Hatred, Bullying And Much Much More...

Hate List literally had me spellbound. It was beautifully written. The author took great care with each character. I loved the way the characters were developed throughout the story. The central character, Valerie, is so incredibly broken because of what happened at her high school in the Commons on May 2nd. This is a story about carelessness to others and what hateful abusive bullying behavior does to the spirits and souls of the targeted ones. It is so so sad yet lovely…the horrors are almost unspeakable, the pain is certainly too much to bear and yet it is a beautiful exquisite telling of what happened on that day and through out the year that follows. I cried for many of the characters because this story was so real and you wish that it were not so real. The author wove Valerie’s character flawlessly. Her relationships to her mother and her father and her brother are well thought out and very realistic. Valerie works so hard for each and every peaceful moment that you become her cheerleader even though she is flawed. The ending is written so masterfully that it takes your breath away. I wanted Valerie to be happy again but…we are left to wonder and perhaps even worry about her. This book should be required reading for anyone in high school right now…a sort of see this, heed this, listen to these words.

Squirrel Proof...

LucyGrace is squirrel proofed!!!  I think...I hope!!!   As you can see Lucy does not go outside unless she is totally enclosed in mesh and I am watching her.  But there apparently is a pesky little squirrel who seemingly loves to run by her on the deck railing.  I do believe that they enjoy scaring each other.  I was sitting on the wicker sofa reading with Lucy barely a few feet away from me and our little squirrely friend literally hopped over her head.  The deck railing is an important part of whatever daily routine he has.  A few afternoons ago, Lucy and I were again chillaxing on the deck when we heard him in the tree over our heads...I almost think he enjoys these afternoon breaks with us!!!  I have Lucy in her tent, the squirrel over our heads and two adult geese ( Apple and Moses) and six baby geese ( Lola, Lana,  Lane and their brothers Easton, Weston and Little Giovanni)  wandering all over the yard.   Throw in a few random ducks and we have a garden party!!!  And with the foxes and the snapping turtle in the pond...I count baby goose heads every morning!!!  This Kitty Tent was one of the best purchases  I  have ever made for her. Lucy is used to it and loves it.  We just had to give up one chaise lounge and cushion to her comfort.  If for some reason I actually let her walk out of the door to get to the deck, she will race to the tent and hop into it...and actually bounce back if the mesh is zipped...whoopsie!!!

Chemistry And Cucumber Sandwiches And A Bicycle Named Gladys...

The Weed That Strings The Hangman's Bag was delightful...and as previously stated...even better than the first book in this series.  I cannot tell you too much about it...the plot is involved and tricky and the cast of characters is quirky and diverse.  There is a master puppeteer, his beautiful yet flawed assistant, a mysterious death from the past, a driven country lady who is overwrought with grief and self loathing, and  an entire cast of English country characters including a reverend and his no nonsense wife, various shop owners who all have secrets to divulge and even a mad woman who lives in the woods.  Flavia is  precocious and smart and an incredible genius when it comes to chemistry and using her head to figure things out.  I even loved her relationships with her father and her sisters and her Aunt Felicity in this book.  They are so much more personable this time around.  Daffy and Feely are a bit more human and perhaps even a bit less horrible to Flavia  and  more likeable in an odd sort of way.  Flavia is so right on in her deductions concerning "the murder" and that is all that I will say about "the murder"...that she even amazes the very uptight and upstanding Inspector Hewitt.  This is just a totally wonderful book and I am so happy to say that Mr. Bradley is hard at work on book number three!!!   Thank goodness!!!