As the summer is winding down, I am unhappy to report that I haven't had time to read one book this summer.  But I have been gardening.  I sure love the gardening this summer.  I could spend all day outside in my garden if I didn't have other things to do or get too hot and tired.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my garden this year.  It is now harvest time and we have quite a few things coming on.  We have picked our peaches and pears, I have done 12 quarts of tomatoes, and we eat zucchini or cukes at every meal.  Green beans are coming on so I will have some of those soon too.  Potatoes look promising, but we won't know until we dig them up in October.  There are about 6 banana squashes and peppers galore.  I am waiting for the peppers to turn red so I can roast them and bottle them.  Apples look plentiful too.  What a great summer it has been!
(Mom)

Book Review: The Spellman Files (Steph)

At the beginning of the summer, I dusted off the ol' library card.  I haven't been to the library in about 6 years, so I decided it was time to pay my $9 fine, update the information on my card, and get to reading. 

My first trip back to the library was a little overwhelming, because I wanted to read a book, but didn't know what to read.  So, I basically walked up and down the fiction aisles, pulling out books at random and speed reading the dust jacket summary (speed reading because I had Abi tugging on my arm asking me if we were going to go home yet). 

I found one I thought I might enjoy, so I took my chances.

The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

 3 1/2 out of 5 thumbs up (yes, I am going to adopt a Homer-Simpson-like rating system)

This story revolves around Izzy Spellman and her dysfunctional family of private investigators.  Izzy grew up in the family business of detective work and has learned the tricks of the trade.  She tries to juggle her personal life with her family of sleuths, which becomes tricky, especially when she it comes to personal matters. Tailing, phone tapping, bribing, car chases- nothing is really off limits when it comes to this quirky family.

Overall, this book kept me engaged.  It was well-paced and well-written, though I had a hard time relating to the main character, only because I'm not as hard-core rebellious as she is.  She's into wearing trench coats and combat boots and I'm... well, not.  She also comes home too drunk to remember anything on a couple occasions and has sort of a potty mouth.

There are 4 other books about the Spellman family: Curse of the Spellmans, Revenge of the Spellmans, The Spellmans Strike Again, and Trail of the Spellmans.  I may decide to read them.

MPAA Rating- R for language.  Most of the language it at the beginning of the book, in fact she uses the F-word at least a dozen time in the first 50 pages.  Other than that, it's not too bad.