A voyage in the Arctic in the early 1900s goes awry. This book was written by one of the survivors from his diary. Not all that long, but quite readable, and has several maps, thank goodness!
A mystery in the village where Beatrix Potter lives. Very interesting, spent a lot of time looking up stuff on the internet. Nicely written, but I don't feel a longing to read any more of the series.
Quote:
There is something to be said, after all, for pent-up longing. -- Pg. 141
Country-girl Polly comes to Boston to visit her rich friend Fanny. Several weeps near the end. Needs a lexicon, though!
Words I Had To Look Up:
Opydilldock is first-rate for sprains. (pg. 76) -- Opodeldoc is a liniment attributed to the physician Paracelsus, which camphor and herbs in it.
"Now, Maud, bring on the citron;" (pg. 289) -- A fragrant citrus fruit, used mostly for its rind, rather than being eaten like an orange.
Quote:
"Bright boy! here's a plum for you," and Polly threw a plump raisin into his mouth.
"Put in lots, won't you? I'm rather fond of plumcake," observed Tom... (pg. 288) -- Plums are raisons? Aha! One of the definitions for plum is a raisin when added to a cake or pudding!
An orphan, Rose, goes to live with her new guardian, Uncle Alec, a bunch of aunts, and those seven cousins.
Words I Had To Look Up:
you know hasheesh is the extract of hemp? (pg. 46) -- The things you learn in a children's book! pigeon English (pg. 76) -- Pidgin English is a simplified form of English used by certain peoples of E Asia and the South Pacific in dealing with foreigners.
could you lend me a ninepence? (pg. 83) -- A New England name for the Spanish real, a coin formerly current in the United States, as valued at twelve and a half cents. Which doesn't really clear things up. This takes place around 1875, I think.
I am a quiddle (pg. 132) -- One who wastes his energy about trifles. Babes in the woods (gp. 155) -- Another of those awful folk tales where children die. In the woods.
in a promiscuous heap (pg. 224) -- Casual; irregular; haphazard. Used twice by the author!
making a little Casabianca of herself (pg. 243) -- From the poem of the same name, about a young boy who would not desert his post on a warship. And perished.
Quote:
for, though we do not want trumpets to be blown, we do like to have our little virtues appreciated, and cannot help feeling disappointed if they are not. (pg. 117)
Quote:
Dr. Alec ordered her to lie on the sofa for a fortnight at least, whereat she groaned dismally, but dared not openly complain, lest the boys turn upon her with some of the wise little sermons on patience which she had delivered for their benefit. (pg. 165)
I found this one in a discard bin, or rather a discard table, at work. "Oh, goody, a Little Women book I haven't read!" As I discovered, and you all knew, this book is the second volume that is usually bound with Little Women. And that is why it seemed familiar. But not totally, as I last read Little Women when I was eighteen or so, and that was over four decades ago. Tempus fugit!
Taran, assistant pig-keeper, dreams of being a warrior. I had so much fun reading Time Cat that I thought I would read the Chronicles Of Prydain series again.
On the book the word "Visit" is struck out. I don't know how to render that here. Miguel's Tia comes to visit from the D.R., he is a bit scandalized by her outgoing personality at first, but eventually realizes how much he wants her to stay. Good story!
James Dixon is a lecturer at a British college in the late 1940s or VERY early 1950s. He is not getting on at his job, and a number of personal difficulties arise. Someone on some social network I can't remember said it was very funny. John Mortimer says on the back cover that "Amis was a genuine comic writer, perhaps the best after P.G. Wodehouse." I do like me some Wodehouse, as they say - my Jeeves Omnibus has been read several times. Well, I could see where this OUGHT to be funny, but it didn't work for me.
P.I. Sonny Baca battles Raven in his third outing, I think. Raven is building a nuclear weapon, as a distraction.... I'm not totally comfortable with the author's style, but I did like the second half of this book.
Three girls move into the city, as it were, so they can attend their high school after bus service to their area is canceled. It being WWII there is a lot of turmoil, a large munition factory has come to their little town and brought lots of workers. A fourth girl, a refugee from the UK, moves in with them. Pretty much life goes on, with an adventuresome conclusion. This book was published in 1944.
Earthquakes, comet strike, sun exploding, core meltdown, everything happens to Krypton! I feel very little nostalgia for the Superman of my youth, but this book fleshes out the story lines I remember. Geez, I mispeled Krypton in the title!