"Bloody Jack"

Bloody Jack: Being an Account of the Curious Adventures of Mary "Jacky" Faber, Ship's Boy by L.A. Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was an "Audible" find for me ... while I was sifting through endless samples, looking for a narrator I can even halfway tolerate. I'm frighteningly picky about narrators ... especially the women.

But Katherine Kellgren, who reads the entire "Bloody Jack" series, was a revelation. She brought to life perfectly an already gripping and thrilling adventure. Had I not stumbled upon her voice, I would never have been introduced to Mary "Jacky" Faber, or "Bloody Jack." The star of our series. A young orphan girl, who leaves her miserable life as an urchin beggar behind and, disguised as a boy, enlists in the King's Navy as a ship's boy.

What I expected to be a fairly routine and cookie-cutter story turned out instead to be an absolutely delightful read. (Or, in my case, listen.) I was surprised at how quickly it roped me in, and how easily I got lost in the sails and polished decks of the HMS Dolphin.

So hoist the mainstay, veer to starboard, and smooth sailing soldiers! Ride the rolling tide to your nearest bookstore, and start readin' those letters! Captain's orders! And if you're pressed for time, ask Katherine Kellgren. She'll do the reading for you!


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Maphead: Charting the Wide, Weird World of Geography Wonks

Geography : not the average student's favorite subject.  Not by a long shot.  In fact, I'd be willing to wager that most (if not all) of my readers much preferred English or even Math, P.E or Music to your elementary school Geography.

If only our teachers had read this book.

Ken Jennings (Jeopardy! superstar and author of Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs) takes us on a journey through the art of geography.  Not science, art.  From stories about the earliest maps to the fascinating adventures one can have today with a GPS, Jennings creates an entertaining page-turner out of a class that I know I skipped on more than one occasion.

Full of wit and fascinating trivia, Maphead is a great find for map geeks and geography dunces alike!

And now, let's get personal.

Where were you on September 11th?

You remember, don't you? You remember where you were and what you were doing.  Moments like that are branded in our minds forever it seems, and Jennings explores why.  Why humans are drawn to remembering where they were, rather than when they were or how they were.  How certain memories are indelibly linked with specific places.

I tested out some of these theories with a few of my co-workers. We discussed the solar eclipse that occurred when many of us were in elementary school, and reminisced over every little detail of the day. We talked about Hurricane Katrina; the days Hussein and Bin Laden were killed; even the day the last Harry Potter book came out.

Maphead has opened my eyes (in a very bizarre way) to the idea that geography is more than just a bunch of names on a map. It's the way our minds process the "where" of things.  Pick it up on your way home tomorrow.  (Or in an airport bookstore before your flight leaves, like I did.)  You won't regret it.

The 10th Annual Bellamy Family Summer Reading Contest

The Goal : Read as many NEW books as possible in the prescribed amount of time
The Contenders : Professional Bookworm Kaitlin (yours truly) and Little Brother Jonathan (who is technically the reigning champ, but this year he's going DOWN!)

The Rules :

• Contenders shall begin counting pages toward their final tally on the "start date," and not a day earlier!
• Every third book completed entitles the reader to a prize, to be decided upon by the Contest Referee, Kathleen (aka Mom)
• A full and complete page count shall be turned in NO LATER than midnight on the "end date." The contestant with the most total pages shall be deemed the winner, thereby receiving a Grand Prize as well as bragging rights
• No book that has already been read may count toward the final page tally

The Obstacles : Each contender has a full agenda off summer activities demanding their time and attention. They must use their free time wisely, while still fulfilling all previously scheduled summer engagements.

Start Date : June 20th, Summer Solstice

End Date : September 22nd, Autumn Equinox

Let the games begin!