Linda

Newton Stokes was "possessed" with collection everything about early New York or New Amsterdam. His monumental work Iconography is still referred to in NYC history.

Edith, called Fiercely by her brother, was an activist and model for Daniel Chester French.

This book is so filled with their lives and loves and the changes that were occurring that you can feel the emotion. Wonderful read for the lover of history.

Almina became the Countess of Carnarvan at 19 years old in the Victorian Age, late 1800's England. But her story is not all parties - she became instrumental in changing Highclere Castle into a modern hospital during WWI. She was on the front lines, so to speak, of care for injured soldiers.

Her husband was also different. He and his friend, Howard Carter, explored Egypt and found King Tut's tomb.

The story is an adventure bot also brings in history, social class, and individual passions. The current Countess of Carnarvon blends it all together in a great read to accompany your Downton Fever!

It is a fast paced hunt for Pippa once she leaves England and arrives in the US. Emotional upheavals, fear and compassion, and we can all identify with "strangers" in our families.

You'll laugh and cry and wonder "Who am I?" Looks, habits and language may be the same, or, they may cause you to look and see what keeps families together and the interesting dynamics of the different members - wonder how strange and how great the bond...

From the 1820s to 1900 you will take that long sea voyage to Paris from Boston or New York. In Paris, the Americans became a part of a new way of life and learning, because that is why Americans came - to learn art, sculpture, medicine, writing or resting.

You will not tire of these stories about James F. Cooper, St. Gaudens, Tom Thumb, Emma Willard, H.B. Stowe, Remington, and American Indians, and many more because McCullough has kept pace with time and history developments which bring wonder and passion to this time period. This book can be read over and over. Try listening to it on CD!

Garfield was a Civil War general, farmer, loved learning and people. He was shot, but not killed, by Guiteau, who had his own story.

You'll learn of the strength of Garfield, his family, and staff who kept up hope for his full recovery - and the American people who identified with this man.

The politics were brutal and the medical care was a trauma in itself. But it was a time when different factions pulled together. The Vice President made a change around in his ideas and influence.

But more than all this, it was an emotional read about a man you grew to understand and love in a turbulent time.

The medical drama is wretched.

A Trick of the Light is the 7th mystery with the charming and understanding Inspector Gamache. Police headquarters in Quebec, but it seems most of the stories take place in the small town of Three Pines.

This town has an extraordinary community of characters (different lifestyles, professionals, artists) who show the spectrum of emotions. And there is a murder to solve.

Penny appreciates the community - entertainment, releif, laughter, happiness, and stress - and brings the modern investigation from Quebec to Three Pines.

You'll want to meet these people (if you could), have a croissant (which they have often) and speak French - Oui? And investigating is thorough and sensitive with Gamache and Jean Beauvoir, his assistant.

Perhaps you should start at the beginning with Still Life or an earlier story. And I hope the stories continue.

They've just returned from Iraq and are not all together.

Clare and Russ are getting together - or are they? The returning vets are adjusting and issues from Iraq are now connected to the Adirondacks. But how will Miller's Kill react and handle these issues?

Clare has her own dilemma and emotions seem high throughout the town. Will there be resolutions for all? Can we hope for a happy ending?

Boy, I can identify with many of your garden/nature experiences (I'm even "one with the (snow) shovel, as you and Herb do the dance). It's been a wonderful year's journey with you through garden experiences and life. Your writings have expressed insight and hope...

Well, it was a big change from your Martha Stewart job in NYC to move to Cupcake (oops - Copake) Falls, NY, to your little weekend house (now become your "residence"). These personal transitions can be challenging (but I'm glad you are sharing ups and downs - snails, have no fear of Margaret!).

You refer to Martha's phrase, "Learn something new every day," (ain't that the truth!). And yes, sometimes we think too much and don't let the magic happen (signs are all around and we will be guided even with your Buddha's closed eyes; my Dido has his open).

We should learn to look more - out our windows (I have a favorite, like you), at our plants (they, too, have their cycles), at our gardens (changing through the seasons) and our lives. The lightning will still come but we'll keep our bowl of acorns!

Keep watching for the heron, Margaret, as I watch for my dragonflies (you know, they are a good sign too!)

Thank you for sharing your year Margaret. It's been a wonderful reflection of life and gardens (and frogs, bugs, foxes).

Bye for now and meow to Jack. I too will continue the hunt for wisdom and healing in nature (as I do) and notice the randomness and magic!

All these stories happen in Vermont. Archer Mayor (maybe he's a hero?) from Newfane, VT, takes you from Brattleboro to Burlington. VBI (the Vermont Bureau of Investigation), lead by Joa and his team of "personalities" (who you will appreciate), are thorough, analytical, moody AND quick thinking, get their man.

Mayor is graphic in his descriptions of the towns (you don't have to go there) and the issues are the same everywhere: arson, drugs, ski areas, internet, gangs, etc.

The investigations begin, the geography is explained, various departments are consulted, and the bureaucracy is the same everywhere.

The pace is fast, the thought process is thorough and the characters will become your teammates as become a follower of the investigations.

You can start with earlier books, but the characters are the same. You'd be introduced to each one, in each story. Try Archer Mayor!

Rowen Jacobsen brings you to the lands, the terroir, where foods grow so you can experience these senses; Jacobsen gives you the sense of foods being.

We eat and enjoy but how often have we thought about our foods? With today's concern for the environment, global warming, local eats, and local farmers, I suggest (highly) that you "taste" these pages. Savor the words and swallow the thoughts - and then, maybe you'd say, "I think I understand."

Jacobsen has such insight and humor through this book - it is tasty!

Louie's life and those he touched are inspirational; the will to live and to help others continues on.

Louie's storytelling and Louie = sensational read and we still wonder about humanity...

Henrietta had to make that journey with her diagnosis of cervical cancer; and here begins the story of the "cells."

Henrietta's cancerous cells were removed (for research purposes) without her or her family's knowledge. These cells, nicknamed HeLa, have been reproducing and aiding research around the world for over 50 years. They have been involved in Polio, HIV, and cancer research - to name a few - all of tremendous importance.

But what about the family? To Henrietta's family, with their limited knowledge of the science, this became another exploitation of Black folks.

Through ten years of learning about HeLa and winning the confidence of the Lacks family, Ms. Skloot has brought justice to this issue. The profound emotions of Deborah, Henrietta's daughter, have brought Henrietta the person - mother, friend amd sister - to a new understanding of what it is to give of oneself... A truly remarkable read!

Blum combines the science of cyanide, carbon monoxide (and other "things") with the social and political times of the 1920's-1930's AND the real people who experienced poisoning - directly or indirectly!

It was the time of prohibition and the beginnings of forensic medicine at the Bellevue Hospital. there were doctors and scientists who were dedicated to making forensics an exacting science even if it meant spending their own money or speaking out - politically incorrect - to all of New York City and the world!

A great historical read blended well with narrative and scientific research.

It'll make you read the ingredients more carefully and wonder if the EPA and FDA are as thorough as they can be!!

But! only if you like ever-changing plots, extraordinary characters (good and bad guys), unusual incidents (not your run-of-the-mill murder cases!) set in late 1800's Russia.

Akunin is very popular is Europe and you may guess why, but who knows? Nothing is clear but you'll be in an historical mystery with so much activity that you might leave the experience exhausted.

Have no fear, there is romance, mischief and fun. You'll have to concentrate since the writing is descriptive, graphic and flows with classic verbage.

This is the first Erast Fandorin book - a young investigator with extraordinary insight.

Jessica is a wonderful writer who blends in the "today" with the "yesterday" of ships and the Hudson River.

The working tradition of the Hudson, changes along the waterfront, the lost art of navigation, and the craftsmanship and diversity of old technology are smoothly integrated into this lovely memoir.

There are also the personalities involved in the boat-to-person relationships and Jessica's own trial by fire, so to speak, with the fireboat she learns to engineer; the 9/11 experience and the tug boat the preservationists purchase.

Preservation of the old things - boats, buildings, tools - are all partof this story.

Learning the old methods, keeping a physical record of the past and all the challenges it presented will help us learn to deal with new and future challenges. History gives place and soul.

The Hudson was, and still is, so much.

Fast paced with WWII history in NYC and the ruch for penicillin "for the war effort." Belfer blends all the subjects together in a moving and emotional book which brings you into this historical drama.

It makes you wonder how the medical "industry" manages the research and funding, plus the difficult decicion with treatments.

Historical references are present throughout and the NYC connected with the Rockefeller Institute brings it all close to home.

Kim Smith brings the specific plants - their history, backyard culture and planning in the garden - to a new dimension, an environmental level.

If you are a gardener, you'll certainly learn some new and updated factoids on some of our favorite garden varieties. If you are not a gardener, this book may just be the one to inspire you to get down & dirty - oh, "soily"! This book is a pleasure to reread and reference.

Rewilding is not a new concept. Aldo Leopold talked about it in 1949, and it has recently resurfaced. Basically, vast corridors of land are set aside to help species survive. but how do you get poorer countries to set aside land when they need it for food?

This becomes a scientific and a social issue. Ms. Fraser takes you around the world to meet unique animals and people, and their situations where inspired leaders, creative financing and grassroots efforts can make a difference.

This is just to slow extinction rates; man needs to re-engineer our own habits and consumption because all species are intertwined. Many interesting concepts are explained and animals' lives explored within.

L.A. Times publishing building blown up - but who done it? The big business; the labor movement; the anarchists; accident?

From NYC to LA, Burns (famous detective agency), DW Griffiths (beginnings of motion pictures) and Clarence Darrow (lawyer) deal w/bribery, "bugging recording," spies/counter spies and the war between Capitalists and Labor.

This is an intense story with all the historical elements and all personal tribulations blended.

The country must be saved from another civil war but how?

This happened at the turn of the century 1907 - BUT the issues are still around today...