June's Books

"A house without a cat is like life without sunshine." When Julia and Paul Child moved to Paris, there was one thing missing from their tiny apartment. They adopted Minette Mimosa, a tortoiseshell cat. Children who read "Minette's Fest" may have no idea who Julia Child was, but they will enjoy the story of the little cat who feasted in Julia's kitchen. Illustrated by Amy Bates, who captures the feel of post-war Paris and the mischievious cat perfectly.

As the crow flies by Craig Johnson
Artist trading cards by Leonie Pujol
Rubber stamping artist trading cards by Tweetyjill Pubs
Trading card treasures by Carol Heppner
Wallflower in bloom by Claire Cook
Camp follower by Suzanne Adair
Artist trading card workshop by Bernie Berlin
Minette's feast by Susanna Reich
Thud! by Terry Pratchett
When will Jesus bring the pork chops? by George Carlin
The ladies' man by Eleanor Lipman
Mummy dearest by Joan Hess
Rock and roll homicide by R.J. McDonnell

Books I read in May 2012

In Just One More Thing, actor  Peter Falk relates stories from his life. Short on the details that make up a biography, this volume is mostly recollections of his roles and co-stars, such as John Cassavetes and Alan Arkin. Falk, who has a master's degree in public administration, was a washout as a public servant, but snagged roles on the stage, in film, and on television as the rumpled Lt. Columbo. He was also a talented artist, and some of his work is included. A quick, interesting read about an unconventional man.

Alpine for you by Maddy Hunter
Top o' the Mournin by Maddy Hunter
G'Day to Die by Maddy Hunter
Hula Done it by Maddy Hunter
 Cat in an Ultramarine Scheme by Carole Nelson Douglas
Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook
Redemption by Debra Lee
Hooked by Polly Iyer
Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun by Lois Winston
Pasta Imperfect by Maddy Hunter
Robert B. Parker's Lullaby by Ace Atkins
Multiple Choice by Claire Cook
Just One More Thing by Peter Falk
Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett
Sacre Bleu: a comedy d'art by Christopher Moore
Willowtree by Mike Bove
Mort by Terry Pratchett

Saturday at the Farmer's market

Rhubarb is everywhere at the Farmers' Market. On a dreary May day, making a pot of rhubarb dumplings will help the time pass as you watch for thunderstorm warnings on the Weather Channel.

Rhubarb Dumplings

2 tbsp. butter
1/2 c. sugar
2 c. rhubarb, chopped
pinch salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 1/2 c. water

Dumplings:
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. milk

Combine first seven ingredients and simmer until the rhubarb is tender. Meanwhile, combine dumpling ingredients to make dough. Drop dough by the tablespoon on top of the simmering rhubarb. Cover tightly and simmer for another 15-20 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream, if you like. Makes 6 servings.

Dark Star Safari: overland from Cairo to Capetown by Paul Theroux

Theroux revisits many of the places he lived and worked as a Peace Corps volunteer and teacher in the 1960s. He argues theology with Christian missionaries, visits natives, aid workers, and tourists. His anecdotes are entertaining but with a serious undertone, as they shed light on the political and social chaos of many of the African nations. He visits the homes of fellow authors Naguib Mafouz and Nadine Gordimer. As a priest observes to him, "Wonderful people. Terrible government. The African story." A memorable book.

The Ghost Mountain boys:  their epic march and the terrifying battle for New Guinea—the forgotten war of the South Pacific by James Campbell

James Campbell’s Ghost Mountain Boys tells the harrowing story of the 32nd Division’s WWII battle to prevent New Guinea from falling into Japanese hands. The battle for New Guinea is considered by many to be the first great land victory in the South Pacific Theater. The book tells the tale of National Guardsmen whisked from the temperate Midwest and dropped into the dense jungles of New Guinea with little training and with equipment unequal to
the task ahead.

In addition to the Japanese, soldiers of the U.S. and Australian armies faced an even more fearsome enemy, the terrain they needed to traverse to complete their mission. This grueling terrain exacted the harshest toll of all, accounting for almost 80% of the casualties of the campaign. If the enemies’ bullets were not enough, the soldiers were pitted against jungle, mountains, insects, rain, mud, dysentery and malaria.

Through Campbell’s words, the reader sees the dramatic and often deadly consequence of poor planning, indecisiveness and ego. Unlike many historical accounts, Campbell makes a real effort to humanize the enemy and illustrate how ill-advised decisions on both sides led to unneeded bloodshed,
suffering and death.

Books I read in April 2012

Dan Dye first met Gracie, star of Amazing Gracie: a Dog's Tale, an albino Great Dane puppy, and his life took an unpredictable turn. Gracie, deaf and blind in one eye, had digestive problems and Dye had a difficult time finding food she could eat. No cook, Dye experimented with natural organic ingredients until he found some she could eat. Three Dog Bakery grew out of his attempts to feed Gracie a healthful, nutritious diet. A heartwarming story sure to please dog lovers.


Death by Killer Mop Doll by Lois Winston
Deader Homes and Gardens by Joan Hess
Cinnamon Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke
The Sleeping Doll by Jeffery Deaver
Death of a Kingfisher by M.C. Beaton
On the Nickel by Maggie Toussaint
Rather Remarkable Homecoming by C.A. Belmond
Nearly Departed in Deadwood by Ann Charles
Breaking Silence by Linda Castillo
Murder Under Cover by Kate Carlisle
Ambush of my Name by Jeffrey Marks
Nipped in the Bud by Susan Sleeman
Prey for Zion by E.D. MacDavey
Amazing Gracie: A Dog's Tale by Dan Dye

What I Read in March 2012

Richard Conniff, author of "Every Creeping Thing" and "Spineless Wonders," educates and amuses in Swimming with Piranhas at Feeding Time. The nature writer follows wild dogs in Africa, investigates termites in New Orleans, and yes, swims with piranhas. He visits entomologist Justin O. Schmidt, who has been stung by over 150 different species of insect. That doesn't sound like fun, but this book is.

Burning Wire by Jeffery Deaver
Jenny's Adopted Brothers by Esther Averill
Knit Your Own Cat: easy-to-follow patterns for 16 frisky felines by Sally Muir
Cut the Scraps! by Joan Ford
Liver Let Die by Liz Lipperman
Now Write! Mysteries: suspense, crime, thriller and other mystery fiction exercises from today's best writers and teachers by Sherry Ellis
Murder Past Due by Miranda James
Kindle Fire: the Missing Manual by Peter Meyers
Fade to Black by Robert Goldsborough
Swimming with Piranhas at Feeding Time: my life doing dumb stuff with animals by Richard Conniff
Roadside Crosses by Jeffery Deaver
Becoming Dr. Q: my journey from migrant farm worker to brain surgeon by Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa
Sink or Swim by Stacy Juba
Artistic License by Julie Hyzy
Orange as Marmalade by Fran Stewart
Dangerous Woman by Debra Lee
Edited for Death by Michele Drier
My Gun has Bullets by Lee Goldberg
Faithful unto Death by Caroline Graham
The Missing Chapter by Robert Goldsborough
Death at Victoria Dock by Kerry Greenwood

Murder on Coney Island by Michael Jahn

It's a year after the attacks on the World Trade Center, and New York Police Department Captain Bill Donovan investigates a murder at a Coney Island candy store. The deceased is James Victor, a local real estate developer who wants to tear down the storefronts near the boardwalk to erect lavish condos. Donovan and Brooklyn's own Sgt. Brian Moskowitz find plenty of suspects--from the store owners, the victim's wife, his girlfriend, and others looking to profit in the real estate market. Another solid entry in this series, with a lot of New York attitude and flavor.

February's Books

If you'd like a dog but don't want the fuss of a live animal, try knitting one of the charming dogs from Sally Muir's book. Definitely for the advanced knitter, but the results capture the individuality of each breed. My favorites are the schnauzer, the Old English Sheepdog, and the bulldog.

Gideon's Corpse by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Killings at Badger's Drift by Caroline Graham
Power Play by Joseph Finder
Killer Instinct by Joseph Finder
Knit Your Own Dog: easy-to-follow patterns for 25 pedigree pooches by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne

What It Is by Lynda Barry

Lynda Barry has authored a book that is half autobiography and half writers-and-artists guide. The biography doesn't recite dates, places, and names. Rather, she talks about teachers, others adults, and her peers who stifled or encouraged her creativity as an artist. Particular incidents, told in just a few words, are good examples of how to discourage creativity in a child.

The second part of the book is a workbook with specific exercises for writers and artists. This is all presented in Barry's graphic style, with drawings of sea monsters, monkeys, and self-portraits. A wonderful book that encourages creativity for all ages.

Murder on the Waterfront by Michael Jahn

Two ships are docked on Manhattan's west side waterfront. The ultramodern cruise liner Trinidad Princess is hosting a fundraiser for a conservative candidate for president. And on the shabby but chic Sevastopol Trader, a modeling agency is holding a launch party with supermodels and beautiful people to celebrate a new perfume.

Captain Bill Donovan, NYPD, and his retired cop/wife Marcie, attend the political get-together as representatives of the police department. But when they see more congenial friends on the Trader, they jump ship. And it's aboard the Trader that a body is discovered the next morning. The presidential candidate's top strategist was stabbed to death, and there are plenty of suspects.

Now that Donovan is a husband and father, a reader would expect him to slow his pace. Maybe he doesn't put himself in as much physical danger, but the suspense doesn't let up. Readers who enjoy Lawrence Block's Matthew Scudder series should try Jahn's bools. This one is eighth in the series.

Weddings can be Murder by Christie Craig

Katie Ray flushed her $8,000 engagement ring down the toilet by accident--or was it? She's having second thoughts about her wedding, and with good reason. Someone is kidnapping and killing brides who have hired an elite wedding planner. The wedding planner hired Private Investigator Carl Hades to investigate; police didn't take her claims seriously. When the planner is killed, Katie and Carl are trapped in a storeroom overnight. Sparks fly, and not just because the killer is going to burn the building down.

A mostly humorous romantic mystery.

Dead Men Don't Get the Munchies by Miranda Bliss

Annie, a bank teller who has a part-time job at Bellywasher’s, a local pub owned by her boyfriend Jim. Jim is offering cooking classes and Annie, who can’t boil water, is slated to be his assistant. During the first class one of the students, Brad Peterson, an obnoxious weasel with a capital W, is threatened by Annie’s friend Eve. And when Brad is murdered, Eve is the prime suspect. Of course, Annie has to investigate. Light and fluffy mystery.

Dead Man's Puzzle by Parnell Hall

In ten words or less: Sherry's in Africa; Cora bluffs her way through another investigation.

Review: Cora Felton is at loose ends with her niece Sherry on her honeymoon in Africa. Sherry had it all planned out for Cora--she left her a supply of crossword puzzles to fax to her editor, for few people know that Cora's a fake and that Sherry is the real Puzzle Lady.

But when an elderly man is found dead in a dilapidated shack, the Chief of Police brings Cora a puzzle the man had on his table. And what had been assumed to be a natural death turned into a murder, and as usual, Sherry's ex-husband is right in the middle.

Why bother? A reader might wonder why the police chief lets a nosy amateur push her way into every murder investigation in his jurisdiction, but Cora always manages to close the case--even when they're fifty years old. Always great fun!

January 2012 Books I've read

Wondering what to do with old books now that you have an ebook reader? Lisa Occhipinti, who sells her creations on etsy, shows how to turn volumes into clocks, a shelf, a lamp, a jewelry box, and irony of ironies, a Kindle keeper.

The Repurposed Library: 33 craft projects that give old books new life by Lisa Occhipinti
Good to Go: a guide to preparing for the end of life by Jo Myers
Cat Pay the Devil by Shirley Murphy
Double Take by Catherine Coulter
Charitable Body by Robert Barnard
You Have the Right to Remain Puzzled by Parnell Hall
Last Coincidence by Robert Goldsborough
Get It Together: organize your records so your family won't have to by Melanie Cullen
Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam by Chris Ewan
The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough
Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James
Winter of Discontent by Jeanne Dams
Death on Deadline by Robert Goldsborough
Silver Spire by Robert Goldsborough

December's Books

If you are looking to make needle felted projects out of your cat's hair, read Crafting with Cat Hair. Most projects are embellishments to put on scarfs, mittens, etc., but the finger puppets are made entirely of cat hair. An especially sentimental project is a mini-portrait of your cats, made from its very own hair. This makes a nice keepsake of a much-loved pet.

Crafting with cat hair: cute handicrafts to make with your cat by Kaori Tsutaya
Cat Calls: wonderful stories and practical advice from a veteran cat sitter by Jeanne Adlon
As the pig turns: an Agatha Raisin mystery by M.C. Beaton
The evil that men do by Jeanne Dams
And a puzzle to die on by Parnell Hall
A clue for the puzzle lady by Parnell Hall
Shot by Parnell Hall
Murder Mr. Mosley by John Greenwood

Get Real by Donald Westlake

Career thief John Dortmunder is approached with a proposition from a reality show producer. The producer wants to film Dortmunder and his associates planning and committing a heist. Dortmunder reluctantly agrees, but only after insisting that the target be a property owned by the production company. Of course, the producers are plotting to thwart the burglars, and Dortmunder, Tiny, Murch et al have mislead the television folks about their real target.

Westlake, a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master, died in 2008. His Dortmunder books are the epitome of the caper novel--no one wrote a comic mystery like Westlake.

A Bitter Feast by S.J. Rozan

Four restaurant workers have gone missing in Chinatown, and the local cops don't seem all that concerned. Peter Lee, a childhood friend of Lydia Chin and a lawyer working on behalf of the Chinese Restaurant Workers' Union, asks her to find them. When a bomb explodes at the union's headquarters, Peter is critically injured and another, unknown man is dead.

Lydia, joined by her partner Bill Smith, goes undercover as a dim sum lady at a local restaurant to find out more about the missing men. She discovers the smuggling of illegal immigrants, heroin, Chinese mobsters, and federal agents working at cross purposes.

Anyone who enjoys mysteries that emphasize characters, such as the books of Julia Spencer-Fleming and Elizabeth George, will want to read this series.

The Bilbao Looking Glass by Charlotte MacLeod
In ten words or less: Annoying old woman bumped off; too many suspects to list.

Review: When Sarah Kelling visits her summer home after a long absence, she finds a precious antique looking glass in the hall. It doesn't belong to her, and no one else but a trusted caretaker has a key. Her friend--soon to be fiance--art investigator Max Bittersohn--calls the police, only to be accused of stealing the piece. When Sarah and Max aattend a party at a neighbor's house, one of the hosts is killer, a spiteful gossip whose death is little mourned. Again, Max is accused of the crime. Even though Max's family is from the area, he's not one of the yacht club elite. Sarah and Max team up to exonerate him of the crime, with the help of both his and her relatives.
Why bother? MacLeod is the master of the clever, cozy mystery.

The Silver Ghost by Charlotte MacLeod

In ten words or less: Which eccentric relative or friend committed murder at Renaissance Revel?

Review: Sarah Kelling and Max Bittersohn attend the Renaissance Revel of Sarah's family friends, Bill and Abigail Billingsgate. During the festivities, one of the Billingsgate's employees is killed, and Sarah's Aunt Appie goes missing. The Billingsgate's valuable antique cars have been going missing, and Sarah and Max investigate. The local police are incompetent, and the couple must interview the eccentric collection of Kelling relatives in attendance.

Why bother? MacLeod's description of the Revel alone is worth reading the book. Who knew Morris dancing could be so funny? Sarah and Max are a pair of level headed thinkers among the assortment of odd ducks that are Sarah's old monied family.

Death Wore White by Jim Kelly

A blizzard strands eight cars on a lonely coastal road. When one of the drivers is discovered dead--a chisel through his eye--the detectives are stymied. None of the drivers has seen anything suspicious, and there are no footprints leading to or from the vehicle.

Detective Inspector Peter Shaw, recently promoted and now paired with his father's former partner, has not only got the murder to solve, but a body has washed up on the beach, with a suspicious bite mark. And Shaw wants to re-open the case of a child murder that caused his father to leave the force in disgrace.

Lots of suspects and red herrings. Fans of British police procedurals will want to give this author a try.

No Colder Place by S.J. Rozan

Bill Smith goes undercover at a construction site as a bricklayer--he hasn't laid a brick in more than twenty years. Equipment has been stolen, and one of the laborers has gone missing. When the missing worker is discovered, dead, in a pit on the site, Smith asks his partner Lydia Chin to join the investigation as a secretary in the construction office on site. She grumbles that her skills are wasted working as a secretary, and tells Bill as much. But when an experienced site supervisor falls to his death, Smith and Chin know it's not an accident.

This is the fourth book in the series--I stay up until all hours to finish these books. Every one has been exciting, with great characters and enough plot twists to keep up the interest.

November's Books

Esther Averill wrote her series of thirteen stories about Jenny Linsky, the little black cat, from 1944-1972. Jenny, who wears a red scarf, lives with retired sailor Captain Tinker. In Jenny's Moonlight Adventure, she faces down dogs to retrieve her friend's nose flute. A charming book.
Cold Moon by Jeffery Deaver
Dying for a Date by Cindy Sample
Jenny's Moonlight Adventure by Esther Averill
A Killer's Christmas in Wales by Elizabeth Duncan
A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny
Making Spirits Bright by Fern Michaels
House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz

October's Books

Bizarre Botanicals includes intriguing photos and facts of unusual plants--some well-know (bleeding heart, Venus flytrap, staghorn fern), some not (tarantula cactus, blackbat plant, artillery plant). Anyone interested in plants, nature, or strange and unusual facts will enjoy this entertaining and colorful book.

Tragic Toppings by Jessica Beck
Killer Cruise by Laura Levine
And Another Thing by Eoin Colfer
Gooseberry Patch Best Ever Cookies
Bizarre Botanicals by Larry Mellichamp
A Catered Thanksgiving by Isis Crawford
Busy Body by M.C. Beaton
The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stoudt
Ghost Hero by S. J. Rozan
A Voyage Long and Strange by Tony Horwitz
Better Homes & Gardens Very Merry Cookies
Death of the Mantis by Michael Stanley
The Dog Who Knew Too Much by Spencer Quinn
Second Sitting by Stella Whitelaw
Indie Author Guide by April Hamilton
Full Mortality by Sasscer Hill
Baloney by John Scieszka
Invasion of the Road Weenies by David Lubar
Sins out of School by Jeanne Dams
The Ax by Donald Westlake
Dress Your Gingerbread by Joanna Farrow
One Tough Texan by Jan Freed
When Elves Attack by Tim Dorsey

Ghost Train to the Eastern Star: on the tacks of the Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux
In ten words or less: Theroux travels across Europe, Asia, and discovers political and social change.

Review: Thirty years after Paul Theroux traveled across Europe and Asia--and chronicled his exploits in "The Great Railway Bazaar"--he attempted to recreate his journey.

Many things have changed in the world since his first trip. The Soviet Union dissolved, and China has risen to a powerful economic force. Vietnam is united, and Iraq and Afghanistan are now engaged in wars.

Theroux travels by rail, with a minimum of baggage, and isn't shy about asking locals what they think about the United States. He describes both the kind and generous people who are happy to share a meal and conversation, and the madams who peddle child prostitutes to tourists.

Why bother? Even if you haven't read Theroux's "Great Railway Bazaar," you're in for a fascinating trip across two continents. His descriptions will make you laugh, or move you to anger, and will make you want to know more about places most people will never visit. Theroux is opinionated and brash, but never boring.

SATURDAY AT THE FARMERS' MARKET

Today is the last week for the farmers' market. Here's a recipe to dress up some winter squash--not that it really needs it.

HONEYED SQUASH

2 cups water
1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks
1/4 cup butter
2 Tlb. chopped fresh parsley
1 Tlb. honey
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. dried thyme
1/8 tsp. pepper

Cook squash in water until squash is tender, about 10-15 minutes. Drain.

Mash squash; add remaining ingredients. Cook over medium heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until heated through--about five minutes.

Hanging Curve: a Mickey Rawlings mystery by Troy Soos

In ten words or less: Did Klan lynch pitcher? Ballplayer Mickey investigates.

Review: A utility infielder for the St. Louis Browns, Mickey Rawlings hopes he'll finally get to play on a championship team. When a former teammate asks Mickey to play in an exhibition game against a black semi-pro team, he agrees. He hasn't gotten much playing time lately, and he's heard about how good some of those black players are. So good, in fact, that their pitcher, Slip Crawford, strikes Mickey out every times he comes to the plate.

The Klu Klux Klan, in robes and hoods, are in attendance at the game. A few days later Slip Crawford is found lynched. Was the Klan involved? Mickey joins forces with a black civil rights lawyer and a white journalist to investigate.

Why bother? Soos combines a fine mystery with a chilling background. He's evoked the feeling of 1922, with race riots and Jim Crow laws, in a style that is convincing and disturbing. For fans of baseball and historical mysteries.

Satch, Dizzy and Rapid Robert: the Wild Saga of Interracial Baseball Before Jackie Robinson by Timothy M. Gay

In ten words or less: Before integration, baseball legends Paige, Dean and Feller barnstorm across America.

Review: Jackie Robinson integrated major league baseball in 1947, but in decades before that, black and white players competed against each other in barnstorming exhibition games. Hastily assembled teams of all stars played in towns across America to crowed who had only read about the feats of such legends as Satchel Paige, Dizzy Dean, and Bob Feller. Players could make more barnstorming than during the regular season.
Why bother? Jim Crow laws kept talented black players from competing in the majors, along with the racist attitudes of club owners and the commissioner. Author Timothy Gay tells a fine story of these legends of baseball--what they were like on and off the field. He examines the casual racism of the times, and how the military experiences of many of the players helped to change major league baseball.

September's Books

A fan of the "Little House on the Prairie" books, "The Wilder Life" author Wendy McClure travels to the sites of Laura Ingalls Wilder's homes in the midwest. She churns butter, grinds wheat by hand, and compares the books to the television series. Was Laura's life really like the books and was Pa anything like Michael Landon? A fun read for Little House fans.

Formatting and submitting your manuscript by Cynthia Laufenberg
Ninety days to your novel by Sarah Domet
The Wilder life: my adventures in the lost world of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure
How to keep your Volkswagen alive by Christopher Boucher
Wicked River: the Mississippi when it last ran wild by Lee Sandlin
Thick as thieves by Peter Spiegelman
Killer profile: Criminal Minds by Max Allan Collins
Wicked autumn by G.M Malliet
The second mouse by Archer Mayor

Firebreak: a Parker novel by Richard Stark

In ten words or less: Hit man targets Parker while Parker plans art heist.

Review: While Parker is deciding whether to take on a job at a Montana hunting lodge--stealing valuable paintings from a secret vault with state-of-the-art security--someone has sent a hit man to his home. Parker got to the hit man first, but when news of the failed hit got back to the employers, another hit man was sure to follow.
Parker needed to settle the score with whoever was hiring the shooters, but he was stsill undecided about whether to throw in with the gang planning the art heist. The guy who'd be responsible for disabling the alarms, Lloyd, was an amateur, a white-collar criminal who was hung out to dry by his former partner, and he wanted revenge.
Why bother? Fast faced, page-turning action from Stark, aka Donald Westlake. Parker is always one step ahead of both the other bad guys and the cops.

Comeback: a Parker novel by Richard Stark

In ten words or less: Parker's partner pulls a double cross; Parker settles the score.

Review: It promised to be a big payday for Parker. The target was a Christian Crusade at a local arena--cash only, credit cards and checks not accepted. Parker's friend Ed Mackey had set it up with Liss, who had an inside man. But as they made their way out with the duffel bags full of money, Liss pulled a double cross. The cops are looking for Parker and Mackey, and so is the head of security for the Crhistian Crusade, a tough as nails ex-Marine who takes the robbery personally.

Why bother? Another great mystery from one of the masters of hard boiled crime.

Saturday at the Farmers' Market

Lots of squash available today at the market. How about a pot of soup now that the weather has turned cool?

Squashed Chicken Soup

4 pounds chicken pieces
13 cups water
10 cups of butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1 bunch of kale, chopped
6 carrots, chopped
2 large onions, chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

Add chicken and water to stockpot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover and simmer for one hour or until chicken is tender.

Remove chicken from broth and strain broth and skim off the fat. Return the broth to the pot and add the vegetables. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Remove the chicken from the bones and cut into bite size pieces. Add chicken, salt, pepper, and thyme to soup and heat through.

Makes 5 1/2 quarts of soup or 14 servings.

Love, Lies and Liquor by M.C. Beaton

In ten words or less: Agatha joins James on romantic holiday, complete with body on beach.

Review: Agatha Raisin has convinced herself she is better off without her ex-husband, James Lacey. After all, she has her detective agency to keep her busy, and the meetings of the Carsley Ladies' Society. When James asks her to go on holiday with him, Agatha relents. The destination is a secret, but with visions of tropical beaches and other exotic sights--James is a travel writer--she backs bathing suits and sundresses.

When they arrive in Snoth-on-Sea, Agatha is not amused. The seedy resort town, remembered fondly by James from his childhood holidays, has seen better days. The hotel is barely habitable, and Agatha quarrels with an unpleasant woman in the dining room. When the body of the quarrelsome woman is discovered on the beach, Agatha is considered a prime suspect by the local police.
Why bother? Agatha Raisin is self-centered, outspoken, and vain. If you knew a person like her in real life, you'd run the other way when she heads in your direction. She's the boss from hell. But her ability to interfere in police investigations while alienating those around her make for entertaining reading. There are twenty two books in this series to date.

The Books of August

"Resew" by Jenny Wilding Cardon features fashions made from thrift store finds, mostly women's clothing--except for a rug, a quilt, and a unisex hat, mitten and scarf set. My favorite is the diner dress, made from a top and three men's dress shirts, made to resemble the classic diner waitress uniform. It's a hard look to pull off it you're over thirty.

Blood Hina by Naomi Hirahawa
The Wave by Susan Casey
Fellowship of fear by Aaron Elkins
Lost in my own backyard: a walk in Yellowstone National Park by Tim Cahill
The killings on Jubilee Terrace by Robert Barnard
Oxmoor House Christmas gifts of good taste Betty Crocker easy everyday vegetarian 30 minute vegetarian grilling
Busy woman seeks wife by Annie Sanders
Better Homes and Gardens Christmas all through the house
Taste of Home busy family favorites Mix 'n' Match meals in minutes by Linda Gassenheimer
Mind your own beeswax by Hannah Reed
Perfect paragon by M.C. Beaton
Dying flames by Robert Barnard
Cold vengeance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Buzz off by Hannah Reed
Taste of Home almost homemade
ReSew: turn thrift store finds into fabulous designs by Jenny Wilding Cardon
All the pretty hearses by Mary Daheim
Taste of Home Potluck! I have nothing to wear by Jill Martin
Too afraid to cry: Maryland civilians in the Antietam campaign by Kathleen Ernst

Life by Keith Richards

In ten words or less: Keith Richards tells all--drugs, ex, rock 'n roll, and more drugs.

Review: That Keith Richards is still alive to tell it all is something of a marvel. The lead guitarist for the Rolling Stones has been in the business for fifty years, and even though this book is over 500 pages long, it barely scratches the surface of his life.

A good portion of the book deals with Richards' use of drugs, attempts to get clean, and brushes with the law. He spends a lot of time talking about his craft--his influences, how he writes a song, and technical details of the music. Very little is said about the other members of the band; most of it is about his falling out with Mick Jagger, but there are more pages devoted to Chuck Berry than to Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts.

His complicated personal relationships with his children and grand children are revealed without bitterness toward former lovers. There's even a recipe included--Keith Richards' own recipe for bangers and mash!

Why bother? Rolling Stones fans will find lots of eye opening, behind-the-scenes anecdotes told here. Not a narrative history of the Stones, but a look inside the mind of one of the best known rock musicians of all time. He just keeps on ticking.

Drive Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan

In ten words or less: Boston TV reporter investigates two mysteries while facing personal issues.

Review: TV investigative reporter Charlie McNally is at a crossroads. Her career is going great--so great, in fact, she has an offer to go to a New York station. She's currently working on a hot story involving the cloning of automobile vehicle numbers and the theft of air bags.
But when her fiance tells her of a suspicious death at the exclusive private school where he teaches, her instinct is to investigate. He wants her to promise not to start digging around at the school, but she can't help it. She also hasn't told him about her New York job offer. Will her private life crash and burn?

Why bother? Charlie takes on two mysteries at once, and tries to keep peace with her fiance. A page turner with an insider's view of the TV news industry, and lots of local Boston color.

SATURDAY AT THE FARMERS' MARKET

Keeping ahead of the cucumbers? Here's a quick-fix refrigerator pickle.

Lightning Pickles

6 large cucumbers, sliced
3 medium onions, sliced
3 cups sugar
3 cups cider vinegar
4 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons mustard seed

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except the cucumbers and onions. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add cucumbers and onions and mix well. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Will keep for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. Yield: about 2 1/2 quarts.