The World of Downton Abbey

Fellowes, J., & Briggs, N. (2011). The world of Downton Abbey. New York: St. Martin's Press.

 

Loved.  It.  Lots of behind the scenes info and historical notes.

My Name is Mary Sutter

Oliveira, R. (2010). My name is Mary Sutter. New York: Viking.

 

I liked this one a lot, though it got a little boggy in the middle.  The main character is a larger than life midwife from Albany named Mary Sutter.  She wants more than anything to become a surgeon, but no schools will admit her because she's a woman in the 1860s.  She approaches several surgeons, begging them to take her on as an apprentice, but nobody bites.  When the Civil War breaks out, she goes to Washington DC to try and join the nursing corps Dorothea Dix pioneered, but she's not old enough, and is single.  She perseveres and faces tragedy, but ultimately does gain medical training.

Thirteen Hallows

Scott, M., & Freedman, C. (2011). The thirteen hallows. New York: Tor.

I was really excited to read this book, because Michael Scott is a mythology expert, and his kids books (Nicholas Flamel series) are fun.  This didn't excite me so much as I thought it would.  It's a bit slow with characterization, and the reader doesn't end up feeling that much for the characters.  The pacing is a little too fast for adult readers, much like Dan Brown's books; it feels a bit contrived.  The ending is very rushed, and though there apparently will be a sequel, I doubt I'll read it.  It wasn't great, but there are so many books on my to-read list, I have to be selective.