The View From Saturday by e. l. konigsburg

rating: 4/5

No warning necessary

The second Tuesday night of every month finds me at my local Library book group where an eclectic group of individuals, all with a passion for reading, meets to socialize and discuss our passion for the written word. Our fearless leader attempts to "control the group" but most months little direction is required; group members are usually out spoken and opinionated--in the nicest sort of way.

I'll have to admit that sometimes I don't enjoy the book itself, but I always love the discussion and I usually come away from the night with addition insight, even if I'm not swayed from my initial opinion. Luckily, our book for this month The View From Saturday by e. l. konigsburg (lack of capitalization intended) is awesome. I enjoyed every word from start to finish. The View From Saturday is a young adult novel (right on my reading level) about a 6th grade quiz team. The morning that I started reading the novel I watched an episode of Wonder Pets about saving baby sea turtles http://www.turtles.org/, I found it ironic that konigsburg talks about sea turtles in the book (you'll have to read it yourself to find out why). The word "charming" best describes this little text. It was a fun fast read that left me with plenty to think about.

I was a little sad when I finished because I enjoyed it so much. So I went to the library and checked out another konigsburg The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place. The View From Saturday is not a fluke--this woman can write! Outcasts was fun and quirky and once again left me with much to contemplate. I'm on my way to the library to find another konigsburg masterpiece. There are few things in this life that I enjoy as much as to find a great read!

These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner

Rating: 4/5

Warning: This book contains disturbing images of death and murder, death and murder of children (too many), rape, stillbirth, miscarriage, racial tension, and gratuitous violence.

 Nancy E. Turner's story chronicals the life of Sarah Agnes Prine. The book is written in journal format and covers the years 1881-1901 in the Arizona Territory. I read the book for my local library reading group; I don't think it's a title I would have chosen on my own. At first I wasn't sure quite what to think of this text; the beginning is dark and sad.Sarah is a young girl who yearns for education. She travels with her family through Indian territory to Texas and back again until the family finally homesteads land around Tucson Arizona. Sarah encounters hardships of every kind. Profound sadness and powerful love. Sarah's journey from destitute waif to prosperous settler resonates with adventure and romance.

My favorite character is charismatic Captain Jack Elliott. Jack leads the wagon train from Texas to Arizona and just keeps popping up in Sarah's life. Jack's courage, humor, and sensitivity endear him to readers. Don't tell my husband but I have a crush on Jack Elliott!

Sarah occasionally visits the rough and tumble metropolis of Tucson to pick up supplies. Occasionally she visits the Tucson train depot--I've been there. On a family excursion my husband and I located the home of an ancestor just a couple of block from the depot. My husband's family worked on the Rio Grande Railroad and were stationed in Tucson; they would have been there to greet Sarah (if she weren't fictitious).

Loved the story. Look forward to more from Nancy Turner.