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Alfred Hitchcock's Tales to Keep You Spellbound
by Eleanor Sullivan, ed.
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There are thirty stories from issues of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, most by well-known mystery writers. This is a nice selection, perfect for summer reading

The Little Friend
by Donna Tartt
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Overall, I did enjoy this book. But there was about 150 pages of BORING content in the middle, and the author seemed to use the fact that the main protagonist is 12 years old to justify her doing some REALLY senseless things... even though her main attribute is (supposed to be) classic 12-yo quick thinking. The last 50 or so pages were kill but.... the book opens with a mystery that is never solved. And ends with two characters who have NEVER mattered having a pointless conversation. It feels like they left 150 pages of boring writing in the middle and cut an extra 30 pages that should have wrapped up the end. But still, the writing was enjoyable enough that even though the plot didn't resolve as well as I wanted, I still liked the process of reading it.

Half Broke
by Ginger Gaffney
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This memoir by a woman who feels herself a bit of a misfit finds her calling training horses. She is asked to help out at a ranch for prisoners finishing off their sentences, most of whom have been drug dealers and addicts. By teaching the residents patience with training the horses, she finds a number of them react with love and care for the horses and overcome many of their personal difficulties.

Sifting Through Clues
by Daryl Wood Gerber
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This Cookbook Nook Mystery featuring bookstore owner Jenna Hart is a rather formulaic cozy. The author does include some appealing recipes (including gluten free ones) in the back of the book for those who like to cook.

We Have Always Lived In The Castle
by Shirley Jackson
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Reading We Have Always Lived in The Castle was an interesting and enjoyable experience, even considering the unnerving content. The intersection of horror between the physical realm (villagers), psychological realm (Constance's isolation, Charles' unwavering focus on the poisoning, Merricat's childish nature perhaps stemming from trauma) and a hint of the occult from Merricat's magic kept me interested in the story. It is well worth the read, and I look forward to reading more of Jackson's work, starting with The Haunting of Hill House.

Queen Meryl
by Erin Carlson
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This show business biography of Meryl Streep marches through her movie roles and co-stars but leaves one wanting to know more about the person as opposed to the actress.

Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation
by Cokie Roberts
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Roberts, a longtime political commentator, has written an interesting book on the wives and mothers who participated in the American Revolution and the early political life of the Republic. Based largely on the letters women wrote to their families, friends, and political leaders, the book sheds new light on women's contributions to early American history. There are wry asides comparing life and politics then and now.

Old Books, Rare Friends
by Leona Rostenberg and Madeleine Stern
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Subtitled "Two Literary Sleuths and Their Shared Passion," this book is a joint memoir of two friends, authors, and rare book dealers. They were the ones who uncovered the blood and thunder potboilers of Louisa May Alcott published anonymously or pseudonymously and published collections of these stories, which threw a whole new light on the author of "Little Women." They enjoy their research and their special rare book finds.

Better Off Read
by Nora Page
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This book involves murder, a small town public library, and a bookmobile. It is a pleasant read for those who enjoy a cozy mystery. It also includes a delicious recipe for hummingbird cake.

The Blood Runs Like a River Through My Dreams
by Nasdijj
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This memoir is told in fragments, shards of a brutal childhood and racist schools, survival on the margins of society. But it is also about the southwest landscape, Navajo stories and spirits. The language is both poetic and sometimes almost stream of conscious. Nasdijj is a fascinating and unusual writer.
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