book not proceeding well

I'm reading Love Letters by Katie Fforde. I have enjoyed Fforde's books in the past even though she has something of a formula with her bickering couples, who resolve their problem. Checked online and other Fforde fans don't seem to be convinced. I'll let you know if you should pick this chick lit to read while eating bonbons.

Award update

As you remember I was enchanted by Blueberry Years by Minick. I was not alone. He has just been chosen the winner of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance's Best Nonfiction Book for 2010. http://www.sibaweb.com/siba-book-award/248-2011-siba-book-award-winners

Harry Potter upon reflection

Greg Garrett has reflected on the arch of the seven Potter novels in One Fine Potion. He draws parallels with CS Lewis and other who have written fantasy with Christian symbolism. One thing I found interesting is his pondering on Rowling's work with Amnesty International and the creation of Umbridge and the institutionalization of torture. Die hard Potter fans will enjoy it as will those looking at the religious overtones of fiction.

The reading promise : my father and the books we shared is Alice Ozma's reflections on The Reading Streak and on her relationship witht the father who raised her. I found it hard to put this memoir down. The Reading Streak was a challenge for she and her father to not miss his reading to her for 100 days. However once you have reached 100, it is hard to stop. And so it didn't until she went away to college. It is also a tribute to her prickly, but loving father. Great book!

The King's Speech

In an odd juxtaposition the book is coming out after the movie. Mark Logue is the grandson of Lionel Logue, who helped George VI with his stammer. Logue became interested in his grandfather when the production company contacted him. He rediscovered his grandfather as he read the papers that had been stored away. The King's Speech is Logues recounting of his families move from Australia to the service of a King. It is a quick read and a lovely look at his family.

The haunted qualities of adoption

Gammage, a Philadelphia newspaper reporter, never planned on being a parent, so he seems to have been doubly suprised at the intensity with which he loves his adopted daughter, Jin Yu. China Ghosts is the story of his journey into parenthood. It is also the story of his trying to come to grips with the fact that there is much he doesn't know about his daughter's life before she was with them.

He wonders about her parents. He feels guilty that somehow they couldn't bring Jin Yu home sooner and spared her time in the orphanage. Mostly he feels love and a new connection with his late father.

This is an honest, joyful and poingnant memoir of adoption.

Traveling in the footsteps of Holmes

David Sinclair, journalist and Sherlock Holmes afficinado, has retraced the steps of Watson and Holmes in real life. Sinclair has spent considerable time researching and wandering to pinpoint the actual locations and buildings in the mysteries. The result is a fascinating trip through the books. My only quibble is that Sinclair treats Watson as a real person, whose accounts he is deciphering. It seemed a bit odd to me, but not in any way a major detraction.

So all you Holmes fans, check out Sherlock Holmes's London.