The Old is New

Absolution by Murder  (One Sister Fidelma Mysteries) by Peter Tremayne
Shroud for the Arch Bishop (Two Sister Fidelma Mysteries) by Peter Tremayne

I have thoroughly enjoyed learning ancient history with my kids as we homeschool. Since I'm Irish, I really enjoyed the time we spent on the Celts and the early Irish Monks. I also love mysteries. So, to me, a mystery series taking place in the 7th century focusing on an Irish nun sounds like the perfect book. This series has been around for a long time, but I just recently discovered it. 

In the first book, Absolution by Murder, we meet Sister Fidelma, an advocate for the Brehon court giving her investigative and judicial authority, and Brother Eadulf, a Roman monk from a family of magistrates.  The King of Northumbria has called a conference to finally decide whether his kingdom with follow the Columba Liturgy or the Roman Liturgy.  A murder take place.  In order to ensure peace between both sides, Sister Fidelma and Brother Eadulf are ordered to investigate together.  As the religious' chance to catch the killer dwindles, the chance of war grows rapidly.

I enjoyed the book.  The author does a good job of helping readers understand the culture and politics of the period without tedium or complication.  You don't need to be familiar with ancient history to enjoy this book.  The plot is not overly complex, but the story is enjoyable.  I hoped for better books as the series progressed.

In the second book, Sister Fidelma and Brother Eadulf again must pair up to solve a murder to prevent fighting between the Celtic and Roman Christian communities.  In the previous book, the two religious sometimes verbally sparred or let fall a terse comment, but both took it with some patience and understanding.  I felt in the second book, Sister Fidelma just came off like a condescending jerk and Brother Eadulf like her lapdog.  I didn't see it as verbal sparring as it is once referred to in the book.  I was quite disappointed. 

There are over twenty books in this series.  So, I imagine things must get better and the cattiness of Sister Fidelma is tempered.  Many of the early books are out-of-print but are available as ebooks.

Such a Good Book I'm Sad

Insurgent by Veronica Roth  (Divergent Series #2)

I read Insurgent over the past few days, staying up until all hours of the morning because I couldn't/wouldn't stop.  It was so good, that now, I feel depressed.  I want to feel that excitement and suspense and the pure joy of reading a book I love, and I don't know what book to turn to for that experience now.

I do have some good books waiting to read and so I press on, but I'm not expecting them to be anything close to the experience I had reading Insurgent.

Fairy Tale Books for Boys

I've been gone travelling, so I've not posted for quite a while.  I didn't get as many new books read and I thought, but it was a good thing.  I finally got my boys into the Sisters Grimm series.  I made them listen to the first book in the car and they were hooked.

I've got a book I read a while ago and should have blogged about before this and a new book to blog about, too.

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

I had looked at this book when if first came out and dismissed it as a book that could be good, but I didn't want to read.  Quite a while ago, I needed and audio book for a trip, so I picked it up hoping my boys wouldn't complain.  Boy did they love it!

The main characters, Hansel and Gretel, are followed through their Grimm tale.  But then, they are also the characters in other Grimm tales.  It's like one long story but I could recognize some of the tales they were in.  It was a very clever idea and done very well.  This is a great book for boys.  The narrator warns you that the Grimm tales used in the book are not cuddly, Disney fairy tales.  They are the genuine gruesome Grimm fairly tales.  The narrator also pauses throughout the book to warn the reader that a very scary, or graphic, or bloody scene is coming up, so anyone with young siblings listening should make sure they leave the room.  My boys absolutely loved this.  I've written before about how much I think kids can benefit from fairy tale adventures, so I won't go on about that.  I'm thankful this book exists and gives boys (and girls, too) a great option for a fairy tale adventure.



The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

I just finished this new book.  I loved it!!!!! The bards have entertained us all with the tales of Prince Charming and Cinderella, Prince Charming and Sleeping Beauty, Prince Charming and Rapunzel, and Prince Charming and Snow White. If you ask the Sisters Grimm {Buckley} they are all the same guy, but here, they are four different princes.  The bards didn't have the decency to include the princes' names in the stories!  We are introduced to each prince and his story (after the bard's story).  They are not the Charmings you may have thought they were, and the princesses may not be the ladies you thought they were.  Through magic luck, or coincidence, the four princes find themselves together and together try to save the kingdom from a witch who's also miffed about the inaccuracy of  a bard's tale.  This story is full of adventure, humor, and the meaning of friendship.  I kept trying to think how I could describe this book.  I think the best way I can do that is to say it's like The Princess Bride (movie at least).  It has real action and suspense, but it also have some really spoofy humor that fits right in with the story.  The book also contains wonderful illustrations most presented as Figure 1, Figure 2, etc. to help elucidate the handbook.  I really really enjoyed this book.  It ended with the opportunity for more to come, and I sure hope there is.  This is a book that should not be missed.

Can you Catch a Microbe Killer?

Deadly by Julie Chibbaro

Another great teen historical fiction novel.  It's told in a series of journal entries including penned drawings. 

Prudence is an intelligent and curious teen living in the beginning of the twentieth century.  She has a mind for science and experience with death.  She is given the rare chance to work at a laboratory (as a secretary) where she gets pulled into a medical investigation of a deadly outbreak in New York City.  Prudence  gets to help track a killer.  But is it a person or a microbe to be considered the killer? 

I enjoyed the way this book was written.  I enjoyed the medical history and mystery included in the book.  It was wonderful to experience the growth Prudence goes through and the way she heals her heart.

This book won the 2011 National Jewish Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature.  It is a unique book to find for Young Adult readers.

Case for Christ for the Intellect

The Christ Connection: How the World Religions Prepared the Way for the Phenomenon of Christ by Roy Abraham Varghese

This was a good book.  Not exactly what I was expecting, but I'm glad I read it.  I thought it was going to be more about the connection other religions share with Christ than it was.  That was covered and it was very interesting, yet the majority of the book then branched from there and talked about evidence that points to the truth of Christ and His Resurrection.  Nearly every, if not all, proposed arguments against Christ was detailed and then logic/proof was given to refute each of the arguments.  The book is well researched and well written.  It is not a quick read and nor a book easily skimmed.  The reader needs to be invested in the book, which isn't a bad thing.

I do enjoy my nook, however, this is one book I wished I had not read on my nook.  I didn't realize there would be several tables in the book.  These were difficult to read and follow on my Simple Touch nook.  It was also difficult to refer back to things which I really wish I could have done more easily.

This is a very interesting book for those who want a serious read about the truth of Christ and His follower's claims, as well as for those who would like to have ready arguments for the scholarly atheists in their life.

Plan on an Interesting Read

unPLANNED by Abby Johnson

 This book is the story of Abby Johnson's experience volunteering at, working for, and running a large Planned Parenthood Clinic.  Her goal was to help young woman (and perhaps ease some of her own guilt).  People from Coalition for Life (founders of 40 Days for Life) are ever-present outside the fence of the clinic, so Abby has come to know them and they know her, but she also knows they don't understand what she really does or why it's important she does it.  But, eventually, Abby comes to know what it is she's truly doing and what it is those above her in the organization care about.  After helping in a procedure by performing an ultrasound, Abby realizes she shouldn't and can't keep doing her job at Planned Parenthood. Now what?  Abby Johnson has to make a difficult and important decision that will have a huge impact on the safety of her family--financially, physically and spiritually. 
Abby Johnson is very honest in her book, relating the path in her life that lead her to Planned Parenthood and then lead her away from there and home to the Coalition for Life offices.  Abby Johnson is also fair and compassionate; no one is presented as saint or villain.  I'm very glad I read this book.  I found it exteremely interesting to read about an insider's experience in Planned Parenthood.  I also think this book is good for everyone to read no matter where you stand on the abortion issue.  There are things everyone can learn from Abby's journey.

Is Being Brave Selfless? Is Being Selfish Brave?

Divergent by Veronica Roth

These are central questions for Beatrice as she decides which faction to belong to.  In an attempt to avoid more devastating war, five factions have formed: Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent).  These factions work together to govern and provide for the citizens of a dystopian Chicago.  At age 16, each citizen must decide which faction to chose.  Whether they will stay where they were raised or join a new faction is a major decision.  But making the decision guarantees nothing.  Each candidate must pass a rigorous trial to determine if they will be accepted into the faction or become factionless--a homeless untouchable.

Beatrice encounters new alliances and new emotions on the path she has chosen. She must also endure dangers, deceit, and death as the peace that has been found in this city begins to crumble.  What Beatrice thought she knew begins to disintegrate and her bravery will truly be tested. 

This suspenseful and intriguing trilogy should not be missed!!  The second book came out in May and I can't wait to read it.