The Zookeepers Wife: a war story by Diane Ackerman

This was not what I was expecting and it ended up being very much an education on the persecution of Jews during World War 2 in Poland.  The zoo that housed many animals turned into a place where people could hide.  I have read a lot about the war and that time period, but this really gave  me a good picture of what people went through and the lengths that people went through to save others.  It was very well written with amazing descriptions and content.  Is is a book I would have chosen had I known what it was about, probably not.  Am I glad that I read it, absolutely.

One Woman Farm by Jenna Woginrich

Subtitle: My life shared with sheep, pigs, chickens, goats and a fine fiddle -- What a fun book.  It was a quick read full of life and description.  Woginrich takes you through a year on the farm, some of the struggles and all of the joy.  She really embraces every moment and loves what she does, and can be quite infectious.  I don't know if I want to be a farmer, but she does light a fire under you.  She has written other books and I think I am going to look them up, she is great and has a wonderful way with words.

A Year in Paradise by Stephen Wright Watterson

Subtitle: How we lived our dream -- A very short, fun read.  They left Ohio and headed to the Erie Canal, down the Hudson and made their way to Florida for the winter.  They explored many haunts that we have and just enjoyed their year on the water.  If you want a fun overview of a trip like this, Watterson did a great job capturing the essence of the experience.

X by Sue Grafton

An interesting book, but I was never quite sure what the main story line was.  There was a picture that had been stolen, a fake identification and a dead private investigator that left some cryptic notes that needed to be figured out.  It seemed like all three eventually resolved themselves, but it was a bit ragged for me.  In the middle of it all there was also another little sub-story about some neighbors.  This is the first Grafton book I have read, because of my alphabet challenge, and I am not sure if I want to try another.

Wind, Whiskey and Whales by Silver Donald Cameron

Subtitle: A Cape Breton Voyage -- A great story about a wonderful summer voyage around Cape Breton.  It was a nine year project building the boat and they made many amazing stops along the way.  Lots of harbors and nooks and crannies, great people and towns.  I learned a lot of history about the island with all the ups and downs with industry - coal, fishing.  Beautifully told, great humor.

The Voyage of Kristina by Wayne Carpenter

This was a wonderful travel narrative of a family starting in California, heading down the coast to go through the Panama Canal, over to Florida, up the coast to Nova Scotia and down to the Bahamas.  It was very well told and nice to see that some sailors that are even more seasoned than me freak out from time to time.  This was not their first adventure and it is sure to not be their last.  This was a great read and very well told, I felt like I was riding along with them at times.

Under the Banner of Heaven by John Krakauer

Subtitle: A Story of Violent Faith -- If you want an education on Mormonism, this is a really good start.  I really did not know much, and most of it was hear say, not actually reading it for myself.  When you are learning about different faiths there is always the 'rose colored glasses' view, but there is also much violence, disruption and change.  Krakauer was expounding on an event that happened in 1984 and the best way to even attempt to understand it was to delve into the history of the religion.  I had a hard time following everything because he did bounce around a lot from past to present.  I wish I could say that I would read it again to get a better grasp of it all, but it is just too much for me to take in.  Depending on what you know about Mormonism, you probably don't know as much as you think.