The Worst Hard Time, 35/81, 2nd Round

The Worst Hard Time, by Timothy Egan, non-fiction category

Having lived in Oklahoma during my high school years and traveled across the state often on my way to visit grandparents, I have seen a lot of the country covered in this heartbreaking story of the Dust Bowl. That may be one of the reasons why I picked up this book. The other reason, of course, is that so many other LT people were reading it and recommending it.

I had learned a little bit of the history of this time in school, including learning about Roosevelt's New Deal economics and how it affected farmers. But I have to admit that I didn't really understand what caused the terrible storms until I read this. Living in a dry country myself, I can see how hard it would be to try and get a living from the soil without rain. But here I have the mountains to break up the wind. Out on the prairies, there's nothing for miles and miles, and the wind just goes on and on. Without that grass to hold onto the dirt, it will just fly away. And the pressures on the farmers to plow more and more land left them with no understanding of why soil conservation is critical to keeping a nation from going hungry.

The stories told and the writing were indeed remarkable. I really got the feeling of how desperate a time it must have been. And those black and white photos of the storms and the dust they left behind were amazing.

But I didn't really enjoy this book. Maybe that was BECAUSE it was so well written, that I found it extremely depressing. Great, another story of how the dust killed off the cattle, the children, the land itself. It was a little more than I could imagine at times.

I think this might have been a case of right book, wrong time. I have so much going on in my life right now that I'm just not up to major drama and heartbreak in my book too.

Watership Down, 36/81, 2nd Round

Watership Down, by Richard Adams, reread category

Hazel, his brother Fiver, and some other rabbits set off to find a new place to live. Along the way, they encounter challenges they never expected and prove to be resourceful and brave.

For many folks, they have to wonder how good a book about rabbits could really be. But to paraphrase Lance Armstrong, it's not about the bunny. This is about a quest to find a safe place to call home.

From the preface, it seems that Adams was a little tired of being pressed to explain "what it all means." It started out as a children's story about rabbits. But whether he intended it that way or not, it became much more.

This is still one of my favorite stories. I love Hazel, the leader in spite of himself, who inspires his group by his compassion and common sense. I love Bigwig, tough and brave, but willing to learn something new. I love Dandelion and Blackberry, and they way the help their friends and never give up.

This time around, I especially loved the ending, when Hazel goes on to his reward. Just a great book. And if all you see in it is a story about some bunnies, that's okay with me. But to me it means a lot more.

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris (38/81)

The supernatural community in Bon Temps, Louisiana is reeling from two hard blows: the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina, and the manmade horror of the explosion at the vampire summit in the up-north city of Rhodes. Sookie Stackhouse is safe but dazed, and she's yearning for things to get back to normal. But that's just not happening. Too many vampires - some friends, some not - were killed or injured, and her were-tiger boyfriend Quinn is among the missing. It's clear that things are changing, whether the weres and vamps like it or not. And Sookie, Friend to the Pack, blood-bonded to the leader of the local vampire community, is caught up in those changes. She's about to find herself facing danger and death and, not for the first time, betrayal by someone she loves. And when the fur has finished flying and the cold blood has stopped flowing, Sookie's world will be forever altered ...

Book 8 in the Sookie Stackhouse Series and everyone is trying to recover from the Vampire Conference ...... Who managed to stay alive ........ Where has Quinn gone and will Sookie wait for him?? ....... I have to say I loved this book another one of my favourites :) ....... Sookie learns that she is not alone in the world but she does have family after all just not your typical human family :) ........

Some strange new Vampires make an appearance which doesn't go down to well ...... What do they want !!! And will Amelia be able to change Bob back ???? ( Yes Mormons do get a mention !!!)

I read this book in a few hours just had to know what was going to happen and I am excited to read the next installment !!! So if you love your Fantasy books you definitely have to read this series !!!

I rate this book 4 1/2 ****

All together Dead by Charlaine Harris (37/81)

Sookie's beginning to get used to being surrounded by all varieties of undead, changeling, shapeshifting and other supernatural beings - but even she has her limits. She'd really like to take a while to get over being betrayed by Bill, her long-time vampire lover, and get used to her new relationship with the sexy shapeshifter Quinn - but instead, she finds herself attending the long-planned vampire summit, the destination of choice for every undead power player around, as a sort-of human 'Geiger counter' for Sophie-Anne Leclerq, vampire queen of Louisiana. But the job is fraught with difficulties. Sophie-Anne's power base has been severely weakened by Hurricane Katrina, and she's about to be put on trial during the event for murdering her king. Sookie knows the queen is innocent, but she's hardly prepared for other shocking murders: it looks like there are some vamps who would like to finish what nature started. With secret alliances and backroom deals the order of the day - and night - Sookie must decide which side she'll stand with, and quickly, for her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe.

This is book 7 in the Sookie Stackhouse Series and we find Sookie attending a Vampire Conference ..... She also finds herself getting closer to Eric the Viking Vampire .... She has been assigned to help the Queen Sophie-Anne with up and coming trial .... But as always it is dangerous being a human so close to a world of Vampires !!!

You have to feel sorry for Sookie because she always finds herself in situations that really aren't her fault ...... But I enjoyed this book it was fast paced and kept me guessing on who was trying to out play who !!!

As always you can read this book without reading the rest but it makes more sense if you start from the beginning ....

I rate this book 4 ****

Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris (36/81)

Sookie doesn't have that many relations, so she hated to lose one - but of all the people to go, she didn't expect it to be her cousin Hadley, a consort of New Orleans' vampire queen - after all, Hadley was technically already dead. But she is gone, beyond recall and she's left Sookie an inheritance - one that comes with a bit of a risk - not least because someone doesn't want Sookie digging too deep into Hadley's past - or her possessions. Sookie's life is once again on the line and this time the suspects range from the rogue werewolves who have rejected Sookie as a friend of the pack to her first love, the vampire Bill. Sookie's got a lot to do if she's going to keep herself alive

Book 6 in the Sookie Stackhouse Series and we find that once again Sookie is getting herself into trouble .......

I found it a little confusing at the start with the mention of Hadley her cousin as there really isn't alot of mention of her in the other books and I thought I had maybe overlooked a book somewhere .... But after a few pages you get to know what is going on .... Sookie is summoned to the Royal Court to see the Queen with a new man/tiger in tow .... Hot on her heels are the Werewolves looking for some answers ..... And we find out Bill's true intentions .....

Will she manage to escape getting injured in this novel .... I think not !!! Again good story line with all your favourite characters ...

I rate this book ****

Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris (35/81)

Sookie Stackhouse is a cocktail waitress in a little bar in a small town deep in Louisiana. She's funny and pretty and well-mannered, but she doesn't have that many close friends - mind you, that's not so surprising when you consider how few people can appreciate her abilities as a mind-reader. It's not a quality that has the guys beating down her door - well, unless they're vampires or werewolves or the like . . . but they're not just supernatural freaks, some of them are friends, even family . . .

And much as Sookie might want a quiet life, when she's around, things just seem to happen . . . like her brother, who appears to be changing into a were-panther. He's not that bothered, but someone doesn't like it - someone's trying to wipe him out, as well as the rest of the shape-changing population, and that mean's Sookie's got just a month, before the next full moon, to find out who wants her brother dead, and stop the fiend.

Book Number #5 in the Sookie Stackhouse series and I really enjoyed this one as well ... Poor Jason is turning into a were-panther and Sookie as always is getting caught up into their world .... And it doesn't help when you have killed a Were yourself ......

Your favourite characters are here with Eric the cheeky viking vampire ... Your hunky Were-wolf Alcide ..... All wanting you to do favours for them .... You just know Sookie is going to end up in the trouble .... and it doesn't help when there is a sniper out there shooting your friends .......

Good story line and I am loving this series !!! So if you loved the last load of books you are going to love this one !!!

I rate this book 4****

Silks, 29/81, 2nd Round

Silks by Dick Francis, found at the library category

Although there are horses and races in the latest Dick Francis book, it's more of a courtroom drama than a book about racing. His hero, Geoffrey Mason, aka as Perry, is a barrister and an amateur jockey. When one of the professionals is arrested for murdering a colleague, Mason's worlds collide with all the explosion of a train wreck.

I enjoyed this one. I like courtroom book, so that part was fun. And Mason is a likable character too. I'm glad to see another book by Francis.