On, Off

On, Off
by Colleen McCullough

Most people would associate McCullough with the The Thornbirds or her series about the Roman empire. She has switched genres and is penning suspense novels.

This book is set in the 1960s before forensic science and DNA identification had exploded onto the scene. Profiling by the FBI and the phrase "serial killer" were not part of the culture. Teenage girls of a certain age and type disappeared. McCullough kept the pace going and finished with one fascinating ending.

I can't wait to start the next one.

- Rochelle

The King is Dead

The King is Dead

by the Decemberists

The Decemberists are bright, talented and whimsical. Describing their music is tricky. They are a band that transcends folk/indie or pop/rock categories.

"January Hymn" is nothing short of sweet & "Calamity Song" is very good road song. They are my new favorite band & I could listen to "The King is Dead" all day. If you are tired of the same old, give them a try.

- Holly

Bird Cloud

Bird Cloud
by Annie Proulx

Annie Proulx fell in love with and purchased a section of land (640 acres or one square mile) in Wyoming. This section is 7000 feet above sea level where hurricane force winds and giant snow drifts in winter are routine. She chose this spot as the site for her "dream house", and set to work designing and building a home that would both settle in harmony with the land as well as meet her needs and desires. A more difficult task than initially anticipated, this attempt to make her dream house a reality is the focus of Proulx's book.

There is something of interest for everyone here as the author describes the designing and building of her home, her observations about the wildlife, archaeology and natural history of the region. At times Bird Cloud seems to ramble along with no central theme, but it can be described as a book of many little stories joined by the common thread of the story of the land and the author's determination to create her own place where she could live in harmony with her land and nature.

- Kathy S