October Reading Wrap-Up

 

This little guy and his relatives scurry across my deck daily.  Often their cheeks are stuffed full as they prepare their store for winter. I can't believe we are at the end of October already!  

This month I read 6 books, which is less than usual for me.  That's what taking a ten day road trip and  reading practically nothing will do for you.  We had a great trip and I don't regret my lack of reading.  The people, the sights and the experience were much more important.  

Here's the breakdown:

Cozy Mystery: 4

Classic: 1

Nonfiction: 1

Cozy Mystery:

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (Mrs. Pollifax #1) by Dorothy Gilman - Mrs. Pollifax, a widow with grown children, is feeling useless.  The thing she has always wanted to do is become a spy.  Of course, one doesn't just walk into CIA Headquarters and become a spy.  However, in a case of being in the right place at the right time, Mrs. Pollifax is drafted into the CIA as a courier.  All she has to do is go into a bookstore on a certain day at a certain time and say a certain thing.  The rest of the time, she is to explore Mexico City to her heart's content.  As often happens, things don't go smoothly and Mrs. Pollifax is taken captive.  This was such a fun read!  You just have to love Mrs. Pollifax and her no-nonsense way of behaving.  

'Twas the Knife Before Christmas (Christmas Tree Farm #2) by Jacqueline Frost -  Holly White is looking forward to her second Christmas back home in Mistletoe, Maine.  Christmas is a big deal in Mistletoe and especially at her parents' Christmas Tree Farm.  The Farm hosts all kinds of fun events leading up to the big day.  To get the Christmas season underway, the town hosts a Tree Lighting Ceremony at the downtown square.  Holly and her friends are attending and all is going well until a man is found dead near the big tree.  To make matters worse, the dead man was her best friend Caroline's date last night.  She was the last one to see him alive and is the prime suspect.  Holly knows her friend didn't commit the murder, but will she be able to convince Sheriff Gray before it is too late?  This one will get you in the Christmas spirit.  It is full of Christmas activities, Christmas treats and cozy Christmas decor.  Oh, the characters are great and so is the mystery.

Unleashed (Kate Turner, DVM #2) by Eileen Brady - Kate Turner is settling in to her new life filling in at the small veterinary hospital in Oak Falls, NY.  She enjoys caring for the animals, making house calls and working with the staff.  But, when a client, Claire Birnham, is found dead from an apparent suicide Kate becomes quite unsettled.  The police seem to be ruling her death a suicide, but Kate can't let it go.  She is convinced Claire was murdered.  As she begins asking questions, she discovers that Claire had some secrets.  Will the truth come out before Kate sticks her nose where it doesn't belong?  My favorite thing about this series is following Kate on her rounds.  The animals' antics are often hilarious and I always learn something new.  

The Cider Shop Rules (Cider Shop Mystery #3) by Julie Anne Lindsey - The Fall season is ramping up in Blossom Valley as the town gets ready for its annual events.  When Mr. Potter, the owner of Potter's Pumpkin Patch, is murdered, some of the festival spirit is lost.  It is difficult to imagine who could have done this.  Mr. Potter was well liked by most people.  However, Winnie did notice that he had been having a heated discussion with someone before he came out to help her with her order.  Could that person have murdered him?  This is one of my favorite series.  The story is heartwarming, the characters are great, and the mystery was a good one.  Not to mention, it is full of all things fall - apple cider, apple treats, pumpkins and corn mazes. What more could you ask for?

Classic:

The Gentlewoman's Choice by George MacDonald -   Hester Raymount is a young woman who desires to serve God by serving the poor.  Unfortunately doing so is not as easy as it would seem.  Some look down upon her for spending time with the poor, while others feel she is putting her life in danger by exposing herself to smallpox and other illnesses.  When her wayward older brother disappears and her younger brother is ill, Hester is called on to show compassion to those nearest to her.  George MacDonald's writing is not always easy to read.  It can be wordy and he tends to sermonize, but his way of seeing the world sticks with you.

Nonfiction:

Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty -  Following the seasons, Dara McAnulty chronicles a year in his life.  He is a young man, fourteen years old, who lives with his mum, dad, brother and sister in Northern Ireland.  Dara is also autistic.  His diary tells of his family life, the time he spends in nature, and the way he processes the world. I really enjoyed this one.  His writing is beautiful and he has such an eye for things in nature.  I also loved hearing about his life with his family.

Other things around the blog:

I participated in the Around the Blogosphere Tag.

We hiked at Horsetooth Mountain in Fort Collins, Co. and I shared pictures.

That's it for me this month.  I hope you all have a blessed November!

~ Gretchen

I am linking up with The Monthly Wrap-Up Round-Up hosted by Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction and Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight. 

I'm also linking up with The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb @ Readerbuzz.

Book Review: The Cider Shop Rules by Julie Anne Lindsey

The Cider Shop Rules (Cider Shop Mystery #3). Julie Anne Lindsey. Kensington Publishing (2021). 320 pages. Genre: Cozy Mystery. 

First Line: "'What on earth is going on here?' I asked, wheeling my grampy's old farm truck into the field just outside Potter's Pumpkin Patch."

Summary:  The fall season is ramping up in Blossom Valley. Winona Mae Montgomery's cider shop is flourishing and her grandma's orchard is thriving. The Fall Family Fun Days is going on at Potter's Pumpkin Patch complete with the "Crusher", a large vehicle that crushes pumpkins.  Winnie and Dot are visiting the pumpkin patch to pick up some things Granny ordered to get the orchard ready for the season.  Mr. Potter, long time friend of the family and owner of the pumpkin patch, offers to load the items in Winnie's truck.  She and Dot take a look around the pumpkin patch before heading back to the truck.  Winnie expects to find Mr. Potter there loading her truck, but she doesn't see him.  He has loaded the truck and covered it with a tarp.  It is not until several hours later that Winnie discovers not only her Granny's order under the tarp, but also the dead body of Mr. Potter.  It is difficult to imagine who could have done this.  Mr. Potter was well liked by most people.  However, Winnie did notice that he had been having a heated discussion with someone before he came out to help her with her order.  Could that person have murdered him?

My thoughts:  Winnie is such a likeable character.  She loves her state of West Virginia and especially the Blue Ridge Mountains.  She has a huge heart for people, especially those who haven't been dealt the best hand in life. If someone is threatening her life or the lives of those she cares about she can't sit still and wait for the police to solve the case.  This last part drives Sheriff Colton Wise crazy.  I will admit there was a point in the book where I was getting quite fed up with Winnie myself because she wouldn't listen to reason.  However, she finally came around and made sure she was working with the police and not on her own.  

All the characters from the other books are back for this one, but Granny isn't around as much as she has been in others. When she is around, she has her posse of crafters with her.  They all keep an eye on Winnie and treat her like she is their own granddaughter.  We got to see a bit more of Winnie's best friend Dot and her ex-boyfriend Hank in this story as well.  There were some new characters that I hope we see more of in future books.

The Blue Ridge Mountains setting is lovely, especially in the fall.  I always enjoy hearing about Winnie's cider shop and her process of creating new flavors of cider.  And the apple treats Granny bakes certainly make me hungry as I read. 

There were two mystery threads going on this time.  One was continued from the last book and involves a convict that Sheriff Wise put away, but who escaped after killing a guard.  He has threatened to come after Sheriff Wise.  The other involves the murder of Mr. Potter.  The suspects include an angry neighbor, Mrs. Potter and someone who is possibly stealing money from the pumpkin patch.  The way things came together in the end was well orchestrated and intense.  

This is a great fall read taking place early October through Thanksgiving.  In fact, all the books in this series are great fall reads.  If you are new to the series, I recommend you start with the first book, Apple Cider Slaying.  I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the Cider Shop Mysteries.

Book Review: Unleashed by Eileen Brady

Unleashed (Kate Turner, DVM #2). Eileen Brady. Poisoned Pen Press (2014). 255 pages. Genre:  Cozy Mystery.

First Line: "After kicking my cheating boyfriend to the curb I needed to find a job far far away from him."

Summary:  Kate Turner is settling in to her new life filling in at the small veterinary hospital in Oak Falls, NY.  She enjoys caring for the animals, making house calls and working with the staff.  But, when a client, Claire Birnham, is found dead from an apparent suicide Kate becomes quite unsettled.  Claire was supposed to pick up her dog, Toto, from the hospital this morning.  Kate finds it hard to believe Claire would abandon her dog.  Besides, Claire had so many things going for her: a new job, an apartment in the big city and lots of friends.  In fact, Claire was making plans.  Someone who is going to take their own life doesn't usually make plans for the future.  The police seem to be ruling her death a suicide, but Kate can't let it go.  She is convinced Claire was murdered.  As she begins asking questions, she discovers that Claire had some secrets.  Will the truth come out before Kate sticks her nose where it doesn't belong?

My thoughts: My favorite thing about this series is accompanying Kate and her assistant on their house calls.  They meet some interesting clients, both human and animal.  The author does a good job of inserting the details of a veterinarian's day without overwhelming the story.  It is interesting to learn about this line of work.

Kate is a kind, capable woman who is not afraid to step into whatever situation comes her way.  She is human though and suffers from sleepless nights and fear when her life is in danger.  She regularly communicates with her Gramps, who is a former fire investigator and loves to help her try to figure things out.  Her love of animals and patience with people are what really stand out about her.  There are two possible romances in her life.  She is carrying on a long distance relationship with one and the other is her friend and police officer, Luke Gianetti.  She keeps finding herself attracted to Luke, but tells herself he has lots of other women waiting in the wings.  Meanwhile, she keeps forgetting about video calls she has set up with the long-distance boyfriend.  

The mystery was quite complicated.  The death of Claire was originally ruled a suicide.  But, Kate finds that hard to believe.  The police are also investigating it as a murder, but Kate and the rest of the public are not privy to that investigation.  When an employee at the clinic is arrested, the pressure is on for Kate to find the real murderer.  Claire had lots of secrets and uncovering them was not easy.  

As with Muzzled, there were lots of interesting characters to meet in this story.  Kate also ends up in some unlikely places as she is investigating.  It was fun to see some of the characters from the first book make an appearance in this one.  Eileen Brady's witty writing style and sense of humor make this a fun read.  

The Sunday Salon

The Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

Autumn has truly arrived as we started the week with above average temperatures and are ending the week with below average temperatures.  Right in the middle of it all, we had some rain.  The colors seem to have brightened up since the rain and it is glorious!

Here's what I have been up to this week:

Seeing ~ 

The beautiful, brilliant colors of fall - oranges, reds, yellows and so many shades of brown from russet to cinnamon to burnt sienna to chestnut.

Smelling ~ 

Smoke from a wood fire.  

Pumpkin pie spice.

In the kitchen ~  

Pork Chops with Sauerkraut and Apples

Pumpkin muffins

Pumpkin Spice Latte

What I read ~

Currently reading ~

I also started Christmas by the Book by Anne Marie Ryan.  It just wasn't grabbing me, so I put it aside for now.

Watching ~

We are still watching NYPD Blue, but one evening it just wouldn't play.  So we ended up watching La Brea.  It was intense, but it hooked me right away. 

What have you been up to this week? I hope it's been a good one!

~ Gretchen

 

Book Review: 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

'Twas the Knife Before Christmas (Christmas Tree Farm Mystery #2). Jacqueline Frost. Crooked Lane Books (2018). 309 pages. Genre: Cozy Mystery.

First Line: "'Less than two weeks until Christmas - can you believe it?' I asked my friends Cookie and Caroline before sinking my teeth into another bite of creamy vanilla cupcake therapy."

Summary:  Holly White is looking forward to her second Christmas back home in Mistletoe, Maine.  Christmas is a big deal in Mistletoe and especially at her parents' Christmas Tree Farm.  The Farm hosts all kinds of fun events leading up to the big day.  To get the Christmas season underway, the town hosts a Tree Lighting Ceremony at the downtown square.  Holly and her friends are attending and all is going well until a man is found dead near the big tree.  To make matters worse, the dead man was her best friend Caroline's date last night.  She was the last one to see him alive and is the prime suspect.  Holly knows her friend didn't commit the murder, but will she be able to convince Sheriff Gray before it is too late?

My thoughts:  If you are looking for a book to get you in the Christmas spirit, this one will certainly help.  Just look at that cover!  The Christmas Tree Farm, Reindeer Games, is all about Christmas.  From the fun activities - the blind sled challenge, Reindeer Bingo and the Christmas Ball, to the delicious baked treats and the charming decor, you can hardly turn a page without being reminded of the season.  

There is a lot to like about the characters as well.  Holly has returned home after a messy breakup with her fiancee.  She lives in the guest house of her parents' tree farm and has a close relationship with them.  She has a large heart and tries to see the best in most people.  I love the relationship her parents have with one another as well.  Holly dreams of someday having a relationship like theirs.  Her best friend Caroline, friend of the family Cookie, and new friend Ray all add to the fun of the book.  Holly is confused about her relationship with Sheriff Gray.  But she gets some answers in the course of the story.  There are some fun, new characters introduced as well and I hope we will see more of them in future books.

The mystery interesting and the suspects believable.  There were several people who had motive. I would be sure it was one person and then a few pages later sure it wasn't that person.  This made for a fun and suspenseful read.  The way the criminal was caught was exciting and a little magical.  All of the stories wrap up in the end which makes for a satisfying read.  

I am looking forward to reading the next book in the Christmas Tree Farm Series.  

Book Review: Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty

Diary of a Young Naturalist. Dara McAnulty. Little Toller Books (2020). 224 pages. Genre:  Non-fiction.

First Line:  "In the darkness my dreams are interrupted."

Summary:  Following the seasons, Dara McAnulty chronicles a year in his life.  He is a young man, fourteen years old, who lives with his mum, dad, brother and sister in Northern Ireland.  Dara is also autistic.  His diary tells of his family life, the time he spends in nature, and the way he processes the world.  

My thoughts:  From the beginning, I could tell that Dara was a young man who has read and been read to.  His writing is beautiful and lyrical.  

Dara comes from a family of people with Autism.  His mother, brother and sister are all autistic.  The good news is that because his mother is autistic, she knows exactly what is going on inside the kids.  She is able to prepare them for whatever is coming their way and often does.  I was amazed at the insight Dara has in regards to his mother and how she is feeling and that he even noticed.  They have a wonderful, intentional home life and I loved hearing about it.  

One of the ways the family spends their time is by being outside in nature.  This has created a love for the natural world in Dara.  He says this about himself:

"I have the heart of a naturalist, the head of a would-be scientist, and bones of someone who is already wearied by the apathy and destruction wielded against the natural world."

His connection to the natural world helps him make sense of the world.  He says that he doesn't always understand people, but the natural world always makes sense and gives him a feeling of peace. 

This was a fascinating, well-written book that allowed me to visit Northern Ireland, learn something about how someone with Autism processes the world and gain a deeper appreciation for the natural world.  

Quotes:

"Whether it's bioluminescence or the combustion of methane, it's wonderful to let the mind wander off with banshees and will-o'-the-wisps - folklore and stories are so often inspired by the strange and beautiful in the natural world, and all these stories bring nature, deeply, into our imagination."

"I do love these stories [Celtic Mythology].  They enrich my life as a young naturalist.  Science, yes, always science.  But we need these lost connections, they feed our imagination, bring wild characters to life, and remind us that we're not separate from nature but part of it."

"Noticing nature is the start of it all.  Slowing down to listen, to watch.  Taking the time, despite mountains of homework.  Making a space in time to stop and stare, as the Welsh poet W. H. Davies wrote in 'Leisure':

    What is life if full of care,

    We have no time to stop and stare.

    No time to stand beneath the boughs

    And stare as long as sheep and cows.

    No time to see, when woods we pass,

    Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

I don't see it as 'leisure though.  This is good work.  Heart work. Taking the time to observe nature, to immerse oneself in its patterns, structures, happenings and rhythms.  It's how mathematicians and scientists are nurtured."

Horsetooth Mountain & Our Road Trip

 

My husband and I recently returned from a nine day road trip from Wisconsin to Utah and back again.  We went to visit our youngest son who lives in the Ogden area.  The weather was great for driving both ways. Unfortunately, the weather in Ogden was not ideal.  It rained for three straight days!  They have had a dry summer, so it was needed.  We had a good visit with our son, but didn't get to see much of Ogden.  On the way out to Utah, we spent a few days in Fort Collins, CO and were able to hike at Horsetooth Mountain.

Horsetooth Mountain is a mountain summit in the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 7,259-foot peak is located in the Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, 7.0 miles west of downtown Fort Collins in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Wikipedia

From visitftcollins.com:

Knowing the water from the Poudre River was inconsistent, sometimes providing too much and at other times not enough, Horsetooth Reservoir was developed to solve the problem. The reservoir acquired its name from the unique rock formation that sits above the large body of water.

There is an old Native American legend regarding this famous stone. The Valley of Contentment (today’s Horsetooth Reservoir) was once guarded by a giant so that no buffalo, deer, or antelope were hunted in the valley. Chief Maunamoku led Indians to slay the giant. In killing the giant, the Chief slashed at his heart, first in the center, then on the right and then on the left with a tomahawk from the heavens. The next day the giant turned to stone and is now known as Horsetooth Rock.

We hiked a 6 mile loop that passed by a waterfall.  Unfortunately, there was no water right now, so no waterfall. But the scenery was beautiful.

If you look carefully, you can see the path we hiked.

This is from the highest point of the hike, looking toward the reservoir.

The rock formations were amazing, as were the views.  Of course, the pictures don't do it justice.  I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse of the Rocky Mountains.

~ Gretchen

All Around the Blogosphere Tag

I've been tagged!  Kathy at katiescottagebooks tagged me for the All Around the Blogosphere Tag.  The Tag came from Jana's blog:  https://reviewsfromthestacks.wordpress.com/2021/10/15/all-around-the-blogosphere-tag

1.  What's your favorite book or book series and why?

I can't choose just one book or series as my favorite, but here are some series I have been enjoying:

The Seaside Cafe Mystery series by Bree Baker 

The Bronte Sisters Mystery series by Bella Ellis

The Amara Alvarez series by Tom Threadgill

The Commissario Brunetti series by Donna Leon

2.  Who is your favorite author?

Again, I can't choose just one, but here are a few authors that I always enjoy:

Robert Whitlow

Vanetta Chapman

C.S. Lewis

Bree Baker/Julianne Lindsey/Jacqueline Frost

3. What is your favorite food?

I think I have a hard time choosing favorites 🙂.  Pizza would be near the top.  Chips and salsa, chips with melted cheese, anything with melted cheese.  Toast with peanut butter.

4. What gives you inspiration for your books?

This might be intended for writers, but I am going to interpret it as what are some things you look for in a good book.  I love books that take me somewhere I have never been and might not ever go.  I also loves books that take place somewhere I am familiar with.  I love books that teach me something in the context of a good story.  I love characters that are flawed, but growing.  I also love quirky characters.  And, of course, I love a good mystery.

5. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Near my sons and their families.

6. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

Introvert.

7. If you had a warning label, what would yours say?

Caution - May become grumpy in the early morning or late evening.

That's the end of the tag.  Thanks, Kathy!

~ Gretchen

Book Review: The Gentlewoman's Choice by George MacDonald

The Gentlewoman's Choice. George MacDonald. Bethany House (1987) (First published 1882). 220 pages.  Genre:  Classic.

First Line: "It was a gray, windy noon in early autumn - certainly not the sort of day one would choose for a holiday."

Summary:  Hester Raymount is a young woman who desires to serve God by serving the poor.  Unfortunately doing so is not as easy as it would seem.  Some look down upon her for spending time with the poor, while others feel she is putting her life in danger by exposing herself to smallpox and other illnesses.  When her wayward older brother disappears and her younger brother is ill, Hester is called on to show compassion to those nearest to her. 

My thoughts:  George MacDonald's writing can be difficult to read at times.  It can be wordy and he often sermonizes, but persisting is very rewarding.  George MacDonald's way of seeing the world is illuminating.  He has a way of getting to the heart of a character's motivations that causes the reader to pause and reflect. 

In this story we have Hester, who is a good person that desires to follow God.  We have her older brother, who is a Prodigal Son character.  Her youngest brother is still quite young, but follows God with a childlike enthusiasm.  Her mother doesn't like conflict and tries to protect her children.  Her father is distant and feared by his children.  Hester's fiancee is a shallow man, but Hester believes he will become deeper.  Each of these characters changes and grows in profound ways throughout the story.

One of the major themes in this book is letting God use you right where you are.  Hester exemplifies this when she uses her ability to play music to encourage others.  She doesn't feel like that is doing anything, but finds that it is often just what is needed.  

This isn't an easy read.  I often found myself re-reading passages because I got lost and forgot what he was talking about.  I also had to stop and think about a passage at times.  But, this is a book that will hang around in my mind for some time to come. 

Quotes:

"A home where children are humored and scolded and coaxed and punished instead of being taught obedience is like a moral slaughterhouse instead of the training ground it was meant to be.  So-called 'Christian homes' can be the worst of all in this regard."

"The truth is when a man cares for nothing that is worth caring for, the fault must indeed lie within himself - in the character the man has made, and is making, out of the nature God has given him."

"She was perhaps the only one able to love him fully, for the mother's heart more than any other God has made is similar to his in the power of loving."

"The only way to learn the rules of anything practical is to begin to do the thing."

Book Review: The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax (Mrs. Pollifax #1). Dorothy Gilman. Random House (1983) (First Published 1966). 204 pages.  Genre:  Mystery.

First Line:  "The nurse walked out of the room, closing the door behind her, and Mrs. Pollifax looked at the doctor and he in turn looked at her."

Summary:  Mrs. Pollifax, a widow with grown children, is feeling useless.  She realizes she detests all the volunteer work she does.  When her doctor encourages her to do something she has always wanted to do, she decides to visit CIA headquarters.  The thing she has always wanted to do is become a spy.  Of course, one doesn't just walk into CIA Headquarters and become a spy.  However, in a case of being in the right place at the right time, Mrs. Pollifax is drafted into the CIA as a courier.  When Mr. Carstairs sees her, he knows she would make the perfect tourist.  Mrs. Pollifax is eager to take on her assignment and is sent to Mexico City.  All she has to do is go into a bookstore on a certain day at a certain time and say a certain thing.  The rest of the time, she is to explore Mexico City to her heart's content.  As often happens, things don't go smoothly and Mrs. Pollifax is taken captive.  Will Carstairs be able to rescue her before it's too late?

My thoughts:  What a fun read this was!  Mrs. Pollifax is kind, witty, astute and eager to do whatever is necessary in the life of a spy.  She is also a hoot! Because of her age, she can get away with things others wouldn't be allowed to.  She makes friends wherever she goes because she is truly interested in other people's lives.  

There is a lot of spy thriller-type action as Mrs. Pollifax and her cohorts attempt to save their lives.  It was a great story with lots of action.  Along the way Mrs. Pollifax meets several interesting people and many who she would like to meet again in different circumstances.  

While the premise of an older woman being recruited to the CIA and falling into these circumstances is a bit unlikely, the story itself is solid.  It is full of real danger and real difficulties.  Mrs. Pollifax doesn't just breeze through the circumstances, she suffers and loses hope.  But as she perseveres, she also becomes a stronger person. She forms real friendships with the people she finds herself in the circumstances with and they help and encourage one another.  

I am glad to see there are several more in this series.  I wasn't ready to let Mrs. Pollifax go yet.  If you have yet to meet her, I urge you to pick up this first novel in the series. 

Book Review: My Own Two Feet by Beverly Cleary

My Own Two Feet: A Memoir. Beverly Cleary. Harper Collins (1995). 352 pages. Genre: Non-fiction; Memoir.

First Line: "The three of us, Mother, Dad, and I, stood on the sidewalk outside the Greyhound bus station in Portland, Oregon, searching for words we could not find or holding back words we could not speak."

Summary:  This is the second installment of Beverly Cleary's autobiography beginning after her high school years in the 1930's.  It covers her time at college in another state, various jobs, dating, marriage and getting her first book published. 

My thoughts: This is an interesting look not only at the author's life, but California and Oregon in the late 1930's and 1940's.  The book opens with Beverly leaving her home in Oregon to travel by Greyhound to California to stay with her aunt and uncle.  Our country was in the midst of the Depression and Beverly was weary of it.  In California, people didn't live like the Depression was so close.  She says, "The Depression had made Oregonians relentlessly practical." When she meets some friends of the family and they go to eat in a restaurant, she is amazed.  No one she knows eats in restaurants.  Her eyes are opened to many things on her trip to California.  It was fascinating to hear what things cost, how women made most of their clothing, and how far they were able to make food stretch.  It was also fascinating to read about the jobs many women had at the time.  Her aunt was a librarian at the college.  Beverly not only attended college, but worked her way through it at a time when that wasn't always easy to do.  Not only because of the work involved, but because many jobs were not given to women because that would be taking a job from a man who needed to support his family.  

Beverly had a difficult relationship with her mother.  She was an only child and her mother wasn't ready to let her go.  She had strong ideas about how Beverly should live her life and who she should or should not marry.  Unfortunately, this caused Beverly to dread going home at times.  

After finishing college, she worked at several interesting jobs.  As a children's librarian, in a bookstore and in a library on an army base.  She had always wanted to write, but was too busy.  Finally after the war, she determined it was time.  

I have always enjoy Beverly Cleary's clear writing style.  I love the way she describes things in detail, remembering the little things that make up day to day life.  I found it interesting that she mentions this advice from one of her professors - "One sentence that he repeated has stayed with me all my life, and I often think of it as I write: 'The proper subject of the novel is universal human experience.'  A phrase that has also stayed with me is 'the minutiae of life,' those details that give reality to fiction."  Those things definitely show up in her novels and in this book as well.  

If you are interested in Beverly Cleary's life or learning more about California and Oregon in the Depression era give this book a try.  I highly recommend it.