Inventions, Beasts and Diaries

 Since this hour is entirely ridiculous for me to be awake (I'll be paying for this very soon, trust me. I've been up since 4 a.m due to a coughing spell/brain couldn't shut down again.), the least I can do is be productive. And productive I have been!

Upon a few people's recommendation, we purchased The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Yes, the movie is out and no we haven't seen it. Yet. This is a big book but at least half of it is pictures. Really wonderful pictures. And it's a great story of a boy who is trying to find his way on his own in a train station. That's all I'll say. This would be a great read-to-your-child book.

 

In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson is a book about the American ambassador to Germany during the rise of Hitler and the Nazis. It is set in the early 30s and is a really interesting perspective. Ambassador Dodd was not a typical ambassador which meant - at least back then (I have no clue about these days but almost assume it is the same) - that you were independently wealthy, was a standout member of society and had some good connections. He didn't have a lot of any of the above. 

What is fascinating is not only the history behind it but the way that many governments, including France, Poland and the USA, were delicately trying to deal with the Nazis. There are a lot of characters and I couldn't keep track of them all but it's worth it if you are interested at all in European history. Not for everyone and not as much of a "novel" as I expected but definitely worthwhile.  

(Oh, and the Dodd's daughter is a peach.)

 

 The Diary of Mattie Spenser was the perfect chaser to In the Garden of Beasts. I inhaled it. 

It reminds me a lot of These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner but not as long and a little saucier. 

Almost like a Danielle Steel novel but set in Colorado before it was a state and less prescribed writing. (Clear as mud?)  One of those "WHEW! I'm glad I wasn't a woman BACK THEN!" books. Yes, WITH the exclamation points. Good, fast read.