The Club of Queer Trades

Summary--A collection of six wonderfully quirky detective stories, featuring the 'mystic' former judge Basil Grant. Each story reveals a practitioner of an entirely new profession, and member of the Club of Queer Trades.

Pro's--What to say about this book....it keeps you entirely baffled until the very end, it has some clever idea's, and it points out that there are more crimes than stealing and murdering. There are crimes against humanity like pride, hording, ect.  I also appreciated the author's brief opinion on evolution. Very humorous but true.

Con's--The book, just like the prime character Basil Grant, is eccentric and sometimes difficult to make sense of. Even in the end you still aren't fully aware how Basil solved all of these mysteries, you just know that he did. Personally I prefer a more Sherlock Holmes style where you may actually learn something from the methods the detective has used.  Another con, Basil Grant once referred to the Sherlock Holmes stories derogatorily. I am a huge fan of Holmes so this irritated me a bit. :) One more thing to mention is that the book takes at least three pages (front and back) before it gets to the actually story. Before that I felt like Chesterton was rambling.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with this book but I don't necessarily recommend it. Proceed if you think it sounds interesting.

3 Stars. Ages 12 and up.

Sherman's March

  Summary--Sherman's March is the vivid narrative of General William T. Sherman's devastating sweep through Georgia and the Carolinas in the closing days of the Civil War. Weaving together hundreds of eyewitness stories, Burke Davis graphically brings to life the dramatic experiences of the 65,000 Federal troops who plundered their way through the South and those of the anguished -- and often defiant -- Confederate women and men who sought to protect themselves and their family treasures, usually in vain. Dominating these events is the general himself -- "Uncle Billy" to his troops, the devil incarnate to the Southerners he encountered. (from Google Books)

Pro's--This book was one of the best written history books I have ever read. Burke did a masterful job weaving eyewitness accounts into one large and fascinating story. Sometimes I laughed, sometimes I felt sick. I felt as if I received a balanced perspective of everyone and was allowed to make my own decisions about whether or not they were a noble person.

Con's--Keep in mind this book comes mostly from eye witness accounts. There is a little bit of language, mentions of inappropriate things, and occasionally some gore.

Five stars. Ages 15 and up.