Bloody Times: The Funeral of Abraham Lincoln and The Manhunt for Jefferson Davis by James L. Swanson

This book is adapted from Swanson’s adult book, Bloody Crimes: The Case for Jefferson Davis and the Death Pageant for Lincoln’s Corpse.  The author went into detail covering the final days of the Civil War and the events that took place.  Swanson focused on Lincoln and Davis. The author recounts the assassination, the funeral procession and Davis’ final days as president of the Confederacy.  The pictures scattered throughout the book give history buffs a primary source.  It was a quick read…one that kept me involved through the last page.

This is the story of Ree, a young teenager, in the Ozarks where family feeling is intense – and you’re either with them or against them.  Her father cooks crank and is on the run, her mother has lost her mind, and Ree takes care of two younger brothers and keeps the household going. She feels this responsibility strongly, and is making sure that the boys can take care of themselves and their mother after she enlists in the Army. One day she’s hit with the news that her father has put up the house as bond for a court appearance, and if he can’t be found they will forfeit the house. How she goes about making sure they don’t lose the house is a gruesome story

This book, set in New York State, is part mysticism, part mystery, part historical fiction and part spiritual.  It is the story of the people of Canadaguia who live near a mystical lake and former Seneca Indian Village.  Many of the residents have Seneca Indian ancestry and Indian mysticism as part of their makeup.  Some are healers, some visit from time to time from the beyond.  It is a mystery about the disappearance of Melanie Ellis, a resident of the town.  Some folks think she may have gone back to her druggie life, but her family feels that she would never leave her tiny son.

What has become of Melanie is surprising, but little in the small town is not surprising.  Grant, a former resident, has returned to straighten out his life after his divorce.  He can talk to trees and has healing powers inherited from his father who was a doctor and former Indian healer.  He feels that something bad has happened to Melanie.  He sees the spirit of her drowned brother, Luke, wherever he goes as do many of the other citizens of Canadaguia.  Grant must use his many powers and his knowledge of the area to find the missing girl.

As the story progresses, we find out much about the lives and loves of the townspeople.  There are some surprising facts revealed.  In the end, the mystery is solved.  To tell the ending would give the excitement of the book away, but Melanie did not run away.  Grant's intuition is correct and his talents are used in a mystical way.  This is a very action packed, quick read.

This book was funny.  How cats think:  We are smarter than people.  We are smarter than dogs.  We are smarter than everything in the universe.  We are plotting to take over.  Maybe the dogs and people will have something to say about this, cats!

Jenna Callahan Colby and Nate Langley were high school sweethearts but Jenna’s dad felt Nate wasn’t good enough for Jenna and sent him away.  After 9/11/01, Nate joined the Army and went to Afghanistan.  Jenna married the high school football star and had a son, Zach.  When Jenna’s husband found someone new, she divorced him and moved back to her father’s ranch to become a partner.  Jenna thinks she very content with her life until she runs into Nate in town.  Nate is home after two tours of duty in the army to help his ailing father on the family cotton farm.  The attraction between Jenna and Nate is still very strong and Nate hopes to pursue a relationship with Jenna.  However, Nate has some healing to do from post traumatic stress disorder.  He hopes to put the sleepless nights and horrors of war behind him and become the man Jenna and Zach deserve.

This is a love story with a Texas touch and the people of Callahan Crossing come across friendly and inviting.  The research for PTSD is done well by the author and you want to cheer for Nate that he’ll get better.  It’s nice to see the characters willing to stand up for the one they love and see them through the most difficult of times.  This book is the first in a series called The Callahans of Texas.

I don’t know if you can say you “enjoyed” reading this book.  Everything about Ree Dolly and her family situation is really tough.  She takes a lot on her shoulders—she has to—for her family to survive. Much of the action and interactions are menacing and brutal. I can’t imagine living like that.  I liked the descriptions of the Ozarks landscapes.  I really want to see the movie (even though it didn’t win the Academy Award for Best Picture) and compare it with the book. Ree is one spunky (or crazy) gal and you won’t soon forget her.

This is a nonfiction account of a group of eleven girls who grew up together in Ames, Iowa, from the 1960’s through the early 1980’s. The book follows the group as they go through life, from high school and first jobs, dating and marriage, college and careers, children and families, dealing with divorce and the deaths of loved ones.  These girls/women have not only kept in close contact, but have remained best friends for over 40 years.  The author discusses how close friendships between women have positive effects on their lives.  He also discusses the differences between women’s and men’s friendships. Women’s are face-to-face and men’s are side-by-side. (You’ll have to read the book to find out what the difference is!)  There is much laughter and some tears.

This title was the February selection for our book discussion groups. At the noon book group we had a special guest appearance (via telephone) by Jeffrey Zaslow and one of the “Girls”—Karla.  We were able to ask both of them a few questions and discuss some of the issues in the book.  I was surprised that such a large group of women would be able to sustain a best friends relationship throughout their lives. At this book group there were two attendees that each had eleven friends that they have remained very close to over many years—so what do I know!  I also felt that the book was a little long and made some of the same points over and over.  I believe most of the book group attendees enjoyed this book and were able to identify with some aspects of the girls’ friendships.  We also tended to agree that women’s and men’s friendships are different.   

The Brown Bag and a Book group meets on the 3^rd Wednesday of each month at noon.  That same evening at 7:00pm the Great Reads and Goodies book discussion group meets.  Both groups read the same title, but we are offering the daytime and evening discussion times so that more people with varying schedules may be able to attend and enjoy discussing the books.  We always try to serve a treat that goes along with the book. For this title, we had ice cream, since some of the girls had worked at Boyd’s Ice Cream Shop, while growing up in Ames.  Please come and join in one of our book discussion groups.