Things that strike my fancy…

Makeover by Shannon Guymon 245 pages. Bonneville Books, c2007. $12.47

My sister-in-law let me borrow this book. I really enjoyed it. I read it through one night before bed. It’s fluffy and easy to read. There are some serious issues, don’t get me wrong, but it was mostly just fun and happy feelings. If you need a nice, easy read, this one’s for you. It’s LDS fiction written by a mom of 6 from Alpine, UT. What a wonder woman she must be!

Surprise Packages by Nancy Anderson, Lael Littke, and Carroll Hofeling Morris 359 pages. Deseret Book, c2008. $17.95

This is the final installment of The Company of Good Women series. I’ve really enjoyed this series. I’ve liked getting to know each of the women in this story. They seem like real people to me. It was a bit drawn out and I felt a bit hit over the head with the themes, but overall I liked it. I feel closure. If you like LDS fiction, you’ll probably like this series.

The Frog in the Well Retold by Irene Y. Tsai 36 pages. CE Bilingual Books, LLC, c2008. $14.95

The Frog in the Well is a Chinese idiom. It emphasizes the need for each of us to be open-minded and realize there is much to learn.
This is my first taste of a child’s book meant to teach Chinese. I found it interesting. I think it would be a great book for the classroom or homeschool where Chinese is being taught, or where the children are learning about Chinese culture. This book includes English as well as the traditional and simplified Chinese characters. My kids were not too interested in it for it’s picture book value, but they may just be too young to appreciate it. I would recommend this for teachers and those interested in learning some Chinese.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart 512 pages. Little, Brown Young Readers, c2008. $6.99

I really enjoyed this story. I think it is very clever and full of good morals. A fifth grade kid who really enjoys reading would be the best for this book. It is very long, so I wouldn’t give it to a reluctant reader. I would also recommend it to all of you adults out there who enjoy reading YA books.

Rasputin’s Daughter by Robert Alexander 298 pages. Penguin Books, c2006. $13.72

Before reading this book, my knowledge of Rasputin was limited to the Disney movie Anastasia. I am glad that I read this book because now I understand a little bit more about the man, and can separate him from some of the myth.
The story is told from the point of view of Rasputin’s daughter, Maria. From her story, we learn what life was like for her father and the people of Russia during the first world war. I found the story very interesting and fun to read. One unexpected tidbit is that Rasputin was from Siberia. He and his family liked it there. Now, I always assumed that was where they sent all of the bad people. Well, there are many many people who live in Siberia and are happy there. Crazy. I know.
I recommend this book. It’s very good historical fiction. Robert Alexander must have done a crazy amount of research to flesh out this story. He has an interesting website that is worth looking at. By the way, I got my book at the local library.