THE BEST BLOGGING BUDDIES AWARD!

THE BEST BLOGGING BUDDIES AWARD!

Victoria nominated me for the B-B-B Award, and apparently it’s a pretty new one. So, here are the rules:

1.) You must make a post to show your award on your main blog.

2.) You must tag the person who nominated you in your post.

3.) You must nominate all your best buddies and those whom you want to become best buddies with, who, to your knowledge, have not been nominated, for this award.

4.) You must ask your buddies at least 15 questions on your post.

5.) You must answer all of your questions your buddies ask you – on your post.

Okay! Let’s do this! Victoria’s questions and my answers:

1.) Would you rather go to New England or New Zealand?

     Wow! That’s a tough one. I would rather go to New Zealand.

2.) If you could meet any dead person who is not an author, who would it be?

     I don’t know if she wrote any books, many books are written about her – Eleanor Roosevelt.

3.) If you had a time machine with which you could only go to the future, or to the past, which would you prefer?

     The past.

4.) Why to the above?

      The future is unknown. While there could be many blessings, there could also be serious unknown problems.

5.) Do you prefer guy singers or woman singers?

      I usually prefer male singers.

6.) Favorite composer?

      I don’t have a favorite composer.

7.) Are you curly headed or straight?

     I have straight hair.

At this point in the questions, Victoria asks us to answer some of Sarah’s questions, if we so choose.

8.) If you lived in a fantasy/sci-fi world, what job would I want?

      An archer! Yes! Legoles from The Lord of the Rings is awesome. Susan in the Chronicles of Narnia rocks!

9.) Cookies, kudos, awesomeness points or something else?

      I would definitely take cookies!

10.) Are you ready for fall?

     Oh yes I am!

11.) If you were to dress up as a character from a book/movie/tv show/etc. (like for a costume party or convention), who would you dress up as?

     Tuppence from the Agatha Christie mysteries!

12.) Do you like romance in stories? Why or why not?

     I do like romance. However, it needs to be clean romance and usually comedy. Romance adds a nice touch to the plot and I think everyone needs companionship.

13.) What are you really excited for right now?

     I’m flying in a Cessna on Saturday with a friend of mine!

14.) What book/movie/TV villain would you most want to show up on your doorstep? (Or, to phrase it another way, which would you be least opposed to showing up on your doorstep?)

     That is a very good question. I don’t really know, however, it would need to be someone I can smack and say, “Buck up and behave yourself!”

15.) If you were to give yourself a personal title thing (e.g. the Taleweaver, the Pathfinder, etc.), what would it be?

     Another good question. Keeper of the Light. Everyone needs to have the Light in their life and we all need to follow the Light.

Drum roll please . . . now for my questions!

1.) If you could travel into a fantasy realm, remain there as long as you want to, which land would you go to? For example, Oz, Narnia, Middle Earth, etc.

2.) What is your favorite children’s book?

3.) Do you speak a foreign language, if yes, which one?

4.) Do you enjoy horseback riding?

5.) Have you ever flown in a hot air balloon?

6.) Do you enjoy art galleries?

7.) Do you prefer the beach or the mountains?

8.) Other than books, what do you collect, if anything?

9.) Do you prefer Agatha Christie or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle?

10.) Which Muppet is your favorite?

11.) Do you prefer tea or coffee?

12.) What is your favorite sport?

13.) Who is your favorite fictional family in books?

14.) What is your favorite sport?

And # 15.) What is your favorite food served on Thanksgiving Day???? YEA!

Here are my nominees:

Virginia

Lynette Noni

Have a great day and have fun!!!

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“Night Watch,” by Linda Hall

Where do I begin? I loved it! “Night Watch,” aptly named, is well-written and at a good pace, captivating, a page turner, hard to put down and I was completely absorbed. I was so “into” this mystery, this morning, as I finished reading it, I didn’t realize I so cold. I had to get our little fireplace going and brew myself a pot of hot tea to warm up.

Emmeline Ridge (Em) has been hired by a billionaire to take his luxury sea vessel from Maine to the Bahamas. The cruise ends prematurely when a young woman falls overboard into the cold Atlantic waters.

I could almost feel the rocking of the vessel on the Atlantic Ocean. I could almost feel the wind in my face, blowing my hair in every direction and the spray from the salty water soaking my already shivering body! As I read – intently focused – I was with the crew as they searched for the missing woman.

I thought the mystery was presented in such a way, the author was handing me, the reader, a clue or a piece to a puzzle. I was to examine and place the clue or the puzzle piece in the proper position. She then would give me another piece to the puzzle or a clue, I would examine it and place it in the proper order until all the pieces to the mystery were given. The puzzle then being complete, I, the reader had a clear picture of the mystery and all was solved. While I read this mystery, I took notes and made lists of the clues that had been given! It was a great read!

I liked Em Ridge. She was a good Captain and well informed with tons of experience in the water and on sea faring vessels. I also liked Ben -the detective. I look forward to the next book in this series!

A sincere thanks to the author for e-mailing her book to me, in exchange for an honest review!

“An Impartial Witness,” by Charles Todd

That was good! That was really good! The end! Ha ha! Seriously though, “An Impartial Witness,” is the second book in the Bess Crawford Mysteries. Bess is a battlefield nurse during World War I. In this mystery she is serving in France and it is not easy for medical people serving during the war. They repair one wounded service member after another, with few breaks, little to no sleep, small amounts of food and the wounded keep coming. The war effort is well described, in this mystery. However, there is another side to war. The worry, loneliness and heartache of the wives and family members waiting for their men to return to them – wondering – will they return healthy, injured, physically changed forever?

Bess Crawford nurses a seriously burned pilot during the war. He stares at a photo of his wife, which seems to help his recovery. When Bess returns to London, unexpectedly she sees the wife of the pilot at the train station. Bess recognizes her from the photo, the pilot’s wife is clearly upset, and she is speaking with a man on the platform of the train station. The man gets on the train and leaves and the pilot’s wife disappears into London. Later Bess discovers, the pilot’s wife has been murdered. In a newspaper, Scotland Yard is asking for help with this mysterious murder. Bess Crawford shares what she saw at the train station with Scotland Yard and becomes heavily involved in solving this mystery.

Well-written! It grabbed my attention and held it. I had difficulty putting the book down.

Good morning! It’s a great day to finish reading a book!

After several days, it was slow going in the beginning, I finished reading, “Far From the Maddening Crowd,” by Thomas Hardy. In the first pages of the book, I had some difficulty with the author’s style of writing, I thought it was slow and difficult to understand. At times I found myself talking to the book! I would ask the story, “What are you talking about?” I almost quit reading it a few times, however, I persevered and I am glad I did. I liked it!

Bathsheba Everdene has come to Weatherbury – to farm. That’s right, she is the mistress of her own farm. I read somewhere, the year is 1874, so it might be a little unusual for a woman to own and operate a farm. She does very well. There are three men who want Miss Bathsheba. Mr. Boldwood is the gentlemen farmer. Gabriel Oak is the likable shepherd and my favorite character. And, lastly, the soldier, Sergeant Troy. What a well described mess! Heartache, suffering! I like this picture I included from pinterest. I think it reveals all!

Anyway, I enjoyed reading about rural life and I thought Mr. Hardy did a wonderful job describing life on a farm in Weatherbury. His descriptions of landscapes were well done. When all is said and done, I thought he wrote an enjoyable and interesting book.

Dr. Watson

I am certainly not an expert on the Sherlock Holmes mysteries. I just know that I like them and I certainly haven’t read all of them. I’ve been reading Doyle’s stories for a couple of days now. Some of them I have read in the past and some were new to me, but one thing I do know – I like Dr. Watson.  He’s intelligent. He is a doctor and one has to have an IQ to be a doctor. I think he likes people and wants to help them in any way he can. Once again, he is a doctor. A doctor, I would think, normally would want to help people. He is always available to Sherlock. He has known suffering and injury without any apparent anger or bitterness.  He’s loyal and a good friend. Even after he marries, he assists Sherlock with his cases. Even though he doesn’t seem to think so, he is attentive and has an eye for detail and anything that goes on around him. This can be seen in his meticulous writings of Sherlock’s mysteries and puzzles. He remembers conversations. Once again this can be seen in his writings. I’ve always thought Dr. Watson was somewhat of a quiet man, who observes. He has literary skills. He can keep confidential information to himself. He doesn’t betray a trust. He knows Sherlock Holmes better than anyone!

Mmmmm . . .

Moriarty! I don’t recall ever reading, “The Final Problem,” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the past. I am sure I would have remembered this story. Extraordinary! Unbelievable! Shocking! Dr. Watson certainly captured my attention and held it until I finished. I never once put it down.

Holmes visits Watson asking him to travel with him to the Continent for a week. Watson agrees and the plan is in motion. Read it, but read it last.

“The Adventure of the Solitary Cyclist,” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Sherlock Holmes never ceases to amaze me. I would like a puzzle or a mystery in my life, not murder, which I can take to him, just so I can meet him and observe him work! Okay. I cycle, so, here I am, a little rattled, because someone has been following me as I pedal. I might note here, I do not pedal in skirts! After introductions, I sit in the chair offered and gaze up at this extraordinary man I have heard so much about. I have not mentioned, to him, that I cycle. Holmes says, “it cannot be your health . . . so ardent a cyclist.” He then takes my ungloved hand. He says, “You observe the spatulate finger end, Watson . . . This lady is a musician.” He then proceeds to comment on my complexion. My skin tells him, I live in the country.

The observations he made with this lady, are not as impressive as some observations he has made in past stories I have read. I wonder though, of course, I would not have noticed her “spatulate” finger but, I think many of us would have noticed what Holmes noticed on this woman – the difference – he came to conclusions as a result of his observations. I personally would not have arrived at any conclusions.

In this mystery, Miss Violet Smith informs Holmes, as she rides her bicycle, she notices, someone is following her. Holmes is busy on another puzzle, so he sends Watson. A good short mystery! Happy reading!

“The Red-Headed League”

This mystery was so incredibly absurd, the preposterous plan would have worked, but alas, Mr. Wilson contacted Sherlock Holmes!

Mr. Wilson, a vibrant red-headed man, is hired by “The Red-Headed League,” to copy an encyclopedia and is paid for it!

“The Adventure of the Norwood Builder,” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

This mystery – immediately – grabbed my attention, held it and would not release me from it’s tight hold! Well done Sherlock! On the first page of the story, I was a little surprised. Dr. Watson revealed something of Holmes character that was appealing to me. It was interesting to see that side of Holmes. Although not a part of the mystery, Moriarty is mentioned on the first page. Sherlock and Dr. Watson have a surprise visitor, a Mr. John Hector McFarlane is being sought after, by Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard, for the murder of Mr. Jonas Oldacre. “The Adventure of the Norwood Builder,” is a favorite!

“The Greek Interpreter,” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

I was surprised! “The Greek Interpreter,” is the first Sherlock Holmes mystery I have read, where Holmes mentions a grandmother and a brother! I don’t recall Holmes ever mentioning relatives in other stories. Who knew? Holmes grandmother was the sister of a French artist and Mycroft Holmes is Sherlock’s brother! The brothers have a good relationship.