The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

I've been mulling this book over in my mind all day, trying to pinpoint exactly how I felt about it. I liked it. On the surface I liked it better than I do when I really sit and think about it. How's that for definitive?

Here's what I've decided: I liked the middle the best. The opening was fairly good, and I felt the end was a little inconsistent, but the middle is where I sat up and paid attention.

This is the story of how a four-year old girl finds herself stowed away on a ship from England bound for Australia. It skips around in time from the late 1800's to 2005. I like how Morton unfolds the story like a puzzle, not too hard for the reader to figure out, but hard enough to pique interest. That is one of the problems with the ending--suddenly the characters in the book figure out what happened, and it feels like they were miraculously given insight into the reader's mind to know some of the facts. Either that or I missed something somewhere.

Also, Frances Hodgson Burnett (she wrote The Secret Garden) appears over a few pages as a character, insinuating that Burnett was inspired for her book by the garden in the story of this book. I found that to be indulgent on Morton's part.

Bottom line: I liked the book enough to try another one that Morton wrote, The House at Riverton. We'll see how that one holds up.

What More Could a Mother Ask For?

Debra, Ray, Beth, Audrey

Color My World

Remember these?

I loved my 64 Crayola Crayons. I used them very carefully, so as to keep a point on them as long as possible - sharpening took a lot off, and I tried to preserve them as long as possible. I knew all the colors. I liked strong, vibrant colors, not the ones I considered "wimpy."

The last couple of weeks I realized I have a new favorite in the Crayola box. It has the perfect name, and it used to be one of the colors I disdained. Three weeks ago there were only bare branches in my yard. Now all the bushes are in leaf, and some of my trees have blossoms on them. I am reveling in the start of a new season, despite some late snow showers. So even though it means I will shortly be on my hands and knees, wielding my gardening tools, Spring has brought a new lift to my heart.

There it is--on the far left--my new favorite Crayola color.

Dancing for Degas by Kathryn Wagner

Written from the point of view of one of the dancers painted by Degas, this book is more about life in the Paris Opera Ballet during the late 1860s. I found it somewhat interesting, but certainly not compelling. The story line drags a little, and it was wrapped up much too conveniently at the end.

It is a work of fiction, but I was disappointed to learn in an interview with the author at the end of the book that some of the parts that I found interesting to learn about were not true: that ballerinas were all expected to become a mistress of a patron of the opera, or else be available as an "escort" if they were not. Turns out this happened sometimes, but not always. Also the parts she included to flesh out Degas' character were not true. Too bad, because I like learning a little more about real people and events in historical fiction.

Personally, rather than read this book, I would recommend either of Susan Vreeland's books, Girl in Hyacinth Blue, or The Luncheon of the Boating Party. I liked The Luncheon of the Boating Party much more than this book.

CSI: Sandy

This afternoon I investigated a homicide.

Something died in my fridge, and I had to get to the bottom of it. It turns out there was a serial killer.

I do not enjoy having my face that close to any part of my refrigerator, but its malodorous presence was seriously affecting my kitchen. I finally caved and cleaned it out today. It turns out some--well, I won't give you the gory details. It's clean, and all evidence is disposed of. Now I can stop burning candles and enter the kitchen without a clothes pin on my nose once again.

Oh happy day!

501 Must-Read Books

My friend Tamara brought this for me when she came to town last week. She knows how much I love to read and thought I would enjoy it.

The book lists 501 books that the reviewers feel are must-reads. They include the following categories: children's fiction, classic fiction, history, memoirs, modern fiction, science fiction, thrillers, and travel. There is a one page summary/review of each book.

It looks like a pretty fun resource. I've read 60 of the 501 recommended books already. That's just a tiny bit under 12%. Sometime when I've made it through the gigantic pile of books by my bed, I'll look at suggestions this book has to offer. Perhaps a couple of books in my pile might even be on this list...

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

Major Pettigrew is a widower and retired Army officer living in a small village in England. Mrs. Ali is a widow who owns a local shop. The book is about their blossoming friendship and the family and village issues they are both dealing with, tossed together with cultural differences.

I found it a delightful read. I recommend it.

Midnight

The clock strikes midnight.

The sailing ship is once again an ordinary window seat:

The swords and lasers revert back to train tracks:

The farms and bridges return to simple building blocks:

The pirate ship is back to a gently swinging hammock:

Not even a glass slipper left on the stairs:

The Hanks' have moved to Wendover. They have their own place, and it is happily ever after for them.

But this is one lonely g'ma, left alone.