Playing Catch Up

Much of the month of March was devoted to helping organize an Authors Dinner at the state conference for librarians held in Topeka from April 11-13 (material for future entry). Yes, I did read books but did not record them so I'm relying on my rather faulty memory in order to list them.

Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy was a bit different from her earlier works. I'm a fan but to be honest, this one didn't live up to her other books for me. Don't get me wrong--the writing was good but I didn't care for the contrived (or so it seemed to me) style. I prefer a straightforward, flowing plot, not the individualized stories that became tied together. Took too much concentration for me to keep everyone straight & remember how the characters intersected. And, quite frankly, the story of progress vs. preservation would have made a more compelling story for me than every one's problems.

Edge of Midnight by Charlene Weir was one of those titles I was looking forward to settling down with (& it took me one Saturday to get through it). So few books are set in Kansas & the earlier books in the Susan Wren series have been quite enjoyable. And this one had a good plot, interesting characters, & I was going along when suddenly, Weir made a fatal error--she placed Kansas librarians in a bad light! I had previously forgiven her for a couple of glaring errors in relating small-town Kansas life but this turn of events (which most non-librarians would never even notice) did it in for me. Yes, I wrote the author with my complaints. And heard back from her, with a very nice mea culpa. So I will recommend this book with reservations. And tell you that librarians will not give our personal information over the phone.

Robbing the Bees by Holley Bishop may not have actually changed my life but oh, how I enjoyed this book. And it's non-fiction, which I rarely read! This little gem was packed full of bee lore, history, and facts that boggled my mind. I've talked with Dave my beekeeping friend & I hope his bees don't encounter Colony Collapse Disorder because I really, really want to see how he robs his bees next fall. I'll even wear the little veiled hat to avoid anaphylactic shock (that would be a bit embarrassing).

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear was a title I picked up from Fiction_L and it's a winner. And fortunately the first in a series (the library also has Book 3, Pardonable Lies, and will soon have books 2 & 4 in the collection, too) so I have more reading to look forward to from this talented author (in fact, I just finished Pardonable Lies on my lunch hour today). I highly recommend it.

And although this was an April read, I must include it rather than forget it altogether--Recipe for Bees by Gail Anderson-Dargatz. I picked it up for the sole reason that it was a novel with a beekeeper in it. It's not a bad book but the title is deceptive. Not that much beekeeping in it--and certainly not as compelling as Secret Life of Bees. But I've read worse (what a resounding endorsement!)

On the bookshelf awaiting me: Camel Bookmobile by Masha Hamilton & Richard Russo's Straight Man (a recommendation from old friend Scott Aubrey who assures me I'll enjoy it since I like Jon Hassler. We'll see)