Weather Books

Going by the book cover, I didn't think I would like this book, & the whole weather thing didn't sound that interesting, but now I'm hooked on this well written & fast paced series.

This was such a great book! I am into the whole Weather Warden series. You will enjoy it!

This is rare for me, because I'm usually not one to gush over a book, but I really did freaking LOVE this one! I think Caine's writing is brilliant. Just the right amount of action and humor, a little romance mixed in...just an awesome book. Rachel Caine is fast becoming one of my favorite authors.

I read the reviews after reading Heat Stroke and agree with the fact that this author LOVES to tell stories. Which, for an author, is a must but there were times were I felt a little information overload.Jo is a great character, David is provacative and the fact that he's not the only love interest always adds excitment. I look forward to the next installment which I'm starting later tonight. All in all a wonderful read. Well worth the money.

I was pleasantly surprised by the first book in this series - 'Ill Wind' - and was somewhat looking forward to reading the follow up. It didn't take me long to lose some of that enthusiasm as I started to get the impression that Heat Stroke was going to go much more into the romance novel direction than the first book. But I persevered, because there is nothing worse than a reviewer that say, "It was so bad I didn't finish it". I do not care what you have to say about a book if you did not read it (now I will climb down off my soapbox).
Heat stroke did not turn into a romance novel, but continued the style and flair of the first book. There are elements of romance, and I would go so far as to say that it is the core theme of the book, but the story itself is about 'real' people living in a very unreal world. Most of the characters feel like they are alive. There are some exceptions. I did think the villains in Heat Stroke could have been given a little more depth. That and the cliffhanger ending are the main reasons I went with 4 stars, but I will read the next book in the series.
People who like the Charlene Harris `Southern Vampire Mysteries', Jim Butcher's `The Dresden Files' and/or Carrie Vaughn's "Kitty" books will probably like this `Weather Warden' series - and vice versa.

This book presents the theory that cosmic rays can cause the production of low clouds which can, in turn, affect climate. Good evidence is presented in support of the ideas, both in the form of experiments run by the co-author of the book, and summaries of data collected by other scientists. The author of the book also does a good job of anticipating questions that might crop up. Along the way, there are some interesting explanations of things like orbital tracks of the solar system through the galaxy, and previous warming and cooling trends on the planet. Finally, this theory isn't presented as an all-or-nothing choice. The possibility of greenhouse gases also contributing to climate change is admitted.

In spite of the fact that this is an interesting book about the effects of cosmic rays, I have a number of concerns. First of all, this is basically a re-hashing of an old argument about extra-terrestrial factors being responsible for global warming. Many scientists and writers who work on greenhouse-based global warming claim that such factors are not enough to account for the amount of warming we are seeing. This is an issue that scientists will have to work out as most laypeople do not have the wherewithall to decide the issue. Second, this book seems to be in disagreement with some of the facts about historical events such as mass extinctions and previous warming spells as they are described by Peter Ward in his book, Under A Green Sky. Finally, the authors repeatedly complain about being marginalized by the global warming powers that be. While some of that is understandable, an excessive amount can become a red flag for me.

This book is engaging and worth reading. The authors give the impression that more experiments and data should be becoming available soon, so I would suspect that if they are on to something, we should hear about it in the near future.

The Chilling Stars will embarrass the committee that awarded Al Gore the Nobel Prize. Here is hard science, not pseudoscience. If this were four centuries ago Al Gore would declare a "consensus" that the Earth is the center of the universe. Henrik Svensmark would play the part of Galileo. Challenging the majority is often met with censure and ridicule but that is how science advances. Fortunately, the Pope isn't Urban VIII, threatening to burn Svensmark at the stake for heresy.

My first reaction was, "Why hasn't any of this been in the mainstrem media?"

Nigel Calder's efforts to explain very difficult concepts are impressive. The chapter on Cosmic Rays is alone worth the price of the book. Calder should be writing textbooks. That being said, this book is not for casual reading. It requires thoughtful reading and sometimes re-reading to get it.

One disappointment, and the reason I rated it 4 stars, is that the authors seem to be guiding the reader to a particular conclusion. Anyone willing to make the effort necessary to understand it should be trusted to reach their own conclusion.

In addition to cosmic rays and their effect on Earth temperatures, there is a great deal of information on ice drilling and the wealth of ancient climate data stored in layers of ice in Greenland and the Antarctic. Much of that information contradicts what is often heard in the media and political speeches. Again, why hasn't this been in the mainstream news? My otherwise favorite radio network, NPR, speaks of "concensus" among "scientists" and labels anyone who doesn't buy climate change concensus as a flat-earther. Genuine scientists don't reach concensus on much of anything except maybe gravity, and this book is one more bit of evidence that there is no concensus among real scientists on global warming.

While I am not qualified to judge the validity of Svesmark's theory, the arguments are compelling. Svensmark will eventually be either proven or disproven by his peers and the weather!

If you like scientifically stimulating, thought provoking reading, and are willing to put some effort into understanding it, you should read The Chilling Stars. It is a fresh alternative to the junk science in the media. On the other hand, if your scientific information comes from supermarket tabloids and Geraldo, you wouldn't like this book.

The first edition was printed in 2007, and a second edition in Spring of 2008. With the recent 1 degree average temperature drop over 12 months, many potential readers are still shivering from the coldest winter on record, and may not need to read this book to be convinced that the alarmist "concensus" is flawed.

I read this book and it was like a breath of fresh air. I became interested on Global Warming prior to Kyoto. I have a science education and spent my working career solving technical problems, but I had no exposure, or knowledge of Climate science before Kyoto made me become interested. I looked for reliable scientific information about Global Warming. It was surprisingly difficult to find. Virtually all publications had a clear agenda, for, or against. Nobody appeared to try to present an objective picture. Facts that did not fit in, were either ignored or treated like "enemy propaganda". And of course, opponent's motives and integrity were continually questioned.
Henrik Svensmark and Nigel Calder's book was a welcome change from the "ideological warfare" of the Global Warming debate. Svensmark actually did scientific work to respond to criticism of his theory and most of the time he was successful. Considering the complexity of his theory, the opposition from the establishment and the minuscule budget he was able to line up, he achieved a tremendous amount in creating an alternative to the climate theory based on greenhouse gas emission only. Did he prove his theory? Probably not at this point. A lot more work needs to be done and he clearly does not have the resources to do it all alone.
However, his theory is very plausible and even if it does not fully explain all the variations of the climate, hopefully will stimulate scientists to explore the Sun-Climate connection further. Even more importantly, I would like to see - although I am not too hopeful - that it brings more scientific integrity and civility into the climate debate. If you are interested in climate science and look for book not just to give support to your view, but to broaden your understanding, then you must read this book

The work, The Chilling Stars: the New Theory of Climate Change, by Henrik Svensmark is a remarkable book that offers a compelling theory and explanation of climate change-- backed by a tremendous array of empirical findings that both explain recent climate changes, as well as climate events in Earth's distant past. Svensmark's theory is elegant and parsimonious--that is, it is a simple idea that explains a lot of natural phenomenon. It is also consistent with current experimental evidence, and will likely achieve greater explanatory power in 2010 as a large-scale experiment is run to further test the theory.

The book is well-written, and provides detailed responses to the major criticisms that have been leveled against this cosmoclimatology-based theory of climate change (i.e. climate change that is affected and primarily caused by elements from the cosmos--the sun, the amount and timing of high energy cosmic rays, our solar system's location in space, etc.) -- responses that are both dispassionate and compelling. As such, the book avoids judging competing theories (such as the computer model based greenhouse gas theories), and avoids the overly politicized and personal destructive rhetoric used by much of the "consensus" based theorists.

As an academic, I've spent many years interested in, and studying the history and philosophy of science. I find the current debate about the causes of climate change to be particularly interesting because it illustrates a couple of key points about science the general public is typically unaware of: (1) progress in science is messy, and can often be political-- as rival factions compete for influence; (2) most often, major breakthroughs in a given field come from a person or persons outside of the mainstream of that field; (3) the very essence of scientific discourse and process, and that which differentiates it from politics, is that consensus is irrelevant in the face of stubborn facts that do not fit the prevailing theory.

Svensmark and his team have waged an uphill battle, over many years, to even be able to get access to the resources to test their theory. To date, experimental and empirical evidence supports the cosmoclimatological mechanisms that they argue drive climate change, and have driven climate change for millions and millions of years. Their theory is consistent with, and explains the major "Earth snowball events" when the earth was nearly 100% covered in snow. It explains the more recent "middle-ages mini Ice Age", and other major climate events in Earth's history.

Overall, the mechanism that Svensmark believes explains climate change appears much more robust and powerful than the prevailing "consensus" computer-based models, in which key observational data is, in fact, inconsistent and even contradictory with those models.

If Svensmark and his team are correct, we could receive further validation of his theory in a couple of years when major high-energy particle studies are completed. In the meantime, it appears to me that the most likely place that we will learn about our current and future climate is from those dedicated scientists who study our sun and cosmos, and those climate scientists whose minds are disciplined enough to entertain competing theories and who are bothered by the tremendous amount of evidence that does not fit the current "consensus" models.

In the meantime, global politics will be global politics, and we will all be better off, if, in time, we let scientists be scientists and let the scientific process work-- which means we allow "the stubborn facts" that might undermine a theory, any theory, emerge and help us understand the truth.

I've read this book 3 times, and everytime it's great. It's the best book i've ever read, so far.

The sea was so vast, and the ship was so small.
Man and everything made by man is finite.
-Richard Winning, owner of the Winston Churchill, reciting a seafarers' prayer at a Memorial Service

At the outset, let me just say that the Brothers Judd full disclosure policy requires me to acknowledge that Mr. Knecht is a fraternity brother of mine and if the book stunk, I'd not say so. In fact, the first few pages had me a little worried because there's some rather pedestrian prose and one of the yachts in the race was owned and skippered by Larry Ellison, of Oracle, who seems early on like he's going to be the center of attention in the book. This would be unfortunate because he's a difficult man to root for, at least as presented here, often in his own words. Actually, most of the yachtsmen seem fairly unlikable. It sometimes seems like every one of them thinks he's the only competent guy on board. But any initial concerns disappear once the storm hits and as the action at sea picks up so too does Mr. Knecht's writing.

The Sydney to Hobart race is apparently quite a big deal in Australia; from the sound of it, nearly the whole nation stops to watch the start on Boxing Day (December 26th). In 1998, 115 unsuspecting boats set out but only 43 made it to Hobart (Tasmania). Seven boats were abandoned and another five actually sank. 55 men were rescued. Six men died. The race had run into hurricane conditions, a cyclone sporting 80 mile per hour winds, and the sleek, ultra-engineered boats seem to have been particularly unsuited to such weather. In short order men were in the water and it is mostly them that Mr. Knecht follows and it is there that the book becomes genuinely thrilling, and terrifying.

The crew of the Winston Churchill, which was capsized by a 60 foot wall of water that broke over it, ended up in two life rafts. The other crew whose ordeal Mr. Knecht chronicles had been aboard the Sword of Orion. The hours, even days, these men spent in the water make for painful reading. One of the indelible images from the book is that of survivors recalling the sight of the bobbing heads of crewmates just a hundred yards away and knowing there's no way to get to them. The stories of these men and, as in The Perfect Storm, of the rescuers, make for a substantial portion of the book and it's outstanding.

A shorter concluding portion, featuring various courtroom hearings, unfortunately serves to remind us that, with some exceptions, these sailors just aren't a terribly sympathetic lot. Mr. Knecht presumably chose to write about Larry Ellison because he's a well known figure and a major businessman (Mr. Knecht writes for the Wall Street Journal), but he becomes kind of emblematic of the hubris that plagues them all :

I could have bought the New York Yankees, but I couldn't be the team's shortstop. With the boat, I actually get to play on the team.

Note he's characterizing himself not just as any old player but as the shortstop. Likewise, Lachlan Murdoch, son of Rupert, who sailed on Ellison's boat, Sayanora, has this to say :

There are people who in their makeup need to take risks. [...] Every once in a while I just have to do things that require me to make
judgments about how far I can go.

It takes a nearly superhuman effort on the part of the reader not to wish that it had been their boat that foundered. In this regard the book has a significant structural weakness in common with The Perfect Storm in that we spend too much time with people we don't care about and not enough time with some of the most compelling people in the book, the rescue workers who risk their own lives to save such men.

On balance then, Mr. Knecht has written a book that's well worth reading and is truly gripping throughout the bulk of the action. That less might have been better does not diminish the quality of what's best here and at its best the book is very good.

GRADE : B+

Anyone who has ever been on a competitive sailing yacht and been in nasty weather will read this book in an afternoon, unable to put it down. The book is written with tremendous insight and puts you in the danger and makes it feel real. Great book and a quick fun read for any sailor.

I read An Extreme Event (about the 98 Sydney-Hobart race) prior to reading Knecht's book, so that was my benchmark. And a high one at that.

Proving Ground contained a lot more descriptive information in terms of the characters, but ... I found his concentration on particular personalities in the book very disconcerting.

It was baffling that he could practically write what Glyn Charles was thinking ... when Glyn was unable to speak for himself. These assumptions and supposition are quite offensive.

I also found Knecht's intricate descriptions of the powerplays involved with some of the pivotal characters alarming. Bob Koethe, Steve Kulmar, Richard Purcell and Glyn Charles, specifically.

While I do not doubt his authenticity in describing the interplay, I found the inclusion in such detail perplexing. My aim was to read the facts, not to become embroiled in the dramatic tension on board certain yachts in such dire conditions.

At times, I almost felt a compulsion to "take sides" with some people, opposing others, which I roundly resisted. It is, after all, Knecht's presentation and everyone interprets events, thoughts and words slightly differently.

All in all, not bad, but not great.

I read this book immediately after finishing another account of the 1998 Sydney-Hobart race by Rob Mundle (an Australian), titled: Fatal Storm. I thought both versions were worth reading because they focused their attention differently (Knecht spent much more ink on Larry Ellison; Mundle focused on the yachts and people most relevant to this particular race). Knecht was much more blunt in revealing difficult personalities, interpersonal tension and controversy -- particularly with regard to the Sword of Orion. Mundle was more polite -- or perhaps more prudent. It's risky to portray someone negatively who endured such an ordeal (especially when the writer wasn't there), regardless of whether they died or survived. While I found Knecht's take on the people interesting, I suspect it was part of his overly dramatic writing style. He writes like a mass-market action-fiction writer, trying to create drama and intrigue where either: 1) there is none; or 2) the facts speak for themselves. Funny -- this is not unlike American news media today (which is why I watch the BBC). He writes about a "character's" thoughts and actions is such an excruciating level of detail that it's not believable. Too much poetic license ruins credibility. This is a great subject, but read Fatal Storm first.

This book takes place when Warren just started chasing. He did not take meteorology classes which means he only learned from chasing storms. There for he came close to death several times in this book. Which means there are many climaxes in this true story. I love this book because you can't put it down. I would recomend this book to anyone who storm chases wants to be a storm chaser or anyone who likes meteorology.

Storm Chasers, by Warren Faidley, is a storm chaser's journal that takes the reader all across the United States in search of tornadoes and hurricanes, including Tornado Alley, which is an area of the Great Plains area and the central United States where most severe tornadoes occur. Warren Faidley's "pursuit of untamed skies" shows how tornado chasers use technology to track severe weather.

The fantastic use of photos in the book are more descriptive than the actual words (because a picture says a thousand words!!), but the journal and history of different types of tornadoes and severe weather make the reader feel the excitement of storm chasing. Mr. Faidley describes his early days as a chaser, and then tells of the different storms he has encountered, as well as the changing technology he uses to track storms. The book is interesting for those who like to learn about how meteorology and technology work together.

The very best book on storm photography! If you like the idea of storm chasing as a carrer, than this book is for you! I plan to become a storm photographer after I finish college. Hands down, Warren Faidley is one heck of a photo jurnalist!

Warren Faidley, the world's only full-time storm-chasing journalist and his bestselling book are known by many in the small storm chasing community. Storm Chaser is perfect for the coffee table and for those who enjoy great weather photography but do not intend to study the scientific part of it seriously. This is a true-blue Faidley product: glossy, full color photos, excellent book layout, a sense of fun, but not much attention paid to meteorological aspects of storm chasing. For those who want some serious stuff, try Prof. Bluestein's "Tornado Alley".

Ever been in a tornado? I have, well not actually in one, but Warrien Faidley put you in the vortex of some of the best severe weather situations! This book is a must for any weather enthusaist. Even if you don't like to read, look at the coolest pictures of Lighting and Tornados. Follow Warren through his chase diary, you will honestly feel like you are with him on his chase! Check it out, it's worth the money!

I'm 41 years old. This was my favorite book as a child and I just bought another copy. It's absolutely precious.

Katy is the name of the very strong and indefatigable snowplow who saves the town. I was surprised that my 2.5 y.o daughter enjoyed this because the pictures are not very colorful, but love it she did! When seeing a snowplow in a storm not long after she pointed yelling "It's Katie!"

This a good book--especially if your child loves trucks and construction equipment as mine does. We first ordered the classic Mike Mulligan's Steam Shovel and then got this book because of it's similarities. Its old-school illustrations are a nice change of pace from some of the newer books we read to our son.

Discovered this book at our doctor's office. My oldest baby did not want to put it down. I told him we would go home and order it on the computer. Each day he looked out the window to see if "KATY" was there yet. Needless to say, he loves this book. It has an incredible map. And it's clear this will be a book we value for many years.

I have fond memories of this book as a child, so I wanted to share it with my three year old daughter. To my surprise, it was not quite as interesting to me now as it was in my memories. My daughter loves it, however, and we read it together often! It is a simple story of a mess being cleaned up, and maybe that simplicity is what appeals to her.

Bottled elementals are fashionable.


I haven't read the first couple of these, but the heroine of the piece is someone with elemental superpowers, part of a larger organisation - some control fire, earth, but she is considerably airier. In several aspects, as she often goes on about the right incredibly expensive shoes to have, etc.

Just a 3.5 this one. Sort of your bit over 3. 25 mark.

Here, her and her djinn boyfriend and an alliance of others have a superpowered problem to deal with in Las Vegas - a rogue and his Djinn servant have set up there looking to suck up a whole lot of power.

An organisation in opposition decides that bumping said rogue off is a good plan, and our Weather Warden is getting beaten up in the middle, trying to work out what to do.


(call it 3.25)
3.5 out of 5

After reading the first novel of the Dresden files, I find myself drawn to these urban fantasy series novels ( and there are many ). I have yet to find many that I read beyond the first book. Since the first book, I kind of have a crush on Joanne. These books are so fun, and the third book in the series is no exception. These aren't the Hardy Boys, at the end of each book the landscape has in some way changed - it really is a "continuing saga". If you are tired of other boring series, tune into this one.

Jo along with David are on a mission to get to Vegas where Kevin had run off to with the most powerful Djinn ever. Back to her human form Jo is restricted to human methods of transportation. But Jonathan, the Djinn that Kevin has control of, is a very powerful Djinn, he is the Djinn master. And he knows that Jo is after him and he has never had a warm spot for her. When Jo reaches Vegas she discovers that there is a new group of people with weather powers residing there and they aren't Wardens. As always there is an enemy lurking nearby, one that Jo had faced long ago and he is out for revenge.

I love the Weather Warden series, and would not have missed any part of the story in all 5 books.

The first two books were good, but this book was kind of boring. The heroine is becoming smug and unlikable (like the last season of Friends if you know what I mean).

I feel like the dialogue is there just so she can say her zingy one liners. Which are becoming less zingy and more obvious with each page.

This book reminded me of a Katie Mcalister book. Lots of people like her, but I think she's irritating and overly pleased with herself. Similarly, both authors seem to think that just because they are amused, everyone else will be too. I think her jokes need more quality control. Personally, I would prefer it if authors didn't make a joke unless it's better than 'lightly amusing'.

I didn't connect with this book. Characters made weird decisions that were only for the purpose of furthering the plot. By the middle of this book I was skimming pages and although I own the next one, I think it will take me several months to read it.

Read Melusine by Sarah Monette instead. Or Anne Bishop (dark jewels trilogy) or Kim Harrison.

Most Americans feel we were the only country to suffer the challenges of the 1930's dust bowl, however the reality is that it physically effected Canada's people as well, while it financially devastated many countries in the fall out. The author, Ms. Elizabeth Hay presents a rich and diverse novel taking place mostly in Saskatchewan, Ottawa and Ontario, during these years and after. She concentrated more on a family and how events of those years and before peeled apart the Hardy family like an onion.

This is an intense novel. One young man, by the name of Mr Maurice Dove becomes friends with the surviving family members as he researches weather, plant live and expounds to the family the pearls of wisdom that flow from him to the captive Hardy audience, especially the two your Hardy sisters. As the onion peels. so does this incredible story. Deaths, secrets, underage sex, and heartbreak dominate the beginning. As the real truth becomes obvious, another fallout begins. Mr. Dove manages to establish himself firmly in their lives, to the despair of his family and the Hardy's. Being 23, and the world at his calling, he is just as infatuated by the 9 year old difference in the sister's ages.

This is also a story of both sisters trying to survive during some of the toughest years and later work at solving some of the mysteries that have been hidden from them all their life. It can get a little confusing, paranormal (? )as dreams become real and some are indistinguishable from the truth. One is the rattler that Normal Joyce wrestles with at the end of the novel in the car. Dream, real? What do you think? I am open for anyone 's interpretation!

At times the book reads a little slow, and I expected more than several different outcomes. But that is what reading is about, you just never know how it is going to end.

Saskatchewan, Canada, 1930s.
The cranky father, Ernest Hardy...The Sister, Lucinda Hardy... The Stranger (who brings the rain to the dusty prairie, Maurice Dove... The Twin who died, Norman... The One Called Ugly, Strange, lazy, Joyce, renamed Norma Joyce after little Norman died.

Norma Joyce, comes to be the most beautiful child filled with imagination, even though everyone finds her to be ugly and unmotivated. She holds healing, learning and loving in her soul.

A story of two sisters, growing up among the dust of the plains, the dust of a dull life. One sister breathtakingly beautiful, a home maker and favorite daughter. One sister, a collector of objects and stories who would rather be daydreaming in the dust then inside keeping a house. One winter day a stranger enters into the Hardy Family Home and he changes their lives for ever.

Norma Joyce Hardy. Enough said. A powerful and beautiful story of discovery of self and love. A story written with dream like descriptions of the weather, the landscapes.
Words turning into a vision of a painting.
Norma Joyce, a painter, discovers the art of painting one's self a landscape, a life.

Readers looking for a lively heoroine and a romance with a happy ending will be disappointed, but readers willing to let the story unfold will be rewarded. Yes, the man in question is a thorough-going dog, but the real story here is how Norma (the younger, troubled, unbeautiful sister), rescues her life from a disastrous childhood and adolescence. The settings (Depression era Canada, post-war New York) are rich in atmosphere, and Norma's gradual discovery of her artistic abilities held me all the way.

The criticism of most of the other reviewers seems to amount to this: Fine writing, talented author, beautiful descriptions, but no moral to the bleak story. The characters don't "learn" anything. What, one might well ask, is the "moral" of Hamlet? What does he learn? What is the "morality" of Wuthering Heights? What does Heathcliff learn? How about Joyce's Ulysses? Moral anyone? - Reading the reviews, one begins to suspect that a group of frustrated Sunday school teachers got together to compose them.

The fact that there is no "moral" to the novel is another of its attributes. Has anyone else caught on to the fact that Norma Joyce's surname might be significant? Or how about the Hardy family? - It should be apparent to anyone reading this novel with the slightest knowledge of English literature that Hay's greatest literary influence, along with her character Norma Joyce's, is Thomas Hardy, who is mentioned in the work several times as Norma's favourite author. The book resembles nothing so much as Hardy's Jude the Obscure - A feminine version of Somerset Maugham's Of Human Bondage is another apt comparison. - The wonderfully told narrative maintains its artistic strength through its mirroring of reality. I can put it no better than Hay in her description of Maurice's falling in temporary love/lust with Norma:

"Probably it happens fairly often, falling in love in a dream. You wake up with an appetite for someone you might not even like. But in the dream there was sex, and upon waking, the idea of sex, and from then on that person is on your mind in an entirely new way."

In other words, life, like a dream, just rather happens to one, for good or ill----And how accurately Hay describes it! Let's hope that the moralists out there don't discourage Hay from writing another novel, as they did Thomas Hardy after he penned Jude the Obscure.

Four stars because the book doesn't quite measure up to the masterpiece of which I feel certain Hay is capable of giving us.

It's an interesting experience to encounter a book in which none of the major figures is likeable. Yet that very circumstance is a tribute to Elizabeth Hay's eloquent portrayal of two sisters in drought-ridden central Canada. Her people are deep and complex, intensely drawn and immensely real. Even the peripheral characters ring true, without the blemish of contrivance. Hay's descriptive ability in both urban and rural settings gives this book further enhancement. She vividly depicts the impact of environment on her chief protagonist, providing a framework for change of mood throughout the narrative. Hay, too, is clearly a student of weather. And a keen observer of people.

Norma Joyce Hardy initiates a life-long adoration of Maurice Dove with a touch on his cheek. That she's but a child is of little moment. That she's overshadowed by her sister's beauty becomes even less so. Even at nine years of age, she's driven by determination to find the means to supplant Lucinda. Resentful of her sister's looks, industry, and favoured place with their father, she becomes secretive, duplicitous, devious. Lucinda, having replaced their dead mother, is vulnerable, and Norma Joyce takes advantage of that exposure. Maurice becomes the tool for expressing Norma's envy, but she becomes the victim of her own machinations. Maurice, unsurprisingly, is following his own agenda, and Norma's place in it is problematic.

In pursuit of Maurice, Norma Joyce's life orbits like an erratic comet. From the most rural to the most urban environments in North America and back again, her loci remain vague. Only Maurice is a fixed point, but that seeming stability actually is the cause of her displacements. She is torn between seeking and avoiding him, particularly when the attainment of her goal leads to the inevitable result. Hay brings the Hardy family out of dry Saskatchewan to "golden" Ontario. Ottawa, however pleasant and green, fails to bring rest, and Norma pursues Maurice to New York City. A greater contrast to Prairie Canada can hardly be imagined, but Hay guides us through Norma's transition flawlessly. New York, however, doesn't resolve her situation with Maurice, which grows ever more complicated. Nor is the relationship of the sisters granted an easy path. Who carries the burden of Lucinda's fate will be the topic of endless debate.

Hay's account is admirable in its prowess in compelling attention to people and places. The factual nature of her characters, their failure to fulfill simple expectations is a credit to her skills. A love story of sorts, this is hardly a "romantic novel." It is a richly rewarding story, worthy of your attention. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

The book I read was called Blizzards Wake by Phyllis Reynolds Naylar. This story took place in Red River Valley, North Dakota in late winter of 1941.
Blizzards Wake is a sad story about a family that lost their mom. She was killed driving her car late at night when a drunk driver hit her. Her daughter Kate cannot move on with her life. Her brother and father struggle but move on. It has been five years since this night. The local man in a small town who killed Kate's mom went tp prison for 5 years. He gets released early for good behavior. With no place to go but back to Red River Valley. During the story their lives come together and they find a friendship in a unique way.
A huge key event in the book is a horrible blizzard that comes up with short notice. Kate's father and younger brother Jesse drive into town. The man that killed the mother was walking to him home he grew up in. Jesse and his dad got stuck in the car with no heat. The man was out walking when the blizzard moved in fast and furious.
He gets lost in the blizzard and stumbles into the stalled car of Dr. Sterling and Jesse. Kate is home alone waiting for her dad and brother. Dr. Sterling lets him in the car, He was frostbite. He recognizes the man is the guy that was driving drunk 5 years ago and killed his wife. But he does the right thing and tries to save him from dying in the blizzard..
They all get home safely. You wonder how Kate and the man that killed her mother lives come together. You are suspense, how she ever forgives Zeke Dexter. It is so sad and touching how his life and those at the woman he killed that night cross paths.
I enjoyed reading this book. It did make me sad. I couldn't guess how Kate would ever forgive Zeke for killing her mother. I think this book is for anybody who likes to think about what's going to happen next, somebody who likes surprises.

My book was based on the devastating blizzard that hit North Dakota. Many people were killed or injured. Farmers lost a lot of livestock. Many bodies were found miles away from their homes. Autopsies showed that many people suffocated or died of hyperthermia.

My book was about a young girl who lost her mother in a car accident. She was hit by a drunk driver. Kate lived with her father and her brother. Then in March when her father went out to do the doctor's calls, a blizzard hit. He was right in the drive way when the car completely stopped. He didn't want to get out of the car, because he couldn't see anything. Kate was home she was worried. It turns out that the man that killed Kate's mother was walking home and stumbled across the car. So Mr. Sterling took him in. When Kate finally came out and found them, she saw him. She hated him. He ended up staying at their house until after the storm had completely stopped. Jesse grew quite fond of him. Then Zeke got hurt. Kate was watching the dishes when she heard a shrill scream. It was Jesse. She ran out to find Zeke lying on the floor moaning and groaning. Her father ordered her and Jesse to put him on the operating table. Zeke was cutting wood and completely missed the wood and got his leg. Kate debated whether or not to mess up on the procedure she was helping with. But she decided not to. After He left it all came out of her why she was so bitter. She explained to her father that the night her mother left, she told her that she hated her. So Kate held that in all that time.

Some books like that make me cry, but for some reason it didn't make me cry. I loved it though. It was suspenseful enough to keep you reading to find out what happens. So I would recommend that children in junior high should read this.

"Groggy with sleep, numbed by cold."Imagine being stuck in a car, in the middle of winter, no heat, noone else, but the sound of the whirring wind. Kate Sterling is forced to face her biggest nightmare, the cause of her mother's death.

Blizzard's Wake by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is a survival story, about a young teenage girl who keeps getting haunted by Zeke Dexter, her mother's killer.

Zeke Dexter was at the wrong place at the wrong time. A drunk driver is never good news. His actions resulted in a terrible disaster, that caused a loved mother's life. Now Kate is pushed against her will and she has to live with the most hated man in Grand Forks.

The weak points of the book was that there were too many flips between characters in the begining. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor uses description, sensory images and leaves you wondering.

"The terrible awful thought that kept coming to her unbidden was that the haunting would go on until Zeke Dexter, too, was dead." This book is recommended for ages ten and above.

Will she ever forgive Zeke?

Kate Sterling lives in a home with her father and brother. Her mother was killed in a car accident by a man named Zeke Dexter who Kate hates. When Zeke gets dismissed from jail early it puts him back on the street with no home and nobody even knowing he is out. One day Kate stayed home while her father and brother went out to the skating rink. On the way back they got stuck in a blizzard causing Kate to worry. When Kate goes out to rescue them she finds her father, a home doctor, tending to Zeke Dexter for his frostbite. Even though Kate despises him she still lets him room in their house and gradually bonds with him. Blizzards Wake is an excellent story about forgiving and is a great read for middle and high school students.
I like the resolution in this book. The resolution teaches the lesson of forgiveness to the reader because even though Kate strongly disliked Zeke she still found room in her heart to forgive him. First she was thinking about hurting him back but she didn't. Instead she opened her arms to a homeless man. This took a lot of courage from her and a lot of heart and that is what forgiveness is all about. This resolution was perfect for this novel.
I also like the plot. This story was told by two narrators. Every chapter it switched off to the other. The two narrators were Zeke and Kate. I liked this because it gave you two different perspectives. When Kate and Zeke, were in the same car it told you what Kate thought about it and what Zeke thought about it. The whole book it expressed Kate's feeling toward Zeke and Zeke's feelings about the issue. This made the book easier to understand and more interesting because it provided two different points of view.
Lastly I like the moral in the book. The moral in this book taught people to forgive because even though Kate was very mad at Zeke she still forgave him. Zeke wasn't a bad person he just had an accident which caused Kate to despise him. That is what people have to find a way to do know. Lots of people hold grudges over people or seek revenge when the other person really wants to be forgiven. This book teaches the reader to forgive.
Blizzards Wake is a very good book. All of the elements of a novel are great in this book. Even though they were not mentioned, the characters, setting, and everything else were very interesting. It taught morals as well as making fun for the reader. This book was told in two perspectives making it highly understandable and more fun to read. All together Blizzards Wake is an excellent read for middle school and high school students.

-Byron N.

This book was a favorite in my classroom. Wehad to read very carefully though because the setting changes depending on which character is featured from chapter to chapter. There is a lot of suspense. The feeling of emotion, fear, anger, lonliness, and depression come up as discussion topics in our group. I would recommend this book for 6th and 7th grade students based upon content.

Good series, but things are becoming a little to convient for the character. The "on-the-run" is also becoming over done. I'll keep reading, but I'm just a bit apprehensive for futuree novels.

OMG!!!! Go back to book one in this series. Do not start here. Rachel Caine is wonderful. This series is great - I love all the characters. It has been enjoyable watching them evolve. Hurry and read them all the next installment comes out soon.

This one was just ok for me. Too much "review." Most of the book centered on Jo finding her memories, and since she had none, we had to be re-introduced to everyone again. On the one hand, I see where it fit with the storyline. On the other hand....why write that storyline??? Don't I already know all this? What was the point of telling me this all over again? Caine must have felt we all needed to review everything before she moved on. I don't know.

What I do know is that I really had a difficult time sticking with this one. The entire book really felt like an intro to the next story, and not like a book that could stand on its own.

And....ok, maybe I'm being picky. And, maybe I'm not remembering things correctly from the several times I've stayed in Las Vegas. But....seems to me that if...as the book says....you're staying in a room in Vegas, and you can see a Sphinx's butt pointing at you, your window slopes, and if you look out your window, the building looks like a pyramid, the hospitality book would read LUXOR and not MGM GRAND. Maybe it's just a small mistake, but it bugged me a LOT. (Maybe because I just stayed at the Luxor myself.) I would like to think she or her editor would have researched that one and fixed it before it went to print. Hopefully it will be caught before the next printing.

This is a much better book than its predecessor! The story moves along at breakneck speed and there are lots of unexpected twists and turns along the way. The memory-aspect of the book is done well, and Rachel Caine's method of revealing bits of Joanne's past by delving memories out of other characters' minds let's us see Joanne Baldwin in a new light, as others in the cast see her.

Good action, strong story line, and believable dialogue make this a winner.

It was interesting reading a book that is number six in a series that essentially starts the story over in many ways. I admit I didn't go back and read any of the other 5 before starting this latest offering of Ms. Caine, and so basically entered the book as amnesial as the main character. This does mean that I may have lost some of the undertones, but I also think it helped me come into the story with a similar sense of faint familiarity for the characters, yet without being able to unroll their entire history from memory.
Her writing style continues to entertain, and I still like her heroine [as well as some of the sidekicks]. Ms. Caine is clearly trying to keep her style fresh, and hasn't dipped too far into the romance side of what has become an interesting paranormal story on its own. Good work, and a good continuation.
Perhaps the best thing I will comment on is that Ms. Caine is still ptting together books that have a story that is encompassed by the book. Yes, there is a larger arc going on, but there is still a story that starts on page 1 and ends with the back cover. This one is far closer to violating my preference for one book, one story, since it starts where the last one left off, but there are still resolution points, and things happen within the story.

I use this book every year with my third grade class when studying a unit on tornados. They do a storyboard summarizing each chapter. They laugh all through the book. The LOVE it! I am glad I found it on Amazon because it is very difficult to locate for purchase.

There is a tornado that causes a farm family to retreat to their storm cellar. To keep the children from thinking about the danger, their farm helper tells them stories about a tornado and a very special dog from his childhood.

I think this book was okay because I like to read about tornadoes and twisters. Pete was a very nice man. Pete's dog did what he was told. I like Tornado because he did a lot of card tricks. I like Mary Lou because she fed the turtle a lot.

This book is about a dog named Tornado. He can do all sorts of things. Things that a dog cannot usually do. Pete tells stories about Tornado the dog and the adventures they had. Like the one with five thirty,or the one with the turtle,and the very sad part at the end. What will happen to Tornado? Find out in this book.

Tornado is a short fun chapter book. I like this book. I recommend this book for 6-10 years old. This book is about a black dog named Tornado and a boy named Pete. Tornado is a very interesting dog. He could do cool stuff. The boy named Pete loved Tornado,but the owner found Tornado. Will he ever see Tornado again? FIND OUT by reading the book!


Hale

I liked this book because there was a dog in the book i like dogs. This is the best book you will ever find!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thaught it was cool when the kid found the dog in a box.This is a exellent book for kids your guys age because im way older than you. Thank you for reading my letter. I'm better than you to.