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Sunday, December 4, 2011

It'll Heal What Ails You, Laddie

An Irish Country Doctor by Patrick Taylor

An Irish Country DoctorI've been wanting to read this book for a long time, and I'm so glad I finally did.  One person at the store where I work said it's like James Herriot's book except with people as patients.  I think that's pretty close.  It's simply a story, and I loved that.  Dr. Barry Laverty has just graduated from medical school.  We join him on his way to Ballybucklebo (a fictional city in Northern Ireland) to answer a job notice.  He meets his possible employer, Dr. Fingal O'Reilly, literally throwing a patient out the door.  With this auspicious start, Barry questions if he should accept a position here, yet he does need a job.  We get to see Barry grow as a doctor, a partner, and a person.  It's a heart-warming ride with the beauty of Ireland as it's backdrop.  I hoped there would be a strong Catholic character.  There wasn't one in this first book though religion is not let completely out of the book. (You couldn't have anything close to a realistic book taking place in Northern Ireland without some religion.)  Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this book immensely.  There are several more in this series which I highly recommend.  [Interestingly, this book is available as a Mass Market.]

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Next But Not Last, Last But Not Least

I've been reading lots of sequels lately.  I don't think there much point in posting about other books in a series if I've already posted about the first book.  I have thoroughly enjoyed all the series I've been reading.

I finished the Leviathan trilogy.  It gets better as it goes.  Since I listened to the first book on audio, I missed out on the books' beautiful illustrations by Keith Thompson.  Though it was good on audio, don't forget to look at the artwork in the book!!  Scott Westerfeld (the author) has many other good books.  One of his most popular series is the Uglies Series.

I read the second in the Miss Dido Kent Series.  It's called A Gentleman of Fortune, Or the Suspicions of Miss Dido Kent.  It's just as good as the first if not better.  The third book, A Woman of Consequence, Or the Investigations of Miss Dido Kent, is due out April 10, 2012.

I've also been reading more in the Sister Frevisse Series.  They have all been fabulous.

Raise Your Spirits

The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester

Piper McCloud, an imaginative, curious, irrepressibly positive girl, lives in a very quiet rural town where nothing out of the ordinary happens nor is it welcome.  But, when Piper is seen flying, shocking the town's people isn't the only consequence.  The McCloud's home is swarmed by reporters, until Dr. Hellion and her swat team descend upon the McCloud home clearing the area of any reporters and voyeurs.  Dr. Hellion explains to the McClouds that she has a special school where children like Piper can go and learn in safety.  Not realizing she'll be leaving her parents, Piper agrees to go to the school.  She's always wanted to go to school (rather then being isolated at home).  The school seems wonderful, except for Conrad, who bullies the kids.  However, not everything is as it seems.  Piper will need all of the courage and love in her heart to overcome all that is against her.  And somehow, overcome she does.
Girl Who Could Fly
This book was interesting and uplifting.  I don't know if there will be others to follow, but I would enjoy reading more about Piper and her unique friends.

This is the art on the paperback cover.  I think the art on the hardcover edition makes the book seem very serious and somber.  The cover here protrays the action that's also waiting for the reader to enjoy.