Even though it’s just barely officially spring, I’m already thinking about summer vacation and plans to relax somewhere while Chase is enjoying his time away from school.

To help me with my summer reading selections, I have enjoyed reading book reviews written by my cousin, Jennifer Clark Nodland from Bismarck, ND.  Below are a couple of book reviews, and I’ll post more two or three at a time.

It’s never too early to start thinking about your next vacation (or spare 20 minutes, for that matter!).

Book Review: “The Dovekeepers” by Alice Hoffman (2011)

Enjoyable read! Storyline follows four women back in Judea at the time of the Roman invasions (70s). Great way to learn history.

The writing is a little heavy on “magic” and a tad flowery at times but overall very rich.

AfterI finished reading, I got online to find out how much was based on actual events – turns out, more than I thought!

Click here to see The Dovekeepers on Amazon.com.

Book Review: “The Cat’s Table” by Michael Ondaatje (2011)

Enjoyable read about a boy’s boat trip from Sri Lanka to England in the 1950s.

The story rather delicately unfolds as the boy tells his tale both from his childhood perspective as it was happening in the 1950s and as he remembers it today as an adult.

Pleasantly surprised by some of the unexpected turns in this tale.

Click here to see The Cat’s Table on Amazon.com.