Thanks for the heads up! I didn't realize the third Clifton book was out. Jeffrey Archer is a very good author--he's the one who got me interested in reading, back in the mid-1980s. If you have never tried his books, read "Kane and Abel" (not the Biblical ones). It was made into a great miniseries in the 1980s, starring Peter Strauss and Sam Neill. Also "Prisoner of Birth" is exceptionally good.

I visited Hancock's today only because I was dropping off something with a friend who wanted to meet there. It's further than Joanns, so don't visit often. However, Hancocks is having a great Memorial Day sale. 50% off all Absolute Cotton prints. If I had $$ to burn, I would have taken the opportunity. It's nice to see different fabrics than Joanns. I found some good quality fuschia quilter's cotton for $1.99 at the remnant table. Spent less than $5.00 on fabric today. :)

Sophie has the original set, but I'm pretty sure she has an easier version, or a condensed version as well. I'm sending her to check.... Okay, she's back, and she brought two. :) She has one that's a "Great Illustrated Classic". It says on the back cover, "In a specially adapted version by Eliza Gatewood Warren". It's hardcover, has 14 chapters, has large print, and has a black and white picture on every other page. I'm flipping through, and I'm thinking it might still be difficult for your grand-daughter if she's struggling to read. The second is a "Troll Illustrated Classic". It's "Retold by Joanne Mattern" and "Illustrated by Renee Graef". It's a thin paperback, but there's still quite a bit of writing to it. I think it would be appropriate. There are colour pictures on every page. It seems to be easier reading. I THINK the first one I mentioned is simply condensed, whereas the second is rewritten at an easier reading level. I could scan a page of each to give you a sample, if you'd like....

I think the writer you are thinking of is the late Lilian Beckwith who wrote The Hills is Lonely and several other humorous books about the Hebrides. mariannese, the Norsemen/Vikings landed first on the Shetland and Orkney Isles, to the North of Scotland (the Hebrides are on the West coast) they were remarkable sea-men. Even to this day the Shetlanders see themselves as quite distinct from the Scots . . . no pipes, reels, tartans etc although they became part of Scotland in about 1450 as they made up part of the dowry of a Norwegian Princess when she was bethrothed to the King of Scotland. As children we used to stay on Unst, the most northerly of the islands in the days before oil was discovered in the North Sea. A fascinating, remote area, really wild Shetland ponies, almost as wild sheep, sea-birds that would attack humans at nesting times, very laid-back but independent people and the most incredible clear air free of nearly all pollution. Sorry I sound like a 'travelogue' :-) "And so as the sun sets on the Holm of Vatsland, we say farewell to Shetland" Here is a link that might be useful: Lilian Beckwuth