The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

I recently read this for my book club. I really liked it and we had a pretty good discussion on the book.

This is the story of Sarah Grimke and Hetty. Sarah is a young woman raised in Charleston, South Carolina, and Hetty is given to her as a slave when Sarah is eleven years old.

The book chronicles their lives. I hate to tell much more about it, because I don't want to give it away. I will say this much: Sarah Grimke was a real person. I wish I'd known that from the very beginning. The notes at the end tell more about her--they give away the story, so don't read them until the end.  Hetty is a conglomeration of various people.

Kidd does a fine job of moving the story along through the years, and weaving two stories that are connected yet individual very well. I like her writing.

Season of Storms by Susanna Kearsley

They say you should never judge a book by its cover, and I've learned that lesson over the years. But still--I just love the artwork on these Susanna Kearsley covers. I have to admit I would pick them up unknown, just because of the covers.

This is a re-release of an earlier book that Kearsley wrote, and I liked it. It isn't like her other books. It's about a young actress to travels to Italy to perform in a play. The books chapter headings are set up like the acts and scenes in a play.

I liked it a lot. And if you've read any of her other books, I think you'll like this book. If you haven't read any of her other books, the stop what you are doing right now and get one and begin reading. That's how much I like her books.

Miss Julia Strikes Back by Ann B. Ross

I've read many Miss Julia books. It's been a while since I've read any, and quite frankly I'd forgotten about them. Somewhere I saw this one and picked it up. These are light books--diverting, I would say. It made me giggle in places.

If you're looking for something that's not too complicated, but is still entertaining, these are good books. I recommend reading them in order.

The Wily O'Reilly by Patrick Taylor

I have really enjoyed Patrick Taylor's Irish Country Doctor series. This book is a compilation of the magazine articles that Patrick Taylor wrote that first featured Doctor O'Reilly. I enjoyed reading this. It's different than the novels - it really is just the articles he wrote. But I liked it as well as the novels.

An Impartial Witness by Charles Todd

This is the second book in the Bess Crawford series.I'm liking these books quite a lot. If you're a mystery book lover, I think you'll enjoy these.

A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd

I recently discovered another mystery series. This one is by Charles Todd, and is the Bess Crawford series.

The first book in the series is A Duty to the Dead. It takes place during World War I, and Bess is a nurse for the British army.

Some other mystery writer that I enjoy recommended this series. I can't remember who it was. But I thought the book was a winner, and I will read more in this series.

The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin

The full title of this book is The Bully Pulpit Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism. And that is exactly what it is about.

I'm always amazed by Doris Kearns Goodwin's books. She manages to take tons of information that could be very dry, and makes it very interesting as well as informative. So far I haven't met a book of hers that I didn't like. At about 800 pages this book could be formidable, but I couldn't wait to get back to it every time I had to stop reading.

I sort of have a thing for Teddy Roosevelt, and I've read several books about him, and even a biography of his second wife, Edith Carow Roosevelt. I also have admired Taft. It was very fun to read about both of them in this book. I feel like I need to learn more about Taft now.

I really liked the way she kept the three strings of "characters" going and well meshed together. I am always fascinated to realize that politics really doesn't change that much over the years.