Secret of Lost Things by Sheridan Hay

I loved the beginning of this book but almost didn't finish it after an incident in the book. I'm glad that I did and overall I loved the book. Especially the quotes listed below.

"Our business is to find homes for books with the hope that they will be loved as we have loved them. My heart is broken every day I make a sale; then renewed again by the arrival of an unexpected replacement...after nearly fifty years my relationship to books remains mysterious to me, but I know from my own collection that ownership is the most intimate tie we can have to objects."
Page 112.

"Reality is as thin as paper, girl," said Pearl, shaking her head. "I thought that was one thing you did know, what with an imagination like yours-as thin as paper, and as easily torn."
Page 137

A book was like a drawer: one opened it and notions flew out.
Page 144

All we are not stares back at what we are.
Page 218

Vitamins

Did you know that you can overdose on vitamins? I've decided to start taking vitamins and bought vitamins for my immune system, eyes and determined to take my own daily vitamin. So, I broke out my handful of vitamins and asked the Josh if it was possible to overdose on vitamins. Being the very loving hubby that he is, he spent the next 45 minutes researching in order to keep me safe. Here are the fruits of his research:
Vitamin A:
fat-soluble (stored in liver)

If pregnant, toxicity can occur in the fetus if the mother
takes over 100% RDA (500IU)

In a normal, healthy adult, liver damage can occur in
long-term high-dose use (over 25,000IU)

Vitamin C:
water-soluble (excreted in urine)

Tolerable upper limit is 2000mg/daily.
High doses may cause headache, diarrhea.
Long-term high-dose use may cause kidney stones.
Abruptly stopping vitamin C use after long-term
high-dose use may cause rebound scurvy.

Vitamin E:
fat-soluble (stored in liver)

Tolerable upper limit is 1500IU.

No toxidromes have been found.

Zinc:
mineral (stored in skeleton)

High doses may cause anemia due to blocking
the absorption of copper.
Normal dose is 15mg/daily. Toxicity has been reported
after long-term high-dose usage of 300mg.
Normalization of high doses of zinc is a very slow
process.

Calcium:
mineral (stored in skeleton)

Toxicity may occur at doses up to 4000mg/daily
High-dose usage may increase risk of
kidney stones.

Selenium:
mineral

Toxicity may occur at toses as low as 900mcg/daily
(over 10x RDA)

Copper:
metal

Toxicity may occur at doses up to 10-20mg/daily
(5-10x RDA)

Lutein:
carotenoid

Toxicity unknown

L-Lysine:
amino acid

Toxicity unknown

Combined doses (that I would have been taking):

Vitamin A: 2500IU 12,500IU 5,000IU = 20,000IU(possible overdose)
Vitamin C: 60mg 250mg 350mg = 660mg (safe)
Vitamin E: 30IU 100IU 200IU = 330IU (safe)
Calcium: 450mg 55mg = 505mg (safe)
Copper: 2mg = 2mg (safe)
Lutein: 6mg = 6mg (safe)
L-Lysine: 500mg = 500mg (safe)
Selenium: 70mcg = 70mcg (safe)
Zinc: 15mg 25mg = 40mg (safe)

so, we decided that I shouldn't take the ACE vitamin since that would bring my intake to dangerous levels!
Just thought I'd share.

Elizabeth & Elizabeth: the golden years.

I preferred the first film, but found them both fascinating. After seeing the Other Boleyn Girl last weekend, I feel like I watched the films out of order! All three have peeked my curiosity regarding that time period and now, I need to know more!

Nancy Drew

I love the classic black & white Nancy Drew films, but found Nancy a very whiny young lady. In the new version, that I watched last night, Nancy is a much more grown up young lady. I was impressed that the characters actually looked like teenagers. Nancy seemed very secure in who she was and in her desire to solve mysteries. Who doesn't like to know the answers? Working at a library, my innate curiosity helps keep my job interesting, so I can understand her drive to figure it out.
I recommend the movie, just don't take it all that seriously.

Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes

What an incredibly odd book! It reminded me a bit of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, in that it was fantastical and combined different mythological ideas into one story line. It was worth reading and kept my interest, although, once again, I'm not sure who I would recommend it to except my little brother!

My Year of Reading Dangerously=March Book

Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood.
I loved this book. I don't know who I could recommend it to, but I loved it.
It was mostly about relationships, how women relate to each other not only as women but as small children.
The main character, Elaine, returns to her childhood home for an art showing and is besieged by images of the past.
Follow Elaine on her journey as she reconciles her history with her present.

Aunt Dimity: Vampire Hunter

A very cute installment in the Aunt Dimity series. If you haven't read any of her books, start at the beginning of the series!

Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Yes, I did finish it in February. It was very good. I was glad that they took the time line as far as they did, I needed to know what happened to Aliena!
Even though it is not the type of book I normally read, I really liked it. Yes, it is realistic in that people have sex, but that's part of life.
I love the descriptions of the architecture and building. After reading about their day to day lives, I am so glad that I live in 2008! So much easier and safer.