The Scarlet Pimpernel--#64

This is one of those classic books that I hadn't read before.  I forget where I picked up a copy of this but probably from a library sale at some point.  Written in the early 1900s about an English nobleman that disguises himself to help get aristocrats out of France during the Reign of Terror around 1782.  The book is told from the perspective of his wife but she didn't know he was the Scarlet Pimpernel, she thought her husband simple minded and not serious.  She grew up in France and a French diplomat that is really more of a spy is in England trying to find out who is the SP and forces her to help him.  In the end the SP slips away from the French and gets his people out safely again.  He also has regained the love of his wife.  Overall a good story.

Since it is a classic I will keep this one.

Platinum Doll--#63 finished

This is a fictional but tried best author could to make it true as she could about Jean Harlow, a movie actress star in the 1920 & 1930s.  This is just about her life as she was breaking into movies & the beginning of her career.  I had heard the name before but knew nothing about Jean Harlow and this was a very good & interesting story of this part of her life.  The book really ended just as she was becoming a big star but also surprising to me is that she also died very young, she died of kidney failure at age 26.  I have not seen any of her movies but I will have to watch for them on TCM shows some old movies very often, will have to try to catch one sometime.

I will post it & mail off on PBS at some point, I think there are 3 or 4 WL for it so will probably post it soon but have enough credits for now.

Don't You Forget About Me--#62 finished

This is a collection of thoughts from writers about growing up in the 1980s & the influences of the John Hughes films--Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Some Kind of Wonderful--the last one is one I haven't seen.  I think I have only seen Weird Science once & that was back in the '80s or '90s, but the rest I have seen several times.  I really enjoyed the movies and reading this brought back a lot of good memories.  I have a tape cassette of the soundtrack for Pretty in Pink & I listened to that a lot over the years.  Funny stuff about memories and the 1980s.

I am keeping this one right now & might look to hand off to friends since they are right in this time period too.

America By Heart--#61 finished

This is the 2nd book by Sarah Palin, the one that came out after the election they lost.  I think the first one came out during election but if not was very soon after election.  This was soon after she resigned from Governor of Alaska, she barely mentions it in the book though.  I still think she was treated unfairly in many ways and that before really given a change she became a punchline and she was never really able to get beyond that except for the base.  I mostly enjoyed the book, reminded me of a time when I used to like Republicans instead of the now Trump Republicans.  Some of the things like the Tea Party was just getting going & again was mentioned in the book but not a lot since was just starting.  This was a book that had been on my shelf for a while & I am glad I finally got to it.  Just reminded me of a better time for my support of Republicans and maybe the party can get back to that someday.

There are plenty of copies on the system so figure this will go in the give away pile.

The Name of the Star--#60 finished

I really enjoyed this even though more of a young adult/older teen type book.  A girl in high school--I think senior, moves to London from small town Louisiana because her parents are professors on sabbatical in England.  She is at a boarding school in London while they are a few hours away.  So there is the whole adjustment thing of London, boarding school etc going on but also there is a copy cat Jack the Ripper killings going on.  Rory--the girl--has an accident when she first gets there and since nearly dying she can now see ghosts--she doesn't realize this until later in book.  It is a powerful ghost that is doing the killings and Rory gets caught up with a super secret team of police that can also see ghosts.  Suspend reality & enjoy the read and it was fun.  I have already ordered the 2nd book in series.

I will keep it for now since again might be others that will want to read this.

Plainsong--#59 finished

I really enjoyed this book about people in a small town in Colorado.  I don't remember it saying when but I am guessing 1980s or 1990s--could be earlier I guess too.  Interesting characters and lots going on with them while maybe to others around it doesn't seem like much.  Kind of my thought that there is a story with every person, it is just a matter of perspective and ability to tell the story--author I think has done an excellent job in telling the story.

There are already some copies in system so probably won't add to it but might try to encourage someone else in house to read so keeper for now.