The mystery builds its tension nicely and there are a couple of plot twists to add excitement. Jules is a strong female protagonist with personality and character. And the circus is a unique enough setting to make it that much more enjoyable.
Continue readingAll in all, an enjoyable start to an intriguing series. It will be very interesting to see where it goes from here. If you are looking for a creative read for middle graders check out the start to this new series.
Continue readingIt has a simplicity to it but I felt like it captured the characters well and gave the reader some sense of what it might be like to live in that time and place. Also some interesting exploration of relationships and family life.
Continue readingIt has a simplicity to it but I felt like it captured the characters well and gave the reader some sense of what it might be like to live in that time and place. Also some interesting exploration of relationships and family life.
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Those interested in Scandanavia crime novels and/or the Great Lakes Region will surely want to check this one out (unless you can read Norwegian and have already read the series!). Those looking for a fast-paced crime novel will be disappointed while those with a more psychological bent will likely enjoy.
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Those interested in Scandanavia crime novels and/or the Great Lakes Region will surely want to check this one out (unless you can read Norwegian and have already read the series!). Those looking for a fast-paced crime novel will be disappointed while those with a more psychological bent will likely enjoy.
Continue readingToday will mark the 110th meeting of Ohio State and Michigan football teams otherwise known as “The Game.” As a lifelong University of Michigan fan I have to admit I am not looking forward to it. The utter collapse of the Wolverines offense has sucked all the joy out of the season. The fact that Ohio State’s new coach Urban Meyer has not lost a game and looks to notch its 24 straight win in Ann Arbor makes it all the more painful. But in this game anything can happen and every Michigan fan in the country is hoping against hope that somehow their team pulls an upset for the ages.
As a way to mark this occasion I figured I would provide an opportunity for those of you unfamiliar with the history and tradition of this storied rivalry to read and learn about it. Since I have reviewed a number of books on the subject here over the years, herewith a recap:
Three and Out:
Rich Rodriguez and the Michigan Wolverines in the Crucible of College Football
by John Bacon
For most Michigan fans (myself included), that makes this book particularly painful. It is like watching a replay of your car accident in slow motion, on repeat. You know both the ultimate end result and the final score of every painful game and yet you force yourself to read the excruciating details as you relive the nightmare.
But if you are simply a fan of college football, or interested in big-time college athletics more generally, it is a fascinating read. Ohio State fans might find it entertaining and strangely cathartic.
Utt brings a fresh light to a war that has not received as much attention as the other American wars of the 19th Century, primarily the Civil and the Mexican-American Wars. Utt argues that the War of 1812 laid a more solid foundation of the United States Navy (compared to the infantile beginnings in the Revolutionary War) and was a pivotal moment in shaping American foreign policy.
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