This second Hamish Macbeth mystery by M. C. Beaton brings Priscilla Halburton-Smythe home from London with her playwright fiance to a weekend engagement party hosted by her parents. When a guest is murdered, Constable Hamish Macbeth (himself smitten with Priscilla) must investigate and has a number of titled guests as suspects. I found it a quick and fun read.
pazt
Showing posts with label Book Recommendation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book Recommendation. Show all posts
Monday, August 16, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Unlikely Disciple
This month the book club I am part of chose to read and discuss "The Unlikely Disciple - A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University" by Kevin Roose. Since I was going to be out of town and would miss the book club discussion, I took the book with me to read over my holiday. I was surprised at how much I liked this book and how reluctant I was to take a break from it. It is usually only mysteries that keep me so engrossed. My husband, on the other hand, had no interest in reading the book since he'd grown up in a fairly conservative Baptist home and church where he was always questioning the belief system. As I read the book and shared portions with him, we had some interesting discussions, though.
Kevin, a student at ultra-liberal Brown University, decided he wanted to do a semester away but he didn't choose to do the traditional semester abroad. Despite the reservations of his parents and extended family, he chose to spend a semester studying at Liberty University, a conservative Baptist school in Lynchburg, VA, known as the "Bible Boot Camp" for young evangelicals -- the idea of the late Rev. Jerry Falwell.
Kevin makes every effort to genuinely experience Liberty and immerses himself in campus life passing himself off as an evangelical. He develops friendships with other students, participates in extra curricular activities, dates, struggles with the course work, and has the last one-on-one interview with Jerry Falwell before his death. Kevin's insights and struggles as well as what he learns about the school are thoughtfully presented. As I read the book, I had to keep reminding myself that Kevin was only 19 when he attended this school because I found his maturity and insights amazing for one his age. I'm not sure I had any deep thoughts at 19!
I believe this book has insights for liberals and conservatives alike so I'd encourage anyone to read it.
Check out Kevin's web site at http://www.kevinroose.com/
I'd love to hear what you think about his book if you do read it!
pazt
Kevin, a student at ultra-liberal Brown University, decided he wanted to do a semester away but he didn't choose to do the traditional semester abroad. Despite the reservations of his parents and extended family, he chose to spend a semester studying at Liberty University, a conservative Baptist school in Lynchburg, VA, known as the "Bible Boot Camp" for young evangelicals -- the idea of the late Rev. Jerry Falwell.
Kevin makes every effort to genuinely experience Liberty and immerses himself in campus life passing himself off as an evangelical. He develops friendships with other students, participates in extra curricular activities, dates, struggles with the course work, and has the last one-on-one interview with Jerry Falwell before his death. Kevin's insights and struggles as well as what he learns about the school are thoughtfully presented. As I read the book, I had to keep reminding myself that Kevin was only 19 when he attended this school because I found his maturity and insights amazing for one his age. I'm not sure I had any deep thoughts at 19!
I believe this book has insights for liberals and conservatives alike so I'd encourage anyone to read it.
Check out Kevin's web site at http://www.kevinroose.com/
I'd love to hear what you think about his book if you do read it!
pazt
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
While I was waiting to read Book 10 in Harrod-Eagles' Bill Slider detective series, I checked out Harrod-Eagles book, "Real Life," which is a collection of short stories. I found them to be a mix of quirky, strange, and downright funny tales! It's not at all like what I have come to expect in the Bill slider series but an enjoyable read none the less.
In the last couple of years my daughter and son-in-law in England have been house hunting so the concept of real estate "chains" were explained to me in some detail and that came in handy in reading one of the stories. Basically, if the person purchasing a home has a home to sell and the person below or above them also is in the same position, it's like falling dominoes -- any deal in the chain that doesn't go has the potential to affect all the transactions in the chain below.
Back to "Real Life," though -- a good read but not all stories gave me the same feeling as the Detective Bill Slider series which I can't get enough of!
pazt
In the last couple of years my daughter and son-in-law in England have been house hunting so the concept of real estate "chains" were explained to me in some detail and that came in handy in reading one of the stories. Basically, if the person purchasing a home has a home to sell and the person below or above them also is in the same position, it's like falling dominoes -- any deal in the chain that doesn't go has the potential to affect all the transactions in the chain below.
Back to "Real Life," though -- a good read but not all stories gave me the same feeling as the Detective Bill Slider series which I can't get enough of!
pazt
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