📚BOOKS

Here are the books I have reviewed for fun. Some have been sent by publicists, others I have bought or borrowed. I've read all of them. 



Readers may be divided into four classes: 

A. Sponges, who absorb all that they read and return it in nearly the same state, only a little dirtied. 
B. Sand-glasses, who retain nothing and are content to get through a book for the sake of getting through the time. 
C. Strain-bags, who retain merely the dregs of what they read. 
D. Mogul diamonds, equally rare and valuable, who profit by what they read, and enable others to profit by it also. 

      ~ Samuel Taylor Coleridge, poet, critic (1772-1834) 


 denotes a Canadian book!
  1. Aaron, Glen; The Curse of Sacerdozio
  2. Aaron, Richard; Gauntlet 
  3. Alexander, Devin: You Can Have It (recipe book)
  4. Alexander, Eva M.; Condos and Condoms (short stories)
  5. Almond, Paul; The Gunner 
  6. Alt, Jeff; The Adventures of Bubba Jones
  7. Alton and Craan; My handy little health journal
  8. Andersen; Fantasyland
  9. Arden, John: The Brain Bible
  10. Arneson,  Rick; Plotting the Course; Life lessons from the sport of sailing
  11. Ashby, Kathy; Carol, A Woman's Way 
  12. August, Y.; Coaching For Caregivers
  13. Barager, R.; The Atheist and the Parrotfish
  14. Barr, Nevada; 13½, Blood Lure
  15. Bartleman, James; As Long as the Rivers FlowRaisin Wine
  16. Bartley, Allan; The Klu Klux Klan in Canada
  17. Blachman and Stracher; The Curve
  18. Blanche, Kathryn; Infiltrated by Demons
  19. My Reading Pile!

  20. Blatchford, Christie; Fifteen Days
  21. Bradbury and Karney; Love Me Slender
  22. Bradley, Eric; Harry Potter Collectibles
  23. Brennan, Peter; Iceapelago
  24. Brown, Ron; Vanished Villages Part 1, Post 2  (Non-fiction)
  25. Brown, Ron; Backroads of Ontario (Non-fiction) 
  26. Carey, Pamela: Elderly Parents With All Their Marbles
  27. Carlon, Michael; Uncorking a Murder
  28. Carpenter, J.: No Place to Pray
  29. Carucci, M.; Sobrietease
  30. Chapman, Brenda; Hunter and Tate, Stonechild and Rouleau, Shallow End, Tumbled Graves
  31. Charters, Cloudia; Aloha: Where You Like Go?
  32. Cho & Gifford; The Anxious Lawyer (self-help)
  33. Christofora, Kevin; Amira Can Catch
  34. Clevenger, S; Greek Mythic History
  35. Clinton, Hilary; something lost, something gained
  36. Clinton & Penny; State of Terror
  37. Cobelo, Carolyn E.; Bridge to Beyond
  38. Consell, R.A.; Stealing From Wizards Excellent trilogy for teens. 
  39. Conway, Martha; Sugarland
  40. Cook books: gluten-free, paleo,  from Robert Rose, Inc. 
  41. Cotton, Larry D; Whiskey and Wickedness
  42. Crilly, Karin: The Blue Satin Nightgown
  43. Cuellar, David; Plastic Island (picture book)
  44. Currie, T. Ottawa Valley's Great Fire of 1870
  45. Cusumano, J.; Balance
  46. Davidson, Dr. Elizabeth; Cheery: the Chiricahua leopard frog (Children's picture book)
  47. Daywalt, Drew; The Day the Crayons Quit
  48. De Avila, Ed., Spread Thin and Moving Fast: An unlikely story (memoir)
  49. De Hart, Scott D.; Shelley Unbound: Uncovering Frankenstein's True Creator
  50. De Santis, Cinazi; The Sense of Darkness
  51. Delaney, V; Under Cold Stone, (Constable Molly Smith Series) 
  52. DeLapa, Gina; stuff you already know
  53. Dennis; Anita Katherine; Beyond Myself
  54. Dickinson, Emily: the Illustrated Emily Dickinson Nature Sketchbook
  55. Doering, Ron; The Battle of Crysler's Farm
  56. Dougherty, M.J.; Life Lessons From a Total Failure
  57. Donovan, Kelly; Police Line – Do Not Cross
  58. Dr. Seuss; You're Only Old Once
  59. Dunn, David A.; Get Life Right
  60. Epp, Alvin; Through The Eyes of Guilt
  61. Erwin, Travis; Waiting on the River
  62. Espy, W.R.; Words to Rhyme With (Non-fiction)
  63. Estes, Kelli; The Girl Who Wrote in Silk
  64. Even, Aaron; He Comes in Fire
  65. Eyre, Linda; Grandmothering
  66. Fallis, Terry; The Best Laid Plans -comedy
  67. Feder, S; Bitter and Sweet
  68. Fields, Mara; Weaver's Light
  69. FitzSimmons, David; Curious Critters, Salamander Dance
  70. Flynn, Gillian; Gone Girl
  71. Follett, Ken; Pillars of the Earth
  72. Forrest, Deborah: Touch the Spirit: Connecting to the world of dementia (non-fiction)
  73. Freed, Dennis; Love, Loss and Awakening
  74. Freeman and Parks; All-Electric America
  75. Gabaldon, D.; Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone
  76. Gaber, Stanley; Jex Malone
  77. Garner, L.G.; The Golden Princess
  78. Gawande, Atul: Being Mortal 
  79. Airton, Dr. Lee; Gender: Your Guide 
  80. Genova, Lisa; Left Neglected, Still Alice
  81. George, Elizabeth; In the Presence of the EnemyDeception On His Mind
  82. Gebreyohannes, B. T.; Fire Walkers (memoir) 
  83. Graham, Heather; Death Dealer, Unhallowed Ground, On Isabella Street
  84. Gray, John; Beyond Venus and Mars
  85. Gray & Ardagh; Conscious Men
  86. Green, Lyndsay; A Perfect Home for a Long Life
  87. Greenblatt, Mark Lee; Valor: Unsung heroes from Iraq, Afghanistan, and the home front
  88. Griffin, Lynne; Sea Escape
  89. Griffith, Victoria; Amazon Burning
  90. Griffiths, Doug; 13 Ways to Kill Your Community
  91. Grippando, James; The Penny Jumper
  92. Habib, N. & M.N.; History of the Muslims of Regina, Saskatchewan, and Their Organizations
  93. Haibach, Michael; Amazing Gracie
  94. Hardee, J.L., Justice or Injustice: What really happens in a jury room (Memoire)
  95. Harris, et al, Journey to Invisibility to Visibility
  96. Hayden, John; Godfit
  97. Helm & Smith: Talking Back to the Indian Act
  98. Hemphill, R.F.; dust tea, dingoes, dragons (Memoire)
  99. Heston, F.C., & McAdams, H. J.; Desolation Sound 
  100. Hiebert, Michael; Close to the Broken-Hearted
  101. Hill-Lehr, Andrea; A Mother's Road to Kandahar
  102. Hillier, Jennifer; Wonderland 
  103. Hoogstraten: The Debaters
  104. Horeck, Brian; Frozen Beneath 
  105. Hospital for Sick Children: The A to Z of Children's Health  
  106. Ivey, Donna; Clinic of Hope: The story of Rene M. Caisse and Essiac
  107. Izso, Jay; got social mediology?
  108. Jackson, Joshilyn; The Almost Sisters
  109. Jauvin, Chantal; The Boy with a Bamboo Heart: The story of a street orphan who built a children's charity
  110. Jenner, Reid: Diagnose Yourself
  111. Johnson, George: The Cancer Chronicles
  112. Johnson, Spencer; Who Moved My Cheese? (Non-fiction)
  113. Jonathan, Kath; The Resistance Painter
  114. Jones, Marjorie G.; The Life and Times of Mary Vaux Walcott
  115. Jones, Robin and Robert; The Refugee Crisis: Through the Eyes of the Children
  116. Jucha, S. H.; The Silver Ships
  117. Kading (Ed.); No Straight Lines
  118. Kamm, Kurt; Tunnel Visions
  119. Kellerman, Faye; Bon Box
  120. Kendell, Laura J.; A Simple Case of Suicide
  121. Kennedy, Dr. John; The Heart Health Bible
  122. Kelsey, E.; You Are Stardust, Not Your Typical Book
  123. Kerr, Leslie; Harriet Quimby
  124. Keyser, Judith Redwing; Last Acts of Kindness (Non-fiction)
  125. Kalla, Daniel; We All Fall Down 
  126. Kinew, Wab; The Reason You Walk 
  127. King, Samantha; Pink Ribbon, Inc. (Non-fiction)
  128. Knight and Sweeney; You Should Be Writing
  129. Krich, Rochelle; Dead Air
  130. Kumar, Sameet M.; The Mindfulness of Grief (Also Medicalisation of Grief: DSM-IV)
  131. Kuritz, Marc; Man With Child
  132. Kushner, Harold; When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Conquering Fear
  133. Lackberg, Camilla; The Gallows Bird
  134. Lafaye, Vanessa; Under a Dark Summer Sky
  135. Laferrière, Dany, The World is Moving Around Me: A Memoire of the Haiti Earthquake (Memoir) 
  136. Lalonde, Julie S.; Resistance is Futile: The life and death of Julie S. Lalonde (memoir)
  137. Lawhon, A. (2024) The Frozen River
  138. Leinvebers, V; No TIme To Cry
  139. Lemmon, G. T.; The Dressmaker of Khair Khan
  140. Levin, Joel M.; Our Beguine (Memoir)
  141. Lieberman & Neubert; Max and Charlie
  142. Lindsay, B.R.: Old Bones
  143. Louden, Paul; Behind the Locked Door (memoir; autism)
  144. Lundin, S.C. et al; FISH!
  145. Lynch, Wayne; Owls of the US and Canada
  146. Mackie & Taylor; The Cottage Bible 
  147. Mankell, Jenning; Faceless Killers
  148. Manning, Diane Daniels; Almost Perfect
  149. Maron, Margaret; The Bootlegger's Daughter
  150. McGee, Robin; The Cancer Olympics
  151. McGinty, Stephen, The Dive
  152. McKee, David M; Bala Boy
  153. McKee, Thomas. W; The Top Seven Reasons Volunteers Quit, The New Breed (Non-fiction)
  154. McNally, B.; Unbridled
  155. Martin, Mish Mockovic; Insights of a Yogi (autobiography)
  156. Mancuso, S; The Incredible Journey of Plants
  157. Mebane, Donna; Tomorrow Comes
  158. mhic Aonghais, Clinton; The Baker Boys -700 pages, haven't gotten to it!
  159. Miller, Dorcs S.; Scat Finder
  160. Miralia, Mindy; The Hero in Heroin (autobiography)
  161. Morelli, Laura; The Gondola Maker
  162. Morgan & Smith; Advanced Genealogy (self-help
  163. Moroney, Shannon; Through The Glass (Autobiography)
  164. Mowery, J. Nichols; The Parallel Lives of Elizabeth Ann
  165. Mukbil, Huda; Agent of Change 
  166. Musleh, Mitri I.; The Making of a Palestinian Suicide Bomber 
  167. Nash, Nicholas: The Girl at The Bar
  168. Neice, Rick, The Band Plays On: Going home for a music man's encore (memoire)
  169. Nelson, Craig; The Age of Radiance
  170. Nichols, N.; Broken Promises (autobiography)
  171. Nickerson, Cash; BOOMERangs; Engaging the Aging Workforce in America
  172. Noah, Jim; Country Store
  173. Obama, Barack; The Audacity of Hope
  174. Orloff, Judith; The Ecstacy of Surrender
  175. Paetkau, Jean; Blood on the Breakwater, The Sinking of Souls. 🇨🇦
  176. Parker, David; The More You Do The Better You Feel (self-help)
  177. Parker, Morgan; 1986
  178. Pastor, Marc; Barcelona Shadows
  179. Payne, Scott; Codename: Dark Horse
  180. Penny, Louise; A Trick of the Light - Gamache series
  181. Penny, Louise; A World of Curiosities
  182. Pesaturo, Janet; Camera Trapping Guide
  183. Picoult, Jodi; House RulesThe Tenth CirclePlain TruthPicture Perfect
  184. Piggott, Mark; The Dark Tides
  185. Pinzone, J.J.: Fireballs in my Eucharist: Fight Cancer Smarter 
  186. Polster, E; Beyond Therapy
  187. Potter, Cheryl: The Broken Circle, Secrets of the Lost Caves
  188. Power, G. A.; Dementia Beyond Disease
  189. Prattis; Trailing Sky Six Feathers , also New Planet, New World 
  190. Pronko, M.; The Last Train: A Tokyo Adventure
  191. Putzel, Michael; The Price They Paid
  192. Regan, Paulette; Unsettling the Settler Within
  193. Revere, Glenn; All About Carpets
  194. Richards, Jass; Turblojetslams
  195. Rice, Waub; Moon of the Crusted SnowMoon of the Turning Leaves 
  196. Riley, Laura; Tell Me of Brave Women
  197. Roe, Carolyn or Sale, Medora; Murder in a Good Cause
  198. Rue, Nancy; Tristan's Gap
  199. Roland, Bridget; the Doula
  200. Rosen, Lynn; A Man of Genius
  201. Rutherford, Edward; The Forest
  202. Saturday Even Post Magazine 1963 Kennedy Edition
  203. Schiller, E.; Watermark
  204. Schopick, J.: Honest Medicine
  205. Scholz & Church; The Masterpiece Within (Non-fiction)
  206. Schwägerl, Christian; The Anthropocene  (Non-fiction)
  207. Schwartz, Leslie; Angels Crest
  208. Seuss, Dr.; You're only old once!
  209. Shelly, Derek; Dying to Live
  210. Shem, Samuel; The Spirit of the Place
  211. Siegel, Alex; First Circle Club
  212. Signorile, M. A.; The Wartime Chronicles 
  213. Slatton, Traci L; Fallen,   Cold Light
  214. Smiley, Cat; the planet friendly diet 
  215. Sperazza, Diana; My Townie Heart
  216. Stephanopoulis, G., (2024) The Situation Room
  217. Stewart, Roderick; The Mind of Norman Bethune 
  218. Sutton; The Power of Legacy (Non-fiction)
  219. Tapper, J. (2025) Original Sin About Joe Biden.
  220. Tartt, Donna; The Goldfinch
  221. Thayer, R.S.; Kobee Manatee
  222. Traill, Catherine Parr; Lost in the Backwoods
  223. Transgender Lee; Woman Incognito
  224. Treitler; My Dad is an Alcoholic: What About Me? (autobiography)
  225. Tran; American Dreamer (autobiography)
  226. Trollope-Kumar, Karen; Cloud Messenger
  227. Trudeau, Kris; TimeShift 
  228. Vallée, Brian; The War On Women 
  229. Vinter, M.; Collette
  230. Voss, Donna Carol; One of Everything
  231. Wallach, Dr. J.D. ; Epigenetics; The death of the genetic theory of disease transmission (Non-fiction)
  232. Ware, Ruth; The IT Girl, The Woman in Cabin 10/ The Woman in Suite 11
  233. Warrington, Freda; Midsummer Night
  234. Wathanavongs and Jauvin; The Boy With the Bamboo Heart
  235. Welch, D.Y.; The Life and Times of Lilian J. Rice
  236. White, Kate; If Looks Could Kill 
  237. Williams and White:  Act III (Non-fiction)
  238. Wilson, Daniel H.; Robopocalypse
  239. Wilson, P.D.; The Caregiving Trap (Non-fiction)
  240. Wold, Richard; Stan
  241. Wolitzer, Meg: The Wife
  242. Wright, Robert; Our Man in Tehran (Non-fiction)
  243. Wyler, Allen;  Deadly Errors
  244. Young, David; Channelling Harrison (biography)
  245. Yow, David; Copycat

Book Reviews, Restaurant Reviews, DVD & iPad App Reviews (scroll down!) 

  1. Band of Brothers
  2. Borgen - Denmark Politics. Excellent!
  3. Broadchurch – amazing! 
  4. CIVIL WAR: THE UNTOLD STORY
  5. DCI Banks
  6. Endeavour (TV Series 2012)
  7. Foyle's War
  8. Grantchester
  9. George Gently (TV Series 2007)
  10. Inspector Lewis (2006–2015)
  11. Inspector Lynley
  12. Inspector Morse (1987–2000)
  13. Jack Irish
  14. Janet King
  15. Midsomer Murders (TV Series 1997)
  16. Mystery Road (ABC)
  17. My Life is Murder (ABC)
  18.  People of a Feather, Belcher Isl., Hudson Bay
  19. Shetland
  20. The Newsroom - fabulous!
  21. Vera - wonderful UK mystery

Restaurant Reviews


  1. Almonte Barley Mow – May 9, 2015
  2. Bistro 54 Italiano Perth – Jan. 2011
  3. Café Postino Almonte – 2011
  4. East Meets West – Perth - 2015 to present!
  5. Fratelli – April 17, 2017
  6. Georgian House – Alexandria, June 18th, 2016
  7. Heirloom Restaurant Almonte – Jan. 2015
  8. Mexicali Rosa –July 29, 2015 Also, Oct. 2010
  9. Rocky River Cafe – October 17, 2017; also Dec. 6 & 26, 2013.
  10. The Cove - Westport – many visits!
  11. The Hot Wok – April 10, 2017.
  12. The Shipwreck - Rideau Ferry – Oct. 2010
  13. The Waterfront - Napanee – May 2015
  14. Waterfront Gastropub – Carleton Place, May 23/18
  15. Wildfire BBQ and Smokehouse – Perth, 2015
  16. Zolas – Ottawa - May 13, 2015; Zola's Oct. 2016

iPad Apps

  1. Never Alone –Inuit game PC, so far
  2. Brushstroke –drawing
  3. ToonCamera –photoshop idea
  4. Doodle Buddy –drawing
  5. PhotoBooth –photoshop idea
  6. Dragon Naturally Speaking –speech-to-text, text-to-speech
  7. Spirits of Spring –Josie and I like it! 

1 comment:

Faye said...

Maron, Nevada Barr, and C. J. Box are three of my favorite authors. Barr and Box have long series going. Each one is a thriller. Maron has a great series too, not as intense as the other two.