Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by, Fannie Flagg~~Review

Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by, Fannie Flagg
This is not a new book but one I just finished and loved! A detailed and hilarious look at life in the South during the fifties:
Daisy Fay Harper is now one of my favorite characters! She is spunky and independent and surrounded by a great cast of characters. This book spans Daisy Fay’s life from 1952-1959 at the beginning of the book she is 11 years old. Daisy Fay’s daddy is a drunk but she stands by him through thick and thin, he isn’t a mean drunk so that’s ok LOL.

It is so fun to read about her discovering life especially since this book is set in the 50’s.One of my favorite scenes is when they are living in Shell Beach and Daisy likes to sneak in and watch the entertainment at the local Blue Gardenia Lounge like the one-legged tap dancer and Ray Layne the young singer but the one she is so looking forward to is a real dancer from New Orleans named Tawny the Tasseled lady and her reaction to that was “She isn’t even a real dancer!” “All she does is spin them tassels one way then the other and shake around” I laughed so hard picturing this!

Not only is Daisy a great character but everyone else in this book is too from her bingo addicted grandma, to her daddy’s best friend Jimmy Snow who is a crop duster but seems to crash his plane a lot! Oh my I could just go on and on about this book this is the 3rd book by Fannie Flagg I’ve read and I think it is now my mission to read everything she has ever written.

If you like southern fiction and great characters who will make you laugh out loud you must read this book!

5 Stars

The Sherlockian by, Graham Moore~~Review

The Sherlockian by, Graham Moore
Description fron Goodreads:In December 1893, Sherlock Holmes-adoring Londoners eagerly opened their Strand magazines, anticipating the detective's next adventure, only to find the unthinkable: his creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, had killed their hero off. London spiraled into mourning -- crowds sported black armbands in grief -- and railed against Conan Doyle as his assassin.
Then in 1901, just as abruptly as Conan Doyle had "murdered" Holmes in "The Final Problem," he resurrected him. Though the writer kept detailed diaries of his days and work, Conan Doyle never explained this sudden change of heart. After his death, one of his journals from the interim period was discovered to be missing, and in the decades since, has never been found.

Or has it?

When literary researcher Harold White is inducted into the preeminent Sherlock Holmes enthusiast society, The Baker Street Irregulars, he never imagines he's about to be thrust onto the hunt for the holy grail of Holmes-ophiles: the missing diary. But when the world's leading Doylean scholar is found murdered in his hotel room, it is Harold - using wisdom and methods gleaned from countless detective stories - who takes up the search, both for the diary and for the killer.


MY REVIEW:
I am a fan of Sherlock Holmes but will admit to not knowing much about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, so I don’t know if a word of the historical side of this book is in any way accurate. But it was sure a good story! The author notes were interesting to learn a little more on what was and wasn’t real.

In the historical side of this novel we see Arthur Conan Doyle wanting to forget Sherlock Holmes ever existed but the reading public is up in arms, after there is an attempt on his life he sets out with friend Bram Stoker to figure out who is behind it. I loved the line when Bram Stoker said “You want me to be your Watson?’ because now of course we know who Bram is but at the time Dracula was not a classic and as Arthur couldn’t even remember the name of the country Bram’s little book was set it as a fan of literature I enjoyed these parts very much. Arthur wasn’t a nice person in this book especially on his views of women and I don’t know enough about the real man to judge but he is pretty snobby in this book.

As for the Sherlockians they are an elite group of Sherlock aficionados, scholars and such when one of their own is found dead their newest member Alex decides he is Holmes enough to solve this case.
Alex was a bit bumbling but was a good character along with Sarah a reporter there is almost a romance plus a pretty good whodunit and treasure hunt all rolled into one.

I enjoyed this book and think any fan Doyle’s work will enjoy this as well.

3 1/2 Stars

The Nobodies Album by, Carolyn Parkhurst~~Review

The Nobodies Album by, Carolyn Parkhurst

This book was so well written and very hard to put down. Author Octavia Frost has had a successful career but has been estranged from her son Milo, a famous rock star; they have grown steadily apart since the death of her husband and daughter when Milo was 9. But tragedy is about to bring them back together again when Octavia hears a news report that her son has been arrested for the murder of his girlfriend.

There are excerpts from Octavia’s books which all sound like books I would like to read! This was a story about family, failures, forgiveness and redemption. Through the words from the books Octavia has written you get glimpses into the life shared by her and Milo after the death of half of their family. Now Octavia and Milo need to work together to prove his innocence and repair their broken relationship.

This was a very powerful book that flowed through the beautiful writing; it’s so much more than a mystery but the mystery was a good one. This was my first book by Carolyn Parkhurst but for sure won’t be my last.

4 ½ Stars

Revolution by, Jennifer Donnelly~~Review

Revolution by, Jennifer Donnelly
Description from Goodreads:
BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.


MY REVIEW:
This was a great book it was really hard to stop reading. This is the story of two 17 year-old girls Andi in the present day and Alex in the 1700’s. Andi is trying to get over her brother’s death and not coping well at all, when her father takes her to Paris she finds the diary of Alexandrine who lived during the French revolution. Even though these girls are centuries apart Andi sees some similarities and kind of becomes obsessed with Alex’s story. (But then again so did I)

I loved Alex’s story it was edge of seat reading. However there were times when I didn’t understand Andi like why didn’t show her dad the diary or mention it to anyone. But I must say I really loved this book. It is totally deserving of the awards and accolades. I think this is one of the best YA historical fiction I’ve read , I know that Jennifer Donnelly’s book A Northern Light is very popular and I will be reading that one very soon I think she is a great writer!

I think saying this is just a young adult book is doing it a disservice; I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

I just want to gush on and on about this book but I will just say READ IT!!

5 Stars

5 Stars

New Books This Week

New Books this week:
In Adult Fiction:


Forever and Always by, Sonni Lagodinski – North Dakota Author
Left Neglected by, Lisa Genova- new from the Author of Still Alice
Room by, Emma Donoghue
The Nobodies Album by, Carolyn Parkhurst
Indulgence in Death by, JD Robb
Of bees and Mist by, Erik Setiawan
Lighthousekeeping by, Jeanette Winterson
Secrets of Harmony Grove by, Melinda Starns Clark
Kelly’s Chance by, Wanda Brunstetter
The Art of Racing in the Rain by, Garth Stein
Ghost at Work by, Carolyn Hart
Silent in the Grave-Silent in the Sanctuary & Silent in the Moor by, Deanna Raybourn
Full Dark No Stars by, Stephen King
Ethan Frome & Summer by, Edith Wharton
The Nosy Neighbor by, Fern Michaels
Sins of The Flesh by, Fern Michaels
9 Ranier Drive by, Debbie Macomber
Julia’s Hope by, Leisha Kelly
The Winding Ways Quilt by, Jennifer Chiaverini
Time is a River by, Mary Alice Monroe
The Unsung Heroes by, Suzanne Brockman
Pirate Latitudes by, Michael Crichton
The Mist by, Carla Neggers
Smash cut by, Sandra Brown

In Westerns:
Lawless Prairie by, Charles G. West
Vigilante Justice by, Will Camp
Wilderness Mountain Madness by, David Thompson
Lonestar and The Sierra Sabotage by, Wesley Ellis
Sundance Bring me His Scalp by, John Benteen
The Crime of Coy Bell by, Sam Brown

In Adult Non-Fiction:
The Cloister Walk by, Kathleen Norris
Bridges Across North Dakota by, the State Historical Society
Treasures of Islam by, Bernard O’Kane

In Audio:
Wicked Appetite & Sizzling Sixteen by, Janet Evanovich
Vanishing Act by, Fern Michaels
Exclusive by, Sandra Brown
The Teahouse Fire by, Ellis Avery

In Young Adult:
Bloody valentine by, Melissa de la Cruz
I Shall Wear Midnight Tiffany Aching #4 by, Terry Pratchett
Seer of Sevenwaters by, Juliet Marillier
The Demon Trapper’s Daughter by, Jana Oliver
Beautiful Darkness by, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Evermore by, Alyson Noel
Beauty & Rose’s Daughter by, Robin McKinley
The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney by, Suzanne Harper
Legacy & Spellbound by, Nancy Holder

In Juvenile Fiction:
The Beast From The East by, RL Stine
Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by, Sharon Creech
Beagle in a Backpack by, Ben Baglio
How To be a Girly Girl in Just 10 Days by, Lisa Papademetriou

In Childrens Fiction:
Miss Spider’s Tea Party by, David Kirk
My Little Book About Peter Rabbit by, Beatrix Potter
Shine Sun by, Carole Green
Snow White by, Walt Disney
The Puppy Book by, Jan Pfloog
Be Yourself Disney Princess by,Walt Disney
A Day With Ruth Rabbit at the Beach by, Diane Mathes
The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy by, Jane Thayer