Finding Grace by Sarah Pawley

This was a wonderful story about a girl, Grace, who was raised in the backwoods of Virginia.  It was a rough life and when her family was going to force her to marry she ran away to Chicago to be with her brother and his wife.  The innocence of going from there to the big city was portrayed very well.  Grace was shy and innocent and then full of spit fire and it all worked.  A gentleman eventually fell for her and it changed him.  Grace really grew throughout the book and I felt like I really got to know her and could feel what she was feeling.  Pawley did a great job putting this together and making it all work.  (This is the first book I read via Kindle!!)

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

Subtitle: An Eater's Manifesto; Eat Food, Not Too Much, Mostly Plants -- This was an eye opener on many levels.  We are constantly preached to as to what we should eat, take these vitamins, this food is better than that one.  There are many levels of people telling us this - scientists, government and occasionally food growers - and all of the perogatives are different.  Agendas and money are running how and what we eat.  In conjunction with reading this I also watched Food, Inc.  When you put these two things together it really makes you think about what you are putting into your body.  If something says it is a health food on the label, is it really healthy?  Because the meat says it is grass fed, what kind of grass and was it for their whole life?  The organic produce on the shelf in your grocery store, how long did it travel to get there?  I am truly looking at food differently and looking forward to growing more in my little green house!

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

What an amazing book.  I was a little intimidated at first because it was quite a thick book.  I have always enjoyed listening to his books, but had never sat down and read one.  Boy am I glad I did.  It takes place in the 12th century and deals with monastaries, castles, cathedrals, kings and earls.  The layer upon layer in which he built this story kept me going.  The violence and the love, the hate and the passion.  Truthfully, I was quite bummed when I finished because I had become so involved.  The great thing is that there is a sequel!!!  You know what I will be looking for.

Saturday by Ian McEwan

I really was not sure if I was going to continue reading this book.  It was not easy to get into and it was mostly description and introspection on the main character.  Henry, a neurosurgeon, we follow for about 24 hours.  In my opinion he thinks to much and is kind of stuck on himself.  You learn about what he does, his family and some of his history.  McEwan is an award winning author and the book was constructed well, but it really wasn't for me.

Women of the Silk by Gail Tsukiyama

I am fascinated by this type of historical fiction. The culture and traditions of the Chinese are really amazing to me. This is about a girl who was sent to work in the silk factory and her journey. Her family had not been doing well and her father took her to a fortune teller and it led her into this work. She had to move to a large city, live with girls and women she did not know and learn a trade that was totally foreign to her. She made friends and worked her way up in the industry and learned much about herself and the world around her. Tsukiyama did a wonderful job laying the story out and I really did not want to stop reading. I was drawn into the era and could not imagine anything like it, still can't. I don't know what it is about these types of books, but I just love them. I love learning about a different time that is so far removed from me and this was done beautifully.

Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear

I really did not want to put this one down. Thank you Nancy!!! The book takes place in England and is a sort of coming of age story of Maisie Dobbs. Her mother dies and her father has her go work for a family he knows. This family sees talent in her other than being a house maid of sorts. The way that Winspear lays everything out just makes you want to keep reading. Maisie ends up helping in the war effort and afterwards starts her own business, but how she gets there makes you keep on going. The depth of character and how you are drawn in, wanting more, was wonderful. Winspear had me right to the end and I really can't wait to read more. This is the first book in a series.

Time on Ice by Deborah Shiparo and Rolf Bjelke

Subtitle: A Winter's Voyage to Antarctica -- I am very glad that people take trips and do adventures like these because I really don't think that I ever would. This was a trip they really had planned out and knew they wanted to spend the whole winter in Antarctica. Their boat would freeze into the ice and they would be stuck there. Much planning was done. They built themselves up physically because they were going to be doing a lot of skiing and exploring during their time down there. The boat was outfitted to endure the winter and the rough weather to get there. The food provisioning was amazing. They were going to be out of touch, with no resources around for a long time. They did a wonderful job telling their story, the trials and tribulations and their opinions on where things are today environmentally and such. They are very big into leaving things in their natural state and in telling how things really are not like that in Antarctica. It was an amazing adventure and I am very glad they shared it with us.