Okay, Day #12 and these are just books that all made me smile. Sometimes you need a fun book - not an empty or silly book - but one that is guaranteed to show you a good time. All different flavors of comfort reading for all different ages. Enjoy!
Harriet Bean books by Alexander McCall Smith. Harriet Bean is a Harriet the Spy type who relentlessly pursues clues both large and small when on the trail of a mystery. She's funny and smart and the books are the ride shade of silly - definitely unbelievable but since everyone seems to know that, they are great fun to read. The capers are solid and Harriet's aunts are hoot - honestly and truly. You just want to hang out with her and see what might happen, because something surely will. These are like candy, girls will suck them down.
Otto Undercover books by Rhea Perlman. Okay, these are silly caper stories for the under-10 set and will mostly appeal to boys (who are clearly their target audience). One thing I've noticed is that while there are a ton of girl detective books out there for the 7-10s, there are very comparable titles for boys. Otto races cars, has parents are off on a secret mission (sort of) and he has bad guys to battle through each of the current four titles. The hook is palindromesand other word play along with bad jokes and that kind of thing. Many adult reviewers might find these titles too silly but find an 8 year old boy and he'll love them - which is the point, after all.
Boy Proof by Cecil Casteullucci. I really liked Cecil's last book, The Queen of Cool, also but Boy Proof speaks to my Sci Fi loving heart. Egg is the perfect kind of confused teenage heroine and her sincere need to find her way will speak to every equally confused young girl. She's so smart - so damn smart - that I fell madly in love with her. Cecil is a first class writer and I am an avid fan of her work. Egg is the girl I needed to read about when I was 14; I'm so glad that she finally showed up to hold my hand now that I'm 38.
Operation Red Jericho by Joshua Mowll. This excellent adventure (and its sequel Operation Typhoon Shore) follow the discovery in 2002 of documents that reveal the exploits of brother and sister Becca and Doug MacKenzie who were on a dangerous and exciting search for their parents in the 1920s. Jericho seemed like the best kind of 1930s movie to me - intrigue, mystery, inventions that defy time and description, bad guys who are really bad but in the most basic way (less sound effects, more bullets). There's an ancient order to save the world and serious evil determined to take it over. With the great illustrations, maps and drawings I found both books to be compulsively readable. Great for both sexes but really good choices for reluctant male readers.
The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch. I wrote a long adoring review of this book (combined with author interview) last December. It works for teens and adults and is startling in its wonderful look at a young man's life and marine discoveries in Puget Sound. This is just a beautifully written, elegant little book. I adored it and Lynch has impressed me to no end.
The New House by Lettice Cooper. Oh, how I love Persephone Books. This domestic story, first publsihed in 1936, is about one family and the day they move - the day they downsize. It follows a domineering mother, two daughters, one son and one daughter-in-law and all the many issues they have been dragging around for decades. Everyone has hopes and disappointments to bring along with them which result in this being one of the best books about family drama that I have ever read. It's only one day - ONE DAY - but there's a lifetime of reading in here. Just wonderful - like everything at Persephone.
House by Michael Ruhlman. This is one of those quiet memoirs that is such a joy to read but seems to remain undeservedly under the reading radar. It follows journalist Ruhlman and his wife after the purchase of a 100 year old home in the suburbs of Cleveland. Renovations ensue, delays are frequent, stuff goes wrong and in the midst of his own personal "Mr. Blandings" moment, Ruhlman writes about the history of his area, the definition of home, and his life and love. It's a bit of a wonder, and a joy to read and a great choice for long winter nights.
