Book 16: Getting Things Done

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by Allen is a reread from last year. In my previous review I discussed his 5 step system to getting a handle on all the open loops floating around in the mind. This time around I wanted to review his system to see what I had missed (I need to be more consistent with the review step) and to spend more time on his information regarding projects and longer term goals. For projects he recommends brainstorming all the outstanding projects and sorting them into a current project list and a someday/maybe list. Simple projects with only a few steps would then only require determining what the next action is and then placing that action on the appropriate calender space or action list. For larger projects he recommends visualizing what the desired outcome is and then brainstorming what steps are needed to get to that point in a mind mapping type of format. The mind map can then be used to determine what steps can be taken at the current time to move the project forward. Longer term goals can be handled in a similar manner.

I would recommend Getting Things Done for anyone looking for an intuitive system for staying on top of things either at work or at home. I'm still refining the process and putting parts in practice, but the parts that I do have in place are working very well.

Book 15: Urchin of the Riding Stars

Urchin of the Riding Stars by McAllister is the first book in the Mistmantle Chronicles series of children's books. The island of Mistmantle is the home of an animal kingdom consisting of squirrels, otters, hedgehogs, and moles. Urchin, a young foundling squirrel with light fur, wishes more than anything else that he could serve in Mistmantle Tower. His chance comes when Captain Crispin asks him if he would like to become a page. The next day when Urchin reports for duty, he finds the tower in an uproar. The only son of King Brushen has been brutally murdered. Having no leads to the murderer, the king agrees to have Captain Husk draw lots despite the misgivings of Brother Fir, the monk, and the other captains. The lots identify Crispin as the murderer, and he is sent into exile leaving Urchin in the capable hands of Captain Padra the otter. Under the treacherous influence and care of Captain Husk and Lady Aspen, the queen dies; and the king becomes merely a puppet leader with Husk in charge. Urchin and Padra must work together to protect the animals of Mistmantle, prove Crispin's innocence, and save the kingdom from the evil within its borders.

An entertaining read, I enjoyed this as a read aloud with my 9yo and 5yo boys, and we are happily moving on to the second book in the series. I would recommend it for ages 6 and up.

Book 14: Agamemnon

Agamemnon by Aeschylus is a Greek tragedy portraying the treacherous death of Agamemnon upon his return from Troy. A portion of the play is devoted to recounting some of the events in Greece prior to the sailing of the Greek army: how Agamemnon sacrificed his daughter to the gods to receive a fair breeze for launch and how some in Greece spoke poorly of him for taking all of the young men of Greece with him because of his brother's unfaithful wife. Upon his return, his wife greets him as a hero, but the play quickly darkens as the Trojan slave girl that he brings with him foretells of the imminent death of both Agamemnon and herself. The murders take place off stage. Then the chorus moves to investigate the cry of the king and finds his wife standing over his dead body with the bloody weapon in her hands. She justifies herself by claiming that he deserved this fate for what he did to their daughter. Her co-conspirator Aegisthus joins her crowing that Agamemnon deserved his death because of the way Agamemnon's father had treated his own. The two end by setting themselves up as rulers, while the chorus prays that Agamemnon's son will return from exile to take revenge upon the two traitors.

I had not previously read Agamemnon. Another classic ancient tragedy, it is a bit depressing to read; but yet a truthful tale of the wickedness of which man is capable. Greed and self-gain are clear motivating factors in the actions of the murderers, and their defenses are just as universal today. It wasn't their fault that he is dead. They blame the victim claiming it was his own fault that he is lying there dead and try to wrap their crimes in the cloak of justice where ancient law allowed for the family member of someone slain to avenge the blood of the dead by killing their murderer. I'd recommend the play for ages 14 and up.

Book 13: One Corpse Too Many

One Corpse Too Many by Peters is the second book in her Brother Cadfael mystery series set in 12th century England. This time the trouble comes to Cadfael as England divided allegiance between King Stephen and Empress Maud and Stephen leads an army to besiege the castle at Shrewsbury which defiantly supports his rival. Just before the castle falls, more new faces arrive in Shrewsbury. Godith, daughter of one of the castle nobles, is brought to the abbey disguised as a boy to hide. The abbey also hosts Aline, who has come to offer Stephen the keys to her castle, and Hugh Beringar, the betrothed of Godith also come to side with the king. When the castle falls, Cadfael is sent to take care of the bodies of the fallen men; but the count is one too many. After careful review, he discovers one body that clearly does not belong, a young man brutally strangled and then dumped in with the bodies from the castle. With the king's blessing to find the murderer, Cadfael discovers that the man was on the opposing side part of a duo tasked with secreting away the treasure of the castle noble. Cadfael responsibilities multiply as he locates the other man hiding and wounded. Now he has a treasure to retrieve and two young people to get safely out of Shrewsbury while still trying to discover the truth about the murder.

An excellent follow up to the first book in the series, I would recommend One Corpse Too Many for ages 16 and up.