books

Picture Book Reviews: Claris the Chicest Mouse in Paris, and Fashion Show Fiasco

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Claris by Megan Hess

Claris: The Chicest Mouse in Paris
by Megan Hess

5 out of 5 stars

Claris dreams about moving to Paris, and she takes a leap of faith to make her dreams come true. She meets a mean cat in Paris, and has to use all her fashion wiles and personal compassion to win the day.

I just adore Claris! She is such a sweet and lovely little mouse. I love stories about mice anyway, but this little mouse takes the cake. I love all her pretty clothes. She is the epitome of elegance and refinement, but with a heart of compassion and humility.

Claris by Megan Hess

Claris: Fashion Show Fiasco
by Megan Hess

5 out of 5 stars

Claris and Monsieur Cat have to return a lost invitation to Fashion Week’s greatest show. They go on an adventure across half of Paris to track down the fashionista who has lost their important invitation.

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Book Review: Maylie and the Maze

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Maylie and the Maze by M.L. Tarpley

Maylie and the Maze (Tales of a Travel Girl #1)
by M.L. Tarpley , Monica Bruenjes 

3 out of 5 stars
Maylie is finding it difficult to write a story, any story. She has plenty of ideas, but keeps second-guessing herself when she starts to write. Hoping to find inspiration, she goes on a trip to London with her aunt, her grandmother, and her twin brother, Camden.

Maylie is a great character. I liked being inside her head and seeing all her fears and anxieties, and how she manages to overcome those things. I liked Aunt Layla because she is always encouraging and inspiring. Camden got on my nerves (just like he is supposed to) as the annoying brother character, but I could also see hidden depths in his personality reminding me that he is more than just an immature class clown. There is some good character development for both Maylie and Camden.

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Classic Book Review: Shirley

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Shirley by Charlotte Brontë

Shirley
by Charlotte Brontë, Lucasta Miller (Introduction), Jessica Cox (Editor)
5 out of 5 stars

Caroline and Shirley are dear friends, but their friendship is tested when they both appear to have fallen in love with the same man. They never speak of it, but they each suffer alone with their hearts in anguish until the truth can be known.
Robert Moore, a mill owner, is threatened by his ex-employees when he brings in new machinery to replace their jobs. A riot ensues and the mill is attacked. Robert must act swiftly and decidedly to save his business in the face of violence, but he leaves no room in his heart to show compassion to the poor. He struggles to find a balance between charity and justice.

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Non Fiction Book Review: Storey’s Basic Country Skills

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Storey's Basic Country Skills by M. John Storey

Storey’s Basic Country Skills: A Practical Guide to Self-Reliance
by M. John Storey
5 out of 5 stars

This book has everything you need to know about living in the country, and some things that city folks could learn about too.

There are sections about repairing your home, cultivating your garden, cooking in the country kitchen, and caring for your barn, livestock, and fields. Those sections are divided into smaller chapters with detailed information about installing windows and plumbing, cleaning rugs, harvesting vegetables, composting, keeping rabbits out of your garden, how to build a shed, how to keep chickens and dairy cows, and how to butcher your own meat and freeze it properly. These are only a few of the things included; there are dozens more with excellent advice and instructions.

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Non Fiction Book Review: Prepping 101

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Prepping 101 by Kathy Harrison

Prepping 101: 40 Steps You Can Take to Be Prepared: Protect Your Family, Prepare for Weather Disasters, and Be Ready and Resilient when Emergencies Arise
by Kathy Harrison
5 out of 5 stars

This book gives instructions for how to prepare your family to survive an emergency situation. There are sections for:
Calculating how much water and food your family will need during an emergency.
How to plant your own garden, and store and cook the food you grow.
How to handle garbage, laundry, and sanitation in an emergency.
Protecting your electronics and having enough batteries.
Making an evacuation plan, or creating a safe room.
Talking to your children about emergency preparedness.
Survival tips on staying warm or cool in extreme weather.
AND a dozen other things that are helpful for not just surviving an emergency, but handling it with poise and intelligence.

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Non Fiction Book Review: The Stupidest Sports Book of All Time

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The Stupidest Sports Book of All Time by Kathryn Petras

The Stupidest Sports Book of All Time
by Kathryn Petras , Ross Petras 
5 out of 5 stars

The book details the weirdest, craziest, and most insane things to happen in the history of sports. There are strange injuries, dumb quotes, and the worst bloopers on the field. There is a whole section devoted to the weird superstitions that players have, from eating the same thing before every game to wearing the same shorts (unwashed). And it’s not just limited to pro sports; there are also high school and college stats, as well as international oddities from around the world.

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