caught by the adorable basset hound on the cover AND the name Elvis in the title. That was all I needed to see in order to know I wanted to read more. This is the first book in the Southern Cousins Mysteries. There are currently five books in the series (the last Elvis and the Blue Christmas Corpse was published in 2012).

Elvis is a basset hound who is convinced he is the reincarnation of The King, Elvis Presley. Elvis' human mom, Callie Valentine Jones (hair dresses for the recently deceased at the Eternal Rest Funeral Home) and her wake catering cousin, Lovie find themselves in a mystery when the body of a local prominent doctor goes missing. Even though this is a mystery, there is great comic relief in not only this book, but the entire series.

November Challenge - Sexy Saturday

November 8th - Sexy Saturday - Separate Beds by LaVyrle Spencer

Separate Beds
by LaVyrle Spencer

I went back many years to pull this title for Sexy Saturday. This is one of those books you just can't put down because you are so pulled into the character's story. It all begins with a blind date, alcohol, and a very unexpected pregnancy. To me this is not a typical romance novel in that the male protagonist is more of a lead in the love story. He is the one the reader is cheering for because he works so hard to build a relationship with the mother of his child. 

November Challenge - Fantasy Friday

November 8th - Fantasy Friday - On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony

On a Pale Horse
by Piers Anthony

I wrote about reading On a Pale Horse back in the summer of 2011. It remains a strong title in my mind when thinking of fantasy titles. I have not actually read another Piers Anthony title yet, but I have read a number of books with similar themes based on my enjoyment of this book. 

This is the first in the Incarnations of Immortality series of eight books. This book was the inspiration for the t.v. series Dead Like Me which stared Mandy Patinkin as one of many grim reapers. The premise of the book and the television series was for the grim reaper to remove the souls of people just before they are to die and escort them until the time they are to move to their afterlife. 

A bleak subject for a "fantasy", but a great read none the less. I think it is about time I continue the series, so I will add them to my To Read list.

November Challenge - Thriller Thursday

November 7 - Thrilling Thursday - Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Nineteen Minutes
by Jodi Picoult

Most readers will look at the cover of this book and say I am crazy for selecting this title as my Thrilling Thursday selection. Synonyms of the word thrilling include: breathtaking, electrifying, gripping, stimulating, mind-blowing, stirring, and sensational (to name more than a few). This book exemplifies all of these words.

On my husband's 37th birthday the United States was shocked when two teenagers killed twelve students and a teacher, wounded 23 others and then committed suicide in Columbine, Colorado. It was the first time I had ever felt vulnerable as an educator. As a member of our campus crisis team we had talked about what to do in the case of a tornado, fire, or an evacuation. We had never discussed an active shooter scenario. The following school year, our team began talking about what we would do if an active shooter were to come on campus, or God forbid into the building.

A friend recommended Nineteen Minutes to me. I believe it was the first of Jodi Picoult's books I ever read. When I began reading this book, I had no preconceived notions. I really didn't even know what the book was about. I didn't read the blurb because I didn't want to have any kind of spoiler. I wanted to enjoy the book for the story and not for what I might predict would happen.

As I found out later, Jodi Picoult enjoys taking on a challenge. She seems to love controversy while making the reader step back and reconsider their own beliefs. She made me do just that. Nineteen Minutes is the amount of time it took for the small town of Sterling, New Hampshire to be shattered much like Columbine. I don't want to give any more of the story away. I do want you to know you will question your beliefs about so many different subjects when you have finished reading this book. I would love to hear back from anyone who reads the book because of this recommendation.

Here are a few questions to ponder.

• What are your feelings toward Peter Houghton at the beginning of the book?
• Do those feelings change as you read his story? If so, how and why?
• Is anyone a victor at the end of this book? Why or why not?
• Why do you think there are so many instances of school violence?

November Challenge - Whatever Wednesday

November 5 - Whatever Wednesday - Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig

Rhett Butler's People
by Donald McCaig

For those who know me well will understand why I chose this particular book for my first Whatever Wednesday. This book, like so many other books can fit into more than one of the categories for my November Challenge. However, I wanted to spotlight this title today because it has one of my all time favorite characters as the title character. I have loved Rhett Butler from the moment he appeared on the pages of Margaret Mitchell's novel, Gone with the Wind. I could hardly wait for this book to be released. I was going to be able to read more about Rhett, to find out about his life, his family, and Miss Katie Scarlett O'Hara from his perspective. I was not disappointed, and I don't think anyone who loves the characters from GWTW either from the pages or the screen will be disappointed either.

November Challenge - Thankful for Books

In the past I've joined others posting a particular thanksgiving for each day of November. This year I am going to do something a little different. I am going to share something for which I am particularly thankful for...books.

Books are an extremely important part of my life. Not only because I am a librarian, but because I am a reader. I'm not afraid to say it! In fact, I will say it again, I AM A READER! My "To Read" list gets longer and longer every day. I will never be able to read all of the books I want to read. My idea of Heaven is an ever growing library.

So with that being said, I will be posting the title of a book each day in the following six (seven) categories...

#MysteryMondays
#Texas2x2Tuesdays
#WhateverWednesdays
#ThrillingThursdays
#FantasyFridays
#SexySaturdays
#Surplus Sundays (these are a true bonus)

If you want to join me in this adventure, feel free. You can post your books on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, your blog, or even below in the comments section. I think it is going to be a fun challenge for me, especially choosing the perfect title for each category. Will your To Read list grow?

Let the reading begin.

Now, to play a little catchup...

November 1 - Sexy Saturday - The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon - There is no better way to start this challenge than to talk about the wonderfully intoxicating romance between Jamie and Claire. These books are not your typical romance novels (sometimes referred to as "Chick Lit"). They can fit into a number of different genres, and have been by many people (according to Ms. Gabaldon herself). These include, but are not limited to, the following: romance, historical fiction, thriller, science fiction, history, and adventure. There is something for every reader in this series because Ms. Gabaldon tears down the genre walls and lets her characters create their own destiny.

This series has recently become even more popular because of the television series on Starz. The first half of the season (eight episodes) began in August and ran through September. The second half of the first season is not scheduled to air until April 2015. 

The Outlander series
by Diana Gabaldon

November 2 - Surplus Sunday

Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

Playing for Pizza
by John Grisham

Since this book is representing Sunday, it only seems fitting that it should be related to football! Playing for Pizza is a book about self discovery. When the third-string quarterback of the Cleveland Browns is cut from the team following a horrible performance, he is unable to find work for another team. The only team that will take him is the Mighty Panthers of Parma, Italy. Not knowing the country, culture, or language, Rick has a great deal to learn, but more than anything else, he has a lot to discovery about himself.

November 3 - Mysterious Monday 

The Cradle will Fall by Mary Higgins Clark

The Cradle will Fall
by Mary Higgins Clark

I don't actually remember when I read this, my first of Mary Higgins Clark's, book. I believe I might have been in high school. This book set me on my path of mystery novels. I loved the suspense and anxiety I felt for the main character, Katie DeMaio because I, as the reader, knew information she did not. The medical aspect of this book was also intriguing. I know not all doctors are like the one depicted in the book, but it does make one suspicious.

November 4 - Texas 2x2 Tuesday (I like this a lot better than my initial "Tot Tuesday") 

Move Over Rover by Karen Beaumont and Jane Dyer

Move Over Rover
written by Karen Beaumont and illustrated by Jane Dyer

Move Over Rover was named to the Texas 2x2 Reading List in 2007. I love to read the book aloud to young children to see if they scrutinize the illustrations. Do they look closely enough to see each animal to crawl into Rover's doghouse to get out of the rain? If you pick up this wonderful book, be sure to read the story and look at the pictures very carefully. Can you predict what is going to happen at the end of the book? When sharing it with young children see if they have the same hypothesis.

Betty White & Abraham Lincoln?

I know Betty White never dated Abraham Lincoln, but these are two people who have been in the books I have read and listened to recently.

If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't)
by Betty White

I listened to Betty White's If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won't) [2011] while commuting to and from work. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about her life, friends, and career. I have always enjoyed watching her on television. I remember watching her on The Mary Tyler Moore Show when I was a kid and then enjoying The Golden Girls and now laughing hysterically as she plays Elka Ostrosky in Hot in Cleveland. Last Thursday evening as we were closing the library for the night, my dad came in and told me he had just read of Betty White's death (later confirmed as a hoax). I was so heartbroken I immediately went to my computer to write about her and her book. I was so relieved to read online that it was a hoax, actually a misinterpretation of a reporters tongue in cheek headline, that I said a silent thank goodness and shut my computer down.

It is not that I did not want to write about her book at that point, it was just I was so relieved to find out she was alive, I was afraid I would not express how much I enjoyed her book.  I love hearing about the lives of the famous. I don't envy their lives, I am just intrigued by them. I would never want to be in their shoes, no matter how much fame and fortune it might bring.

This is the first of White's seven books I have read (actually listened to) I was immediately engrossed in her story. I almost felt like she was talking to me, giving me an inside look at her life. I hope everyone who listens as she narrates her book feels the same. I felt almost like a grandchild listening to her grandmother tell stories about her life. I say that because at times she would repeat something she had said in a previous chapter, making me feel like we had known each other for a very long time. It made me laugh because I hear my mother telling my son stories she has told many times before, but we all listen as if it was the first time.

I am a fan of Betty White and hope she continues to make me (and everyone else) laugh for many, many years before she joins her beloved husband Allen.

The Lincoln Myth
by Steve Berry

I finished reading Steve Berry's The Lincoln Myth this morning. I have always been fascinated by history. My dad has researched our family history my entire life. I don't remember a time in my life when we didn't go on a vacation in order to visit the local library and genealogical societies. It wasn't until I was married that I even thought about a vacation being someplace fun (Disney World) and not related to a cemetery or library. (Even though we DID visit a number of libraries and cemeteries during our trip to Florida and Disney. My husband's family is from Florida.)

 I also had a fabulous teacher in high school who brought history to life for me. I will always be grateful to him for the lessons he taught by telling the story of our past. I have read a number of Steve Berry's other Cotton Malone novels. I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of his books. Although the story is always great and seems to be thoroughly researched, I have a HUGE problem with the actions of some of his characters (Destroying a library book is NEVER okay ~ especially when said book is from the Library of Congress. Yes, I know it is a character in a book, but that still does not make it acceptable!).

I have to say I was shocked to find out Mr. Berry is a member of the Smithsonian Libraries Advisory Board and has twice served as the national spokesman for the American Library Association's Preservation Week. As a member of ALA, I am very surprised. Maybe by having him serve as the spokesman ALA is helping him to realize the bad habits some of his characters are modeling to his readers. I truly hope his fans see how appalling it is to read about the destruction of historical artifact and that Mr. Berry does not see these actions as appropriate at any time. It makes me wonder if he has ever considered some of these deeds himself while doing his research?

That being said, I will praise The Lincoln Myth. Again, I will say his books are very well researched, as evidenced in the Writer's Note at the end of the book. Throughout the reading of his books, he makes the reader question their knowledge of history. I personally like the questions that pop into my head as I read his books. A lot of those questions are answered by the end of the book when he reveals if the information is historical, or merely created in his imagination. I wonder where he gets his ideas and how they spring into his mind?

I will continue to read Steve Berry, but I do hope he begins to make his characters better consumers of the library and the wonderful resources provided to everyone by having them return the materials in the same manner in which they found them ~ whole.