BOOK REVIEW

Finding freedom: the untold story of Joshua Glover, runaway slave by Ruby JacksonWest

In ten words or less: True story of a runaway slave who escaped to Wisconsin.

This is the story of Joshua Glover, runaway slave, who after his escape was living and working in Racine, WI. His fate as a free man was tenuous-- the state of Wisconsin was pitted against the Supreme Court, which supported the slave owners. Glover, who could not read or write, is remembered through documents, newspaper reports, and letters and accounts of others who knew him.

Why bother? Compelling story of an ordinary man, who only wanted to be free.

AMERICAN COZIES

Short takes on a few mysteries.

Death in the cards: a stain-busting mystery by Sharon Gwyn Short

Josie Toadfern, who runs a Laundromat in small town Paradise, Ohio, finds murder and mystery when a psychic fair comes to town. One of the psychics predicts danger, and when Josie stumbles over a body, conservative town residents confront the New Agers.

The gourdmother by Maggie Bruce

Lili Marino, a gourd artist from the big city, moves to upstate New York and gets involved in solving the murder of the high school football coach. Bigotry, football rivalries, and old feuds surface. The author slips in information about the history of gourd craft, and instructions on various techniques used to work the gourds.

Gunpowder green by Laura Childs

Theodosia Browning owns a tea shop, and gets involved in a murder investigation when a starting pistol explodes at a yacht race. Way too much information about tea for me, but otherwise a pleasant enough read.

Layered Nutty Fruit Bars

There was a big snowstorm here, so I spent the morning making these.

Servings: Makes 24 to 36
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes


Ingredients
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 cups graham cracker or vanilla wafer crumbs
1 (9-ounce) package NONE SUCH® Condensed Mincemeat, crumbled
1 (14-ounce) can EAGLE BRAND Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
3/4 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate pieces
1 cup chopped hazelnuts or pecans

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a 13x9-inch baking pan, melt butter in oven. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over butter. Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter, mix well. Press crumb mixture firmly on bottom of 13x9-inch baking pan. Crumble NONE SUCH® evenly over crumbs. Pour EAGLE BRAND® evenly over NONE SUCH®. Top with chocolate pieces and nuts.
Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire rack. Cut into bars.

November’s Books

"Saucer attack!" is a eye-opening and fun book. "Saucers came into the public psyche at a time of great tension and paranoia in America. People feared 'the Bomb' and communist infiltration."

The first "sighting" of a flying saucer occurred in June 1947, and by 1950 books were published and a film called "The flying saucer" had been released. George Adamski and Buck Nelson had gained notoriety for their stories of contacts with alien beings.

This book has fantastic color reproductions of some great UFO art. Covers from magazines, posters from such films as "Invasion of the saucer-men," "It conquered the world" and "The thing." Great fun!

Rome 1960 by David Maraniss
Put a lid on it by Donald Westlake
I am not a cop by Richard Belzer
When you are engulfed in flames by David Sedaris
Woman’s Day Christmas cookies, candies, and cakes
Taste of Home’s gifts from a jar
Rough weather by Robert B. Parker
Nim Chimpsky: the chimp who would be human by Elizabeth Hess
Death books a return by Marion Moore Hill
Alex and me: how a scientist and a parrot discovered a hidden world of animal intelligence and formed a deep bond in the process by Irene Pepperberg
The day I ate whatever I wanted by Elizabeth Berg
Saucer Attack! By Eric Nesheim
Hot by Julia Harper
Big book of the unexplained by Doug Moench
The private patient by P.D. James

BOOK REVIEW

Quaking by Kathryn Erskine

In ten words or less: Disaffected Goth teen Matilda placed with Quaker foster family.

Review: 14-year old Matilda has been bounced from relative to relative. She goes to live with distant cousins—Sam and Jessica Fox, Quakers. Matilda dresses in black and won’t talk to her classmates. She’s been told she’s dumb, but is put in Advanced Placement classes. Her nemesis is Mr. Morehead, a teacher who is pro-Iraq war and who sides with the school bully. When local churches and synagogues start being vandalized by the bully and his friends, Matilda comes to understand Quaker teachings.

Why bother? Erskine provides a realistic view of peace activities and nonviolent protest regarding the Iraq war.

What the postcard didn’t say by Shoshanna Shy

A book of mostly upbeat poetry by this Wisconsin author. I don't read much poetry, but I enjoyed Shy's collection. Many of the poems deal with exes, everyday life, though there is one that examines domestic violence from multiple viewpoints. Here’s the title poem.

What the postcard didn’t say #17

Tonight I sleep
On this cabin floor
Tomorrow bleach my hair
Change my name
From now on your dad
Gets to deal with you
I’ll look you up
When you hit 18

BOOK REVIEW


Running wrecked by Mark Combes

In ten words or less: Scuba shop owner find abandoned sailboat adrift—suspects foul play.

Phil Riley escapes from his life on the mainland and buys a dive shop on Isla Tortuga in the Caribbean. He finds a luxury sailboat adrift; no one is on board but he finds an infant’s pacifier. Is there a missing family? When he tows the boat back, Chief of Police Bourgois seems unconcerned. And the Chief seems very chummy with a newcomer to the island—Donald Bennett.
When Riley starts investigating, he is warned to stay out of it. But when his teenage helper Chubby goes missing, and then Riley gets a beatdown, he is determined to find out what Bourgois is hiding.

Why bother? Readers of Randy Wayne White’s Doc Ford series will find a good read here.

BOOK REVIEW

Tuna: a love story by Richard Ellis

In ten words or less: Everything you always wanted to know about tuna.
Because of the popularity of tuna as a food fish, especially in Japan where it is prized as sushi, it is now on the brink of extinction. The seas have been over-

Fished, and now “tuna ranches”—similar to cattle feed lots—have become Multi-million dollar businesses.
Ellis addresses the importance of tuna to the global economy, the ocean ecosystems, and as a food and sport fish. No longer will you take the ubiquitous can of tuna for granted.

Why bother? Great insight into how humans are driving fish and the fishing industry into extinction.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Librarians are my sex symbols. Growing up, other kids had Charlie's Angels. I had my librarian." --Author Sherman Alexie, quoted in Library Journal, November 15, 2008

THIS WEEK: NONFICTION

Worst hard time: the untold stories of those who survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan
One of the worst man made disasters in recent history, the “black blizzards” of the dust bowl were caused in part by unscrupulous land speculators who enticed immigrants and farmers to the great plains. The land there was unsuitable for farming, and coupled with eight years of drought, caused untold misery. Egan interviews survivors of those hard times.

If you enjoyed this book, here are some others that you may like.

Hard Times: an oral history of the Great Depression by Studs Terkel
Terkel interviewed men and women who lived through the Depression of the 1930s. Included were the rural poor, sharecroppers, gangsters, immigrants, and politicians. Pulitzer Prize winner. More stories of personal lives affected by the Depression, in their own words—and not all were stories of hardship. Terkel was a master interviewer.

Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Pulitzer Prize winning epic tale of the Joads and their journey from Oklahoma to California. One of the jewels of American literature—it will fill the reader with many emotions, and paints a vivid picture of the times.

Following the harvest: a novel by Fred Harris
Harris, a former Senator from Oklahoma and author of two previous novels, writes a coming of age story. Sixteen year old Will joins a wheat-harvesting crew with his father, and travels to North Dakota. Lots of period detail. Harris’s style is plain-spoken and forthright; a comfortable read.

Dust bowl descent by Bill Ganzel
Photographer Ganzel revisits the subjects of the famous photos of the Farm Security Administration for an update on the faces of the Dust Bowl. Putting faces to the stories of the Dust bowl, this book includes some of the images that immediately come to mind when the Dust bowl is mentioned.

THIS WEEK: CHRISTIAN READING

In Booklist (9/15/2008) an article by John Charles and Shelley Mosley stated, “At their worst, faith-based romances can be staid and dogmatic.”

A Measure of Grace by Al Lacy
Knight Coburn’s father died in a cattle stampede. Knight and his mother are born-again Christians, but Knight wishes his best friend, Jordan Shaw, would become born-again. When Jordan’s parents pressure him to marry neighbor Belinda Ashworth, he decides to advertise for a mail order bride.
Diana Morrow answers the ad. Her father is in jail for beating up a young man who asked to date her, her mother, and he has threatened to beat her when he is released from jail. Diana’s mother is Saved while in the hospital, Diana is Saved while on the train traveling to Idaho, and her father is Saved somewhere along the way. Everyone lives happily ever after—except Jordan, who is eaten by a bear, mostly likely because he was not Saved.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
In a retelling of the biblical tale of Hosea, this is the story of
a prostitute and the upright farmer who marries her. It’s set in the 1850s gold rush era.

Promise me the dawn by Amanda MacLean
In this book set in early 20th century San Francisco, the heroine leaves England to seek her fortune in America. The 1906 earthquake plays a pivotal part in this Christian romance.

Don’t throw away tomorrow: living God’s dream for your life by Robert Schuller
The “Hour of Power” preacher delivers advice and reflections, teaching values and principles with personal stories.

Mosaic: pieces of my life so far by Amy Grant
Christian singer and songwriter Grant offers glimpses into her life as a celebrity and as a wife, mother, and friend.

BOOK REVIEW


Fenzig’s fortune by Jean Rabe

In ten words or less: Gnome gets caught stealing treasure; is sent on dangerous mission.

Fenzig is a gnome who decides to help himself to some of King Erlgrane’s treasure. When caught, the King sends Fenzig on a mission to steal a neighboring Duke’s emeralds. There is a magic sword, a homing spell, dangerous villains, a gypsy peddler of potions, and wizards. The author has written twenty fantasy novels.

Why bother? Humorous—and short—fantasy tale for readers looking for something less than an 800 page tome. Tolkien lite.

October’s Books

Monsters by Roy Milano features wonderful black and white photos from the classic monster films, with essays by descendants of the famous actors, such as Ron Chaney, Bela G. Lugosi, and Sara Karloff. There are additonal essays by actor Jennifer Beals, director John Landis, and makeup artist Rick Baker. But the full page, stunning photos are the highlight of the book. A movie fan must!

Cell by Stephen King
A measure of grace by Al Lacy
Dying in the gutters: CSI by Steven Grant
Soul music by Terry Pratchett
Just a taste by Dierdre Martin
Brief wondrous life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
Beyond oatmeal by Carlene Duda
Bloody murder: CSI NY by Max Collins
Dead hot shot by Victoria Houston
Quaker book of wisdom by Robert Smith
Worst hard time by Timothy Egan
Monsters: a celebration of the classics from Universal Studios by Roy Milano
Dolly departed by Deb Baker
Cicada summer by Dallas Releford

HORROR FOR HALLOWEEN

Cell by Stephen King
Are cell phones responsible for creating a race of flesh-eating zombies—former regular folks who are now rampaging across New England? Those spared, mostly small children, the elderly, and middle-aged Luddites who eschewed cell phones, take up arms and attempt to defend themselves against the senseless destruction.
Graphic artist Clay Riddell is in Boston when the madness begins. On his way back to Maine to check on the safety of his son, he joins forces with other refugees along the way. King demonstrates how an everyday object—the cell phone—can turn us all into zombies.

World War Z by Max Brooks
In first person accounts, various folks tell of their survival of the Zombie War, which pitted humans against a 200 million strong army of zombies. A send-up of political and military policies, which asks “How can you kill the undead?”

Dead lines by Greg Bear
Failed screenwriter picks up a shoot promoting the “Trans”—a new super cell phone, which can also communicate with the dead. Even the dead can hear him now, and they are really annoyed.

Shark trouble by Peter Benchley
“Jaws” author Benchley debunks many myths about sharks, but includes enough hair raising encounters with various marine animals to make it scary enough.

Alive! By Piers Paul Read
A plane carrying a rugby team crashed in the Andes; it was ten weeks before the men were rescued. With little food aboard, they turned to cannibalism.

Laughing corpse by Laurell K. Hamilton
Anita Blake is asked to raise a 300 year old zombie. Because it would require a human sacrifice, she refuses, but when bodies keep turning up, she realizes that someone else took the job.

Monster island : a zombie novel by David Wellington
When a plague hits Manhattan, its citizens are turned into rotting, walking corpses. The fate of the city depends on an army of teenage girls and a former U.N. weapons inspector.

Hot zone: a terrifying true story by Richard Preston
It reads like a bioterrorist thriller, but this is a true story of how a strain of a deadly ebola virus came to the U.S. We are only an airplane ride away from a pandemic.

Serpent and the rainbow: a Harvard scientist’s astonishing journey into the secret societies of Haitian voodoo, zombies, and magic by Wade Davis
An ethnobotanist arrives in Haiti to research two documented cases of zombies and is drawn into the vodoun culture.

RUBY SAYS "HAPPY HALLOWEEN"

BIRD OF THE DAY

On the way to the grocery store Sunday, we spied two adult bald eagles, flying rather low over the road. It was pretty windy, but I assume they were making their way over to the lake about 1/4 mile away.

BIRD OF THE DAY

A flock of cedar waxwings was in the crabapple tree Saturday. When tired of the crabapples, they would swarm to the wild grapes that are growing over the lilac shrub.

THE BIRTH OF ROCK N ROLL: DISCWORLD STYLE

Soul Music by Terry Pratchett
This is a part of the Discworld series. Discworld is a flat, circular planet that rests on the back of four elephants, which are standing on the back of a giant turtle. Author Pratchett takes a not-so-subtle look at the birth of rock ‘n roll, or as it is called here—the Music with Rocks In. A character loosely based on Buddy Holly, destined to die young. Woven in the story are song titles, lyrics, and even a scene from the “Blues Brothers” movie.
How can you not like a series that features a librarian that is a 300 pound orangutan? Its his primary function to keep people from using the books, lest they wear out from all that reading. Some of the songs attempted by the band are “Cavern deep, mountain high,” “There’s a great deal of shaking happening,” “Give me that music with rocks in,” and “Pathway to paradise.”

Some other books to check out:

Last chance to see by Douglas Adams (nonfiction)
Sci fi author tracks down some of the world’s vanishing species—the komodo dragon, baiji dolphin, northern white rhinoceros. The height of irony is when Adams sits down at a banquet at a conference called to save the Chinese river dolphin, while the main course is, you guessed it, one of the endangered dolphins.

Callahan’s key by Spider Robinson
Jake Stonebender moves his family and closest friends in search of a new bar, and on the way accepts an assignment from Nikola Tesla to save the universe. The puns fly fast and furious, and the cast of characters include Jake’s teleporting infant daughter, a talking German Shepherd and Robert Heinlein’s cat, Pixel. A good time is had by all.

A farce to be reckoned with by Roger Zelazny
Azzie Elbub is a bored demon who decides to stage a play, with Renaissance Europe as the backdrop. But Azzie’s nemesis, the Archangel Michael, steps in to prevent a Mongol horde from overrunning Venice. Silly, but lots of fun.

A man without a country by Kurt Vonnegut
Author Vonnegut takes on society in this collection of essays; one reviewer called him “Garrison Keillor with a savage undercurrent.” The humor is exceedingly dark, and the wit sharp.

APPLE TIME

It's time to visit the apple orchard--and make a pie. This recipe is a large pie baked on a jelly roll pan; great if you don't want to bother with crusts for two pies.

Apple Slab Pie
15 servings

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 egg yolks, beaten
4 tablespoons water
8 apples - peeled, cored and cut into thin wedges
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 3/4 cups white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2/3 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup butter

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine flour sugar, salt and baking powder. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Mix egg yolk and water together and mix into flour until it forms a ball. Roll out to fit the bottom of a 10x15 inch pan.
In a large bowl, combine apples, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons flour, sugar and cinnamon. Pour filling into pie crust and dot with 2 tablespoons butter.
In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2/3 cup brown sugar and 2/3 cup butter. Cut in the butter until crumbly, then sprinkle over apples.
Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until topping is golden brown.

THIS WEEK: LITERARY FICTION


Brief wondrous life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
Oscar is a gentle, somewhat naïve young man, who loves the ladies—the problem is, they do not love him. Dominican men are good dancers, sharp dressers, and outrageous womanizers. But Oscar is an overweight nerd, who reads science fiction and designs computer games.
Oscar’s story is told by his sister Lola, and her sometimes boyfriend Yunior. It is also intertwined with the story of Oscar and Lola’s mother, and her parents, back in the Dominican Republic during the murderous Trujillo regime. The story is at times funny, heartbreaking, horrifying, and eye-opening. This book won a Pulitzer Prize.
If you enjoyed this book, here are some other titles you may want to read.

Known world by Edward P. Jones
Set in Virginia 20 years before the Civil War, this is the story of black slaveowners. Henry was the son of slaves who had bought their freedom, but as soon as he had saved enough money, he bought a slave. When he died, would his wife free the slaves? A troubling look at the cruelty of slavery.

Mambo kings play songs of love by Oscar Hijuelos
The mambo Kings are two Cuban brothers who come to American in 1949, and dream of becoming stars. They eventually appear on “I love Lucy” and tour in their pink bus. Pulitzer Prize winner.

Loving Pedro Infante by Denise Chavez
Tere Avila is in love with Mexican movie star Pedro Infante, who is Elvis and Cary Grant all rolled into one. The author explores feminity and cultural identity, and there are many references to Chicano culture and language.

Nonfiction: Brother, I’m dying by Edwidge Danticat
Haitian-American Danticat learned in the same day that she was pregnant and that her father was dying. A poignant memoir of a family separated and changed.

Angela’s ashes: a memoir by Frank McCourt
A Pulitzer Prize winning book which tells of the brutal childhood of McCourt, whose father regularly drank up the family income. Franks and his siblings went cold, hungry, and some died. His mother was reduced to begging. Yet there is humor midst the poverty, and hope for Frank.

Nonfiction: China men by Maxine Hong Kingston
The story of three generations of men who immigrated to America—their struggles, triumphs, and failures. Kingston weaves fables, ghost stories, legends and memoirs into her tale.

Trujillo: the death of the goat by Bernard Diederich
After reading Junot Diaz’s book, the reader may want to know more about Trujillo and his rule in Santo Domingo. This is the story about his assassination and the reign of terror by his relatives. The era did not end until his sons executed the last of their captives and fled the country with their father’s body and a good portion of the country’s wealth. Not for the squeamish.

Ivy briefs: true tales of a neurotic law student by Martha Kimes

In ten words or less: Wisconsin girl goes to Ivy League law school

The author was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, and was at a loss for what to do with her life. She decided to apply to Columbia Law School, and was surprised when she was accepted. She offers up an insider’s view of the pressures of an Ivy League law school. She talks about her favorite jacket, which a boyfriend in Wisconsin made from a road-killed deer. My favorite story is one in which she encounters Madonna in a Manhattan shoe store—she notes that Madonna had dirty socks.

Why bother? Written with a great deal of humor, it is an entertaining read.

Suburban safari: a year on the lawn by Hannah Holmes

In ten words or less: Suburban plants and animals observed for a year.

The author observes the wildlife present in her backyard in Maine. She observes crows, chipmunks, spiders, earthworms, and native and invasive plants. She notes on some of the “bad” things found in the yard—sparrows, starlings, bittersweet, and bamboo. As the seasons progress, she consults ecologists, energy specialists, a biologist, and a botanist for insight on the creatures in her yard. Holmes is a science and travel writer for the New York Times Magazine, Outside, Sierra, and has previously written “The secret life of dust.”
Here’s a sample: “Deer culling is a nasty business. And that’s mainly because we Homo Sapiens are so confused about how close we want to be to Nature, and about what Nature should look like. As a general rule, we focus our adoration and our money on a few creatures that scientists call charismatic megafauna. That’s Latinate for “big cute animals.” Deer qualify.”

Why bother? Anyone who has battled squirrels or weeds will appreciate Holmes’ wit and feel that they have a partner battling the invasive species. I am not, however, about to invite the chipmunks in my yard into my house, as she did.

This week: Graphic Novels, Dying in the gutters

Dying in the gutters (CSI: Crime scene investigation) by Steven Grant
A graphic novel version of the popular tv series set in Las Vegas. In this adventure, Gil and Catherine accompany Catherine’s daughter to a comics convention, where one of the speakers is electrocuted in front of a crowd. Is it professional jealousy? Gil starts to collect evidence. Most of the story is a huge “in joke” with the suspects being comic book artists or writers—fans would recognize their names, I didn’t. The artist and writer captured the feel of the series—viewers will not be disappointed. Also suggested:

Watchmen by Alan Moore
A dark and compelling story featuring a group known as the Crimebusters. Complex characters and plot will appeal to fans of CSI, as will the social and political commentary. Highly acclaimed by critics.

Road to Perdition by Max Allan Collins
Michael O’Sullivan, mob hit man, kills a crooked cop. His son, Michael jr., witnessed the event, and now the mob family is looking for the two O’Sullivans. The mobsters kill O’Sullivan’s wife and younger son, and he sets out for revenge. Classic 1930s gangster story.

Torso: a true crime graphic novel by Brian Michael Bendis
In the 1930s, body parts were washing up in Lake Erie Sound, and Eliot Ness—fresh from his capture of Al Capone—was hired to find the killer. The author combines facts from the case with speculation about why particular suspects were not pursued. The artwork in this volume combines period photographs and documents in a cinematic style.

The 9/11 Report: a Graphic Adaptation
A power graphic version of the government’s 800 page reports on the activities that lead up to the 9/11 attacks, and how national information and defense systems were overwhelmed. The airline passengers, firefighters, workers in the World Trade Center, and terrorists are depicted.

Also: Snake Eyes by Max Allan Collins (paperback, not graphic)
This is the 8th paperback novel based on the tv series. It is set in the fifth season, and centers on a shoot-out between rival motorcycle gangs. If a reader liked the graphic novel, the paperbacks are not to be missed.

Romance of the Week: Star-crossed Lovers of the Wild West

Silver Lining by Maggie Osborn
The main character, Low Down, is a woman prospector who saves a camp full of men suffering from smallpox. She is rough and dirty, but when the men ask what she would like as a reward, she says a baby. The men draw straws to see who wants to father her child—as there are no volunteers. The preacher insists upon marriage, so Low Down and the handsome Max McCord ride off to meet his family on their ranch. Colorful, old west setting; a heroine that you will root for.
Max rides after Low Down to tell her he loves her, and no longer loves his ex-fiancee. Low Down will shortly tell him she is pregnant. Since they married at the beginning of the book, the story is about misunderstandings, how they are overcome, and how they realize they love each other.
The cover and title give little hint as to the sensuality of the book. It is a “stuff” cover—a silver spoon on a white background. There are a couple of sex scenes, but they are fairly low key—I’d rate them a ‘3’ on a 0-10 scale.
This was a frontier and western romance. The ‘marriage of convenience” plot would be similar, though it could be set in England as a historical, or anywhere as a contemporary romance.
A couple of fiction suggestions: Forgiving by LaVyrle Spencer
Sarah moves west to Deadwood run a newspaper and to search for her missing sister Addie. But her sister is working in the local bordello. Can she convince her sister to reform? Handsome sheriff Noah Campbell is interested in Sarah, but so are the other single men of the town.
High country bride by Linda Lael Miller
Emmeline Harding attempts to flee her past by marrying rancher Rafe McKittrick as a mail order bridge. Rafe is in competition with his two brothers to produce an heir, as the first of the brothers to become a father will inherit the Triple M Ranch.
And two nonfiction: Baby Doe Tabor the madwoman in the cabin by Judy Nolte Temple
Baby Doe Tabor is a larger-than-life character, what at one time was called an “adventuress.” She moved west and married the owner of a silver mine. Lots of local interest in her life, as she was born in Oshkosh.
They saw the elephant: women in the California gold rush by Jo Ann Levy
The author uses letters and journals to tell about the lives of women who went west—actresses, prostitutes, a stagecoach driver, and just ordinary women. They tell of the hardships endured in the perilous journeys, and the rough life.
Also: the all-true travels and adventures of Lidie Newton by Jane Smiley; Buffalo girls: a novel by Larry McMurtry; Molly Brown: unraveling the myth by Kristen Iversen

September’s Books

Heather Ingram was a high school teacher in Canada, unhappy in her relationship with the man she lived with. When one of her seventeen-year old students started flirting with her, she began an affair with him. Most of the book is about how she didn’t know that what she did was criminal, although she also slept with another student. It got a little tiresome listening to her “how could I be a sex offender” mantra. You can skip this book. It’s a self-serving exercise that demonstrates that she didn’t really learn anything from her experience.

Risking it all: my student, my lover, my story by Heather Ingram
Our daily meds: how the pharmaceutical companies transformed themselves into slick marketing machines and hooked the nation on prescription drugs by Melody Petersen
Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff
The Lincoln lawyer by Michael Connelly
Edwin of the Iron shoes by Marcia Muller

Cell by Stephen King

MYSTERY OF THE WEEK

MYSTERIES: A WALK ON THE DARK SIDE

This week I read "The Weatherman" by Steve Thayer. "The Weatherman" is a mystery that features a strong sense of place (Minneapolis) and three complicated, well-drawn characters. The plot has a serial killer who kills during notable weather events. It is quite violent, and presents some disturbing images.
Readers who enjoy this type of mystery may also like "Flood" by Andrew Vachss. This is the author's first book featuring Burke, the ex-con detective, with no first name who was abandoned as a child. He operates on the shady side of the law. The underworld of New York is the setting, and no maggot is left unturned. The title character, Flood, is a young woman who hires Burke to track down a pedophile. This is a similarly dark and disturbing story, with an atmospheric setting--although the seamy surroundings are no match for the Twin Cities. Burke is an intricate character, and reveals little about himself willingly. Most of Vachss's books deal with child molesters, so they are not for the squeamish.
Another suggestion is "Coffin Dancer" by Jeffery Deaver. Quadriplegic criminologist Lincoln Rhyme must track down a hired killer within 48 hours. Rhyme is a complex character and since he can't move, all the action is in his mind. There is excellent plotting from Deaver, and psychological tension by the bucketful. The Rhyme series is a good choice for a reader who wants characters that are more than superficial adjuncts to the plot, evil bad guys, and lots of suspense. Set in New York City.
For nonfiction, try "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote. In this groundbreaking work by Capote, he recreates the brutal murder of a Kansas farm family by two strangers in 1959. He interviewed those involved with the investigation, capture, trial, and eventual execution of the killers. The insight into the minds of the killers, and the re-telling of the crime in a manner that is more literary than crime reporting, should hold readers in a darkly fascinating grip.
Another nonfiction choice is "The Stranger Beside Me" by Ann Rule. The author met Ted Bundy in 1971 when they worked together on a suicide hot line at a Seattle crisis center. When he was suspected of the serial killings of young women, she found it hard to believe that this charming, charismatic young man was a sadistic murderer. Though a grim story, Rule does not dwell on the gruesome--instead continuing in a journalistic style, following Bundy to his death by electrocution in a Florida prison in 1989. The persona of Bundy, and the details of his crime--and how he eluded capture--draws readers in.
Other suggestions: "Winter Prey" by John Sandford; "Kiss the Girls" by James Patterson; "Dead Man Walking: an Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions" by Helen Prejean; and "The Devil's Right Hand Man: the True Story of Serial Killer Robert Charles Browne" by Stephen Michaud.

SHIVER ME TIMBERS!

Here's a word of warning. September is "Talk like a pirate day." So grab your eye patch and your parrot, and board the vessel with the rest of your scurvy mates.

Title: Carry me Home

Author: Sandra Kring

In ten words or less: Coming of age story set in 1940s Wisconsin.

Review:
“Carry Me Home” is set in a small Wisconsin town during the 1940s. Earl “Earwig” Gunderman suffered from a fever as a small child, and as a result of brain damage, never learned to read or write. He helps out at this parents’ grocery store and his protected by his older brother Jimmy. The story begins in 1940, when Jimmy falls in love with Molly, the prettiest girl in town. Earwig’s social life revolves around his family, his dog Lucky, and a younger neighbor Eddie.
When the United States enters the war, Jimmy and many of his friends enlist in the armed forces. Many families in town put up flags in their windows with stars on them—one blue star for each son in the military. Earwig watches the star intently, because he knows that if the star turns gold, it will mean that Jimmy is dead.
In addition to worrying about Jimmy, the war puts stress on the Gundermans in other ways. The ration coupons put a strain on the family store, and Earwig discovers a long hidden secret of his mother’s.
Earwig’s unique voice is similar to that of Christopher, the narrator of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” Kring is a Wisconsin author, and “Carry Me Home” is her first novel.

Why bother? Touching story of family members that help each other through difficult times.

BOOK REVIEW

Title: Farm Kid: Tales of Growing up in Rural America

Author: Justin Isherwood

In ten words or less: Humorous, thoughtful stories of growing up on a farm.

Review: Farming is not for the faint of heart, writes Justin Isherwood, a fifth generation farmer from Plover, WI. Isherwood , who has received an award from the Council for Wisconsin Writers, grew up on a dairy farm. Being a farm kid in the 1950s guaranteed a life full of chores, adventures, and sometimes peril. The 63 stories in “Farm Kid” focus on the simple pastimes and objects of childhood, such as jackknives, icicles, manure, high-top shoes, and chasing cows.
Though mostly of a lighthearted nature, the tales do venture occasionally into more serious territory, acknowledging the reality of the dangers of farm work. Animal lovers may not appreciate his story of using some of the many farm cats as ammunition in his homemade catapult.
Why bother? Isherwood uses his words as an artist uses color; to create a world so real you can smell the cows. He describes his grandfather, “I remember that look of a grown man so like a child, looking into the fire. On his face the look of the whole crayon box, all its colorations. Wonder. Contentment. Pleasure. Nurture. Peace. Bliss. Contentment. Satisfaction.”
Other books by Isherwood are “ Book of Plough” and “The Farm West of Mars.”

Books for Fall 2008
These are a few of the titles I'm looking forward to reading this fall.

Belzer, Richard and Michael Black. I am not a cop: a novel
Belzer, the comedian and actor from “Homicide: life on the street” and “Law and order: special victims unit” tries his hand at a novel.

Maraniss, David. Rome 1960
The author’s book “Clemente” was excellent—here he combines portraits of notable athletes Rafer Johnson, Wilma Rudolph, Cassius Clay (before he became Muhammed Ali), and Abebe Bikila against the political and social forces of the day.

Theroux, Paul. Ghost train to the Eastern star
Theroux recreates his journey of thirty years ago, travelling from Europe to the Pacific Rim and back.

Winn, Marie. Central Park in the dark: more mysteries of urban wildlife
The happenings of an urban park at night—birds, beasts, and other wildlife are hidden from the daylight but are a universe unto themselves.

Menzies, Gavin. 1434: the year a magnificent Chinese fleet sailed to Italy and ignited the Renaissance
Historian and former British naval officer argues that the Chinese, the most technologically advanced society in the world, sailed from China to Cairo to Florence and back again.

Greenlaw, Linda. Fishermen’s bend
The second in the Jane Bunker mystery series set in Maine.

Yancey, Richard. The highly effective detective goes to the dogs
Naïve, bumbling, and unlicensed detective Teddy Ruzak finds the body of a man outside his door.

Weston, Kath. Traveling light: on the road with America’s poor
Riding the bus across America, and listening to the stories the passengers tell.

Vowell, Sarah. Wordy shipmates
Snarky history nerd investigates the Puritans of seventeenth century New England.

Krakauer, Jon. Hero
Master storyteller Krakauer writes about Pat Tillman, former football player who was killed in the Afghanistan war, and whose death was manipulated by the U.S. government in order to garner support for the war.

JERRY REED DIES AUGUST 31, 2008

"We got a long way to go and a short time to get there" from "Eastbound and down"--Jerry Reed

Why do I watch "Smokey and the Bandit" when I see it on tv? Who knows--a guilty pleasure perhaps?

August’s Books

This month’s books include a collection of cartoons by S. Gross, “I am blind and my dog is dead.” Sam Gross’s cartoons have appeared in National Lampoon, Esquire, Gourmet, and most notably, the New Yorker. They are cartoons of few or no words. A fish with legs emerges from the ocean to see a sign, “No evolving allowed on this beach.”


Winchester, Simon. The man who loved China
Lipman, Elinor. My latest grievance
Johnson-Bennett, Pamela. Cat vs. cat
Collins, Kate. Rose from the dead
Ellis, Richard. Tuna: a love story
Gross, S. I am blind and my dog is dead
Riley, Jess. Driving sideways
Cook, Claire. Summer blowout
Benchley, Peter. Shark trouble
Doctorow, C. Down and out in the Magic Kingdom
Bradbury, Ray. Something wicked this way comes
Coultrip-Davis, D. Flavors of Korea
Schilling, Peter. The end of baseball
Brand-Miller. New glucose revolution shopper’s guide
Turtledove, Harry. Gunpowder empire

Kramer, Julie. Stalking Susan

NO MORE MISTER NICE GUY

Alice Cooper had a concert in Oshkosh last night. Most of the concerts in the series are has-been acts--Herman's Hermits without Herman, one of the Monkees as a solo act. Alice did himself proud--he was looking good (for Alice, that is) and didn't skimp on the show. It wasn't padded out by long rambling intros between songs ( i.e.,"this was a hit in 1968, and knocked the Beatles out of number one"). Started out with "No more Mr. Nice Guy", ended with "School's out," and came out for an encore.

There is something ironic about a guy in his sixties singing, "Eighteen," and "School's out," but I guess his audience never got over their teenage angst.

BOOK REVIEW

Death of a gentle lady by M.C. Beaton

In ten words or less: Newcomer to the village is killed; whodunit?

When Mrs. Gentle moves to Lochdubh, she is welcomed by the usually clannish highlanders. She is ladylike, neighborly, and has agreed to donate a large amount to the local church. Everyone is charmed by her, except the local constable Hamish MacBeth. He sees through her façade when he overhears her savagely berating her adult daughter. And when her meddling leads to the possible closing of his police station, he hatches a plan in order to keep his job in Lochdubh.
Fans of the series will not be disappointed in this 23rd mystery. Readers will appreciate the remote Scotland setting, the colorful local characters, and the ingenious plans of MacBeth, all told with ‘gentle’ humor.

Why bother? The series hasn’t lost much steam along the way, and Hamish stubbornly clings to life in his little village. But will he ever find his soul mate?

BOOK REVIEW

Killer blonde: a Jaine Austen mystery by Laura Levine



In ten words or less: Ghostwriter discovers dead socialite—who dunnit?



Review: Jaine is a freelance writer offered a ghostwriting job with socialite Sue Ellen Kingsley. Sue Ellen is unpleasant to her stepdaughter Heidi and having an affair with an artist. Her husband is having an affair with a masseuse and possibly his assistant. Their teenage son is sulking because his folks won’t buy him a Ferrari. Sue Ellen is discovered electrocuted in her bathtub and the long-suffering Heidi is the primary suspect. It’s a slight, humorous mystery.



Why bother? The funniest bits are the email messages between Jaine and her parents. Fans of Janet Evanovich may want to give this series a try.

BOOK REVIEW

Curtis, Christopher Paul
Bucking the sarge
In ten words or less: Teen crosses loan shark mom.

Fifteen year old Luther T. Farrell runs a group home for elderly men in need of care—and he’s been doing it since he was 13, when his mother put him in charge. His mom, referred to as “Sarge,” is a loan shark, slumlord, and not above scamming the government and insurance companies to add to her profits. Not only does Luther have to look after his guys, but he’s going to school and trying to win the science fair for the third year in a row.
Luther tells his story with humor, and tries to be the voice of reason when his friend Sparky starts hatching schemes to get rich quick by suing someone with the help of a dubious neighborhood lawyer. Does Luther win the science fair? Does he get the girl? Does Sarge get her comeuppance? Author Christopher Paul Curtis, winner of both the Newbery Award and the Coretta Scott King medal for his previous books, tells the story of a teen determined to get more out of his life in Flint, Michigan.

Why bother? Luther is an engaging teen, one who shoulders far too much responsibility at his early age. The reader hopes he will succeed, and enjoys cheering him on.

BOOK REVIEW

Hit and run by Lawrence Block

In ten words or less: Hit man Keller is set up to take a fall.

Keller is a hit man on the brink of retirement. One last job to do, and he’s set for an uneventful life of stamp collecting. But while he waits in Des Moines for the go-ahead to hit his target, the governor of Ohio, in town for a speech, is shot and killed. Unfortunate, but nothing to do with Keller. Or does it? Before long, Keller’s face is on television as the suspect. He’s been set up, and is stuck in Iowa with little money and on the run from the law. What now?

Lawrence Block is the author of more than fifty books. He’s won most of the awards that exist for mystery writing.

Why bother? Keller is one of my favorite of Block’s characters. He’s a thoughtful man, without a wide circle of friends. He’s skilled at his profession, but does not overly internalize the morality of it. I hate to think that this will be the last adventure of Keller.

BOOK REVIEW

Plum lucky by Janet Evanovich

In ten words or less: Grandma gambles with mobster’s money; gets taken hostage.

Review: When Stephanie Plum’s Grandma Mazur disappears, Stephanie figures she’s gone off to where all senior citizens wind up eventually—a casino in Atlantic City. Grandma stumbled across a sack of money—okay, maybe she wrestled it away from a little man in green pants who is convinced he is a leprechaun.
Stephanie brings along a couple of her co-workers from the bail bonds office—Connie, who brings an arsenal of weapons along, and the plus-size Lula, resplendent in spandex. Turns out Grandma (and a horse named Doug) have been taken hostage by a wiseguy, and Stephanie and her gang join forces with the mysterious yet oh-so hunky Diesel to come to the rescue.
Why bother? For readers who like their heroines sassy, the plots wacky, and the sidekicks weird beyond belief.

BOOK REVIEW

A few seconds of panic: a 5-foot-8 170 pound 43 year old sports writer plays in the NFL by Stefan Fatsis

In ten words or less: Middle aged sports writer attends NFL training camp.

Review: Fatsis is a reporter for the Wall Street Journal and a commentator on sports for National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.” He never played football competitively at any level, but had played soccer. He spent a year working out with a strength coach and a kicking coach, while trying to convince an NFL team to let him join their training camp.
In 1966 George Plimpton had written “Paper Lion,” an account of his time with the Detroit Lions training camp. Football has become much more commercial and a big business, and Fatsis was faced with public relations problems, insurance problems, and others. Eventually, the Denver Broncos permitted him to spend 3 months with the team in training camp as a place kicker. He endured twice a day practices, rookie hazing, and risked injury. Much of the book focused on the Bronco’s coach, Mike Shanahan, quarkterback Jake Plummer, Jason Elam, and punter Todd Sauerbrun, who was suspended during preseason for taking performance enhancing drugs.

Why bother? It’s an insider’s view of a pro training camp from someone who is not a player or coach. Fatsis is humorously self-mocking, but respects the players and does not try to pry into their lives. A good book to start off the football season.

BOOK REVIEW

Taking on the Big Boys: or why feminism is good for families, business, and the nation by Ellen Bravo

In ten words or less: Achieving workplace equality is not an easy battle.

Review: Author Bravo started as an organizer for the union “9 to 5” in 1982. What is feminism, anyway, you may ask. “Feminism is a system of beliefs, laws, and practices that fully values women and work associated with women in order to help all people reach their potential.” In this book you will learn how the “big boys” (the mostly white, male enforcers of the status quo) operate, and how to take them on. There are chapters on pay equity, work-family issues, sexual harassment, the right to organize, welfare reform, and part-time and temporary jobs.

Bravo makes her points with humor and real-life examples which are so misguided they would be funny, if not for their reality. One such point: “The Bush administration doles out huge amounts of money for programs like abstinence education and marriage promotion. ‘Author Barbara Ehrenreich pointed out the fundamental flaw in that strategy: Since most women marry within their social class, poor women would have to be bigamists and marry 2.3 poor men at once in order to break out of poverty.’”

In her final chapter, the author offers some suggestions on how to achieve equality in the workplace. Appreciate workers, help prepare the next generation, and practice positive talk.

Why bother? It’s a book on an important subject, with far reaching consequences. It’s also an eye-opening, infuriating, funny, and hopeful message.

BOOK REVIEW

Creighton, Margaret S. Colors of courage: Gettysburg’s forgotten history: immigrants, women, and African Americans in the Civil War’s defining battle

In ten words or less: The subtitle tells it all.
Review:
An examination of the Battle of Gettysburg with the emphasis on the immigrants who fought as soldiers (especially the Germans), African-Americans, and women. Oshkoshers might be interested in the information about Carl Schurz—the subject of the statue in Menominee Park, and of the other tales of the men of the Iron Brigade.
The contributions of immigrants, African-Americans, and women to the civil war are examined in author’s book. German-American soldiers, such as Corporal Adam Muezenberger, of Greenfield, WI, fought in the Union Army. Sometimes they were disparaged by native born Yankee troops, and called cowards.
Major General Carl Schurz, who came to American as a political exile in 1852 from Germany, was a commander of the Eleventh Corps. He joined the army in large part because he hated slavery and was committed to abolitionism and civil rights. For those who want to look beyond the military strategy, weapons, and army histories, this book shows the impact on most important battle of the war by immigrant soldiers, slaves and free men of color, and women.

Why bother? War is so much more than the armies and soldiers who fight it. Even those groups which had few rights under the government believed that freedom was worth sacrifice.

NOODLE SALAD

Carol Connelly: OK, we all have these terrible stories to get over, and you-...

Melvin Udall: It's not true. Some have great stories, pretty stories that take place at lakes with boats and friends and noodle salad. Just no one in this car. But, a lot of people, that's their story. Good times, noodle salad. What makes it so hard is not that you had it bad, but that you're that pissed that so many others had it good. From "As Good as it Gets."

Here's my recipe for noodle salad.

Spaghetti Salad

INGREDIENTS
1 pound spaghetti, broken into pieces
1 (16 ounce) bottle Italian-style salad dressing
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
2 teaspoons seasoning salt
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cucumber, chopped
1 red onion, diced
2 tomatoes, chopped

DIRECTIONS
Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water and drain well. Transfer to large bowl.
In medium bowl, whisk together salad dressing, cheese, seeds, salt, paprika, garlic powder and peppers until well blended. Stir in cucumber and onion. Pour mixture over spaghetti and toss lightly to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. Makes 12 servings.

BRETT FAVRE TO NEW YORK CITY?!

There is much wailing and gnashing of teeth her in the Frozen Tundra. New York City? How alien! How Big City! And I bet they charge an arm and a leg for cheese curds there, too. What will now be the required shirt for all formal occasions here now that it will no longer be a Favre number 4 jersey?

OLYMPIC FICTION

There hasn't been a lot of Olympic fiction written--much of it tends to be young adult titles. But in the spirit of the games, here are a few novels about the Olympics or competitors.




Barclay, Max. Red Mercury
Bock, Dennis. Olympia
Briskin, Jacqueline. Other side of love
Coldsmith, Don. Long Journey Home
Duder, Tessa. Alex in Rome
Duder, Tessa. In Lane Three, Alex Archer
Francis, Dick. Trial Run
Holton, Hugh. Left hand of God
Leonhardt, Alice. Team player
Levenkron, Steven. The luckiest girl in the world
Lowell, Elizabeth. Remember summer
Lovesey, Peter. Goldengirl
Maloney, Shane. Nice Try
Patterson, James. See how they run
Reich, Christopher. Runner
Savage, Deborah. Under a Different Sky
Thomson, Maynard F. Dreams of gold
Weston, Riley. Before I go

WHY DID THE PEACOCK CROSS THE ROAD?

Darned if I know. On my way to dinner Friday night, we were stopped in the road by three peacocks--two blue/green, one white strolling across the highway along the shores of Lake Winnebago. At first I thought they were geese, or pheasants. Nope. Obviously escapees from a hobby farm, but considering the ways speed down the road, they are on their way to being beautiful roadkill.

July’s Books

It’s tough to find a light, funny novel. Too many Janet Evanovich wannabees out there, trying way too hard. Gwen Freeman’s “Crazy fool kills five” is one of them. The heroine, Fifi Cutter, is an unemployed insurance investigator who takes a temporary job assisting on a wrongful death suit. Five people were filled when a private jet crashed. Fifi is hampered by her brother Bosco, an unemployed charming con artist. The author is attempting kookiness where none is to be had. The offbeat and slightly incompetent Fifi, the eccentric relatives, the attempts at clever dialog, just miss the mark. Better luck next time.

Baker, Deb. Murder grins and bears it
Cook, Claire. Life’s a beach
Block, Lawrence. Hit and run
Freeman, Gwen. Crazy fool kills five
Evanovich, Janet. Fearless fourteen
Fatsis, Stefan. A few seconds of panic: a 5-foot-8 170 pound 43 year old sports writer plays in the NFL

Police cat by Enid Hinkes

Noodles the cat worked out of the Third District Police Station, keeping the neighborhood free of rats. When he warned a family of a fire in their house, Truman the police dog got all the glory. How was Noodles finally rewarded? It's about time cats get some of the glory.

BOOK REVIEW

Fearless fourteen by Janet Evanovich

In ten words or less: Stephanie searches for millions; Lula plans her wedding.

Review: Evanovich hasn’t lost any steam in the latest Stephanie Plum adventure. Stephanie, bail bond enforcement agent, gets involved in a kidnapping when Loretta Rizzi, a cousin of Joe Morelli, goes missing. Loretta’s brother Dom, a bank robber just released from prison, is trying to find the nine million dollars he and his three partners stashed. Dom and the gang believe the money is hidden somewhere in Morelli’s house.

Along the way, Stephanie and Morelli take custody of Loretta’s teenage son Zook, along with a psychic and stalker, Mooner (a dope smoking slacker), and a crazed monkey named Carl. Meanwhile, Lula plans her wedding to Tank, the large and silent security guard.

Why bother? Evanovich does not disappoint. There is enough Grandma Mazur and Ranger to keep fans happy, but the action centers around Stephanie and Morelli in this book. Cars are destroyed; junk food is eaten.

June’s Books

A charming children's book, "Uncle Bobby's wedding" tells the concerns of Chloe, Bobby's niece who is worried that when Bobby marries his friend Jamie, Chloe will no longer be his favorite. But as the saying goes, she does not lose Uncle Bobby, she gains a new uncle, Jamie. Do not inquire too closely into the lifestyles of guinea pigs.

Frommer’s Seattle
Watson, Larry. White crosses
Spencer-Fleming, Julia. I shall not want
Pinkwater, Daniel. The afterlife diet
Coben, Harlen. Deal breaker
Brannen, Sarah. Uncle Bobby’s wedding
Parker, Robert B. Resolution

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Imagine meeting your maker and finding out it's Frito-Lay. --George Carlin

GEORGE CARLIN DIED TODAY

Wouldn't it be interesting if the only way you could die was that suddenly your head blew up? If there were no other causes of death? Everyone died the same way? Sooner or later, without warning, your head simply exploded? You know what I think? I think people would get used to it. --George Carlin

BOOK REVIEW

The best specimen of a tyrant: the ambitious Dr. Abraham Van Norstrand and the Wisconsin Insane Hospital by Thomas Doherty

In ten words or less: Rattling good tale about a greed self-aggrandizing opportunist.

Review: Dr. Abraham Van Norstrand moved west to seek his fortune. During the civil war he ran one of the army’s biggest hospitals, while making money in the lucrative whiskey trade. When he returned to Wisconsin after the war, he ran the Wisconsin Insane Hospital—and provided jobs for relatives, got profits from supplying the hospital with tainted foods from a store in which he was secretly a partner.
Much of the book is based on memoirs he wrote late in his life, and which were not particularly truthful, as the author proves.

Why bother? The author has written short stories, in addition to history, and this book has the all the intrigue of a good novel. Readers of Eric Larsen and Simon Winchester would enjoy this book.

May’s Books

Sarah Monette’s “The bone key” is a collection of short stories in the manner of the traditional English ghost story, with no gratuitous sex or violence, and the horror is implied. In fact, the author acknowledges her debt to H.P. Lovecraft and M.R. James in the introduction. The ten stories all share the main character, an a shy, awkward museum archivist, Kyle Murchison Booth. It is Booth’s brushes with the undead that make for compelling, gripping, and unsettling reading.

Heth, Edward. Any number can play

Koethe, John. Falling water

Ehrenreich, Eric. Nazi ancestral proof: genealogy, racial science, and the final solution

Watson, Larry. Montana 1948

Kimmel, Haven. A girl named Zippy: growing up small in Mooreland, Indiana

Watson, Larry. Orchard

Laine, Kristen. American band: music, dreams, and coming of age in the heartland

Monette, Sarah. Bone key

George, Elizabeth. Careless in red

Dereske, Jo. Index to murder

Barnard, Robert. Last post

Bond, Stephanie. Body movers

Bond, Stephanie. Two bodies for the price of one

Wolf, Laurie Goldrich. The only bake sale cookbook you’ll ever need

Grunes, Barbara. Best bake sale ever cookbook

Fine, Doug. Farewell my Subaru: an epic adventure in local living