Is That English? Also, book review of Almost Amish by Kathryn Cusham

Just going through some stuff, downsizing our massive loads of crap, and whatnot, and came across this little gem that the Almanzas sent me a few years ago.   

That's some good sense of humor right there!

Speaking of downsizing, or spring cleaning, or whatever it is I'm doing...

I took a bag of books to Half Price Books last weekend.  Of course, while I was there, I looked around and found a book that looked interesting.  I said to Jeff, "I hope they offer at least $7.50 'cuz I want to buy this book."  Luckily, they offered enough for my books I was able to buy the new-to-me book and pocket $5.  Score!

So, Book Review:  Almost Amish by Kathryn Cushman

The back of the books says:

"Over-committed and overwhelmed, Julie Charlton is at the breaking point.  She knows she should feel blessed as a mother and wife - but she just feels exhausted.  And then, the miraculous happens.  Her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series about trying to live like the Amish and needs another family to join her.  It's just the break Julie needs."

This is a good, easy read.  It didn't take long, not much thought, which is how I usually like to read.  I read it in about 4 days, in amongst my regular life.  Maybe the premise of the story spoke to me since it's been so hectic at work lately, but man, makes me think I would rather spend my day taking care of the house & making meals more than spending 45+ hours a week at work...  

And if it were reversed, I would probably wish for a job to go to.

And now I have a book to sell back to Half Price Books.  :-)

What have you been doing?

Book Review: The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott

This, my friends, is a Pinterest Book Review.  I have a board called "Books to read?" because when I go to the library I have a hard time figuring out how to find a book I might like.  I don't read as much as I did before I met Jeff, but hey, before he came into the picture I didn't have TV or internet and spent all my time alone.  And the summer before I met him, I was laid off every other week, so I had a lot of time on my hands.  And I went to the library every single day.  Yes, I was a regular.  They probably thought I had fallen off the face of the Earth, but then I went in and found this book to read.

"Tess, an aspiring seamstress, thinks she's had an incredibly lucky break when she is hired by famous designer Lady Lucile Duff Gordon to be a personal maid on the Titanic's doomed voyage. Once on board, Tess catches the eye of two men, one a roughly-hewn but kind sailor and the other an enigmatic Chicago millionaire. But on the fourth night, disaster strikes. 
 
Amidst the chaos and desperate urging of two very different suitors, Tess is one of the last people allowed on a lifeboat. Tess’s sailor also manages to survive unharmed, witness to Lady Duff Gordon’s questionable actions during the tragedy. Others—including the gallant Midwestern tycoon—are not so lucky. 
 
On dry land, rumors about the survivors begin to circulate, and Lady Duff Gordon quickly becomes the subject of media scorn and later, the hearings on the Titanic. Set against a historical tragedy but told from a completely fresh angle, The Dressmaker is an atmospheric delight filled with all the period's glitz and glamour, all the raw feelings of a national tragedy and all the contradictory emotions of young love."


I like to read historical fiction.  It's definitely my preference.  I was really happy that they had been rescued and onto dry land by the time this book was 1/4 done.  There was a lot of aftermath, both with Titanic hearings (they took from the actual transcripts of the hearings for dialog) as well as what happens to Tess in her personal life.  I would recommend this book to anyone who wants an easy yet interesting read.

What have you been reading?