The Aquinas Prayer Book: The Prayers and Hymns of St. Thomas Aquinas is by St. Thomas Aquinas. A must read for all Christians, whether you are Catholic or not. The simple prayers of this pious man are inspirational and moving. The original Latin versions are given with a side-by-side English translation. This book is small, easy to carry with you, and well worth perusing - again and again. A Reader's Corner Highly Recommended Read.
Ratings: 8th grade - 10 out of 10.
The God of the Woods is by Liz Moore. A multiple award winning realistic fiction thriller. When the teenage daughter of a wealthy family disappears from the same summer camp her brother disappeared from years before, wheels are set in motion that will unravel deep dark family secrets. Barbara's disappearance triggers a panicked search, and as we follow a female detective's drive to find Barbara we learn more about the family, the community, and the disappearance of Barbara's brother. The ending was not really surprising, but the unraveling of the mystery was convoluted and intense. Another well written book by Moore.
Ratings: Adult - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity) - AC (mature thematic content).
Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health is by Casey and Calley Means. A nonfiction look at health, diet, and general wellbeing. An interesting and thought provoking book. There are some practices advocated that I find problematic, but the general diet and metabolism information provided was well worth the read and something I will continue to think about.
Ratings: Adult - 7 out of ten.
The President and the Freedom Fighter: Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass and the Battle to Save America's Soul is by Brian Kilmeade. A nonfiction look at the Civil War and two men who respected each other even if they didn't always agree. The book follows Lincoln from his humble beginnings to his assassination. It also follows Frederick Douglass and his rise from slavery to fame. The two great men did not always have the same views, but they greatly respected each other. A readable history.
Ratings: 8th grade - 7 out of 10.
Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers: The Texas Battle That Changed American History is by Brian Kilmeade. A nonfiction look at the Father of Texas. The book follows Houston from his birth through his battle for Texas Independence and its aftermath. Kilmeade also covers the battle of the Alamo and those who defended it in depth. A short and very readable history.
Ratings: 8th grade - 7 out of 10.
Douglas Macarthur: American Warrior is by Arthur Herman. An extensive biography of one of America's greatest generals. This book is long and dense, but extremely informative and not that hard to get through. Herman takes us from Macarthur's childhood through his 50+ years in the military, including three major wars. Some of his predictions are uncannily accurate when you look at the world today. An extremely interesting look at man I didn't know that much about. I should have paid more attention in school, if we were even taught about this great man - and we should have been.
Ratings: Adult - 8 out of 10.
Deep Waters: Murder on the Waves is edited by Martin Edwards. A collection of Golden Age mystery short stories by a variety of authors. Many of these stories were by authors I didn't know and am now exploring further, although some were by the usual suspects such as Arthur Conan Doyle, C. S. Forster, and Edmund Crispin. All of the stories are set on or near the water. Not my favorite in the British Crime Classic series, but I did enjoy it very much.
Ratings: 9th grade - 7 out of 10.
Rings, Swords, and Monsters: Exploring Fantasy Literature is by Michael D. C. Drout. Part of the Modern Scholar lecture series. This was an interesting look at fantasy, it's origins, and the authors who brought it to it's modern form. The lectures discuss Tolkien, Lewis, Macdonald, and even J.K. Rowling. Well worth a listen and not very long.
Ratings: 8th grade - 8 out of 10.
The Christmas Candle Murders is by Benedict Brown. The fifteenth in the Lord Edgington series. Chrissy goes home to spend Christmas with his parents, brother, and other family. Finally, a Christmas with no murders, but wait... After several mysterious deaths in the village, Lord Edgington and Chrissy must once again save the day and solve the mystery. Fans of the series will thoroughly enjoy this installment as well. The depiction of Chrissy's grandmother and her family is hysterical, and that of the villagers with all their foibles is delightful.
Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10.
