Sarah and the Lost Friendship by Margaret Epp

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but when I wanted to share this book with my niece, instead of just shipping it to her, I bought a copy. (It's out of print, but I found a used one in good condition.) I couldn't bear to part with it because I enjoyed it so much as a child.

This book has a lot in common with The Little House on the Prairie Series and Anne of Green Gables. (At some point, I have no doubt I'll be discussing them, but this is a book that didn't have the popularity and might have gone unnoticed.)

The story is about a ten year old girl in 1926 when people still had milk delivered and rode horse and buggies. The theme centers around a fight Sarah has with her best friend.  Sarah's sister marries her best friend's brother and now Sarah feels jealous.

I've always loved stories where the heroine has an injury or falls ill and that happens in this book. She feels sick to start but it gets worse as she is milking the cow. I think that's probably the reason I like Sarah and the Lost Friendship so much. Please note, the book does reference Christian beliefs and values, but the storyline is intact. If you have a young reader who enjoys the horse and buggy days, Sarah and the Lost Friendship is a great choice.

Until I Die Again by Jaime Rush/Tina Wainscott

(I'm actually reviewing On the Way to Heaven re-released as Until I Die Again by Jaime Rush/Tina Wainscott)

This is the single best romance that I have ever read.  And I’ve read A LOT!  This has every element of a successful love story with a beloved hero and heroine moving in different directions and lots of tension, but there is the added element of intrigue and danger, not to mention the touch of paranormal that makes this book soar into the stratosphere.

Tina Wainscott was ahead of her time with this release.  A Golden Heart Award winner, Wainscott should have hit New York Times bestseller list with On the Way to Heaven.  It’s just that good.

The book opens with the heroine Chris Copestakes driving across a bridge when a semi blocks her way, driving her off the road and plunging her down. She hears voices in the emergency room, blanks out again and then is drifting up and away.  She argues that she hasn’t done enough, that there are still things she wants to do. She is given a second chance, but her old body is broken.  The last thing the voice tells her is to ‘find his heart’.

The opening is powerful enough, but the rest of the story is a  rocket-ride to the finish. The story has enough emotional hooks that I have re-read it at least three times. (Tina Wainscott is another author that I will only read on weekends to preserve my sleep schedule.)

This is a ‘desert island’ book.  If I could only take one romance with me, this would be it.

Reviewer’s Note:

(I own the original version On the Way to Heaven and do not know the difference in the releases, having only read the original. I’ve read most of Wainscott/Rush’s books and trust the re-release to be just as good.)

 Ebook Version           Print Version

All I Really Need to Know I learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum

It's been almost two decades since All I Really Need to Know came out. For that upcoming generation who might have missed it (or those of you older folks who somehow managed to pass it by), All I Really Need to Know is a humorous look at life with all of its foibles and follies.

Sometimes editors and agents will talk about an author's 'voice' or style. I believe that Robert Fulghum's greatest gift is that voice. He draws you into his book with a storyteller's invitation and warms you in the laughter of his words.   His humor, sometimes self-deprecating, has a truth that seems to ring in a person's soul with clarity and conviction and of course, chuckling. 

I've picked up more than a few so-called funny books with authors who are ready to show the world their version of truth.  A few I found dark or crass and well, not terribly funny. Some just seemed to blather on without anything to say.  But Fulghum is funny and his humor is intelligent. When he ventures into dark places, he brings a nightlight and a teddy bear (or at least a singing bird), and he makes a person feel better for having read his work.

And that's really something.  So for those of you who missed it, I strongly recommend with my biggest blogger stamp of approval, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.

How Much for Just the Planet? By John M. Ford

It’s almost embarrassing to admit, but somewhere in my dark history I was once a trekkie, and I have the books to prove it! There were some decent writers in the Trek universe back in the day (maybe still are, but I’ve moved on since).

I enjoyed The Great Starship Race by Diane Carey and may even write about that one in a few years when I’m ready to mention my 2nd favorite Star Trek book. But for now, let’s talk about the best. How Much for Just the Planet? What I love about this book is the humor. It’s just funny. It has a vaudeville tongue-in-cheek type of appeal that had me actually laughing. And let me tell you, there are only a few books that I’ve had that kind of reaction to, and I read a few books a week.

As usual, the Federation needs dilithium crystals. And an abundance is found on a tiny out-of-the-way planet which, surprise, the Klingons have found as well. Now the fun begins. Because the two groups are ready to compete for the lucre. What they don’t realize is that the people of Direidi are full of pranks and will lead them all on a merry chase.

It’s true that only a Trek fan will really understand the nuances, but if you’ve ever loved Star Trek and missed this book, it’s well-worth the read. (Even if the show looks totally cheesy in retrospect…and I’m sorry to say it does.)

The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon

Several years back a friend told me about this book urgently suggesting I read it.  I'm easily turned off by strange words in both titles and first paragraphs and while I wrote down the title, I didn't jump all over finding it.  Well, I was lucky my friend was persistent (with the urgency of a Firefly fan) because I eventually picked it up at the library.  And then, I loved it so much, I bought my own copy. And then for good measure, I bought a couple copies for family members.

What makes The Deed of Paksenarrion so great?  In my opinion, it is the ONLY novel to ever give J.R.R. Tolkien a run for his money in the fantasy genre.  It doesn't have the "Bestseller" moniker printed across the cover, so I can only assume that people saw the title and said 'meh'. Don't let the title fool you, it is an epic fantasy so vivid and detailed and huge in scope that it is truly worthy to be compared to the master of fantasy himself.

The novel follows the story of a young woman, Paks who is betrothed to a pig farmer. She has other ideas and runs away from home to join a mercenary company. But her longing is to be greater than a mercenary and to fight for good the way the heroes of her grandfather's time did takes her down a path no one would expect.

What begins as a soldier's story quickly evolves into an epic tale of good and evil, right and wrong, as Paks leaves the mercenary company and shows gifts that may indicate she has been chosen by the gods for some purpose. As with all great books, Elizabeth Moon gives Paks some crushing defeats and major disappointments. Those painful moments define her character and make the moments of victory so much the sweeter.

Moon deftly weaves the story of Paks and brings a rich tapestry of event and emotion to the story.  The story seems larger than its genre to me. I believe that it would be enjoyable to some who don't regularly read fantasy in the same way that The Lord of the Rings is.

You'll hear me say on this blog. "This is a book I've re-read."  When I say that  it shows a truly special story because with the thousands of books left to read, I only revisit the very best, the ones that have tugged on my heart or my imagination. So far, I'm up to at least four readings of The Deed of Paksenarrion. I consider it a top ten in favorite books.





 

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (Free on Kindle)

The Picture of Dorian Gray is a classic that stands on its own in terms of entertainment value and thought.  I hadn't actually read the book until a group of fellow writers got together and we started talking about books.   When we had finished, I had a list of thirty books with this classic on the list. And it is a wonderful book. 

The novel follows an aristocratic fellow whose name is Dorian Gray.  He is a vibrant, youthful fellow who exudes charm and grace.   After his portrait is painted, we follow Dorian's path through life.  He debauches himself and lives only for personal pleasure.  No matter what excesses he indulges in, he remains the same beautiful person he always had been, charming and youthful.

But his picture changes.  As time passes, the painting begins to reflect the evils he has committed, showing Dorian's true nature on the canvas. 

While The Picture of Dorian Gray is a classic, it is an interesting read and well worth picking up.  I noticed that there is a free Kindle version available...


****Free Kindle Version**** (at time of blog posting)
Paperback version

The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey

Some of the books in McCaffrey’s Pern novels are hit or miss. I absolutely love the second and third in the series, Dragonquest and The White Dragon.  Let me give you a warning up front.  DO NOT START WITH THE PROLOGUE.  Yes, it’s at the front of the book, but quite frankly, it’s boring and unnecessary and enough to drive a reader far far from the books.  Just read the whole series and skip to the first chapter of each book when you see the words “Prologue”.  And if you’re browsing the “Look inside This Book” part of Amazon, let me tell you, the first chapter is MUCH better than the summary, so just go there to get a sample.

The Dragon books (and there are a lot) are centered around a planet called Pern where parasitic thread falls from the sky and where it touches, it burrows into the ground destroying everything in its path.  The dragons chew firestone and destroy the thread with flame. They are telepathically bonded to their riders and if a rider loses a dragon, it’s like losing a part of himself.

The premise is interesting and the story-telling exquisite.  My favorite characters, Jaxom and Ruth, start a very interesting storyline in Dragonquest, when Jaxom is on the hatching grounds and sees an egg that isn’t cracking.  Everyone else is leaving and ignoring the hatchling as a lost cause. Against all rules of conduct and expectation, Jaxom jumps into the pit and breaks the egg so the little dragon can come out.

Ruth, a male dragon, becomes bonded to Jaxom, but he is unique, half the size of a normal dragon and white. The dragon is not expected to survive.  The plot is complex enough that this telling is just one tiny piece of the book.  I also love the character Brekke and her part in Dragonquest.  

If you’re looking for a master of fantasy and somehow missed the Pern series, The Dragonriders of Pern are a great read!