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18 December 2000

While on vacation at Walt Disney World, read Civilisation by Kenneth Clark, The Discoverers by Daniel Boorstin, and two excellent historical novels by Gillian Bradshaw, Island of Ghosts and The Beacon at Alexandria. Also reread Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes by Frank and Ernestine Gilbreth.

Books read: 6

21 December 2000

Read Paperweight, a collection of essays by Stephen Fry - entertaining, although probably funnier if I were British, since I'm sure I didn't get all of the topical allusions. Also read The King's General, a good historical novel by Daphne du Maurier (yes, she wrote lots of books besides Rebecca), and Nancy Mitford's Highland Fling, an amusing early effort.

Now rereading the four Betty MacDonalds; I can never decide whether The Plague and I or Onions in the Stew is my favorite (the other two are The Egg and I and Anybody Can Do Anything).

Books read: 7

26 December 2000

Read a bunch of Maud Hart Lovelace - the last three Betsy-Tacy books (Betsy and Joe, Betsy and the Great World, Betsy's Wedding) and the three Deep Valley books (Winona's Pony Cart, Carney's House Party, Emily of Deep Valley).  I particularly love Emily of Deep Valley because I identify very much with the heroine, who's liked but not really popular and is always trying to improve herself through various projects.  Also reread The Betsy-Tacy Companion by Sharla Scannell Whalen and read Between Deep Valley and the Great World by Amy Dolnick, both biographical books about Lovelace and full of interesting parallels between her life and her books.

Then read some Dodie Smith: 101 Dalmatians, its sequel The Starlight Barking, The Town in Bloom, and I Capture the Castle, one of my top ten all-time favorite books.  I would be hard pressed to come up with an actual top ten list [see my favorites page for an attempt at this], but Castle is certainly on it. Also read a very good biography of Dodie Smith by Valerie Grove, Dear Dodie.

Books read: 13

29 December 2000

Read The Turn of the Screw and Other Short Fiction by Henry James. Really liked the title story, Washington Square, and Daisy Miller; not so fond of the other two stories. Then reread Winter's Heart (Robert Jordan).

Also read three Disney animation books: Disney's Animation Magic by Don Hahn, Disney's Art of Animation from Mickey Mouse to Hercules by Bob Thomas, and The Art of Mulan (love that movie) by Jeff Kurtti.

Books read: 5

Total books read this month: 31
Total books read this year (starting in September): 163

Last updated 29 November 2005. All text and photographs © George Mitchell and Margaret Johnston, unless otherwise noted Comments, questions, suggestions to margaret@lonelymountain.net.