Review: The Noticer

The Noticer by Andy Andrews

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This book makes some good points but is a little too transparent as a self-help, follow-these-steps-and-your-life-will-be-wonderful kind of book. Overall I like the message.



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Review: The Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This book was a nice little quick read. It really makes you think twice about how your life has an effect on those around you.



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Review: Sams Teach Yourself Google SketchUp 8 in 10 Minutes

Sams Teach Yourself Google SketchUp 8 in 10 Minutes by Steven Holzner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I was a bit sceptical but you really can do a lesson in 10 minutes. Okay, so you can't learn the entire program in 10 minutes but it is a great jump start to learning the program. Don't have a lot of time? This is the book for you!



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Review: Google SketchUp 8 For Dummies

Google SketchUp 8 For Dummies by Aidan Chopra

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Okay, I admit it. I am a Dummies fan. I like the way after you read one Dummies book, you know how to locate information in them all. This one is no different. I started learning SketchUp with Learn SketchUp 8 in 10 Minutes but I found, when I needed extra help, information was easily located in this one. It's a keeper. Nuff said...



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Review: Faking It

Faking It by Jennifer Crusie

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Faking It is a fun summer read. From Gwen, the bored matriarch, to Nadine, the career shopping granddaughter, the Goodnights all have their quirks. Tilda is the daughter that keeps everything pulled together at her own expense. Her exploits range from painting murals styled on the old masters to keep the family afloat to stealing faked art work that was accidentally sold to keep the family name out of the newspapers. Her adventures are hilarious and keep you turning the pages with delight. This enjoyable summer read is mired in the art world and keeps you laughing with all the antics of the Goodnight family. This story may be fluffy but is well written and keeps you enthralled with all the twists and turns of a light suspenseful mystery. Enjoy! (And let's hope for a sequel!)Jennifer Crusie



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Review: The Postmistress

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Great story but very intense. Not a light summer read. I really felt the disconnect between what was actually going on in Europe and the oblivion of the Americans before we were actually sending our boys into the front lines.

The main story though was the treatment of the Jews during World War II. The Jews were quietly being driven from Europe. The Germans began moving Jews and wanted no coverage from the media. Censors examined every script before radio reporters began reading the news and simply cut them from the air if the reporter deviated from the script. It was a very dangerous time for the media in Europe and the story took much longer to get out than it should have taken. Also, the atrocities that were taking place were not believed because the public didn't think things like killing Jews because of their religion could happen in civilized countries.

The three different storylines converged neatly and plausibly. I was hoping for more of a happy ending but the story was very powerful and stories based on history can't always be tied up neatly in a little gift wrapped package. I highly recommend reading The Postmistress by Sarah Blake.



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Review: The Last Song

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I had stayed away from Nicholas Sparks for a few years. I left like he had gotten into a romance/cry through the last few chapters kind of rut. I decided to give him another chance and I am glad I did. This book does have a tale of young love but it is intertwined with a parent/child love and a "coming of age" story. Yes, I did cry through the last few chapters but the story was so meaningful in a personal way that it didn't feel trite. If you haven't tried Nicholas Sparks in a while, try him again with The Last Song. I enjoyed it and maybe you will too.



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Review: Reinventing Project-Based Learning: Your Field Guide to Real-World Projects in the Digital Age

Reinventing Project-Based Learning: Your Field Guide to Real-World Projects in the Digital Age by Suzie Boss; Jane Krauss

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


You think you know project-based learning until you read this book. This book was a great review of what you already knew and really made you think about the details of a great project. A lot of planning goes into a fantastic project and it pays off with the quality of the kids work. Reinventing Project-Based Learning will get you started if you are new to project-based learning, brush you up if you are rusty, or help you fine-tune your projects. You really can't go wrong no matter what stage you are at with project-based learning. I heartily recommend it!



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Review: White Apples

White Apples by Jonathan Carroll

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this book! Vincent is a character that I didn't really like at the beginning of the story. He is a smooth operator with the women - but he really seems to love them all in the moment. Vincent is divorced with two children. He left his wife for his great love Isabelle. Isabelle disappears soon after Vincent leaves his wife and he is bewildered. The story is woven around Vincent losing his life and coming back. Then he is reunited with Isabelle and things just get more and more surreal.

This author is compared with Phillip K. Dick and Neil Gaiman. If you like science fiction on the very edge of believability, you will enjoy Carroll. I will definitely be looking up more of Jonathan Carroll's work.

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Review: Somebody Else's Daughter

Somebody Else's Daughter by Elizabeth Brundage

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


First, I would like to say that I think Elizabeth Brundage is an excellent writer. The story was riveting and I was thoroughly engrossed. I could hardly put it down.

Now my complaint - I had a problem with the beginning and ending of the story. At the beginning, I was very confused about which child was the adopted girl. I think so many characters were introduced so quickly that it took me a bit of time to figure them all out. Also, the story ended very quickly. I didn't think that Willa would have gone with Heath after what he had done to her. I also didn't think that Jack and Nate would have found her so quickly. After such a riveting tale, the ending seemed implausible. When a story ends so quickly, I tend to think the editor said, "shorten the book by fifteen pages".

All in all, Brundage's excellent writing overcomes the small shortfalls of the storyline. I definitely recommend this book.



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Review: Mid-century Modern Dinnerware: A Pictorial Guide, Redwing to Winfield

Mid-century Modern Dinnerware: A Pictorial Guide, Redwing to Winfield by Michael E. Pratt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Excellent reference for Mid-Century Dinnerware. Read and re-read many times.



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Review: Mid-Century Modern Dinnerware

Mid-Century Modern Dinnerware by Michael Pratt

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Excellent resource for Mid-Century Dinnerware.



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