Books of 2014 - June

I only have two books to report on this month. Sorry readers.

I ran out of gas! I--I had a flat tire! I didn't have enough money for cab fare! My tux didn't come back from the cleaners! An old friend came in from out of town! Someone stole my car! There was an earthquake! A terrible flood! Locusts! IT WASN'T MY FAULT, I SWEAR TO GOD!!!*

Actually, this month I've been crocheting a blanket and spent a lot of time tending my mother's garden while she and my dad celebrated a major anniversary.

In addition, I've been preparing for the arrival of my nephew. I have been taking the American Red Cross babysitting course (with such sage advice as following the parents' instructions regarding TV/internet time and acceptable snacks**) and will take a First Aid/CPR class. One of the more interesting tips was how to determine if a toy is too small for children under 3: see if it fits through a toilet paper roll. If it does, it's a choking hazard.

Moving on to the books I read:




Dave Barry's Book of Bad Songs
So, long, long ago (1992), Dave Barry had a bad song contest. This book divided the songs into cute categories like Teenage Death Songs and Songs Women Hate. Some of them I had never heard of, but after reading a sample, recoiled in horror. Others, I read the title of the song and heard it in my head instantly (yummy, yummy, I got love in my tummy...). Do not do what I did, and read this book on public transportation. I think I made a lot of weird faces trying to hold in my laughter.

Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult
I had read this book a few times before, and even though I know it will be hopelessly sad in some parts I picked it up again. Adorable, bright Willow has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a disease that makes her bones break very easily. Her mother Charlotte, struggling to pay for Willow's care, sues her OB, who is... her best friend. Yes, it's classic Picoult family and legal drama, and it sometimes gets very melodramatic, but Picoult depicts messed up family dynamics very, very well.

* If you haven't seen Blues Brothers, get out from under your rock. In addition to its fantastic dialogue, it has the best car chase scenes of all time.

** Listen to the parents who are trusting you to take care of their children? What a radical concept.