A Bookish Life In AK

Welcome back! It has been a busy two weeks here on the island. It’s been warming up and all the snow is melting. My garden starts are popping up and are ready to go into my raised beds in the greenhouse. Some of my flowers and herbs need more time indoors before the come outside. My wonderful husband is building us a hydroponics system as well. I need to get the rest of my dahlias into pots to jumpstart them.

I have finished 2 books in the past 2 weeks, Elizabeth Peter’s “The Snake, The Crocodile, And The Dog” and an Advanced Reader Copy of Allison Gygi”s “Champion of Her Heart”.

“The Snake, The Crocodile and The Dog” by Elizabeth Peter’s is the second book by Elizabeth Peters that I have read. I love Peters’ main character, Amelia Peabody and her whole family, her husband Emerson and their very precocious son, Ramses. Emerson and Amelia are expert Egyptologists in 1889-90. Amelia is a fierce believer in women can do whatever they set their minds to do type of person. Emerson and Amelia set off for Egypt and leave Ramses and a young lady they have adopted on their last trip with Emerson’s family for this expedition. They run into trouble, there is a kidnapping and of course troubles back home with Ramses. Amelia is a very headstrong person and is always rushing into danger and usually ends up needing help, although she is very capable assistant when called upon. She is also very dependable and resourceful, which comes own handy in this story. There are spies, Egyptian stories, which is where the title comes from, and a truly great villain. Even the settings of Amarna and Luxor are described so well that they almost feel like characters themselves. If you like mysteries in historical places and times, I highly recommend any of Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody Mystery series, all of which can stand alone, you quickly catch on to who’s who.

“Champion Of Her Heart” by Allison Gygi is a sweet romance novel. Mitch is a former Junior Champion volleyball player and Mackenzie is a gymnast who had a chance for a World title before an accident. They both have past traumas that they are dealing with and both are very unsure of how to proceed in their futures. Mackenzie is being pushed to succeed at all costs by her mother, and Mitch has been given a chance to play for the Global Elites, once a dream of his and a former teammate. There is miscommunications and distrust on both sides. It was a sweet book. I enjoyed it for what I like to call brain candy. You know, something that a you really don’t have to think to hard about and keep things straight to understand what is going on. It was good, and if you want or like a cute Hallmark-ish type book, this is perfect.

Since I finished these, I have started Poul Anderson’s “Orion Shall Rise”. Definitely not brain candy. I think I will have to keep a notebook about who is who and what s happening where. It is a Dystopian Science Fiction. I do love my science fiction. I will keep you guys updated on it, it may take me a little while to read it. There is a feudal system set in the future after several wars have devastated the Earths resources. There is a Space Station type setting that is attached to Earth where senior officers, leaders and scientists work to maintain what is left.

Speaking of science fiction, our library has started having “Fan-Con” this past year. It was well done. Well, I mentioned something about a Science Fiction timeline I did for my American Lit college class. They asked if I wanted to be on the board for the next :Fan-Con.” Of course I said yes. So I am going to lead a panel on Women in Science Fiction or Science Fiction through time, and Dr. Who. (Tom Baker and David Tennet are my favorite Dr.’s:-))

Tell me in the comments what you’re reading and if you’re a Star Trek, Star Wars ar a Dr. Who fan?

Books mentioned:

“Champion Of Her Heart” Allison Gygi

“The Snake, The Crocodile and The Dog” Elizabeth Peters

“Orion Shall Rise” Poul Anderson