BOOK 100: The Book of Mormon

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture. It is a record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas and contains, as does the Bible, the fulness of the everlasting gospel.

Being a member of the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have, of course, read the Book of Mormon before. But in the past, it's always been a piecemeal goal. Read a chapter here and there, and eventually I'd make it to the end. This time, I read it as if it were any other book on my shelf. I'd sit down and read it for an hour or two at a time.

Naturally, nibbling is better than nothing, but I discovered that feasting on the word of God was a much more satisfying experience. The story made so much more sense to me. I could keep the different peoples and civilizations straight in my head much easier. Oftentimes, I would stop reading not because I ran out of time or because I was tired -- but because I had read such soul-enriching material that I needed time to digest it.

Reading the Book of Mormon is always an enlightening experience that strengthens my testimony of Christ. But I feel that this reading was the best I've ever had. Can't wait to get started on a re-read!

BOOK 99: The Ersatz Elevator (Series of Unfortunate Events #6), by Lemony Snicket

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire encounter a darkened staircase, a red herring, some friends in a dire situation, three mysterious initials, a liar with an evil scheme, a secret passageway, and parsley soda.

This was yet another clever tome in the Series of Unfortunate Events. The Baudelaires are taken in by a guardian who seems to have known the children's parents. His wife is hilarious with all her concern over what's "in." She's over the top, but I can see so much of people I know in her...

Snicket keeps teasing us with the promise of more information to the overarching plot. But he doesn't really give us ANYTHING to go on. Just an aside here or there. Esme knows Beatrice? And Olaf? And Jerome knows the Baudelaires? What gives?

On the plus side, having this book lying around my living room prompted my daughter's curiosity. She's probably the only first grader who knows what "ersatz" means.

BOOK 98: The Austere Academy (Series of Unfortunate Events #5), by Lemony Snicket

Rating: 4 stars

Cover synopsis: The Baudelaires go to boarding school, which turns out to be another miserable episode in their unlucky lives. Truth be told, the children will face snapping crabs, strict punishments, dripping fungus, comprehensive exams, violin recitals, S.O.R.E. and the metric system.

This book was a bit better than The Miserable Mill. It was still outlandish, but perhaps a tad more believable? But the main reason I gave it an extra star back was because I enjoyed the fact that the Baudelaires actually made friends their own age. So, although this book follows the same predictable formula, it was different in the company the kids keep, and also in the end something actually HAPPENS as Count Olaf is getting away. No, he isn't caught, but it will make for an interesting next book, nonetheless.

I also mused after the last book if we would ever get answers to an overarching plot. I'm thinking the answer is: someday. There were allusions to a bigger scheme, and Snicket also tantalizes us with some info about his lost love, Beatrice. So I hope my questions will be answered before the series is finished.

Wait a minute. Did I just say "hope?" I should know better than that. This is, after all, a series of unfortunate events.

BOOK 97: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: The Herdman kids lie and steal and smoke cigars. They talk dirty, hit little kids, cuss their teachers, set fires and take the name of the Lord in vain. No one is prepared when they invade church one Sunday -- and decide to take over the annual Christmas pageant.

I remember reading this book when I was in elementary school, and thought I'd pick it up again. It's a nice reminder that Christmas -- and Christ -- is for everyone, no matter what.

BOOK 96: The Miserable Mill (Series of Unfortunate Events #4), by Lemony Snicket

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire are sent to Paltryville to work in a lumbermill, and they find disaster and misfortune lurking behind every log.

This book had its moments of wit and dark humor, but it seemed much more forced and contrived than in the first three books. The situations that the Baudelaires find themselves in were always outlandish -- yet believable. The Miserable Mill was TOO outlandish to believe. Plus, Snicket simply followed the same formula as the previous books. Kids get shunted to an obscure guardian, Count Olaf is lurking and tries to snatch the kids -- and their fortune.

I keep waiting for the books to drop some hints into the larger picture. For instance, why did their parents' house burn down? What is the significance of the eye? Why do the Baudelaires not have any close relatives to care for them? Is this series simply going to be 13 books about Count Olaf trying to kidnap the kids? Or are we going to get some clues to a larger overarching plot?

BOOK 95: A Catered Thanksgiving, by Isis Crawford

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: Bernie and Libby are catering Thanksgiving for the super-dysfunctional Field family. But the turkey goes goes boom right in Monty Field's face, sending him to that great dining room in the sky. Snowed in and with every member of the Field family harboring secrets, Bernie and Libby are going to have to convince the Fields that they aren't to blame -- and find out who really is, fast.

This was a fun little mystery. And I love anything that has to do with food. :)

The author did a good job of demonstrating everyone's motive for the murder, and she's very good at character development. Perhaps too good...it drove me crazy reading all the bickering and backstabbing dialogue among the Field family.

BOOK 94: The Wide Window (Series of Unfortunate Events #3), by Lemony Snicket

Rating: 5 stars



Cover synopsis: If you haven't got a stomach for a story that includes a hurricane, a signaling device, hungry leeches, cold cucumber soup, a horrible villain, and a doll named Pretty Penny, then this book will probably fill you with despair.


It's an interesting experience reading a story in which the narrator bluntly tells you again and again that it will not have a happy ending. Despite these warnings, I find myself holding out hope that something good will happen -- even though I know it won't. Even when Snicket tells you exactly the bad thing that is going to happen early in the book, so you know it's coming, you still hold out hope that it all turns out OK in some way.

It's also an interesting experience to read a book about other people's misery in which I find myself laughing out loud. I never thought of myself as someone with a dark sense of humor, but Snicket is a very talented story teller, with the right mix of suspense, desperation, comedy, wit and truth. His asides about grammar, appropriate behavior and life lessons are a delight.

This book, of course, has the orphans staying with Aunt Josephine, a woman who is deathly afraid of everything, and is therefore a terrible guardian and not much fun to boot. Still, she's better than Count Olaf. Or should I say "Captain Sham?"

BOOK 93: The Reptile Room (Series of Unfortunate Events #2), by Lemony Snicket

Rating: 5 stars

Cover synopsis: Within these pages, the Baudelaire children endure a car accident, a terrible odor, a deadly serpent, a long knife, a large brass reading lamp and the reappearance of a person they'd hoped never to see again.

Who knew that reading about others' misfortunes could be so fun? Lemony Snicket is a delightful narrator, especially in the face of, well, unfortunate events. The wit and humor just ooze off the page (ooze as it's used here means...oh, wait. Sorry...)

In this tome, the orphans go to live with their Uncle Monty, who is a wonderful, fun, caring person who also happens to be an expert on snakes. The children enjoy their time with Uncle Monty until his new assistant shows up, of course. "Stephano" is as evil as ever, Mr. Poe as clueless as ever, and the Baudelaires as resourceful as ever.

BOOK 92: The Autobiography of Santa Claus, by Jeff Guinn

Rating: 3 stars

Cover synopsis: Santa shares his story with readers for the first time. Nicholas was born in the Middle East, and as a child share his wealth with those in need. His generosity and gift-giving spread, with the help of a little magic.

I like the premise of this book more than the execution. Santa takes us on a journey through history, back to the beginnings of the real Saint Nicholas. The book boils down to a history of Christianity and the celebration of Christmas -- which is fascinating. And it had me hooked until about halway through the book. Then the writing got repetative, and I felt more like I was reading a history book than a story.

It got to be the same old tale -- Santa and his companions made and delivered gifts, they found many influential person in history to share their story with, and they joined us in our mission. The storytelling got duller and duller as the book dragged on. I also didn't like the characters very much -- even Santa himself. The dialogue between characters seemed to consist of snide remarks and grumbles. And Santa seems really sensitive about his weight. Really? Come on. He's supposed to be jolly!

Still, it's Christmas, and I appreciated the logical approach to Santa, the myths, the legends, and the celebration of the holiday through time. The imagination in the story was believable and magical at the same time.