Blue Lonesome Review

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(More customer reviews)When an accomplished, experienced author tackles loneliness, frustration, chicanery and murder, you get something like Blue Lonesome. Jim Messenger is a lonely, bored San Francisco CPA, drifting through life. He observes a woman called Janet Mitchell at a cafe where he eats dinner every night. Messenger wonders about her and when she stops coming, he is idly moved to learn why. What Messenger discovers is that she has committed suicide.
Gradually, he becomes more and more obsessed with learning her story. His physical journey takes him several hundred miles east to the dried-up desert town of Beulah, Nevada. His emotional journey takes him much farther, and is not finished when the book ends.
Beulah is a town of simmering desires, dusty secrets and vicious attitudes. It is also a town peopled with good citizens. Part of Pronzini's strength is his ability to create a place and characters that are in everyone's sight. Beulah could be any town. It could be yours.

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Andrea Carter and the San Francisco Smugglers (Circle C Adventures #4) Review

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(More customer reviews)Andrea Carter and the San Francisco Smugglers is part of the Circle C Adventure Series.
I have to admit I haven't read the others in the series, but if I need a good middle grade book, I'd be sure to grab one with no hesitation. As I read this Andrea Carter book, I fell in love with the girl. She reminds me of the girl most girls want to be - adventurous, caring, and willing to do anything to stand up for other people.
I first read about the Circle C Adventures in an issue of Brio earlier this year. My daughters thought it was an interesting article and were intrigued enough to want to check out the series.
At the beginning of the book, Andrea gets into trouble (which seems easy for her) and earns herself a trip to a "school for young ladies." Although she really doesn't want to go, Andrea is wise enough not to fight her mother's wishes that she attend to school far from Andrea's favorite horses.
The school mistress sees the young, rough Carter girl as a challenge. Andrea finds out about the Chinese slaves in the area, including at least one in the school's kitchen. She has a hard time following the school rules and also caring for the little girl. The more she shows her caring, rescuing nature, the more Andrea immerses herself in trouble -- with the head mistress, the kitchen helpers, other girls, the stable tenders -- even the police and human smugglers.
This book is an easy, but great read. It lends itself to studying California history and connecting the story to current human smuggling throughout the world. The series itself would be a great way to get the horse-book lovers to read historical fiction.
I think the reading level and subject matter would be great for a wide variety of ages and children. From third graders who are ready for longer chapter books to eighth graders who like historical fiction (and perhaps need a little easier read than most historical fiction,) I think many kids (especially girls) would enjoy the Circle C Adventure Series.
I did!


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