Longitude--#88 finished

 An interesting read about how to solve the problem of finding Longitude for boats on the ocean.  An interesting problem that became a priority when Britain ruled the seas after losing too many boats and sailors from hitting rocks because they didn't know where they were at.  It seems the scientists of the day mostly were looking to the sky and plotting stars and patterns to solve the problem.  A clockmaker developed a clock that was accurate even on the water/at sea.  Neither of these was an easy solution--both took decades to develop & fine tune.  While it seems the clock won out over time--the expense of the clock vs the sky & stars made it a closer race I guess.  I good read about an interesting problem & the solutions.

I have posted it on PBS, there was already 1 copy in system so who knows when/if ever it will move.

Shirley Jones: A Memoir--#87 finished

 Not really sure why I bought this book, bought it used from a resale shop so was only $1.00--can't beat the price but never really paid attention to Shirley Jones.  I was sort of aware she did the Partridge Family but that was a show I never really watched--a little to hippie for us in NE to watch as repeats--I was too young to remember the original shows.  David Cassidy and his brother had their flash in the pan as singers and sort of didn't buy that either like so many others in the '70s it seemed like--cute long haired guys became huge stars and then sort of disappeared.  Oh well, back to Shirley Jones, I didn't realize she had won an Oscar or did a bunch of musicals before the TV series.  An interesting life with troubles for sure but still interesting in that Hollywood sort of way.  A decent quick read sort of book.

There was 1 WL for it so I posted it & already accepted so will get it mailed off hopefully tomorrow.

Willa: The Life of Willa Cather--#86 finished

 I have enjoyed some of Willa Cather's books and knew somethings about her from them and also from just growing up in NE & she being a NE writer.  This book fills in a lot of what her life was like and the people around her--really interesting.  The book mentions the other women she had relationships with but never really spelled out that these were more lesbian relationships rather than just women that were very good friends.  Not sure if author wanted to avoid that or if it was because Willa herself seems to have kept these relationships sort of undefined to her world.  Still even with that being said, the book has a lot of information about her & her life and books.  I did enjoy reading this.

There is 1 copy still in PBS system but with this being my NE author, this book will be kept as a keeper book.

Red Metal--#85 finished

 From the same author as the Gray Man series, this sounds like the first in a new series.  An interesting read with Russia invading Europe into Germany in order to weaken a response in Africa where Russia was also sending a 2nd force to invade Kenya to take back over a mineral rich(rare earth metals) mine/area.  Lots of action between the 2 fronts and how Russia would do this & the American & NATO responses.  Interesting read but is a long book.

There are 12 WL for the book so I will probably post & send off at some point.  Ending made it sound like at least another book will be coming so will have to watch for that as well.

The Summer of Beer and Whiskey--#84 finished

 This book was actually finished at end of Nov but just now getting around to logging it in.  This book about the early days of baseball when a few teams joined together to form the American Association, separate from the other main league the National League.  With teams in towns the National League left or never entered and targeting more working class people the brought back some enthusiasm to the game in these cities.  They charged less to get in, sold beer & whiskey and played Sunday games.  An interesting read about baseball in those early years and some of the great characters of the game.  I enjoyed the book.

There is 1 WL for it so will probably post & send off at some point but no hurry since does talk a lot about the St Louis Browns which eventually became the Cardinals.  With the local angle might put on the keeper shelf, not sure yet.

NYPD Red 6--#83 finished

 This is the next in the series of an elite NYPD investigators called Red that take on the cases in NY City for the rich & famous.  There are 2 partners that have known each other a long time--she is finally coming out of a marriage/relationship--husband has disappeared and he is in a good relationship but still has feelings from years ago 1 month with partner while she was on a break.  This is really the driving story behind the story.  An internet/tv famous lady marries guy with thought was big money but actually his mom has the big money and she hates the internet/tv famous lady.  Internet/tv famous lady is kidnapped right after her wedding, they find out it is one of her stalkers that has done it but cannot locate them.  Twist at end is she basically encouraged him and then killed him.  She will go to jail I guess.  Also the rich guy mom is killed.  Not a bad story just a quick read.  There is a 2nd shorter story as a bonus, a little tougher read--kids killed, innocent guy kidnapped by upset parents, etc.  Same in that a quick read.

There are like 22 WL for the book so I went ahead and just posted it, probably mail off this morning.  It is a mass market book of popular series, kind of need to just keep these moving.

The Dutch Wife--#82 finished

 I am not really sure why I picked this one to read.  I wasn't looking for a holocaust book and a sort of overall depressing book.  A Dutch couple are arrested in WWII and sent to concentration camps.  The wife is selected but sort of joined up for brothel duty and while there one of the Nazi commanders falls for her. The book writes from her perspective, then his and then to a younger 20 something man caught up in Argentina's Dirty War.  Interesting to see the different concerns and also how they are connected.  I liked the book a different perspective on the war and the people.

I have posted it on PBS, I think there were already 4 or 5 copies in system so probably not going anywhere anytime soon.