Other books that might interest you

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  The One-Hoss Shay

  Oliver Wendell Holmes

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  This is a small collection of whimsical poems by the American physician and author Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.  "The Deacon's Masterpiece" describes the "logical" outcome of building an object (in this case, a two-wheeled carriage called a shay) that has no weak points.  The economic term "one hoss shay," referring to a certain model of depreciation, derives its name from this poem.  "How the Old Horse Won the Bet" is a lighthearted look at a horse race.  Finally, "The Broomstick Train" is a wonderfully Halloween-y explanation of how an electric tram really works.  (Summary by Laurie Anne Walden)

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  Take it From Dad

  George Livermore

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  Take It From Dad is a collection of letters written by a father to his son, Ted, at boarding school, away from home for the first time. In each letter "Dad" comments on some aspect of Ted's experience, attitude, or behavior, illustrating and driving home his point with an entertaining tale about human nature. This book is appropriate for all ages from adolescence on, and its lessons are as relevant today as when they were written.--Lee Smalley

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  Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions

  Mario Giordano

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  Auntie Poldi, sassy, brassy, and 60, moves to Sicily for a quiet alcohol-fuelled retirement. A murder spoils her plans. 
  This is the first novel in a charming new mystery series set in Sicily and laced with Italian sensuality and humor. It features an amateur sleuth, the sassy and foul-mouthed Auntie Poldi. Recently widowed Poldi moves to Sicily in order to quietly drink herself to death with a sea view, but fate intervenes. When she finds the corpse of a young man on the beach, his face blown off with a sawn-off shotgun, she becomes a potential suspect in his murder case. 
  Poldi soon falls for the gorgeous Commissario Montana who has been assigned to lead the case. They form an investigative—and romantic—partnership. The delightful details of this romance, and the extreme awkwardness of Poldi's retelling it to her mortified nephew, are some of the novel's many high points. 
  Sicily, a vivid backdrop, is an island of people obsessed with food. They talk passionately about which remote village produces the best olives, pistachio ice cream, oyster mushrooms, mandarins, and marzipan, and about which restaurant serves the best pasta al nero di sepia or canolli a la crema di ricotta. And there is never a direct reference to the mafia ("an invention of those fascists in the North"), even when confronted with murders committed with sawn-off shotguns.

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  Chimes From A Jester's Bells

  Robert J. Burdette

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  Part I. The Story of Rollo; Mr. Holliday knows all there is to know about raising children, or at least he thinks he does. His attempts to train his son, Rollo, "in the way he should go," are well-meant, but hilariously unsuccessful--or are they? I believe this is a sort of spoof of the “Rollo” series for children, that was written by Jacob Abbot in the mid 19th century. The characters have the same names and the chapters have a little Q&A at the end like the Abbot books, except these are definitely tongue-in-cheek. These Rollo stories use humor (and a bit of pathos) to teach plain home truths to parents, rather than children.Part II. Stories and Sketches; It is difficult to give this part a better description than the title implies. It is an assortment of short works. Some are humorous, some thought-provoking, some have a bit of both, and some are, I think, just a tad demented (but in a good way.)(Introduction by Debra Lynn)

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  Less Than Angels - A Novel

  Barbara Pym

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  A tale of a woman's romantic entanglements with two anthropologists—and the odd mating habits of humans—from the author of Jane and Prudence. 
  Catherine Oliphant writes for women's magazines and lives comfortably with anthropologist Tom Mallow—although she's starting to wonder if they'll ever get married. Then Tom drops his bombshell: He's leaving her for a nineteen-year-old student. 
  Though stunned by Tom's betrayal, Catherine quickly becomes fascinated by another anthropologist, Alaric Lydgate, a reclusive eccentric recently returned from Africa. As Catherine starts to weigh her options, she must figure out who she is and what she really wants. 
  With a lively cast of characters and a witty look at the insular world of academia, this novel from the much-loved author of Excellent Women and other modern classics is filled with poignant, playful observations about the traits that separate us from our anthropological forebears—far fewer than we may imagine.

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  The Education and Adventures of...

  Linda Di Gloria

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  When Glory Bandobeenie opens her eyes for the very first time, she is captivated by the world. The Education and Adventures of Glory, A Honeybee brings kids of all ages on her journey through life. Sprinkled with facts and insight about what happens inside a beehive, we follow Glory into the mysterious world of bees. Together with her friend Sweet Bee, Glory learns to appreciate the life they have been given as they discover the importance of family unity. Along the way, they come face to face with the Queen Mother, encounter The Beetles and must deal with the frailty of life. Her wide-eyed approach to the world combined with a quirky sense of humor and a smashing fashion sense will captivate readers. The story leaves readers entertained and enthralled with one of the world’s most important insects. Wonderfully written, Linda captures details of colony life with witty humor. She couples a captivating fictional story with education about honeybees making it well-rounded and entertaining.

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