Mirkwood Reflections

The Message Bible edited by Eugene Peterson - 6/2/2011  Excellent - Nonfiction Modern paraphrase of the Bible. Took me several years to read it. I really liked the fresh perspective that reading this paraphrase brought to my Scripture knowledge. Reading this took me much longer than I intended, but I am really glad I read the entire thing. How to Be Perfect by Daniel M. Harrell - 6/5/2011 Excellent - Nonfiction One church's audacious experiment in living the OT book of Leviticus This was an interesting read. Leviticus has a bad rep among Christians. This small group, all from one church including the pastor, decided to try to live Levitically for a month. I enjoyed reading it.   The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendie McClure -  6/19/2011  Excellent -  Nonfiction Wendie's lifelong obsession with the Little House books drives her to learn as much as she can about Laura Ingalls Wilder and then go on ...

Have not been doing well with updates here. Here are my summer reads. The comments in italics are my thoughts as of today, so some of the less memorable books won't be very detailed. Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon - 6/10/2010 Excellent - Historical Fiction Re-read (AUDIOBOOK) My second time reading the latest book in the Outlander series. Loved it more listening to it. But you? You must start at the beginning. Whiter Than Snow by Sandra Dallas - 6/17/2010 Good - Historical Fiction Poignant tale of children caught in an avalance in a 1920's mining town Very touching story with an interesting presentation. Each story is told independently and then woven together at the end. Loved it, though it was sad. The Burning Wire by Jeffrey Deaver - 6/22/2010 Good - Thriller Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs combat a perp killing people with electricity. Better than the last Deaver I read which seemed to be slightly soapbox-oriented. Read It and Eat by Sarah Gardner - 6/29/2010 Excelle...

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini - 06/04/09 Excellent - Fiction (999 Category: 9 and Counting) Mariam and Laila are two very different women, brought together by war and cruelty, but they forge an enduring bond. Finally finished this. Had to actually get the novel instead of finishing the audiobook, as audiobooks don't fit well into my life right now. That aside, this was WONDERFUL! Poignant, eye-opening, terrifying, hopeful, and more. I recommend it whole-heartedly, and actually several of my friends have also read it and concur with my assessment. The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde - 06/12/09 Excellent - Play (999 Category: Vintage Volumes) Jack and Algernon both pretend to be Ernest Worthing, a fictional wastrel of a younger brother, and both fall in love with women who only will marry someone named Ernest. I've read this before, but read it again for book club. It's a quick, easy, humorous read. LOVE the movie; it's one of my favorites. Wild...

Wow, can you believe it's July already? Strapless by Leigh Riker - 06/01/08 Fair - Chick Lit Darcie travels to Australia for work and meets Dylan, a handsome sexy sheep rancher. Explicit sex. I read this because it was here and I was bored and needed a light read. I don't recommend it. Vivaldi's Virgins by Barbara Quick - 06/18/08 Good - Fiction Anna Maria is a 14-year-old student of Antonio Vivaldi at the Pieta' music school & foundling home in 18th century Venice amid intrigue, lies, and amazing music. We have listened over and over to the Classical Kids audio cassette Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery which takes place at this school. Quick's book is probably a lot more realistic; it certainly is a lot more earthy. Vivaldi is a real man. The orphans sneak out, but for more risque purposes than Katarina in Ring of Mystery. But, the music! Oh, the music. Did you know Vivaldi's music was largely unknown until the 20th century? Anyway, this was a satisfying ...