Book Report Time

Paris Was Ours makes me nostalgic for an experience I never had -- living in Paris.  Indeed, I've only visited Paris once -- back in 1970 when John and I were riding a motorcycle and camping our way around Europe. With very limited French, a scruffy wardrobe, and a tight budget, we weren't exactly welcomed with open arms in the City of Light. (The people in the countryside were more forgiving.)

This book, a collection of essays by thirty-two writers, shows me what we missed. I was  entranced by the diverse experiences and recommend this book highly.  And should I ever return to Paris (not very likely,) I'd make a serious attempt to learn conversational French. 

The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb is the imagined story of Lavinia Warren Bump, the 'little person' (32 inches tall) who was one of P.T Barnum's 'oddities.' This is a thoroughly engaging historical novel, full of period detail. But most of all it's the story of the indomitable Vinnie who decides, 'Never would I allow my size to define me. Instead, I would define it.'

The Bartimaeus Trilogy is set in an alternate London, in a world divided between Magicians and Commoners. The Magicians, aided by the powerful spirits they control, are the government. The Commoners are the governed -- and some of them are becoming rebellious. It's the story of Nathaniel, a child in the beginning, whose growing strength as a Magician is an object lesson in the corrupting influence of power.  And it's the story of the cheeky Bartimaeus, the 5,000 year-old Djinn, who -- though technically enslaved by Nathaniel -- doesn't hesitate to point out his master's shortcomings. Excellent fantasy!
Traveling to Marshall --  a memoir of the author's stint as a Baptist pastor in our county seat -- makes me nostalgic for Marshall as it was when we moved here in '75. The author covers a good bit of history pertinent to Marshall and Madison County.   I enjoyed this little book a lot and learned some more about the area but I'm not sure that it would have the same appeal for anyone not already familiar with Marshall and Madison County.