An interesting bit of history. I could tell the author did a considerable amount of research, and she laid out the facts clearly. I like that she was An interesting bit of history. I could tell the author did a considerable amount of research, and she laid out the facts clearly. I like that she was up-front about the missing information—does anyone really know how old Nettie Diamond actually was?—and how she wrapped up the end very neatly, explaining what befell most of the people involved in this true story. This is a tale of violence and murder, and of lust for money. It is also a portrait of northwest Indiana life during Prohibition. Race relations are also an important factor here, as the killer tried (and failed) to frame a Black teenager for the crime. Ammeson does a stellar job of bringing the past to life, of grounding news articles and witness statements in context, and in trusting that the facts themselves are interesting enough to stand on their own....more
This novel has an implausible plot and an unlikable heroine, but the last part of the story has enough twists to be both interesting and memorable. ItThis novel has an implausible plot and an unlikable heroine, but the last part of the story has enough twists to be both interesting and memorable. It’s not enough to make me glad I read it—and I would not have finished it were it not a book club selection this month. I know that by writing such an awful character (and by that I mean that the character is doing some pretty awful things), the author was trying to show the psychological effects of trauma. However, she didn’t get into her character’s mind enough for me as a reader to understand the protagonist’s drug addiction or PTSD; consequently, the heroine just comes off as thoroughly unlikable, and I spent most of my time not really caring what happened next. To be fair, the heroine does grow significantly throughout the story, and I was rooting for her but the end. But it’s really just too bad, because this book could have been so much better. Well-plotted, but the characters deserved more. One memorable aspect of this story is its Chicago setting; it’s a constant element of the story without being too over-the-top, a nice homage to the Windy City. One thing, though: in a novel full of Cubs fans, did you REALLY need to make the villain wear a White Sox t-shirt?...more
This light and fluffy story offers a great deal of fun. A meteorologist who has lived in the desert for decades suffers a large embarrassment and damaThis light and fluffy story offers a great deal of fun. A meteorologist who has lived in the desert for decades suffers a large embarrassment and damages her career. Disgraced, she returns to her home state of Michigan, whose wintry climes and lake-effect snow are a stark reminder of why she fled the Midwest in the first place. This book is charming and sweet, and despite some of the cutesier elements, it contains a great deal of pathos. As a bonus, the whole thing feels a bit like a love letter to winter, to our Lake, and to the state of Michigan....more
Garfield as you've never seen him before! The main premise of the story is that each of Garfield's previous lives shaped something about his personaliGarfield as you've never seen him before! The main premise of the story is that each of Garfield's previous lives shaped something about his personality. This collection of Garfield tales re-interprets the well-loved feline and showcases a variety of styles, genres, and iterations. Consequently, Jim Davis and his team had more freedom to play with the character; things happen here that could not be done in a typical installment of Garfield's established timeline. See? Jim Davis was reimagining his characters before it was cool!
The storytelling AND artwork vary dramatically between the tales, one of which is even in prose and not comics; and this works well, as each of the nine lives stands apart from every other one. The tone changes, too, with some slapstick, some gentle fun, some horror, and even some noir. The stories can't even be said to take place in the typical Garfield universe, as one might be set on a more magical or even spiritual plane, and one takes place in a city run entirely by humanish cats who wear clothes and have humanoid forms. Since this book pushes the boundaries of Garfield's character, it involves some things that maybe are a bit . . . unorthodox. One of the stories involves a scantily-clad woman and a man who spanks Garfield with a paddle (a possible fraternity hazing?) while another tale implies some romance for Garfield involving a lady cat, alcohol, and a convenient couch. The tone is in many places darker than in other Garfield stories, and sometimes things even border on the macabre. There is, for example, a tale in which a homeless cat (not Garfield) asks for someone to bury him, and another story involving people experimenting on and then dissecting animals. Not for the faint of heart!
These stories are, on the whole, very well-crafted, and the creativity involved is just astounding. Shining through all of it, of course, is a love for Garfield and a desire to play with his character a little bit, to try him out in different circumstances and styles, and (as Jim Davis put it), to stretch him to the limits of the imagination....more
I may not be the most objective reviewer, living as I do so near to these wonders, but I heartily recommend this book. For aWow, what an amazing book!
I may not be the most objective reviewer, living as I do so near to these wonders, but I heartily recommend this book. For anyone who appreciates these lakes' beauty, who is awed by their presence, who enjoys time spent on the water or at the beach or in the surrounding region: this book is for you. If you have never seen them, you may enjoy learning about them. But if you have seen them—if you have ever lived where a baby's first words are Dada, Mama, and LakeEffect—then this book will be like coming home.
An in-depth (haha) look at the Great Lakes, covering their history, their ecology, their present environmental concerns, their surrounding areas (both American and Canadian), the people who have lived and worked on them, the weather patterns, the mechanics of sailing, the different types of ships, famous Great Lakes shipwrecks, the architecture of the bridges, firsthand accounts of adventures on the Lakes, contrasts with the salt oceans, and even observations from famous writers on the unique properties of these five massive bodies of water. And it's all interspersed with his own memoirs, in which he details his own adventures on the water.
The good: • Clear writing • Excellent detail • Explained complicated subject matter clearly • Well-sourced • Adventure! Excitement! Human drama! Survival and death on the Inland Seas! • Excellent treatment of people the author knew. His fellow shipmates felt well-crafted and nuanced. • Excellent treatment of the human history surrounding the lake. Details about different Native American nations who interacted with the lakes, as well as America, Canada, and European countries. • Took the time to explain the science involved • Warm, conversational tone • Information about famous events, places, and things that are connected to the lakes, such as the Edmund Fitzgerald disaster, the Great Chicago and Peshtigo fires, and the Mackinac Bridge. • Jerry Dennis's genuine love of these lakes shines through and informs the whole of the book
The bad: • Hey, maybe I'll think of something to put here.
I enjoyed the first one well enough, but I wasn't thrilled with it. It could have been better. This sequel IS better. I don't quite know why, exactly.I enjoyed the first one well enough, but I wasn't thrilled with it. It could have been better. This sequel IS better. I don't quite know why, exactly. Perhaps the characters feel a bit more real. Or maybe they're just doing more interesting things. Whatever the case, I found myself just a bit more invested, and the plot seems more engaging. New characters are introduced, and old characters are explored in new ways and under new circumstances. I would probably rate this 3.5, but since we can't do half stars, and since this book's authors have made a tremendous improvement on the first book, I'm rounding up to four. This was a fun story....more
I greatly enjoyed this brief, nonfiction description of a variety of different birds of prey. Large, full-color photographs enhanced my understanding,I greatly enjoyed this brief, nonfiction description of a variety of different birds of prey. Large, full-color photographs enhanced my understanding, and I appreciated the broad range of information presented in this slender volume. The information about the birds themselves seems sound, although, since it was published 30 years ago, the statistics about their environmental status have changed a bit. It was such a peculiar, pleasant feeling to read the book’s worried (but still slightly hopeful) descriptions of a particular species that was extinct in the wild—knowing that today, there are once again wild populations roaming the skies. Not that everything is rosy: it’s still critically endangered, but it’s gratifying to see that the numbers have been moving steadily in the right direction. The book describes a tentative future that has already happened, and so much of the hope this book expresses has been realized....more
I think Jim Davis is amazing. It’s hard to think of many authors whose books convey such a sense of fun. These cartoon vignettes don’t seem to have muI think Jim Davis is amazing. It’s hard to think of many authors whose books convey such a sense of fun. These cartoon vignettes don’t seem to have much purpose beyond simply trying to delight their readers, and at that goal, this book excels. The style is a bit different from the daily comic strip, but the humor is completely on point. And of course, Garfield himself is pure gold....more
Stunning photographs and brief historical notes offer a surprisingly grounded approach to Gary’s abandoned structures. The book is well-organized, witStunning photographs and brief historical notes offer a surprisingly grounded approach to Gary’s abandoned structures. The book is well-organized, with each chapter devoted to a different type of building. The photos are clear and poignant, although I would prefer a bit more detail in the captions. Best of all, the author’s love for Gary shines through on every page. Lansdowne uses these examples of urban blight to call attention to the city’s history, but she never falls into the trap of thinking that Gary is a ghost town. She doesn’t treat today’s city as a story that has ended, but as one that is constantly being written. She celebrates the city’s present life, and her words ring with hope. She describes improvements made to some of the locations featured here, and she describes a group of Gary residents who work on damaged and abandoned structures. “The city is filled with amazing people,” she says in her introduction. In her epilogue, she writes, “Gary, Indiana is . . . a city that has fought to survive for over a hundred years—one that has survived.” She calls for people to strengthen and preserve, and also to remember: “Remember the hope, dreams, and unfortunate circumstances of the past that forged life as we know it.” Powerful....more
This is a hard book to rate because it's a collection of short works by different writers. The stories themselves range quite a bit in quality. Some aThis is a hard book to rate because it's a collection of short works by different writers. The stories themselves range quite a bit in quality. Some are very good, but most of them, in my opinion, were not. While I was reading it, at first, I thought it would be between 3 and 4 stars. Then, as I went on and read more of the stories, it was a solid 3. Then 2.5. Then it got worse yet. I was very disappointed overall. One good thing about this collection is that because it's a collection of so many parts, a few bad stories won't hurt the overall experience—it's a celebration of Sherlock Holmes, and certainly the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. Here, though, there were only two stories that I really liked, two more that were nice, and a fifth that was very good but just not my cup of tea. I'm still counting it as plus, since it was so good, and since my opinions are subjective anyway. But that still only leaves five positives out of 14 stories altogether. Again, this is all just my own reaction, but it was not a good experience. I spent most of the time feeling irritated. Then I'd get to a really good one, and I'd get my hopes up again.
Some stuff I didn't like: • Paranormal. I'm okay with it as a genre, but it doesn't fit well into Sherlock Holmes. Maybe I'd feel differently if the writers had done a better job of integrating it, or if it hadn't been used in SO MANY of the tales. • Non-smart Sherlock Holmes. Usually this happens alongside a perfect other character who outsmarts him at every turn. I've no problem with Sherlock being outsmarted, especially if it's by an Irene Adler figure. After all, her victory was in the VERY FIRST short story of the canon. But in that story, Sherlock was smart and clever, and Irene was cleverer still. Here, I think, some of the authors wanted their own characters to triumph, so instead of writing them smarter, they just diminished Sherlock. They made him jump to conclusions (a far cry from the “Data! Data! Data! I cannot make bricks without clay!” detective of the canon). They made him mild and prone to inaction. There were also some painful scenes of Sherlock meeting an Irene-like character, and falling over himself telling her how wonderful and smart and tough she is. Didn't feel real to me. • Super-perfect non-Doyle characters. Whether it’s a macho tough guy or a badass warrior woman, I would have liked something more interesting than perfect perfection • Gratuitous violence (I know, I know, it’s about a man who solves murders, so of course, there will be murders. It just felt a little over-the-top to me.) • Some of them just felt pretentious.
Some stuff I liked: • The variety. Some of these are stories set in the Doyle-era, starring Doyle characters. Others are set in modern times, still with Sherlock et al. Then there are the ones that have all original characters, but whose heroes assume the roles of Holmes and Watson. And ones where the characters are normal, everyday people who also happen to be Sherlock Holmes fans. And a whimsical Sherlock-is-really-a-bug retelling. And prose. And poetry. And a graphic novel. This is a very rich collection of many different styles and forms. • The humor. A few stories made me laugh out loud. • Whimsy • Fun. Some of these stories had such a nice sense of fun, and they really felt like a celebration of Doyle.
My top 5: Dr. Watson’s Song and The Case of the Naked Butterfly, tied for first. The Case of the Missing Case, honorable mention. A nice origin story for Holmes. Also, they worked music into the plot, so that’s a win. The Adventure of the Six Sherlocks, honorable mention. A lot of fun to read about a mystery at a Sherlock Holmes convention, with a bunch of Sherlock cosplayers as suspects. The mystery element kind of falls apart if you think about it too much, but the story itself was such a hoot that I didn’t much care. Sherlocked. I didn’t care so much for this one, but it was well-written.
All in all, I didn’t enjoy most of this collection. Parts of it were cute, but most of these stories were either irritating or dull. I enjoy a good Sherlock yarn, but this collection just wasn’t for me....more
Fantastic book! Author Fredrick Stonehouse really did his research for this one. He sets up the book with one of the most useful introductions I’ve evFantastic book! Author Fredrick Stonehouse really did his research for this one. He sets up the book with one of the most useful introductions I’ve ever read, in which he lays out the responsibilities of a lighthouse keeper and describes daily life for the “wickies.” Each chapter that follows tells a different story about a particular event at a particular location. The Great Lakes are vast and dangerous, but they often seem overlooked in books and stories. Stonehouse remedies that here by focusing exclusively on Great Lakes lighthouses. These intrepid keepers faced a very different set of challenges than their colleagues on the open sea, and I found it fascinating to read about their experiences. Stonehouse takes his readers on a journey from the early towers of the 1700s to the modern days of automation. There is variety here, too. One chapter tells of the lighthouse that inspired a famous hymn, while another tells of a brave rescue during a storm. One tells of a rescue that came too late for some. And there are many, many tales in this small volume. The most fanciful chapter by far—a delightful yarn that is still grounded in solid research—describes a tragedy from the lighthouse’s point of view. This book is both true in content and informal in tone. It’s both celebration and elegy. Most of all, it’s history. It’s local history for many, and especially for Stonehouse, whose pride for the Great Lakes region and its unique happenings shines through on every page....more
This was a difficult book to read. It’s an inspiring story of survival and integrity, but it’s also a story of a mentally ill narcissist and possible This was a difficult book to read. It’s an inspiring story of survival and integrity, but it’s also a story of a mentally ill narcissist and possible serial killer. He was a war hero who may have cracked in Korea, and she was a little girl who found that she was strong. When Terry Jo was 11 years old, her family’s dream vacation at sea turned to tragedy. She was awakened in the night, found her brother and mother murdered, and barely escaped with her life. She spent four days alone on the ocean with no food or water, and, against all odds, she managed to survive. This is her story: a thorough account of the events that led to that horrible night, and a glimpse of the dreadful aftermath....more
I was all set to give this 3 stars, but I decided on four because the author really made me care about the characters. Consider it a 3.5.
This book reaI was all set to give this 3 stars, but I decided on four because the author really made me care about the characters. Consider it a 3.5.
This book really felt like two different stories told together. There’s a story about a girl healing from grief and a story about a boy with mental illness. Her story is beautifully written, with rich, complex characters (Violet and her parents). So much is done in just a few words, and their inner turmoils, which each works through in a different way, are shown vividly but without over-the-top exposition. This story is worth 4 or 5 stars. The parts of the novel addressing Finch’s mental illness, however, did not seem to me to be as good. Finch’s is an illness that (view spoiler)[ultimately goes untreated (hide spoiler)], but this leaves little room for character development, either for Finch or his family. I felt as though I were in Violet’s head during her chapters, but I never felt as though I understood Finch. To be fair, that might be the point. I’ve heard others say that Finch’s storyline was too predictable, and in a way, it was, but I think that’s intentional. Very little seemed to happen with him, though. The best part of the novel, for me, was the way that Niven let the Violet’s and Finch’s families be involved in their ultimate fates. (view spoiler)[Violet heals, and although she is grieving two deaths by the novel’s end, there is a strong chance that she’ll be okay, owing in no small measure to the support and love of her parents. They constantly try to give her the space she needs to work through things, without being distant; they give her a refuge without being smothering. They encourage her without pushing her too hard, and while they hope for her to get over certain things (such as the fear of driving) they do not demand it. They are my favorite characters in the story. Finch, for his part, commits suicide as a direct result of his untreated mental illness. His parents let him do his own thing, he goes undiagnosed and untreated, and although we sympathize with his school counselor, Finch needed far more help than what he got. His family does nothing, and while that, I’m sure, is the point, it makes for a slow plot and little character growth. If Finch had had Violet’s parents, they would have gotten him help, real help, a lot sooner. That would have been a very interesting book, about an uphill climb and constant struggle, and it may or may not have ended well for Finch. But at least we could see people making an effort. (hide spoiler)]
What I liked: The main characters, who are smart and funny without being obnoxious and pretentious; the setting, with its constant nods to the state of Indiana; the hope, the optimistic idea that some people who are suffering now will go on to be okay; some supporting characters, who are nuanced and interesting. So, not the greatest story I’ve read, but it does have its good points. ...more
Heartbreaking and meticulously researched, this book makes for a powerful read. Moore covers a broad scope while still depicting certain historical chHeartbreaking and meticulously researched, this book makes for a powerful read. Moore covers a broad scope while still depicting certain historical characters in great detail. The book is highly readable and feels like fiction. I think that Moore, in a few places, tried a little too hard to make the book flow. For example, she tried to draw a parallel between the girls' plight and the Easter celebrations that were happening at the same time; she described Easter as Christ being "reborn." I get that she's being poetic, but it isn't a rebirth. It's a resurrection. There are a few other times when she'll add in details that seem impossible to verify. For example, one of the girls who died of radium poisoning was walking to work on a specific day and checked her watch so she wouldn't be late and stumbled but didn't think too much about it. Did the girls really try to be on time? I assume so. Did that particular girl check the time on that particular day? Maybe. Likely. But impossible to know. Did they stumble as they started to get sick? Yes, often. Their bones were shrinking. Did that particular girl stumble on that particular day? How could we know? I understand that Moore is setting up the subtle beginnings of the disease, but there does seem to be a little bit of poetic licensing happening, too. Even so, well worth the read. Excellent prose, thought-provoking, and highly informative....more
This well-researched book stands as both a testament to Gary's history and an homage to its glory. It also functions as a eulogy of sorts, as it chronThis well-researched book stands as both a testament to Gary's history and an homage to its glory. It also functions as a eulogy of sorts, as it chronicles and laments the city's decay. This book gives its readers a tour of the city, explaining the histories of many abandoned and/or razed structures and providing backgrounds of numerous Gary celebrities. The book contains many photographs throughout as well.
Davich does a fantastic job of explaining not only what happened but why. He tells of individuals and civic institutions who failed to strengthen and revitalize Gary's downtown. He explains different events that, in their turn, all contributed to Gary's current problems. He unflinchingly portrays the worst aspects of the city, and parts of this book are very sad and difficult to read. However, he also has a great deal to say about Gary's greatest asset—the city's youth. Davich is by no means an optimist; his melancholy foray into Gary's tragedy makes for a bleak reading experience. However, this same realism adds a great deal of credibility to his outlook on the possibility of a brighter future.
This book gives me hope. It was published recently, in 2015, and already its cover is outdated. Gary's Union Station is still falling apart, and it is still closed. But the city has taken pains to own its history, and the community has come together to improve on many of the abandoned structures. The Station, for example, now displays graffiti-inspired art on the front and side. It's a city project, not vandalism. The walk around the side of the building is paved, and motion-activated lights will be added (if they haven't been already). The Methodist Church is still the nine-story ruin depicted here, but the city is working to stabilize the structure and use it as an urban garden. Davich describes how the public is able to access and vandalize these places at will, but that is no longer the case. The city now requires permits for visitors to explore their monuments, and they have been enforcing these rules. Davich speaks of vague plans for these structures—he even mentions the garden proposal—but he laments that there is no funding to move these plans forward. And there wasn't, at least not in 2015. But last summer, an announcement came through that Gary had received a $400,000 grant specifically so that they could move forward with these projects. Comparing Gary now to the Gary of just three years ago give me hope indeed....more
This was a very eclectic collection of North American folklore. Parts of it were very funny, and parts of it were just strange. On the whole, it made This was a very eclectic collection of North American folklore. Parts of it were very funny, and parts of it were just strange. On the whole, it made for a very interesting read....more
![Proceedings at the laying of the corner-stone of the new capitol of Indiana, on the 28th day of September, 1880 at the city of Indianapolis 1880 [Leather Bound]](https://cdn.statically.io/img/i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1696235761l/151503109._SX50_.jpg)
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