Reviews

Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson, author of "Three Cups of Tea" is the most inspiring and entertaining book I have read in a long while - probably since I read "Three Cups of Tea" a few years ago.

 The first volume of the series serves as an introduction to the character, world, difficulties, and companions of Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist.

Christopher’s goal is “to become a spy or at least a spyish-type figure”. Therefore, he is quite happy to accept a part-time summer job in a hospital morgue and hopes to learn something about forensic pathology before starting college. He expects an easy job.

This little paperback was full colorful and creative fantasy short stories that have a twist of mystery and humor. There is a story of magical murder by Donna Andrews.  Simon Green has a short story from, "the Nightside, Needless to say", where death comes to visit.  Mystery of a fantasy story includes bad guys and magic. Mike Doogan clever fantasy about alien delegates and Federated Plates Corps Diplomatique who shout out famous bad guy names instead of cussing. Overall the book was full of humor and mystery and it makes for a great short story read.

This book I love. Julian Barnes is an author of essays and works of fiction, most recently his novel, Arthur and George. In this memoir, Barnes explores his thoughts on religion and death, more specifically fear of death. He muses on his parents life and death with open eyes, devoid of the maudlin adoration often bestowed on family memories.

“Life is a work in progress” and Joan Anderson’s autobiography A Year by the Sea: Thoughts of an Unfinished Life encourages us to take time to reflect.

Cathy Ferris is sitting at her lunch table with her friends minding her own business when all of a sudden another student, Tommy, approaches her calling her by the name Murielle and insisting that she is his lost cousin.

The murder of Professor Kellen Zant, an African American, sets off the plot for this story set in a prestigious New England university. The deceased was a former lover of the university president’s wife, Julia Carlyle.

Even though my kids are well into their teenage years, I really enjoyed listening to this audio book that promotes a new less-stressed parenting style that may well lead to more confident and certainly happier children. Lenore Skenazy got alot of negative press a few years back for allowing her 10 year old son to use the NY subway to travel to a friends home alone.