Book Review: A Fatal Arrangement (Pacific Northwest, flowers, murder)

A Fatal Arrangement, by Gayle Roper (Annies Fiction, 2020, 214pp HB, $19.99) Review by Skye Anderson

There are romance novels and then there are steamy romance novels. This is neither. 

A Fatal Arrangement is what I call a cozy mystery - it has no graphic violence, and generally no swearing or sex - just a darn good tale.

Cozy mysteries often come in groups (a series). Sometimes they star a dog* or cat, sometimes they center around a bookstore or a yarn shop**, or a bakery with a recipe included, an inn, a geographical location. You name it and I bet there is a mystery series with that theme.

This cozy mystery starts with a death - five years ago - a disappearance, actually. And an empty boat.  But, could it be murder? Grandpa's last diary entry seems to say so but who would murder a grandpa?

A Fatal Arrangement stars a let-go botany professor who worked with the police probably at the University of Washington in Seattle (my alma mater), who takes over her grandmother's florist shop on Orcas Island in Puget Sound (Orcas really is an island there). Her first weekend also features a book signing of famous authors who got their start in a writers' course on the island, a last-minute wedding, poisoned flowers (hence, the title), a break-in, a thumb drive (jump drive), another break-in, a dachshund named Bear, another break-in, and hiding things from the police. 

Oh, and did I mention the cliffhangers at the end of chapters? And the professor whose heart goes pittypatter when the island's handyman appears (or a member of the city's finest). Our budding florist has a lot to learn about small town friendships and to learn the common names of plants and flowers rather than the scientific ones (Genus species) if she wants to keep her new friends, the owner of the local bookstore and the owner of the bakery next door and. . . . 

A Fatal Arrangement will make you want to read more cozy flower mysteries!

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*To Fetch a Thief by Spencer Quinn, but Quinn's are classy tales

**On Skein of Death by Allie Pleiter, a typical cozy mystery

Book Review: The Secret of the Forgotten City (Nancy Drew 52)

The Secret of the Forgotten City, by Carolyn Keene (Grosset & Dunlap, 1947, 208pp HB, $5.99, ages 8-12, #52 of 163 in the series - or possibly 600) Review by Skye Anderson

Women of a certain age grew up with Nancy Drew ('born' in 1930) just as men of a certain age grew up with the earlier Hardy Boys Mysteries (b. 1927). 

At first, Nancy had a blue roadster (a car, usually blue), two best girl friends, and a boy friend in college, Ned. The girls wore dresses and Nancy was so very lucky to be in just the right place at just the right time and to always be able to travel the next day to another part of the country to solve a mystery. She was quite the amateur sleuth (solver of mysteries and crimes). So much so that law enforcement officers often would 'break current day rules' and ask for her interference in solving a crime.

Then-day Nancy (aged 16-18) evolved with the times and went on TV, sported a modern haircut and wardrobe, including pants; her books have even been "shortened" from 25 chapters to 20.

Carolyn Keene, the "author," is actually several authors who were paid to write a formula book - but they loved Nancy and could identify with her which is why she became such an iconic figure in literature - more so than the Dana Girls, Trixie Belden or Sue Barton but just a little bit ahead of Cherry Ames (the nurse)(see end of article).

Some of the Nancy Drew books are amazingly technical in parts, parts that Nancy ends up solving. For example, in The Secret of the Forgotten City, Nancy and friends go on an archeological dig out West in Nevada (but generally the place names are generic) with no experience or training but first, Nancy must decipher some carved stones.

The Forgotten City

In The Forgotten City, Nancy and pals search for gold and as a result, Nancy and Ned almost become fatalities. Almost.

Starting with a theft, and going on to 102-degree days and then too much water, plus a scam, this may be Nancy's most scary mystery yet.

A Play on Words

In The Crooked Banister, Nancy's adventures would be grand entertainment around Halloween. From a moat on fire, to a robot technically ahead of his (her?) time, to poisoned portraits, this tale is almost too weird to believe. And the haunted house belongs to Mr. Banister, of course - the normal one, that is, but gone.

Do you Remember. . . ?

Your first Nancy Drew book? I do. I was 8 and it was a Christmas present. From then on, I was hooked, until I grew up that is.

Oh, and about the dog. . . .

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Book Review: susan, linda, nina & cokie: The Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR (OT)

Susan, Linda, Nina & Cokie: The Extraordinary Story of the Founding Mothers of NPR, by Lisa Napoli* (Abrams, 2021, $28 HB, 352pp) Review by Skye Anderson

Would you read a book with the title Susan? How about Linda? or Susan and Linda? or Nina - does that ring a bell? or Susan and Linda and Nina? I bet you got it at Susan, Linda, Nina and Cokie though! Even if the title looked like this: susan, linda, nina & cokie.

Or, does this little exercise bring you back to "Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice"?

Susan, Linda, Nina and Cokie is the extraordinary story of the "founding mothers" of NPR (National Public Radio)! Susan Stamberg, Linda Wertheimer, Nine Totenberg and Cokie Roberts were on the radio for decades and not just 'on the radio' but on NPR and not just 'on' but helping to birth that iconic piece of oral history.

If you don't recall all four women, that's OK: I only remember three of the names even though I am an avid member of my local public radio station and 'grew up' with all of the founding mothers.

A Long Book of Recent Radio History, Replete with Gossipy History

At 352 pages, this is a long book about four enterprising young women whom we all know and listen to on a daily basis. We invite them into our homes.We may not recognize their faces but know their voices well. 

Author Lisa Napoli deals with everything. Starting with cancer and going on to plagiarism and sexual harassment with a discussion of the financial woes of NPR in 1983. And if, at the end, you still get the four founders mixed up, that's OK, too!

We begin at the beginning with a chapter on the background of each of the women, then how they met over a few years, how hard they worked as the Women's Movement was in its infancy, how little they made (salary-wise) and what they are offered for a speech nowadays. Along the way, the author digresses onto threads of what is happening in the world at the time. All that makes for a fascinating few evenings of reading.

*complete with a timeline

Book Review: The Sit, Down, Come, Heel, Stay and Stand Book (dog training, fun)

The Sit, Down, Come, Heel, Stay and Stand Book, by Claire Arrowsmith (Tfh Publications, $17.95, 28pp, 2008) Review by Skye Anderson

As a scientist I tell my students not to refer to papers written more than five years ago. As a dog trainer I tell my clients not to depend on everything in a book more than five years old. So, what did we here at DogEvals do? Review a book more than five years old! 

I had gone through this book quite a while back and really liked it. Then I took another look at it - today. I still like much of it and will recommend it with some caveats.

The Good

There is a lot to like in The Sit . . . book. A hard cover over a spiral bound book so it lies flat! Each of the six basic behaviors in the title and in the book is covered on facing pages with several steps devoted to how to get the behavior (The Basics). Also included on the two pages are the hand signal, what to do if your dog just doesn't get it (troubleshooting, Overcoming Problems), TIPS, and modifications for smaller dogs. Demo dogs are big and small. Other topics are covered for some of the behaviors and topic names differ.

I like the cardboard pages: this book is meant to be used!

A fold-out achievement chart with steps for each behavior can be torn out from the book. The steps are grouped in threes with award stickers for each three as they are achieved.

A two-page introduction and on the other side of the achievement chart are pages of helpful hints such as using toys instead of treats as a reward, using and fading treat rewards, treat pouches, timing and three golden rules.

The Bad

The pages are not numbered though the book does have a table of contents.

The Ugly

Nothing

There are slight differences between how the author trains and how I train and she may have gradually come over to how I do things as the years have passed but these are minor issues and I would either point them out to a client or simply ignore the differences. For example, the author rewards the dog with a treat plus the phrase, Good Dog, upon completion of a behavior while I would omit the words for a while and then use a one-syllable word. 

Book Review: Shearing Day on the Dean Farm (sheep and a sheepdog, too!)

Shearing Day on the Dean Farm, by Roxanne Dean (Palmetto Publishing, 2024, 26pp PB and HC [$18.99], to age 12) Review by Skye Anderson

A lovely adjunct to the children's book The Yarn Fairy (the previous review) is Shearing Day on the Dean Farm by the prolific* writer Roxanne Dean. We simply love some of the illustrations, like the back cover. Watercolor flowers are especially lovely.

A Sheepdog in Action

Watch Bo the sheepdog fly into action as he guides the sheep into a pen to be sheared. After the shearing, Bo is content to watch over his flock.

The author's grandson gets in on the action, too, as he learns why sheep are sheared: because summer is coming on and sheep will be cooler without an additional six pounds to carry around. Also, it is fortunate that we can use the wool.

Baby Lambs

Baby lambs are seen as they frolic with the newly-shorn sheep and the wool is cleaned, processed, spun and knitted into mittens and scarves and socks.

 Other books by author Roxanne Dean include Sheila the Sheep Goes to the Spa,

The Sheep of Celtic Herd: What are Ewe Thinking?

and dog books, Lenny the Bulldog Goes to the Beach: The Bully on the Beach 

and Junior and Bobo, the Beach Bulldogs - Let Sleeping Dogs Lie.

Book Review: Orangutan Rescue (children's book)(OT)

Orangutan Rescue, by Dougal Dixon (Waterbird Books/McGraw-Hill, 32pp PB, 2004, ages 6-10, grades 1-2, $4.99) Review by Skye Anderson

I am one of those people who won't watch a movie if the dog dies in it. I won't read an article about animal rescue if the animal dies. So, I was leery about Orangutan Rescue. The first few pages were a story I loved, learning about a new-born orang and watching him grow up for two years but then. . . . glad I persevered because Orangutan Rescue is a good good book!

Story and Fact Pages

Orangutan Rescue is a large book similar to a comic book but sturdier and with gorgeous full-page color photos. Words are printed on the pictures but do not interfere with them. A dozen two-page spreads tell how mama orangs make a new bed of twigs and leaves every night in the canopy of tree tops and spends years taking care of and teaching her baby, swinging from tree to tree in the jungle.

Orangs eat fruit such as the durian which receives a photo and word description that omits its terrible stink (ask me how I know!) but puts emphasis on its luscious delicious pulp.

And yes, our wee reddish orang, Chang, at two, is captured by poachers and sold as a pet but manages to escape and be picked up by a rescue. Checked out by a veterinarian, quarantined and then joining a group of other young orangs to grow and learn, he will then be replaced into a jungle in Borneo to live as he was meant to live. Success at age seven!

Shrinking Forests

Two more pages are devoted to the major factor in the demise of this species - habitat destruction. But, where are orangs found and what do they eat? How do you tell a male from a female? What about their behavior and senses, reproduction and young, a glossary? And most importantly, what can we do to help?

These questions are answered in the back of the book so the reader is both told an intriguing story and then learns all about orangs.

The Cover Tells it All

Book Review: The Yarn Fairy (children's book)(OT)

The Yarn Fairy, by Victoria Quinney and Lisa Willis (KDP, 40pp PB, ages 2-10, 2024, $10) Review by Skye Anderson

Perfect Title, Scrumptious Yarn!

What could grab a young girl's attention more than a 'yarn fairy.' Boys will ask questions about shearing sheep. And the watercolors of yarn, spindles and spools by illustrator Mackenzie Elliott are simply scrumptious!

The Story of Yarn - Fun Education

Have you ever wondered how wool gets off the sheep and turns into gorgeous colors of yarn to make a sweater? Wonder no more - authors Victoria Quinney and Lisa Willis share the secret in The Yarn Fairy. And we'll let you in on it!

It all starts with a book-length poem reminiscent of the poem, "The Night Before Christmas,"

but the yarn fairy and her sleigh are pulled by three sheep, not eight reindeer. The sheep wear tassels and pom poms and fairy dust permeates the air on many of the pages.

Learn about roving, drop spindles, drafting and pulling, spinning, knitting, crocheting, felting into gifts of scarves and mittens and socks and more.

With pages of definitions and activities and questions, The Yarn Fairy will start the reader on hours of fun learning.