Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Very different.

When I'd finished it, I had to go back and reread the beginning to see, "How did it happen?  Who did that?"  I'd read this in November of 2006, rated it an 11 on a 1-10 scale, so there was no doubt it was GREAT.  Then I see it mentioned so much lately and I couldn't remember one detail about it.  NOT ONE.  An 11!  Argh.  When you read 2-3 books a week I guess there are other plots in the way of the memory line to a particular one.  So, I read it again.  An 11 again.  I've reread maybe 5 books on purpose,  out of the 1850+ on my list.  Glad this was one of them.  Even the guys should read it.  Be prepared for flashbacks. What insight into nursing home residents' minds.  I don't want to go there...a nursing home.  Not that the main character was mistreated.  I agree with him about the food, rules and regulations.  But the circus is the most important part of the story.  Depression era life on the rails with hundreds of people and animals.  The story is centered on the experiences of a young veterinarian, who after a life changing event, hops the rails and finds himself in the midst of a circus train.  First night 'welcome aboard' was not good.   But they needed an animal doctor even if he wasn't quite finished with school boards.  Of course there is a love interest.  Some circus characters are so carefully helpful and others are so obnoxious and down right cruel.  There are such discrepancies in treatment and pay.  Such a definite hierarchy amongst everyone.  The twists and turns of character development is great.  The 1930's setting is informative.  How did folks get through it?  Many didn't.  You'll love the elephant.  Turn off the computer and read this book. 

Garage Sale Frenzy

It was the jackpot of garage sales yesterday, just 3 blocks from home!  Passed it on our way back from volunteering at ReStore. There were 100's of paperbacks for just a quarter each!  I zipped on home and got the print-out of the books I've read, over 1850 of them, and went back on my own. I hate to get half way through a book and know I have read it before and know how it ends.  My husband had finished shopping that sale and bought what he wanted so he stayed home. He’s a smart man.  I grabbed a $20, good for 80 books, and returned to the sale. There were hundreds and hundreds of books and the owner said she had tubs and tubs of her favorites that she had not put out for sale!  I warned them I would be there for hours. I started at one end of a table, consulted my list, asked for a bag and got down to business. Eventually I asked if I could sit on a chair.  Other customers thought I was running the sale so they asked me about items setting out. When I was about 1/2 through the stacks, another customer asked me, “Have you seen any Danielle Steel books? “NOPE, not a one,” I told her.  Maybe the owner kept Danielle’s books in her tubs of favorites!  It got cloudy, breezy, and chilly. I sat with my back to the wind and eventually put up my sweatshirt hood. My fingers were turning to ice. They invited me to warm up by the heater they had brought out to the garage!  I was nearly part of the family.  I needed another bag. They gave me two.  It got cloudier, breezier, and colder. I moved so large furniture could be taken out to buyers' vehicles, parked myself down again and kept going. Eventually I needed more bags and they gave me a bunch! It was Christmas, and all the holidays rolled into one. What a treat.  I checked the car for more money and found a $5 in my billfold...20 more possible books! As I filled bags the gals started counting the books and kept a tab going each time I brought up another bag.  Eventually I just brought up more books and added to the tab myself and they stayed in their chairs chatting.  I kept going.  I skimmed the synopsis on the back of each book, checked my list, and filled another bag.  I'd warned them I'd be there hours.  I was. They didn't mind a bit, just kept the bags coming.  I must have started before 2:30 pm and got home at 5 pm. It's a wonder my husband didn't come looking for me and tear me away!  I had enough money for 100 books....but only found 96 I wanted. How do I know there were 100's of books? When I was finished, taking three large bags and a box of books away, no one could tell any books were missing from the stacks and stacks still covering the table! Only a quarter each!  Oh happy day.

We All Like Heros; Always Her Hero by Adrienne DeWolfe

Always Her Hero by Adrienne deWolfe.  Run of the mill romance novel.  Doesn't contain sickeningly repetitive passages filled with angst as many books in this genre do.  Enjoyable setting; late 1800's.  Fits in with another novel about the hero's family.  Don't go by the picture on the cover.  Just enjoy it and don't get tied up with the self-conscious need for every book you read to have some earth shaking redeeming value. 7.5 out of 10.