Strike Three review

From the Online Book Club ratings and reviews forum:

http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5107&start=3795

Re: What is the last book you read, and your rating?

Post Number:#3808  byMichaelMcManus » 18 Sep 2014, 11:12

The last really good book I read is called “Strike Three” by Joy V. Smith. I rated it five stars without hesitation. If you like stories about surviving World War III, you will enjoy reading this book about how scattered groups of Americans reconnect and rebuild our country.

Dress up your walls (link)

Interior design suggestions from HGTV:

Dress up your walls with paneling, wainscoting, etc.: Add Architectural Appeal

Strike Three, a post-apocalyptic novel (link)

Check out Strike Three at Booklife (Publishers Weekly): http://booklife.com/project/strike-three-2292

That's the earth and the moon on the front cover, and Strike Three is a reference to WWIII.  Yep, I pretty much devastate the planet--the whole planet--to make points about life, the ecology, and politics--and to rebuild the planet.  Lots of people die--that scale of destruction is not a pretty thing.  Later there's some humor; there are interesting characters who work on survival and rebuilding...  It's a post-apopolytic story, but I didn't write it to be depressing.

Remodeling and entertaining

The October issue of Southern Living has a beautiful log cabin makeover, a piece on styling your coffee table--interesting, but cluttered, and decorating for fall ideas.  I love those fall colors--and the travel destinations.  And there are tips for taking care of your cast iron skillet.  (We have one somewhere; I'm not sure we've ever used it.)  The recipes include Shepherd's Pot Roast Pies; there's also advice on making grits (white or yellow).  And I know the holiday issues are upcoming...

Choosing appliances (link)

From HGTV: Whether to go for cheap or steep:

You can start with the basics--black or white--or go for the stainless steel film (peel and stick), or the real thing or go for the cooktop with a double oven and on up...

I used to think that double ovens were pretentious and a waste of space, but for holiday meals, they do come in handy; otherwise you're juggling side dishes, warming rolls, and reheating dishes that have gotten cold while you're cooking something else.

Tropical Storm Edouardo

TS Edouardo may become a category 2 hurricane eventually, but it's expected to stay away from Florida and curve out to sea as many of the earlier storms have done.

Color vs. Color (link)

Choose your favorite color from these selections from HGTV.com: Color vs. Color

My favorite is Cerise (pink for grown-ups).

Imaginative kids' rooms (links)

These fantastic rooms include a Lilo & Stitch theme, a castle, nursery rhymes, the jungle, and more.  Oh, I thought the cowboys' bunkhouse was really fun.  Frankly, I think you're going to want one for yourself.  Check them all out: 7 Playful Kids' Rooms

Decorating and entertaining

The October issue of Country Living has an article about how to use pumpkins for fall decorating; I especially like the pumpkin wrapped vertically with burlap ribbons.  (I didn't even know there were burlap ribbons.)  I also enjoyed the articles on downsizing while utilizing your collections and livening up a log cabin.  The article focusing on an all-white kitchen--it doesn't have to be boring--didn't convince me.

The food section focuses on hearty fall soups, but what got my attention was the grilled cheese croutons, though the Broccoli Florentine Bisque looked interesting. (The bowl helped.)  The spotlight--Portrait of America--on the country's largest drive-in diner, The Varsity in Georgia, makes you appreciate diners.

Tropical Storm Dolly

TS Dolly is heading straight west into Mexico.  We didn't even have to think about this one.