I decided to read The Shipping News, winner of both the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize, after stumbling upon it in my favorite travel literature destination in Manhattan, Idlewild Books. It’s hard to believe, but the only other Pulitzer winner for fiction that I’ve read outside of a classroom is The Yearling, by Marjorie [...]

The story is set in the early 1900s. Trains were an important part of transportation around the country. Isaac Bell, the main character, is a detective who is driven by his sense of justice. He and the others at the Van Dorn dective agency made a good team. They are tasked with finding the person [...]

This is the first book I have read on my Kindle!  It was very easy and fun to do. I would definitely recommend the Kindle!  This month a friend in my book club suggested that we read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.  I enjoyed reading this [...]

When I was an obsessed-with-horses kid I read just about every story Marguerite Henry had ever written, and I’m shocked at how little of the plots I retained 20-25 years later. I suppose I should be happy for my poor memory, though, as it makes it that much more fun to rediscover these vintage works. One [...]

Mr. Pusskins is back—and this time his complaints are legitimate.  The small white kitten recently adopted by his owner Emily is nothing but a troublemaker, yet only Mr. Pusskins sees her true nature.  Wrongfully accused of perpetrating the mischief, Mr. Pusskins is summarily banished from the house.  Will Little Whiskers confess?  If you’re looking for [...]