Aug 10-16, 2014

Take the Monkeys and Run by Karen Cantwell - there are mysterious goings on at the empty house next to Barbara Marrs. Trying to do something to occupy herself after her husband suddenly leaves her, she decides to investigate. A free kindle book.

3 stars
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Cruising Panama's Canal by Al and Sunny Lockwood - I thought this would be more of a description of going through the canal than it was. It focused more on the ship itself. And Mr. Lockwood mostly described the desserts. I didn't find him as funny as he did.

2 stars
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A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby - in the 1950's, the author and a friend decide to go to the Nuristani region of Afghanistan and attempt to climb a mountain there. Without any experience. The description of their 4 days of mountain climbing training in Wales is amusing. But the story of the actual trek is rather tedious much like the actual trip. From a 2014 perspective, the treatment of the natives by the English duo seems appalling.

2 stars
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Blade of the Sumurai by Susan Spann - the shogun's cousin has been killed and Hiro's friend is suspected. Hiro and Father Mateo are asked to investigate. The implication is that they will be killed if the murderer is not found.

3 stars
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Stronger by Jeff Bauman with Brett Witter - Jeff is one of the survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing, he lost both his legs. He seems brutally honest about his family, who seem dysfunctional at best but always there for him. He also seems quite honest about the struggle to maintain a positive attitude and learn to walk using his new prosthetics.

4 stars
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The Return of the Portable Curmudgeon by Jon Winokur - I probably enjoyed this because I am one. A collection of quotes and a few essays and interviews by renowned curmudgeons. I skimmed some of the interviews because they were a little too mean spirited for me. As with anything, the humor is only funny if you agree with it.

3 stars
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Glitter and Glue by Kelly Corrigan - it wasn't until Kelly found herself stranded in Australia and took a job as a nanny that she began to appreciate her mother. The lessons she learned in a house reeling from the loss of their wife and mother led her to reevaluate their relationship.

4 stars