Musings of a Bookish Kitty

Friday, February 24, 2012

Kid Konnection: The Best-Loved Doll by Rebecca Caudill

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Kid Konnection and leave a comment as well as a link to your posts!

The Best-Loved Doll by Rebecca Caudill, Pictures by Elliott Gilbert
Scholastic Books, 1962

A few months ago, I opened a random box in the garage and discovered a treasure trove. I thought I had found and unpacked all my old children's books only to find I must have missed a box. And not just any box. I hadn't realized I had saved any of the books inside, many of them old favorites.

One book that jumped out at me immediately was The Best-Loved Doll. My heart just about melted on the spot! I've already read it to Mouse, although I have to say her attention and interest in books has never been great. She played around me, mostly, as I read to her. I imagine this particular book is a little too old for her anyway. At least right now. It's got a place among her books, however, just waiting its turn.

Betsy is invited to a party in which she is instructed to bring one doll. Prizes will be given for dolls in a variety of categories--whether it be for the oldest, best dressed, or the doll that can do the most things. Betsy considers each of her dolls, trying to decide which one she wants to take. She has a doll that fits just about any category imaginable--including a doll that most of us would think has seen better days.

It is the sweetest story and the illustrations are beautiful in their simplicity. I remember reading it over and over again as a child, knowing that I would make the same decision Betsy made each time. Although on the surface the story is about a girl and her dolls, underneath it is about so much more. And that ending . . . So perfect!

Source: I am not sure where this book came from. It was most likely a gift. It has been in my possession for over thirty years.

© 2012, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved.If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Bookish Thoughts: No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie

No Mark Upon Her by Deborah Crombie

William Morrow, 2012
Crime Fiction; 384 pgs

I have read a number of enjoyable mysteries of late, but this one . . . Oh, how I love thee, Deborah Crombie! Where have you been all my life and why haven't I read anything by you before? No Mark Upon Her is the 14th book in the series, I believe, but my first one by the author. It didn't matter that I didn't know the history of the characters (although, I am infinitely curious now and must know all!). The author offers enough background story to give the reader a good feel for the characters and their situations while at the same time not introducing irrelevant information.

What is the book about, you ask? A detective who is a skilled rower is found dead on the Thames. Scotland Yard Superintendent Duncan Kincaid is called back from vacation to investigate the matter. It's a particularly sensitive case, one in which people in high placed hope it will get resolved quickly, even if that means swept under the carpet. Duncan Kincaid, however, is not the kind of man to take the easy way out. He wants to find justice for the victim even if it means his job. His wife, a detective herself, helps on the sidelines while juggling the care of their three children.

Rowing isn't a particularly favorite sport of mine--I have nothing against it, mind you, just very little exposure to it--but I am not one to let something like that stand in my way of reading a book. I like learning about new things. That's part of what reading is all about, right?

I liked the way Crombie weaved the characters' personal stories in with the murder investigation. Seeing them at home, so to speak, made them all the more relatable. There was just enough of their personal life to give the reader a good idea of what kind of people the characters are and to understand their way of thinking.

I was quite taken with Duncan Kincaid. He is intelligent and open minded. He is also a good father. I especially liked how much he respects and loves his wife. Gemma James is just as strong a character as her husband, and I could appreciate her inner conflict--looking forward to getting back to work but at the same time not wanting to leave the children.

Two characters I wish I could get to know better but doubt I will see in future books are the K-9 rescue team, Keiran and Tavie and their dogs. Both seem like formidable people and it was impossible for me not to fall in love with a couple of rescue dogs. Keiran in particular won me over. He was a sad sort of character, dealing with a broken heart as well as quite a few health problems due to injuries incurred in war.

As for the investigation, the detectives did not have a lot to go on, and with pressures from above, they were faced with even more challenges. While I am not sure "sitting on the edge of my seat" is an apt description of the pacing of the book, I certainly had a hard time putting it down and couldn't wait to get back to it. The weekend everyone in the house was sick and I'd left the book at work was torture. I kept thinking of Becca and wondering what had happened to her.

No Mark Upon Her has it all: characters who get under your skin, an idyllic English setting, betrayal, ethical issues, family, suspense, and an itch to read more. Deborah Crombie has won me over with this one novel and is sure to become among my favorite mystery authors.

To learn more about Deborah Crombie and her books please visit the author's website.

Source: Book provided by the publisher through the BookBrowse First Impressions Program.

This book counts towards The Eclectic Reading Challenge.

Monday, February 20, 2012

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

Hosted by Sheila of One Persons Journey Through a World of Books

Weekly meme where we discuss the books you've read

and those you plan to read in the coming week.

In a whirlwind reading spree, I managed to finish all five of the Independent Literary Awards Short List Nominees in the Mystery category recently. I am unable to share my opinions of the books until after the votes have been cast and the winners announced, but I think it's safe to say, at least, I enjoyed them all.

I am now reading Michel Faber's Under the Skin, which is about a woman who picks up hitchhikers. The description of the book leaves the classification of it rather up in the air. Now that I have read quite a bit of it, it'd say literary science fiction maybe. I read Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White, a historical fiction novel, several years ago and enjoyed it. So, when I saw that my book club's February book selection was Under the Skin (and that I had a copy in my TBR collection--well, in my husband's TBR collection), I decided why not? It's . . . interesting. I'll give it that. I hope to have it finished by the time the group meets next Saturday.

Which reminds me. I don't think I told you that I finally joined a local book club! I had been considering joining one recommended by My Friend Amy early on in my pregnancy, but then I talked myself out of it, not sure how my reading would take shape once the baby was here. Now that my life has settled down somewhat and in an effort to make friends and give myself some much needed me time, I re-evaluated my decision and found a group a bit closer to my new home to try. This coming Saturday will be my first meeting. I am going in completely blind, not knowing any of the women in the group or what to expect. Reserved introverted me is feeling a bit anxious about walking into this new situation, but it's something I really want to give a chance. So, wish me luck!

Next up on the reading front? It's still up in the air. I think I will be ready for something lighthearted and fluffy . . .

What have you been reading lately?

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Sunday Salon: Confessions of a Mother

Before my daughter was born, I daydreamed about all the reading we would do together. I would hold her in my lap and read to her as she sat there, interested to hear more. I imagined that she would eagerly anticipate story time. All of the parenting experts say to start reading (and singing) to your child right away. Read to her in the womb even! Early exposure helps with language development later on as well as establishes a routine and habit--maybe even a joy of reading. And so I dreamed.

When Mouse was born, I was too consumed by every other detail of her care to think about reading to her. I was exhausted. She slept and nursed mostly. She cried a lot. I occasionally would read to during tummy time during those early weeks, but it wasn't every day. Sometimes I read whatever book I was trying to get through at the time to her, but, admittedly, that wasn't too often since my own reading had taken a nose dive. I found it much easier to sing to her--something I still do regularly. Reading wasn't my highest priority.

Eventually, my husband and I worked reading to Mouse into our daily routines, but it has yet to be how I first imagined all those months ago. You see, my daughter is extremely active. She doesn't sit still for long. She could not care less about books unless she's pulling them off the shelves, ripping covers (of my mass market paperbacks) or eating them. When on my husband's lap for her bedtime stories, she will often squirm her way down to the floor so she can go exploring or to play with something that's caught her eye. Or she will pull the book out of his hands and throw it on the floor. Repeatedly.

In the beginning, I fretted over this. Was I doing something wrong? Had I doomed her to a non-reader life because I didn't read to her every day from day one? Then I came back to earth. Mouse is just being true to her nature. She is a baby, after all, and she's acting like many babies do. It's too early to know whether Mouse will enjoy reading. She may not and that's okay. In the meantime, we do the best we can.

One of my favorite places to read to Mouse is in the bath. Who would have thought? It's the one place she can't get away! Seriously though, she seems to enjoy her bath books, whether it's listening to me read to her or taking a more active role and playing with the books, dunking them under the water and chewing on them.

I often read to her as she plays--sometimes from her books and sometimes from mine. I don't always read the words on the pages of her books, but rather point out the pictures to her and ask her questions as she flips the pages back and forth, chomping on a corner now and then, before she wanders away to something she finds more interesting.

Whatever we read or however we do it, we have fun. As far as I'm concerned, that's the most important thing. Now where did she drag that mirror book off too this time . . .