A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

This was one of my favorite books as a child. I found the story, and still do, so poignant and so richly drawn. I love the main character, she is so solemn and intelligent. She is also courteous and kind. In a lot of ways I wanted to be like her when I was a kid. She was pampered but not spoiled and she wondered if she would still be a good person (a princess) if her circumstances were not so kind. Even as a child I found this a very adult book in some ways. There are complicated undertones to the story that you really only appreciate as an adult, this is why I continue to read and re-read this book. It's still a wonderful children's story but it is also a coming of age story and a commentary on social class. I love it. This particular edition has absolutely gorgeous illustrations by Graham Rust. I have an edition of The Secret Garden with the same illustrator.

Rating: 5 stars

Recommendations: Read the Secret Garden by the same author.

192 pages took about an hour and half

The Darkest Road by Guy Gavriel Kay

This is the third and final volume in the Fionavar Tapestry. It is the brightest, deepest, saddest and most glorious of the three. I cry throughout pretty much the last third of the book, because it's so sorrowful, so lovely and there is so much beauty. I love these books, they echo into my life and that is powerful.

Rating: 5 stars

Recommendations: Any of Kay's books.

448 pages took me about 5 hours, I was simply crying too much.

The Wandering Fire by Guy Gavriel Kay

This is the second book in the Fionavar Tapestry. I think it suffers a little from being the second of a trilogy. A lot of this book is concerned with setting up the last book. Now don't get me wrong, a lot happens and like the first book it completely absorbs me. I read this book in one day. There is so much woven into this story, so much depth that speaks to me so much. This book was much deeper and sadder than The Summer Tree* and the last book of the trilogy is even more again. This trilogy is one of those books that I don't take to work, it's too private for me, I don't want to explain why it is so sad and so glorious.

Rating: 5 stars

Recommendations: Anything by Guy Gavriel Kay!

400 pages took me about 4 hours

* denotes a book reviewed on this blog.

The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay

I wish sometimes I were a poet so I could adequately convey how beautiful and moving I find this book. This is one of my favorite books that I've ever read, however I can only read this book very occasionally. Unlike say, The Lord of the Rings which I read about once a year or so. I read this book, and the rest of the trilogy, so seldom, because I cannot bear to read it more than that. This story is so rich and so all consuming for me that I simply cannot read it more often than every 4 or 5 years. I think this might be my 3rd or 4th reading. Now, I am the sort of person that can read a book and then turn right around and read it again, if it's something I loved. This book ties together so much mythology and brings it so very alive. It reads like it should be a spoken epic. The language is so rich and simply drips off your tongue. I simply love it.

Rating: 5 stars! 6,7,8 stars!!

Recommendations: The rest of the Fionavar Tapestry of course. Book two is The Wandering Flame. Everything I've ever read by Kay, I am very fond of Tigana and The Lions of Al-Rassan.

400 pages, I honestly don't know how long it took me to read this book, I am completely swept away when I read this book

Basic Butchering of Livestock & Game by John Mettler

This isn't exactly the sort of book you can just read. It is much more a manual than that. But I wanted to get sort of the flavour of the book. It gives, fairly clearly and concisely instructions on how to kill, dress, and butcher just about any sort of meat animal. There are some nice diagrams to further illustrate. There are also some recipes for cooking various cuts of meats, but there are other better books for that. I learned a few things and I think, when we have livestock of our own, this book will be valuable.

Rating: 5 stars

Recommendations: I don't really have any, I think now I would like more cooking/preparing/storing type of books. Any suggestions?

208 pages took me only about an hour, but like I said this isn't really a book to just read :)

Chicken Tractor by Andy Lee & Patricia Foreman

This book has a great spirit to it, very infectious while still being full of practical advice. You just want to get out there and get going. It also doesn't get bogged down in a lot of technical details. It just gives you the philosophy behind the chicken tractor idea and enough practical knowledge to get you started. If you want a lot of technical details then there is a nice bibliography.

Rating: 5 stars

Recommendations: Try Joel Salatin's Pastured Poultry Profits.

324 pages only took me a little over 2 hours.

Skirting the Grave by Annette Blair

This is one of the first cozy mystery series I've read. The author also writes romance and it shows, this series is a lot more steamy than your typical mystery. I like it. The main character, Madiera, is a vintage clothes seller and clothing designer. She is also psychometric, she gets visions sometimes when she touches clothing. She also has two men in her life, and is trying to choose between the two. I absolutely love the interplay between Mad and her two men. And also the relationship between Mad and her family. It's charming. I also loved the mystery in this one, there were so many twists and turns it was excellent.

Rating: 4 stars

Recommendations: The first book in this series is A Veiled Deception. It's best to read this series in order.

288 pages took about 2 hours!