sophia.and.org | read

The Gate to Women's Country by Sheri S. Tepper

I was happily reading along and quite enjoying this book when I encountered the "so-called 'gay syndrome'" -- while I did enjoy the rest of the book, this brief passage left me bewildered and shaken.

The Fresco by Sheri S. Tepper

Aliens come to Earth to invite us to join the Confederation if we can clean up our act. Amusing and full of interesting view points. Alien/human love affair was too much of a cliche, but that's just me.

Ring of Earth: A Child's Book of Seasons by Jane Yolen (illus. by John Wallner)

Beautifully written and illustrated children's poetry book that explains the cycle of seasons.

The Architecture of Desire by Mary Gentle

Alternate 17th-century England with magic and much wickedness afoot.

The Buffalo Soldier by Chris Bohjalian

Comfortable middle class white couple take in a black foster child after their daughters drown. The story of the boy and the elderly neighbors was much more compelling than that of the couple (which just seemed kind-of tired and dragged out).

The Countess by Claire Delacroix

Fluffy romance about a widow driven from her dead husband's estate who finds her new home not only in ruins, but already occupied by a man.

The Temptress by Claire Delacroix

Man needs to marry to secure the safety of his home. Girly refuses to marry a man who does not love her and thinks to "own" her. She leads him on a merry chases, they fall in love, the end (more or less).

The Victory Garden Kids' Book by Patricia Lanza

Everything you need to know about gardening without getting in over your head.

Lasagna Gardening by Patricia Lanza

Gardening without breaking your back.

Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot

Mia's mom gets pregnant. Mia gets interviewed and embarrasses herself. The obsession with Michael continues.

The 20-Minute Gardener by Marty Asher & Tom Christopher

Garden smarter, not harder.

Manhunting by Jennifer Crusie

Her first book and not as good as her later novel (a Harlequin type throwaway).

Second Act: Life After Colostomy & Other Adventures by Barbara Barrie

Irreverant and encouraging book. It's a very intimate, honest, and funny look at her experience with colon cancer and colostomy surgery. Some of it's absolutely toe-curlingly terrifying -- the herniated stoma that looked like "a pink penis coming out of a donut," frankly, just make me want to vomit. But Barrie treats it all with a fine dose of humor and spirit -- extremely admirable and practical behavior I shall try to keep in mind the next time I'm shooting peas at the bathroom mirror.

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Oh, sweet god, given me back those two hours of my life.

Survival Rates: Stories by Mary Clyde

Nine stories about people in crisis, but surprisingly comic.

Twilight of the Tenderfoot: A Western Memoir by Diane Ackerman

Lyrical look at life on the ranch.