The War Lovers: Roosevelt, Lodge, Hearst, and the Rush to Empire, 1898 by Evan Thomas

This book delves into the interactions of Teddy Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge vs. William Randolph Hearst and their viewpoints about the Americans' need to go to war against Spain in the late 19th century.

Factual but hard to get into.

 ★★★

GENRE: History
SUBJECT: Spanish American war, politics
Setting: USA
CHARACTERS: Teddy Roosevelt, William Randolph Hearst, Henry Cabot Lodge
DATE READ: October 21 - October 30
NO. OF PAGES: 413
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,
SOURCE: public library

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

The story of a young woman who is filled with romantic dreams and discontent over the how her life has transpired.

I didn't care for the story or the characters.  It may have been about the period that it was written in.

★★½

GENRE: Classic
SUBJECT: romanticism, discontent
Setting: France
CHARACTERS: Emma Bovary, Charles Bovary
DATE READ: October 21 - October 29
NO. OF PAGES: 576
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,
SOURCE: my shelves

The Road to Oz by L Frank Baum

Dorothy takes a walk and when the terrain changes so does  the destination.  Dorothy meets Shaggy Man and then Button Bright and they somehow wander into Fairyland where they meet PolyChrome - the daughter of the rainbow.  New areas of the Fairyland are shown in their travels - Fox Village, Donkey Village, and the deadly desert.

Once everyone reaches Oz we see a great celebration for Ozma's birthday including guests Sana Claus and Glenda the good Witch.

★★★

GENRE: children's fiction
SUBJECT: finding your way
Setting: Oz
CHARACTERS: Dorothy, Toto, Shaggy Man, Button Bright, Polychrome
DATE READ: October 23 - October 25
NO. OF PAGES: 74
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,
SOURCE: Nook

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Frankenstein is not the monster's name but it is what causes most people to picture the monster.  Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist, who works at creating new life but when he is successful, he tries to abandon his creation.  The story tells of Victor's discomfort with the monster and the monster's anger at Victor.

It didn't really do it for me.

 ★★★

GENRE: Fiction
SUBJECT: creation of life
Setting: Europe
CHARACTERS: Victor Frankenstein, Monster, Robert Walton
DATE READ: October 19 - October 20
NO. OF PAGES: 319
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, LILIES
SOURCE: Library

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett

I probably wouldn't have ever read this book it it hadn't been for the GEOCAT, but I'm glad I did.

Anders Eckman had been set to the Amazon to locate and check on the progress of a special drug development by Dr. Swenson, but when the Pharmaceutical company who employed him receives a letter telling of death, Dr. Marina Singh is coerced into following his steps and completing the assignment.

What results is a fascinating tale.

★★★½

GENRE: Fiction
SUBJECT: Drug development, Amazon Jungle
Setting: Amazon Jungle
CHARACTERS: Marina Singh, Anders Eckman, Annick Swenson, Easter, Lakashi tribe
DATE READ: October 2 - October 19
NO. OF PAGES: 526
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, GEOCAT
SOURCE: audio stockpile

Love Letters by Debbie Macomber

The story lines are great, I can't say it any different.

 The Rose Harbor Inn is the gather spot for two different romances - the Porters who are trying to keep their marriage together and Ellie Reynolds who is finally spreading her wings and meeting her Internet boyfriend.  Both are full of surprises!

 ★★★★

GENRE: Romance
SUBJECT: Internet relationships, widowhood
Setting: Cedar Cove, WA
CHARACTERS: Jo Marie Rose, Mark Taylor, Ellie Reynolds, Maggie Porter, Roy Porter
DATE READ: October 7 - October 12
NO. OF PAGES: 304
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,
SOURCE: LT ER

A Wish and A Prayer by Beverly Jenkins

What I love about the Blessings books are the characters - they're funny and heartwarming with just a touch whimsy.

In this installment we have a pre-teen foster child adapting to his new family, a young woman who'd sworn off men taking a chance on love, and a giant hog on trial for murder. Add in the town's very own American Idol Show and you are set to be entertained.

The stories intertwine and keep the reader enthralled until the very end. Can't wait for the next one!

 ★★★★

GENRE: Fiction
SUBJECT: family life
Setting: Henry Adams, KS
CHARACTERS:
DATE READ: October 5 - October 6
NO. OF PAGES: 320
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,
SOURCE: Nook stockpile

Island Girls by Nancy Thayer

Rory Randall decides to add a bit of manipulation to his final will and testament by making it a condition of their inheritance that his 3 daughters (by different mothers) spend the summer at the Nantucket house together.  What results are basic family issues revealed and nothing really special.

 ★★★

GENRE: Fiction
SUBJECT: Dysfunctional families
Setting: Nantucket
CHARACTERS: Arden Randall, Meg, Randall, Jenny Randall
DATE READ: October 3 - October 5
NO. OF PAGES: 302
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,
SOURCE: LT ER

Gossamer Ghost by Laura Childs

What better place to celebrate Halloween than in New Orleans with Carmela and her voodoo friend Ava?  Carmela finds the proprietor in the shop next door to Memory Mine dead.  When Carmela learns that the death mask of Napoleon may be involved, she accepts the shop assistant's request to help find the murderer.

The Halloween backdrop and the events involved - zombie walk, Ghost train - just add to the story and the fun of the mystery.

★★★¾

GENRE: Cozy Mystery
SUBJECT: historical antiques
Setting: New Orleans,LA
CHARACTERS: Carmela Bertrand, Ava Gruiex, Det Babcock, Marcus Joubert, Mavis Sweet, Titus Duval
DATE READ: September 29 - October 3
NO. OF PAGES: 309
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI,
SOURCE: Author ARC

Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough

This book was the start of my study of Teddy Roosevelt.  It was the tale of his  father and siblings and how they all interacted in his early life.  With David McCullough as the storyteller, I couldn't go wrong.

 ★★★¼

GENRE: History
SUBJECT: Early family life of T Roosevelt
Setting: Washington DC, Oyster Bay, NY;
CHARACTERS: Theodore Roosevelt, Edith Carow Roosevelt, Roscoe Conkling, Cornelius Roosevelt, Elliott Roosevelt, Emein Roosevelt, FDR, Sara Delano Roosevelt
DATE READ: September 24 - September 30
NO. OF PAGES: 445
Challenges: 75, Category, TIOLI, USPC
SOURCE: Public Library