Books Read in August 2011
“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” seems to describe the baker’s dozen books I read in August. A real mix with some very good reads but nothing that totally grabbed me and received a five star rating.
1. The Clockwork Universe: Isaac Newton, the Royal Society, and the Birth of the Modern World
Genre: Non-fiction, History 
Dolnick has written a compelling, extremely readable history of the birth of modern science, including calculus, which explains the world around us. Fascinating.
2. The Winter of Our Disconnect: How Three Totally Wired Teenagers (and a Mother Who Slept with Her iPhone)Pulled the Plug on Their Technology and Lived to Tell the Tale
Genre: Non-fiction, memoir 
Maushart, the mother of 3 teenagers, instituted a ‘screen-free’ home for 6 months. Full of interesting statistics and anecdotes about her family’s time without television, iPod, iPhone, Internet, Gameboy et al
3. Late Nights on Air
Novel: Fiction, Canadian
Novel set in 1975 and 1976 Yellowknife (capital of North-West Territories, Canada). It’s the story of a group of people who operate the radio station there, and their canoe trip into the wilds of The Barrens, following the route of doomed explorer John Hornby.
4. A Good Hard Look
Genre: Fiction
Fictionalized account of the last years of author Flannery O’Connor’s life in the town of Milledgeville Georgia. Well-written, seamless plot and great insights.
5. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Genre: Fiction, women’s light
Originally published in 1938. This light-hearted romp, an hour by hour account of Miss Pettigrew’s magical 24 hours was turned into a charming movie starring Frances McDormand and Amy Adams. Delightful.
6. Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris
Genre: Fiction, Women’s light 
Another happy-go-lucky oldie, originally published in 1957. Quaint English charwoman Ada Harris falls in love with a Dior dress and decides to go to Paris to buy one.
7. Beautiful Joe – An Autobiography of a Dog
Genre: Fiction, Animal stories
Written in 1893 and winner of a contest sponsored by the ASPCA, this story, told from the point of view of a dog, is a treatise about the evils of animal abuse. Meant originally for school children, it became a best-seller and contributed to worldwide awareness of animal cruelty. Read on my Kindle
8. Snares of Guilt
Genre: Fiction, Police procedural
Book #1 of the Detective Inspector Handford series. A police procedural rather than a mystery as we know in the first chapter who the murderer is. Solid plot, likable but flawed protagonists.
9. Soul Clothes
Genre: Poetry 
A win from LibraryThing, this slim volume of poetry by Michigan lawyer Jemison touches on faith, relationships & life. My review is here.
10. The Member of the Wedding
Genre: Literary fiction
One of McCullers’ best known works, this centers around one weekend in the life of twelve-year-old Frankie aka Jasmine aka Frances as she prepares for her brother’s wedding.
11. Crossroads Road
Genre: Fiction
A win from the author. A novel that tells the story of a dysfunctional family whose overbearing matriarch wins $24 million and offers each of her children $2m and a new home – in her subdivision, Crossroads Road. Review coming. Read on my Kindle
12. Valley of the Lost 
Genre: Fiction, Mystery 
Second in the Constable Molly Smith/Seargent John Winters mystery series. A disappointment: the plot seemed contrived and far-fetched, and the writing seemed not to have seen either a proof reader or an editor.
13. The Ballad of the Sad Cafe
Genre: Literary fiction
Another of McCullers most famous – a novella about the said café and its owner. Odd.
Kindle versions:
Beautiful Joe An Autobiography of a Dog
Links for my Canadian readers:
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
The Ballad of the Sad Cafe: and Other Stories
I recently read and LOVED Flowers for Mrs Harris (different title for same book as yours). Sweet, isn’t it?
Hi, Yvann. Yes, it was published as “Flowers for…” in the UK and “Mrs. ‘Arris goes…” in North America. Very sweet story!