Facing the Lion: Growing up Maasai on the African Savana by Joseph Lemasolai Lukuton

Joseph starts life in a nomadic Maasai tribe. His tribe keeps cows, and moves from place to place to find adequate food and water for their herds. When the government requires each family to send one child to school, Joseph, who was sometimes teased because he is chubby, volunteers to go.  School introduces Joseph to the outside world, and as he advances as a student, his view of the world grows.  Despite his broadening horizons he clings to his Maasai culture and family.

This is a fascinating autobiography.  The language is simple and direct, but the reader can feel Joseph's pride in his culture, and longing to be a brave as the great warriors of his people.  So often people in modern cultures feel that they are superior to tribal groups, but Joseph's story shows that the people in his tribe, despite the challenges of finding basic subsistence, live happy lives full of meaning and purpose.  This is a great book to give to a children who like, (or need) to learn about people who live very differently from themselves. (2005, 125p)

note: Amazon lists this book as appropriate for ages 12 and up.  That is probably because of the chapter that describes the circumcision ceremony men in Joseph's tribe undergo as a rite of passage.  I would feel comfortable giving it to a 5th or 6th grade child, as long as their parent was aware of that chapter and could answer questions about that for them.

The Power of Moments by Chip & Dan Heath

Two brothers, one a professor at Stanford, the other a professor at Duke, explain how stand-out moments can change the course of a business transaction, a company, or a life. Many of these moments happen surreptitiously, but the authors argue that by understanding the elements of these kinds of experiences business owners and other individuals can engineer them to produce dramatic positive outcomes. After the introduction, the book has four main sections, each one talking about one of the aspects of a impactful moment: Elevation, Insight, Pride and Connection.  Each of these sections starts with an extended story of a life changing moment, and then goes on to elaborate the idea it demonstrates with other research and case studies.  The four sections each end with a thought exercise for the reader to try to practice applying the idea in a real organizational situation.

This was very well written and I never found myself tempted to skip over parts to get to the next idea as I have done with some similar business-type self-help books.  Instead, I found myself coming up with ideas of how I could use the principles in my new job as a library director and in my personal life.  This book was given to me by my good friend and boss at Provo Library when I left there, and I may, at some time, give it to someone I care about who has to take on a managerial position for the first time.  It really has some good ideas presented in an interesting and accessible way. (2017, 307 p.)

The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke

This is the first in a series about an amateur sleuth,  Hannah Swensen, who is a young single adult who owns a cookie shop in a small tourist town in Minnesota. One morning she finds the neighborhood milkman murdered in his truck, surrounded by some of her half eaten chocolate chip cookies.  When her police detective brother-in-law asks her to help him in his investigation she is only too willing to jump into the search.  Using her delicious cookies as the ready door into almost all social situations, Hannah keeps her eyes and ears open for any information that might lead to the murderer.  While she is watching others, someone is watching her and that person is hungry for more than just her famous pecan delights.

This was a delightfully light read, and Hannah is endearing because of her self deprecating manner and spunky personality. The inhabitants of the little town where she lives fit a variety of fun stereotypes.  Overall, the book kind of felt like Nancy Drew for grownups.  It is what publishers call a "cozy mystery," and I think it will be one of my favorite adult genres. I enjoyed it very much, especially since I was listening to it at the same time as the heavier historical fiction. It provided some needed comic relief. There are cookie recipes at the end of many chapters, which is an added little bit of fun. (2001, 336 p.)

Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner

15-year-old Emmy Downtree lives with her single mother and little sister, Julia.  Emmy longs to be a dress designer and is delighted to get a job in a bridal shop. Her ambitions are interrupted when she and her sister are sent away from London at the beginning of WWII to live with the kindly Charlotte in the country.  Emmy still yearns to follow her dream so she runs away from the safety of the country, Julia in tow, and arrives back in London on the day the Blitz begins.  Emmy and Julia are separated, and as Emmy searches desperately for her sister, she comes to learn the importance of family and the bitterness of learning to live with your mistakes.

I picked up this book because two of my co-workers recommended it.  It did not disappoint.  The vivid descriptions of London at war, and the heart-wrenching inner turmoil of the Emmy, her mother and her sister, make this a very engaging read.  The emotional intensity is eased a little by the kindness of secondary characters; Charlotte, the dress shop keeper, and Emmy's boyfriend.  I also liked the fact that Emmy's early single-minded pursuit of her dream gives way to a less self-centered reality in the end.  This is a good choice for those looking for a soulful historical fiction. (416 p. 2015)

An Heiress at Heart by Jennifer Delamere

Both Ria Summerville, and Lizzie Poole have fled London to live in Australia for different reasons.  Ria, a wealthy heiress fled London because she was being forced to marry the heir of the Summerville fortune, but was in love with the younger brother, Edward.  They fled together to try to make their own way in a new land.  Lizzie is the offspring of a commoner and an indiscreet nobleman. She runs away with her brother to Australia to escape an aristocratic lover who has become abusive.  The two women meet in Australia, and are amazed at how similar they look.  When Ria become fatally ill, the two women hatch a plan whereby Lizzie can gain a better life, and Ria can make amends to her family for the heart ache she has caused them. Lizzie returns to London and assumes Ria's identity.  Everything is going well until she starts to fall in love with the one man who, as Ria, is forbidden to her.

My regular readers know that I like to indulge, occasionally, in a clean historical romance.  I have really enjoyed some of the books by Georgette Heyer, but with this book I have had to face the fact that not all clean historical fiction books are created equal.  Don't get me wrong. This book was OK.  It was pretty clean and the story was interesting and about what you would expect from the genre.  The thing that bugged me about it was the writer spent too much time describing the mutual attraction between the two characters--the heat of the other's body, the thrill when the other kissed their hand,  the touch of their breath on their neck, etc, etc.  It was the same problem I had with the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer.  I know some people read romances because they like that kind of thing. I am sure there are plenty of readers out there who would love this book, but it was just too much for me. (2012, 416 p.)

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie

Colonel and Mrs Bantry wake up one morning to find that someone has left the body of a young women in their library.  Mrs Bantry is a friend of Miss Marple, and immediately calls on her to help solve the case and deflect suspicion from her dear husband.  Local and regional investigators look in to all the probable suspects, but it is Miss Marple's shrewd knowledge of human nature and ability to read people's characters that finally solves the mystery.

I started to listen to this one and realized that I had read it before.  I checked my blog, and I didn't have a post for it, so it must have been before I started blogging.  I actually couldn't remember how the story ended so I decided I might as well listen to it again.  Agatha Christie is one of my favorites.  She must have been a remarkable woman, much like her character of Miss Marple, to be able to pick up on all the subtle gestures and comments that communicate character and internal thoughts.  All through the book when Miss Marple would point out one thing or another of how certain people act, I kept thinking to myself, "yeah, that's right.  I have seen people do that." Her plotting is  clever, but it is the characterizations that make Christie so fun to read. Stephanie Cole is a great reader for Christie.  She has just the right British accent.(1942, 242 p.)

A note to my faithful readers

Hello faithful reader (all 8 or so of you). I just wanted to let you know that after 17 years of working as a children's librarian I have made a job change.  I am now the director of a small but charming suburban library.  As a result my reading habits might change.  Whereas I have primarily read children's literature, my selection may expand to include more adult titles. If you need a good source for kid's lit specifically may I refer you to the Provo Library children's book review blog. Of course you are welcome to click in as I make this new voyage into largely uncharted territory.