Silks

If you haven't read Dick Francis, don't miss this chance! This would be a great book to introduce his style and his enthusiasm and knowledge of English racing. I loved this story of lawyer/jockey Geoffrey Mason and his encounter with homegrown bully Julian Trent. There is plenty of suspense as we wonder when this young monster, Julian, will show up again. And why is he so insistent that Mason take and lose the murder case of fellow Jockey Steve Mitchell? Plenty of detective work going on, insight into the British system of law and the downright apathy that accompanies the police in everything but the most horrific of crimes. You'll see I'm a bit of a mystery fan, but horses draw me in every time. Four out of Five stars for this story!

Digging To America

For 2008 the Iowa Center for the Book chose Anne Tyler's book Digging to America as their All Iowa Reads Book. They encouraged book clubs, libraries, and readers of all kinds to have a discussion about the issues and ideas raised in this story. The story was about adoption and in a very real way about what it was like to be American. Two families from radically different backgrounds and ideologies are brought together on the same day in the same place, an airport, as they are waiting for their new daughters to arrive from Korea. The one family, American by birth, enthusiastically embrace everything foreign about their daughter. The other family, Iranian, struggles to become as American as possible. These two families develop an unlikely friendship. The story is as everyday as it can be. I kept waiting for something monumental to happen throughout the story, but it remained as every day as it could be. It was a great read though. I enjoyed the story and was pleased with the Center for the Book's choice this year. Don't pass this one by if you can help it!