I love reading, it's my sanity away from the insanity of it all. I love mysteries mostly because it's my own version of putting a puzzle together, minus the parts that have the ability to get lost because some child thought it was a chewing toy. My ultimate favorite mystery tale(s) solely belong to Miss Marple, one of Agatha's Christie's brilliant sleuths. Then again, Agatha Christie is reigning Queen of mysteries in the genre and in my heart. But here are three of one of the best (in three's) that I've found enjoyable and have consumed my most valuable time. Albeit, given gladly, my time that is.

Tana French's Novels: "In the Woods" "The Likeness" and "The Faithful Place"

One word: Ireland.



























John Hart. I started reading this author only because I loved the title of the book. It lived up to it's title and more. So I read two more of his novels. Sometimes, I had to flip to the front of the book to remind myself that it was a mystery, because it had really great elements of great literature. Read the opening of the "Last Child" and tell me if that isn't just brilliant writing.

















Alan Bradley. I devoured each book in half a day, while taking motherly sidelong glances over the book to make sure the children were alive. Actually, my children were waiting for me to finish so they could read it. Hence my newest invention of torture was birthed.

Happy puzzle reading!

Flashlight Worthy?!

I love books. I love blue books, red books, green books... any book. And that's my tribute to my love of my favorite Dr. Seuss book. I love getting them for gifts (hint hint) and getting recommendations from friends and family.

I'm writing this segment as my unsolicited recommendation to whoever reads this.

Here's a few flashlight worthy books--because seriously who's reading under candlelight these days? But if you are, forgive me my trespass and keep reading.

First flashlight worthy book:



I absolutely loved this book. It was a recommendation out of a magazine article I read and I'm so glad that I opened it's pages. I laughed; I cried; I paused and thought about certain passages; I researched the History of Ethiopia; and I'm still looking for an Ethiopian restaurant to experience here, and yes, I do get pretty hungry reading a great book, don't you? The author is a wonderful storyteller. My flashlight died out, but then again, I didn't really use a flashlight to read this story. I was inconsiderate and left the light on ALL night. Good thing, my husband is very considerate by not complaining.

Numbah 2:



I was absolutely bug eyed by this memoir. My friend Kristy had recommended this amazing memoir to me. The beginning of the book opens up where the author is heading to a very ritzy party in a cab in the city of New York. Traffic--as only New York can have--slows the cab down and she see's a homeless person scouring out of a garbage bin. It's not just ANY homeless person, she recognizes that it's her very own mother. What happens next is surprising (atleast to me), she scoots as low as she can in the cab and hopes her mother hasn't seen her. And this is the 'beginning' of her memoir. Read it, it's worth every battery in your flashlight. Or wattage power of your lamp.

Numbah Three:




This is another recommendation from the same magazine article which recommended "Cutting for Stone." When I read the back of the book, I hesitated at first and then realized that I was ready to read this book. You see it was a tribute to her mother and the process she went through in losing her. The subject was still very sensitive for me as it resonated my grief of losing my own mother. I have to simply say, that her warm and witty personal storytelling was healing to my grieving process. I smiled, giggled and hugged the book when I was done. And then I cried. It was that good.

Maybe I shouldn't measure a book by a flashlight, maybe a good 'ole crying or laughter will suffice. Whatever the case, breakout your flashlights, or night lamp and a really great mosquito punk. Don't forget the tissue and and some good food.

Happy reading! What do you recommend?