Books Read in January 2010

*The Mystery of the Blue Train - A decent Poirot mystery. Not one of the best, but still a good read.

*Peril at End House - I loved this one, mostly because for the first time ever I soled the mystery before Poirot. The little gray cells, they worked hard this time. :-)

*Twilight - I read this one to find out what the hype was about. I liked the book a lot, but I think it's way too mature for a teenager. The attraction between the main characters becomes something like an obsession. In my opinion, it also read like some of the better-written fan fictions that I've come across. So much so that I wondered several times during the novel if Ms Meyers dabbled in either reading or writing fanfics sometime in her past. I certainly see why young girls like the series so much, and a part of me even wants to read the rest of the series, but let me put it this way: it's like Francine Rivers without the Christian morals. Sure, the book is technically "clean" (although with gratuitous romantic tension), but for all the wrong reasons.

*Katy No-Pocket - I thought it was a really cute book, and the illustrations are by the same guy that did Curious George so it has the same feel. A baby-wearing book from long before the days of the baby-wearing revival.

*Beyond the Rainbow Bridge - A Waldorf book, and thus full of strange mystical philosophies that needed to be dismissed, but I absolutely loved the chapter on play. I think I quoted almost all of it to my SIL because it seemed like every paragraph made me say "YES! This is what childhood should be like!"

*Creative Play For Your Baby - A better title would be "How to Make Simple, Natural Toys For Your Baby". I have to say, I love this book. It actually made me feel like I could make a doll, or homemade blocks, or a wooden boat, or what have you. In fact, I'm working on a doll right now. And if I could figure out where to get the wood, I'd start on some simple blocks, too. The sequel (Creative Play For Your Toddler) will definitely be on my wish list in a year or two.

*The Bee Tree - I loved the illustrations, and it's a good summer book (La, are you reading this?). It's a mad race to follow bees back to their home, and all sorts of characters drop what they're doing to join the hunt. It's also a Sonlight book, for those who are interested in that sort of information.

Still reading:

*Stuart Little
*Heidi
*Story of the World Vol 1
*The Tender Years