The Day of the Jackal--#83 finished

 This is an older book, looks like published in 1971 about an assassination attempt on Charles DeGaulle president of France.  This is one of those books that I read back probably in junior high/middle school that just roped me into reading.  It was a favorite then and figured I should give this a re-read after all these years.  A lot of this book really holds up well, the steps the Jackal took and the steps the investigators were taking.  Had to wrap my head around this time period of technology too.  I couldn't help but feel maybe wasn't as clever and cool as I remembered but then I had to think that I have read much since then of similar books and storylines that had the benefit of working off this book.  I am glad I have re-read the book and it will stay on my keeper list.

Epicenter--#82 finished

 I had read a couple of the author's fiction books about the Mid East--1st two in one of his series and while not great thought interesting.  I saw this book at a library sale months ago and picked it up.  It has some very good information about Mid East but the whole book is about a few paragraphs in the Bible book of Ezekiel about end of the world stuff dealing with several countries and Mid East.  Russia & Iran attacking Israel basically.  The premise really isn't too far off, I just don't think this bible story for centuries ago isn't the road map that he sees.  Also it seems as if he is a little too focused on the end of times scenario.  Just a little too out there for my way of thinking.  This book was originally written in 2005/2006 time but my copy is a reprint I guess from 2016--so not as up to date as I would have liked either.

There are a couple copies in PBS system but I figure I will post it too & see what happens.

The Girl in the Flammable Skirt--#81 finished

 A short story collection by Aimee Bender.  Most of the stories are a kind of off the wall sort of imaginations.  Some sort of interesting but most just seemed to not make much sense to me.  Not really a fan of these type stories and not really interested in trying to figure out any sort of deeper meaning.  Oh well, at least it is a short book and the stories were quick reads.

I have posted it back on PBS, there are 2 copies ahead of it so I don't think it will be moving for some time.

One Soldier's Story--#80 finished

 This is Bob Dole's memoir, mostly about his growing up, his time in the Army and his recovery from his injuries from the war.  I liked Bob Dole's midwestern conservative way as a Senator and then Presidential candidate back in the 1980s and 90s when I was starting to pay attention to politics.  I enjoyed reading about his earlier life because I really didn't know much of this at all.  I knew he was injured in the war but didn't know the extent of it and his recovery until reading this book.  Makes one appreciate the service all our WWII veterans did for our country.

There are 5 copies in PBS right now and since this copy is a little beaten up, I will probably just donate it way rather than post.

The Madness Underneath--#79 finished

This is the 2nd in series, & might be last--not sure, where a high school girl switches from small town Louisiana to a boarding school in London.  She has near death experience & can now see ghosts.  First book was a Jack the Ripper kind of copycat.  She gets involved in a secret London police group of other type seers and ends with her being stabbed.  This one after she recovers she now has the touch to send the ghosts away--as in way away, no longer on earth I guess.  She is hurried back to London from Bristol where she was with her parents and in school at near end of term but she is beyond behind and pressures of school and being a tool to send back ghosts away is getting too much for her.  She is sent to a therapist that not surprisingly ends up being a bad person and kidnaps her with only being saved by the police group.  Didn't really like this one as much as first and the ending hinted at stuff but not sure a 3rd book ever was done, oh well.

There are no copies on system so will probably post at some point with the first book too.

Dressing Up for the Carnival--#78 finished

 This is a short story book by Carol Shields.  It has been years ago but I read a book by her and enjoyed it. This book has been on my shelf for a few years now & finally got to it.  She is a Canadian writer and not surprising every story was in Canada, some in very outpost areas along the Atlantic Ocean and the like.  I mostly enjoyed the stories, some a little out there or a little off but overall very good stories.  

I will post this one on PBS too since there are no copies in the system, be nice to pass along for someone else to enjoy.

The Maid's Version--#77 finished

 In small town MO in 1929 a dance hall burns while a full house is at the dance and several people die.  This is the story of that happening from the sister that lived.  Goes around to different people in the town and what the town was like.  A little confusing about timelines and who is actually telling the story at points--the narrator is a nephew that came to visit I guess, like I said a little confusing.  Also I finished this book a week or two ago and already forgetting parts I guess.  Not a bad read but I liked the couple other books of his that I have read quite a bit more.

There are already 8 books in the system but figure I will post it anyway.  Can always cull it off later if need space.

Flash Boys--#76 finished

 Wow, one of those really eye opening books.  I really don't understand investing all that well and this book gives me even more doubts about it.  The basic idea of the stock markets--ownership of stock is ownership of the business, that kind of stuff but this is in the details of how those stocks are bought and sold.  Basically with the speed of connection people found ways to skim off millions and billions from the stock market.  Very complicated on how it was done & very complicated on how it would be fixed.  A group did find a fix and books ends hopeful but since I don't really follow, I have no idea if it really fixed it or if other ways of doing this were found.  I enjoyed the other book I read by Michael Lewis and really enjoy this one too--lots of information.  I will have to look up his other books.

There are quite a few WL for this, not sure how many right off hand but it will get mailed off at some point.

My Squirrel Days--#75 finished

 Actress Ellie Kemper from The Office, is how I know her, she is one of several people on the show with St Louis connections--she grew up here.  My youngest became a fan last spring & over summer so watched some repeats and enjoyed it but at times the humor on the show gets to point of painful--just too much.  Oh, well, this was a good read, I really knew little about her and she seems like a good person that is also an actor.  After reading the book, I looked her on up wikipedia and found out her family is very wealthy--part of the Kemper family that the art museum in KC is named after and family owns Commerce Bank or did so at one time.  This was never mentioned in book and since about herself and not family I kind of understand it but does kind of show not really the starving artist type while learning her acting skills.  A good enjoyable read though.

I think there are around 25 WL for it so will get posted & mailed off at some point.