I can't believe that I have read 65 books this year. Crazy!
Number 65 was fantastic! I had read about 250 pages of the 420 page book by the time I turned off the light last night and I finished the rest of the book today. I truly couldn't put it down. Good thing I didn't have anything else to do today!
The Reversal is the third book in the Mickey Haller series of books, better known as The Lincoln Lawyer books. While I did not read The Lincoln Lawyer, I did see the movie and was hooked on Mickey Haller. I then read The Brass Verdict, which was awesome, but put The Reversal on hold because these books require thought--they are mentally challenging, and they require me to remember details and to put puzzle pieces together. I can only read so many of them at one time. They are definitely not light, easy, beach bag reads. However, this time I am going to read the next book, The Fifth Witness, next. My bookmark is already in the book.
While I love a good story, and the Lincoln Lawyer does provide us with one good story after another, what I love about these books so much is the process of writing these types of stories. The planning and the research and the details that go into creating a legal thriller overwhelms me. What a mind you must have as a writer to create such a tale. I do need to warn potential readers that The Reversal's plot does involve the abduction of a 12 year old girl. Some of my reader friends out there can't/won't read these kinds of stories so I wanted to warm you upfront. If you like the other books but want to skip this one, you can do so easily. The books aren't sequels, so you can miss one without missing important details from the series.
I also must add that the title of The Reversal has intrigued me. In this book, a case is being retried. So, in my mind, I saw the title as foreshadowing the ending. I assumed a reversal of the original verdict was in order. Rob, who had read the book already, saw it differently. The main character, Mickey Haller is a defense attorney, but in this book he works for the prosecution. Rob saw the reversal as being that Mickey changed sides as a lawyer. It's an interesting title to contemplate, that's for sure. If you read it, I'd love to know what you think. I'd love to elaborate more on this idea, but it might give away some of the plot and I don't want to ruin the story for anyone.
I still can't believe that 65 books have come and gone this year. I love that my blog is there to remind me of what I read and how I felt about each and every book. I wonder what 2012 will bring? I still have a few days left to set a goal. I will tell you that my Nook is loaded with 3 books already and I have 13 other books marked that have come from friend suggestions this year. So, I plan to read at least 16 books in 2012. But, would I really stop at 16? :)
Happy reading everyone!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
#64: Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
Moon Over Manifest is actually Emily's book, not mine. I borrowed it from her so that I could read something different from what I had been reading (you know, mostly books about Vampires and Werewolves). I am so glad that I snatched this book off of her shelf. It was fabulous! It even won a Newberry, which is fantastic for this first time author!
The book takes place in Manifest, Kansas during the years of 1918 and 1936. The chapters switch back and forth between 1918 (flashbacks) and 1936 (present time, for the book). The author also includes articles from the local paper and letters written from men overseas during the war. I loved the changes from one chapter to the next--it certainly kept things interesting as I was reading! The main character is Abilene Tucker, who has been sent to Manifest, alone, by her dad, Gideon. Abilene and a few friends spend the majority of the book trying to uncover a mystery, which I shall leave for you to uncover as you read, if you so chose to do so. If you are reading this and you teach 7th grade Social Studies in Virginia, this is a good book for you and your students. The events mentioned in the book (moving west, immigration, war) are exactly what Abigail is learning in her SS class this year.
Aside from the clever organization of this book, I was thrilled to read yet another book that emphasized the power of words and stories, as Abilene is challenged to create her own story throughout the novel. Abilene was told that writing stories was easy: they simply require a beginning, middle, and end. Abilene's difficulty, though, is that she entered Manifest's story in the middle, while also knowing how the story ends, but she has no idea how it all began. In particular, she wants to know about her dad, Gideon, and she can't seem to piece all of the bits of the story together to create this beginning. Eventually she does and the story is powerful. I was crying by the end of this book; it was that moving and touching.
As has happened with other books that I have read this year, this book made me think about my dad and how dependent I was, and still am, on stories of his life in order to create the complete story in my mind of his life and his life with mine and my mother's. It's those stories that create the beginning of the story for me. I still love hearing new ones and being able to add those new bits of information to the overall story. Abilene is no different and she was able to grow and change and to think about life just a little bit differently because of the stories she heard. I'd like to think that I am a little bit like Abilene in that way. I think the stories of my dad that I have gathered like colorful flowers over the years have helped me to change the way I think of myself and my life as a whole.
I value words, specifically the written word, more than anyone will ever know. They are like oxygen to me in so many ways. Obviously, books are important to me, but I do read, more specifically I read and then re-read, other things. I re-read letters that I have saved for 20 years or emails that friends have sent that I have archived that are particularly meaningful to me. I think written words can capture a feeling, an emotion, or a state of mind, and I love being able to go back to them, even 20 years later, to recall that one moment, or that one feeling. I am fairly certain that by the end of Moon Over Manifest, Abilene realized the power of words, too, both spoken and written. More than war, more than a town, more than a single person, Moon Over Manifest was, in my opinion, a book about the power of words and stories. I loved it. Too bad I've already made my Top Ten list. I guess this one will be number 11.
The book takes place in Manifest, Kansas during the years of 1918 and 1936. The chapters switch back and forth between 1918 (flashbacks) and 1936 (present time, for the book). The author also includes articles from the local paper and letters written from men overseas during the war. I loved the changes from one chapter to the next--it certainly kept things interesting as I was reading! The main character is Abilene Tucker, who has been sent to Manifest, alone, by her dad, Gideon. Abilene and a few friends spend the majority of the book trying to uncover a mystery, which I shall leave for you to uncover as you read, if you so chose to do so. If you are reading this and you teach 7th grade Social Studies in Virginia, this is a good book for you and your students. The events mentioned in the book (moving west, immigration, war) are exactly what Abigail is learning in her SS class this year.
Aside from the clever organization of this book, I was thrilled to read yet another book that emphasized the power of words and stories, as Abilene is challenged to create her own story throughout the novel. Abilene was told that writing stories was easy: they simply require a beginning, middle, and end. Abilene's difficulty, though, is that she entered Manifest's story in the middle, while also knowing how the story ends, but she has no idea how it all began. In particular, she wants to know about her dad, Gideon, and she can't seem to piece all of the bits of the story together to create this beginning. Eventually she does and the story is powerful. I was crying by the end of this book; it was that moving and touching.
As has happened with other books that I have read this year, this book made me think about my dad and how dependent I was, and still am, on stories of his life in order to create the complete story in my mind of his life and his life with mine and my mother's. It's those stories that create the beginning of the story for me. I still love hearing new ones and being able to add those new bits of information to the overall story. Abilene is no different and she was able to grow and change and to think about life just a little bit differently because of the stories she heard. I'd like to think that I am a little bit like Abilene in that way. I think the stories of my dad that I have gathered like colorful flowers over the years have helped me to change the way I think of myself and my life as a whole.
I value words, specifically the written word, more than anyone will ever know. They are like oxygen to me in so many ways. Obviously, books are important to me, but I do read, more specifically I read and then re-read, other things. I re-read letters that I have saved for 20 years or emails that friends have sent that I have archived that are particularly meaningful to me. I think written words can capture a feeling, an emotion, or a state of mind, and I love being able to go back to them, even 20 years later, to recall that one moment, or that one feeling. I am fairly certain that by the end of Moon Over Manifest, Abilene realized the power of words, too, both spoken and written. More than war, more than a town, more than a single person, Moon Over Manifest was, in my opinion, a book about the power of words and stories. I loved it. Too bad I've already made my Top Ten list. I guess this one will be number 11.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
My list of Top Ten books for 2011
I can honestly say that creating this list of my Top Ten favorites was much easier than I thought it would be. I am being a bit brave by creating the list now and not in January. I do still have almost a month of reading time left, but I think I'm safe. I've read some pretty amazing stuff this year. Even the books that are not included on this list were great. I think I've read less than 5 during the course of the entire year that are just plain mediocre. Those are fairly good odds.
So, here's my list, staring with #10...
10. Water for Elephants...Such a great story and my second biggest surprise for the year. I really doubted how I could ever like a story about the circus. This is so much more than a story about the circus. I just need to see the movie now.
9. The Twilight Saga...My biggest surprise of the year. I've never read Dracula and I hated Frankenstein, so how was I really going to feel about werewolves and vampires. Well, if Water for Elephants was more than a circus story, Twilight was WAY more than a vampire/werewolf story. If you haven't read them, you really should.
8. The Hunger Games Trilogy...I have really branched out from my usual reading material, that's all I can say. A book about children who fight to the death doesn't sound like something I'd usually read, but I did and I loved them.
7. The Mark of the Lion Trilogy...Thanks, Pam, for an amazing birthday gift, that is now making its way through my family. These books (well...the first two...the 3rd was not my favorite) touched me in so many ways and taught me so much about faith and love. Life changing, these books (one and two) are.
6. Night Road...I couldn't let a year go by without a Kristin Hannah book on my favorite list. This book will forever stay with me. It is haunting in so many ways and really speaks to the true character of people when faced with a catastrophe. In 4 years when Abigail starts driving, I am going to have to read it again.
5. The Walk and Miles to Go...These are the first two books in a series by Richard Paul Evans and I am eagerly awaiting the rest. March marks the debut of book 3. I can't wait. I think I went through an entire box of tissues with each book. If you read, read with tissues.
4. 1105 Yakima Street and 1225 Christmas Tree Lane...These are the last two books in one of my favorite series. I can't believe that it's over. What will I do next August when a new book isn't released? Call my Mom and talk about how great the series was until it was over, I guess.
3. Sisterhood Everlasting...This is another book, the final I think, in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. This book touched me so deeply that when I re-read my blog about this book, I found myself crying all over again. Friends make us who we are and I am grateful for every friend, old and new, that I have or have ever had. I'm going to stop before I cry again.
2. The Book Thief...Words. A book about the power of words. This book was written for me. I loved it and can't wait for Abigail to read it. She's learning about WW2 in school right now and she loves books almost as much as I do. Powerful stuff. Don't be put off by Death as the Narrator. It just makes the take on the plot way more interesting. Different points of view are always good.
AND FINALLY...
1. The Help...This book reminded me, once again, about how lucky we are to be living when we live. It also reminded me that my children will never completely appreciate the freedom they have and the world they live in until it's all challenged. What a Catch 22. I don't want them to suffer, but it would be nice for them to have some real perspective. I adored this book and loved the movie, so much, in fact, that it's going to come live with me on Tuesday. Read the book before you watch the movie. It really is better doing it that way.
Well...that's my list for this year. I wonder what I'll read in 2012?
So, here's my list, staring with #10...
10. Water for Elephants...Such a great story and my second biggest surprise for the year. I really doubted how I could ever like a story about the circus. This is so much more than a story about the circus. I just need to see the movie now.
9. The Twilight Saga...My biggest surprise of the year. I've never read Dracula and I hated Frankenstein, so how was I really going to feel about werewolves and vampires. Well, if Water for Elephants was more than a circus story, Twilight was WAY more than a vampire/werewolf story. If you haven't read them, you really should.
8. The Hunger Games Trilogy...I have really branched out from my usual reading material, that's all I can say. A book about children who fight to the death doesn't sound like something I'd usually read, but I did and I loved them.
7. The Mark of the Lion Trilogy...Thanks, Pam, for an amazing birthday gift, that is now making its way through my family. These books (well...the first two...the 3rd was not my favorite) touched me in so many ways and taught me so much about faith and love. Life changing, these books (one and two) are.
6. Night Road...I couldn't let a year go by without a Kristin Hannah book on my favorite list. This book will forever stay with me. It is haunting in so many ways and really speaks to the true character of people when faced with a catastrophe. In 4 years when Abigail starts driving, I am going to have to read it again.
5. The Walk and Miles to Go...These are the first two books in a series by Richard Paul Evans and I am eagerly awaiting the rest. March marks the debut of book 3. I can't wait. I think I went through an entire box of tissues with each book. If you read, read with tissues.
4. 1105 Yakima Street and 1225 Christmas Tree Lane...These are the last two books in one of my favorite series. I can't believe that it's over. What will I do next August when a new book isn't released? Call my Mom and talk about how great the series was until it was over, I guess.
3. Sisterhood Everlasting...This is another book, the final I think, in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. This book touched me so deeply that when I re-read my blog about this book, I found myself crying all over again. Friends make us who we are and I am grateful for every friend, old and new, that I have or have ever had. I'm going to stop before I cry again.
2. The Book Thief...Words. A book about the power of words. This book was written for me. I loved it and can't wait for Abigail to read it. She's learning about WW2 in school right now and she loves books almost as much as I do. Powerful stuff. Don't be put off by Death as the Narrator. It just makes the take on the plot way more interesting. Different points of view are always good.
AND FINALLY...
1. The Help...This book reminded me, once again, about how lucky we are to be living when we live. It also reminded me that my children will never completely appreciate the freedom they have and the world they live in until it's all challenged. What a Catch 22. I don't want them to suffer, but it would be nice for them to have some real perspective. I adored this book and loved the movie, so much, in fact, that it's going to come live with me on Tuesday. Read the book before you watch the movie. It really is better doing it that way.
Well...that's my list for this year. I wonder what I'll read in 2012?
#63 1225 Christmas Tree Lane by Debbie Macomber
1225 Christmas Tree Lane is the very last book in the Cedar Cove series by Debbie Macomber. In August of this year, Macomber released book 11 in the series and her faithful readers, myself and my mother included, eagerly awaited this release. It was worth the wait, but I read the book, savoring every word, knowing that it was the end. Imagine my surprise when I read that she was officially wrapping up the series with 1225 Christmas Tree Lane, a book to be released in September. I have had this book on my Nook since it's release, but wanted to wait until closer to Christmas to read it (and I got caught up with Twilight...). With only 167 pages, this book was a quick read.
However, it also was dull and storyless. I am horribly disappointed and would've preferred to have stopped reading with the 11th book. I have adored this series from the first book I read many, many years ago. I have loved each and every character, who suffer from real problems and celebrate real successes, even the not-so-nice ones. I have looked forward to each August when the newest book was released. I always knew that after school on the first Tuesday of work week, I was going to head to the bookstore to get the next book in the series (well..this year it was automatically downloaded at 12:00am, so it was there waiting for me when I woke up that Tuesday, but you get the idea). I was just as excited about 1225 and was thrilled for the chance to get one more quick glimpse into the life of these amazing characters, who now seem more like real people to me. But, it was not great. It was predictable and a little too flash-backy for my taste. I felt like I relived the entire 11 book series within the quick 167 pages of the text. Now, in Macomber's defense, this book could be read independently of the others and you could still follow along nicely. I'm sure that helps her to sell more books. And, she couldn't possibly create anything other than a nicely ending story where everything works out fine in the end when this is the last book. So, I really do get all that. It just wasn't up to her usual standards and for that reason I was disappointed.
Now, the funny thing is, you will still see this book and 1105 Yakima Street on my list of top ten books for the year. Overall, the series was AMAZING and well worth each and every read. I just hated to see it end on an all-too-predictable low note.
However, it also was dull and storyless. I am horribly disappointed and would've preferred to have stopped reading with the 11th book. I have adored this series from the first book I read many, many years ago. I have loved each and every character, who suffer from real problems and celebrate real successes, even the not-so-nice ones. I have looked forward to each August when the newest book was released. I always knew that after school on the first Tuesday of work week, I was going to head to the bookstore to get the next book in the series (well..this year it was automatically downloaded at 12:00am, so it was there waiting for me when I woke up that Tuesday, but you get the idea). I was just as excited about 1225 and was thrilled for the chance to get one more quick glimpse into the life of these amazing characters, who now seem more like real people to me. But, it was not great. It was predictable and a little too flash-backy for my taste. I felt like I relived the entire 11 book series within the quick 167 pages of the text. Now, in Macomber's defense, this book could be read independently of the others and you could still follow along nicely. I'm sure that helps her to sell more books. And, she couldn't possibly create anything other than a nicely ending story where everything works out fine in the end when this is the last book. So, I really do get all that. It just wasn't up to her usual standards and for that reason I was disappointed.
Now, the funny thing is, you will still see this book and 1105 Yakima Street on my list of top ten books for the year. Overall, the series was AMAZING and well worth each and every read. I just hated to see it end on an all-too-predictable low note.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
#61 and #62, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
I did it. I read all 4 books in the Twilight saga. I was so engrossed in Eclipse and in finding out what happened after that part of the story was over that I didn't realize that I never blogged about Eclipse until I was about half-way done with Breaking Dawn. So, I just decided that I'd blog about both books at once when I was finished with the entire series. Here goes...
By far, Eclipse was my favorite of the 4 books. I am a girl (shock!) and all of the romance of Eclipse just made me happy with every turn of the page. I will admit that I fell in love with Jacob after watching "New Moon" (he wasn't my favorite in the book but I adored him in the movie) and Eclipse made me love him even more. My heart went out to Bella as she tried to reconcile her intense love for two very different men but, truthfully, I wanted her to choose Jacob in this book. I wanted her to stay human and to grow old with Jacob. I wanted them to have cute little wolf babies. Now, as I have said from the beginning, there is a certain draw to staying 18 forever (especially with the wisdom that comes from living for centuries), but the bottom line is that I just didn't want Bella to become a vampire. I also didn't really like the ultimatums Bella and Edward gave each other in Eclipse. Sex before marriage, marriage before changing...their relationship seemed to suddenly be more about power than love (...although those of us who have been married for awhile might see some truth to that statement, I just realized...) and it bothered me. With Jacob, it was just about love. Unending, never failing, unconditional love. Sigh...oh, to be loved that much.
As a result, it was with a full and happy heart that I began reading Breaking Dawn. I quickly realized what everyone was talking about with Breaking Dawn. From lots of folks I heard that this book was not their favorite and that it was very sci-fi. I agree with both ideas completely. In addition, it was a lot of book to process at once and I really wish that it had been two separate books. It was enough to handle the growth and birth of the human-vampire child (and the blood drinking and all of the rest), but then to read about the Volturi and the potential death to all good vampires was just too much for me at times. I am glad that the movie of this book was broken into two parts, at least.
Now, to talk about the proverbial elephant in the room...Jacob and Nessie. Oh my, where do I begin? I love Jacob. That's no big secret. I actually really like Nessie, too. I think she's an amazing child, even if she did almost kill her mother before she was born. She's smart and funny and apparently all kinds of creatures are drawn to her. Now, with that being said, I just think it's flat out weird and all too convenient that Jacob imprinted on her. It is strange for me to think of a 16/17 year old boy falling in love (imprinting, whatever...) with a 6 month old baby (or a 3 day old baby that happens to be the size of a 6 month old baby). It's just odd. And, as I said, all too convenient because Bella can't disapprove of the union, neither can Edward as you can't help imprinting, and now Jacob will be part of their family forever. Am I going to have to read a new series of books about Jacob and Nessie since we don't really kow what happened to them and how their relationship turned out? UGH. I'm not sure I could read that one. It would be like my high-school boyfriend marrying Abigail. That's just plain weird. So, for those of you who were interested in knowing what I thought of Breaking Dawn, I think it was everything you warned me it would be: too sci-fi, too bizarre, and just too much at times. But, it is a book about vampires and werewolves and their interactions with humans. That in itself is sci-fi, bizarre, and too much to think about at times.
Bottom line...am I glad that I read these books, or did I just waste a month of my life? Yes, I am glad that I read them and no, I did not waste a month of my life. I am glad that I met Bella, Jacob, and Edward. Their family is fascinating and their love story was truly unique and powerful. Meghan, you were right. This series is SO much more than a story about vampires and werewolves. It is one of the most moving love stories (love between men and women and love between family members) I have ever read. Thanks for the recommendation.
By far, Eclipse was my favorite of the 4 books. I am a girl (shock!) and all of the romance of Eclipse just made me happy with every turn of the page. I will admit that I fell in love with Jacob after watching "New Moon" (he wasn't my favorite in the book but I adored him in the movie) and Eclipse made me love him even more. My heart went out to Bella as she tried to reconcile her intense love for two very different men but, truthfully, I wanted her to choose Jacob in this book. I wanted her to stay human and to grow old with Jacob. I wanted them to have cute little wolf babies. Now, as I have said from the beginning, there is a certain draw to staying 18 forever (especially with the wisdom that comes from living for centuries), but the bottom line is that I just didn't want Bella to become a vampire. I also didn't really like the ultimatums Bella and Edward gave each other in Eclipse. Sex before marriage, marriage before changing...their relationship seemed to suddenly be more about power than love (...although those of us who have been married for awhile might see some truth to that statement, I just realized...) and it bothered me. With Jacob, it was just about love. Unending, never failing, unconditional love. Sigh...oh, to be loved that much.
As a result, it was with a full and happy heart that I began reading Breaking Dawn. I quickly realized what everyone was talking about with Breaking Dawn. From lots of folks I heard that this book was not their favorite and that it was very sci-fi. I agree with both ideas completely. In addition, it was a lot of book to process at once and I really wish that it had been two separate books. It was enough to handle the growth and birth of the human-vampire child (and the blood drinking and all of the rest), but then to read about the Volturi and the potential death to all good vampires was just too much for me at times. I am glad that the movie of this book was broken into two parts, at least.
Now, to talk about the proverbial elephant in the room...Jacob and Nessie. Oh my, where do I begin? I love Jacob. That's no big secret. I actually really like Nessie, too. I think she's an amazing child, even if she did almost kill her mother before she was born. She's smart and funny and apparently all kinds of creatures are drawn to her. Now, with that being said, I just think it's flat out weird and all too convenient that Jacob imprinted on her. It is strange for me to think of a 16/17 year old boy falling in love (imprinting, whatever...) with a 6 month old baby (or a 3 day old baby that happens to be the size of a 6 month old baby). It's just odd. And, as I said, all too convenient because Bella can't disapprove of the union, neither can Edward as you can't help imprinting, and now Jacob will be part of their family forever. Am I going to have to read a new series of books about Jacob and Nessie since we don't really kow what happened to them and how their relationship turned out? UGH. I'm not sure I could read that one. It would be like my high-school boyfriend marrying Abigail. That's just plain weird. So, for those of you who were interested in knowing what I thought of Breaking Dawn, I think it was everything you warned me it would be: too sci-fi, too bizarre, and just too much at times. But, it is a book about vampires and werewolves and their interactions with humans. That in itself is sci-fi, bizarre, and too much to think about at times.
Bottom line...am I glad that I read these books, or did I just waste a month of my life? Yes, I am glad that I read them and no, I did not waste a month of my life. I am glad that I met Bella, Jacob, and Edward. Their family is fascinating and their love story was truly unique and powerful. Meghan, you were right. This series is SO much more than a story about vampires and werewolves. It is one of the most moving love stories (love between men and women and love between family members) I have ever read. Thanks for the recommendation.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
#60 New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
I have to begin by saying that I can not believe that I have read 60 books this year and that the year isn't over. More amazingly than that, my life doesn't seem to have fallen apart because I spend so much time reading. My children are still fed and clothed and doing well in school, my job at school gets done, I still find time to spend with friends, and Rob and I still enjoy being married and doing things together. I guess the only part of my life that suffers due to this obsession with books is that I sleep less. But since I am getting older (sigh...) and require less sleep, I guess everything comes out in the wash.
OK...on to New Moon...
While I did not LOVE this book as much a Twilight, I did like it. In fact, the last 30 pages saved the book for me. My worst fears were realized as I was reading last night...I was, in fact, reading a book about vampires. The love story was gone, the vampires were out in full force, and I was not the least bit interested. Luckily, through the power of FB, three friends encouraged me to keep reading by admitting that New Moon was their least favorite of the four books and one friend shared with me that New Moon's ending was fantastic. So, I kept reading with the goal of finishing and being able to watch the movie, which has been DVRd for the last week. It remains to be seen if it will be my least favorite of the saga, and the ending was a good one. The best new of all...Edward came back. I think I still love Edward, vampire and all.
As I was reading New Moon, and reading about Bella being pulled in two very different directions throughout the course of this book, I kept thinking about my own high school experience, and high school drama in general. Bella is the girl stuck in the middle. And, I think we've all either known a "Bella" or have been a "Bella." In the book, Bella is caught between the world of vampires and the world of werewolves. Both are monsters, both are bad for her in so many ways, but there she is, loving one of each, and feeling the strain of this predicament every day. She likens herself and her story to Romeo and Juliet and finds evidence from Shakespeare to support her choices, or to caution herself against some, throughout the text. While I loved this connection, having loved both Shakespeare and R&J so much myself (I can still remember watching the video in Ms. Gardner's 9th grade AL/L class), I think that Bella provides an interesting story for current teenagers, too, who aren't so much stuck in between feuding families, athough I guess that's possible, but who could, perhaps, be stuck between two social classes in the high school cafeteria, or stuck between two friends who don't like each other. Beyond being caught in the middle of vampires and werewolves, Bella is the girl who has to choose between a boyfriend and a male friend. That is a tough choice to make. I was given that ultimatum once about 20 years ago and know how my story turned out. I wonder how Bella is going to reconcile hers. Bella's choice, Edward, has been made clear in New Moon. What has not been made clear is how she plans to reconcile choosing a boyfriend, a lover, over a friend. This is why I can't wait to start reading Eclipse. I am now compelled to find out how this saga ends.
I have been asked since beginning this Twilight journey if I will let Abigail read these books. After reading Twilight I felt certain that I would hand Abigail a copy of Twilight when she landed her first read boyfriend. If ever there was a book promoting abstinence and the dangers of a physical relationship, Twilight was it! After reading New Moon, I am sure I will let her read these books, Emily, too, when she is old enough. While they are books about vampires and werewolves, the underlying stories and struggles are the ones that are most relevant to young girls whether 20 years ago or today (hence why these books are actually yound adult books even though most people I know 30 and older are the ones flocking to the bookstore and the movie theatre over them): how will Bella decide between a friend and a boyfriend/husband? how will she deal with parents who don't approve of her choice in a mate? will she get married at age 18?
Meghan was SO right about the Twilight saga. She told me that they were, in fact, books about werewolves and vampires, but that they were so much more than that. She was right, and I am hooked. Oh, and so far...I am a member of TEAM EDWARD! (I just love him...a man with 100 years of life experience in the body of a 17 year old...um...sounds good to me!)
OK...on to New Moon...
While I did not LOVE this book as much a Twilight, I did like it. In fact, the last 30 pages saved the book for me. My worst fears were realized as I was reading last night...I was, in fact, reading a book about vampires. The love story was gone, the vampires were out in full force, and I was not the least bit interested. Luckily, through the power of FB, three friends encouraged me to keep reading by admitting that New Moon was their least favorite of the four books and one friend shared with me that New Moon's ending was fantastic. So, I kept reading with the goal of finishing and being able to watch the movie, which has been DVRd for the last week. It remains to be seen if it will be my least favorite of the saga, and the ending was a good one. The best new of all...Edward came back. I think I still love Edward, vampire and all.
As I was reading New Moon, and reading about Bella being pulled in two very different directions throughout the course of this book, I kept thinking about my own high school experience, and high school drama in general. Bella is the girl stuck in the middle. And, I think we've all either known a "Bella" or have been a "Bella." In the book, Bella is caught between the world of vampires and the world of werewolves. Both are monsters, both are bad for her in so many ways, but there she is, loving one of each, and feeling the strain of this predicament every day. She likens herself and her story to Romeo and Juliet and finds evidence from Shakespeare to support her choices, or to caution herself against some, throughout the text. While I loved this connection, having loved both Shakespeare and R&J so much myself (I can still remember watching the video in Ms. Gardner's 9th grade AL/L class), I think that Bella provides an interesting story for current teenagers, too, who aren't so much stuck in between feuding families, athough I guess that's possible, but who could, perhaps, be stuck between two social classes in the high school cafeteria, or stuck between two friends who don't like each other. Beyond being caught in the middle of vampires and werewolves, Bella is the girl who has to choose between a boyfriend and a male friend. That is a tough choice to make. I was given that ultimatum once about 20 years ago and know how my story turned out. I wonder how Bella is going to reconcile hers. Bella's choice, Edward, has been made clear in New Moon. What has not been made clear is how she plans to reconcile choosing a boyfriend, a lover, over a friend. This is why I can't wait to start reading Eclipse. I am now compelled to find out how this saga ends.
I have been asked since beginning this Twilight journey if I will let Abigail read these books. After reading Twilight I felt certain that I would hand Abigail a copy of Twilight when she landed her first read boyfriend. If ever there was a book promoting abstinence and the dangers of a physical relationship, Twilight was it! After reading New Moon, I am sure I will let her read these books, Emily, too, when she is old enough. While they are books about vampires and werewolves, the underlying stories and struggles are the ones that are most relevant to young girls whether 20 years ago or today (hence why these books are actually yound adult books even though most people I know 30 and older are the ones flocking to the bookstore and the movie theatre over them): how will Bella decide between a friend and a boyfriend/husband? how will she deal with parents who don't approve of her choice in a mate? will she get married at age 18?
Meghan was SO right about the Twilight saga. She told me that they were, in fact, books about werewolves and vampires, but that they were so much more than that. She was right, and I am hooked. Oh, and so far...I am a member of TEAM EDWARD! (I just love him...a man with 100 years of life experience in the body of a 17 year old...um...sounds good to me!)
Sunday, October 30, 2011
#59: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
I can officially say that I am a Twilight convert. I never in a million years thought that I would read the book, much less love it. But, I am here today to say that I read it, and I LOVED IT!
I am not going to spend anytime at all telling you what this book is about. Even I knew what the book was about before I read it. Instead, what I'd like to tell you is why you should read the book, if you haven't already. My friend Meghan told me that the book, above all else, was a love story. Who doesn't love a great love story? Twilight is a love story like no other with scenes that are so romantically intense that I found myself literally holding my breath, waiting for the scene to unfold. The romance was so controlled it was unreal. If ever there was a book for teenagers to read that promotes self-control, well...this is it! It's not just a book about vampires, it really is a love story and for that reason alone you should pick this up and read it if you haven't already. And, for those of you who just can't move beyond the vampires, Meyer portrays them as real people, beautiful people, in fact. You will, I promise, forget at times that you are reading about vampires.
I do feel the need to say one thing about vampires...aside from the blood thing, I think they are fairly cool creatures with amazing talents: crisp sense of hearing, can see into the future, eternally young, beautiful, fast. Meyer certainly makes it seem like a fairly cool thing to be. I found myself, as Edward explained that he was born in 1908, wishing that I could have the wisdom of 100 years of life in a 17 year old body. That is a killer combination! ( No pun intended...)
Happy reading. Off to download the next book in the series: New Moon.
I am not going to spend anytime at all telling you what this book is about. Even I knew what the book was about before I read it. Instead, what I'd like to tell you is why you should read the book, if you haven't already. My friend Meghan told me that the book, above all else, was a love story. Who doesn't love a great love story? Twilight is a love story like no other with scenes that are so romantically intense that I found myself literally holding my breath, waiting for the scene to unfold. The romance was so controlled it was unreal. If ever there was a book for teenagers to read that promotes self-control, well...this is it! It's not just a book about vampires, it really is a love story and for that reason alone you should pick this up and read it if you haven't already. And, for those of you who just can't move beyond the vampires, Meyer portrays them as real people, beautiful people, in fact. You will, I promise, forget at times that you are reading about vampires.
I do feel the need to say one thing about vampires...aside from the blood thing, I think they are fairly cool creatures with amazing talents: crisp sense of hearing, can see into the future, eternally young, beautiful, fast. Meyer certainly makes it seem like a fairly cool thing to be. I found myself, as Edward explained that he was born in 1908, wishing that I could have the wisdom of 100 years of life in a 17 year old body. That is a killer combination! ( No pun intended...)
Happy reading. Off to download the next book in the series: New Moon.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
#58: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Book Thief was recommended to me by two colleagues who know how much I love to read. They told me that I would love it and that I had to read it. One told me that I was Liesel. These two ladies know me well. I loved the book. And, I could be Liesel. In many ways I am and in many ways I am glad that I am not.
The Book Thief is actually a novel written for young adults about WW2 and it is told by Death (which is not as weird as you would think--he's actually quite interesting and certainly has a unique perspective on life). I have read more about WW2 as an adult than I ever did as a teenager and I think it's fairly funny. It seems that every year my social studies and history teachers were obligated to begin teaching at the dawn of man and to move forward. Invariably, this meant that I only ever learned history up until WW1. I had to learn past 1920 all on my own. The Book Thief is the second book I've read this year about WW2 (check out my blog for the other one!). I enjoyed the other one, too.
But, even though WW2 was the background for The Book Thief, I think that theme is secondary to the theme of words and this is where this book hits really close to home for me. Liesel first steals a book to remind her of events. She can't even read, but she takes the book anyway to help her remember (I wish I could tell you what it helps her remember, but I don't want to ruin the book). She also steals books to help her ease her pain. Ultimately, she reads because she has discovered the power of words. Now, I have never stolen a book (or anything else for that matter), but I know the feeling of holding a book and having it bring back memories. I have also read books to help ease pain. And, I know the power of words.
Words for me are invaluable and hold incredible meaning. I used to think that books were what I valued and that I read because of the books. I loved holding them and smelling the pages and would smile with every turn of the page. But, Liesel helped me to see that it's not the book, it's the words that I treasure. As I read this novel, I started to realize that I crave words. I re-read books. I re-read old yearbook entries. I saved every letter Rob wrote to me the first summer we dated just to be able to read them again and again (although they got lost somewhere along the way in a move because I can't find them anymore and I feel as though I have lost a huge chunk of my life). I recently printed a message my cousin sent me through FB because his words describing my dad were so powerful and overwhelming that I needed to carry them with me. I now keep that printed message in a pocket of my purse so that I can re-read it whenever I need to. I crave words, particularly the written word. They make life real to me. They remind me of what was and what can be. Now that I am older and can't remember things quite as accurately as I used to, I need those words to help me remember. Words can evoke a feeling and emotions. Words from long ago make me feel young again.
One of the most powerful images to me as I read The Book Thief is when Liesel begins to steal books from the Mayor's wife and climbs into their house through a window. She enters the library and is drawn to the books on the shelves. The words are all around her. This scene, along with the previous scenes where she was invited into this lbrary and ended up on the floor reading, made me think of my desire for a library in my house. As you can imagine, bookshelves are abundant in my house, but one day--when my girls are gone--I have big plans for Abigail's room. It's a room that gets a lot of light and one day, it will be my library. I can see bookshelves lining the walls, a big chair, and me, reading happily surrounded by words. One day...
Liesel's fascination with words began with books, and as she learned to read, she discovered the power that words hold and that life can be opened up through words. As a child, I read books because I was alone. I was an only child until I was 11 and I grew up on a farm. There was family close by, but my cousins were all older than me so I read to have company. Books opened up the word to me. I met new people, went to new places, and realized through those words that life could be very different from the life I knew. In that way, Liesel and I are alike. But, Liesel and I differ in one very important way. She learned at 14 something that I still struggle with as an adult. Liesel learned the power of spoken words. My comfort level is with written words, as they can be crafted and reworked until you can make the exact point you want to make. Spoken words are trickier--you can't take them back once you say them and I am terrible at saying things I don't mean when I am angry, or at getting tongue-tied when I am nervous. I tend to be more reserved and more cautious with my spoken words. For example, I am not the sort of person to ever say "I love you" unless I mean it. I am a teacher, but I am scared to death to speak in front of people (over the age of 10). Now, if you give me a book and ask me to read it to 500 people, well..., that's a piece of cake! I wish I could be like Liesel. She wasn't afraid of her words. She used them and she used them well.
Liesel also discovered the beauty of writing during the course of her life. I would love nothing more than to write a book one day. I have had the privilege of being published (in a VCU textbook on assessment), but I don't want to be remembered one day for being a Teacher of the Year who happened to really understand how to effectively assess the learning of 5 year olds. Well... I guess I do want that a little, but I don't want that to be the only thing people remember. Writing a book is powerful stuff and I so want to take on that challenge, but I have never been able to find the right words. The best I can do is to read the words written by others and detail my thoughts and feelings about their work. It gives me my word fix, but it's not the same. I have thought about writing down my life in a black leather book like Liesel, but have often wondered who might want to read it. My kids, I guess. Knowing my thirst for the written word, I'd probably read it over and over myself! But, I've never done it. I've never even tried. I'm too busy reading the words of others to have the time.
The Book Thief is going in my top 10 books for 2011. I loved it. Enough to read it again. And again. And maybe even again. I did realize as I read The Book Thief that I was going to have a hard time choosing just 10 books for my favorite reads list. It's going to be like trying to decide which child is your favorite. Words, all words, are a treasure and every book I've read this year has been meaningful. The Book Thief, though, is one of the most meaningful books I've read in a very long time.
The Book Thief is actually a novel written for young adults about WW2 and it is told by Death (which is not as weird as you would think--he's actually quite interesting and certainly has a unique perspective on life). I have read more about WW2 as an adult than I ever did as a teenager and I think it's fairly funny. It seems that every year my social studies and history teachers were obligated to begin teaching at the dawn of man and to move forward. Invariably, this meant that I only ever learned history up until WW1. I had to learn past 1920 all on my own. The Book Thief is the second book I've read this year about WW2 (check out my blog for the other one!). I enjoyed the other one, too.
But, even though WW2 was the background for The Book Thief, I think that theme is secondary to the theme of words and this is where this book hits really close to home for me. Liesel first steals a book to remind her of events. She can't even read, but she takes the book anyway to help her remember (I wish I could tell you what it helps her remember, but I don't want to ruin the book). She also steals books to help her ease her pain. Ultimately, she reads because she has discovered the power of words. Now, I have never stolen a book (or anything else for that matter), but I know the feeling of holding a book and having it bring back memories. I have also read books to help ease pain. And, I know the power of words.
Words for me are invaluable and hold incredible meaning. I used to think that books were what I valued and that I read because of the books. I loved holding them and smelling the pages and would smile with every turn of the page. But, Liesel helped me to see that it's not the book, it's the words that I treasure. As I read this novel, I started to realize that I crave words. I re-read books. I re-read old yearbook entries. I saved every letter Rob wrote to me the first summer we dated just to be able to read them again and again (although they got lost somewhere along the way in a move because I can't find them anymore and I feel as though I have lost a huge chunk of my life). I recently printed a message my cousin sent me through FB because his words describing my dad were so powerful and overwhelming that I needed to carry them with me. I now keep that printed message in a pocket of my purse so that I can re-read it whenever I need to. I crave words, particularly the written word. They make life real to me. They remind me of what was and what can be. Now that I am older and can't remember things quite as accurately as I used to, I need those words to help me remember. Words can evoke a feeling and emotions. Words from long ago make me feel young again.
One of the most powerful images to me as I read The Book Thief is when Liesel begins to steal books from the Mayor's wife and climbs into their house through a window. She enters the library and is drawn to the books on the shelves. The words are all around her. This scene, along with the previous scenes where she was invited into this lbrary and ended up on the floor reading, made me think of my desire for a library in my house. As you can imagine, bookshelves are abundant in my house, but one day--when my girls are gone--I have big plans for Abigail's room. It's a room that gets a lot of light and one day, it will be my library. I can see bookshelves lining the walls, a big chair, and me, reading happily surrounded by words. One day...
Liesel's fascination with words began with books, and as she learned to read, she discovered the power that words hold and that life can be opened up through words. As a child, I read books because I was alone. I was an only child until I was 11 and I grew up on a farm. There was family close by, but my cousins were all older than me so I read to have company. Books opened up the word to me. I met new people, went to new places, and realized through those words that life could be very different from the life I knew. In that way, Liesel and I are alike. But, Liesel and I differ in one very important way. She learned at 14 something that I still struggle with as an adult. Liesel learned the power of spoken words. My comfort level is with written words, as they can be crafted and reworked until you can make the exact point you want to make. Spoken words are trickier--you can't take them back once you say them and I am terrible at saying things I don't mean when I am angry, or at getting tongue-tied when I am nervous. I tend to be more reserved and more cautious with my spoken words. For example, I am not the sort of person to ever say "I love you" unless I mean it. I am a teacher, but I am scared to death to speak in front of people (over the age of 10). Now, if you give me a book and ask me to read it to 500 people, well..., that's a piece of cake! I wish I could be like Liesel. She wasn't afraid of her words. She used them and she used them well.
Liesel also discovered the beauty of writing during the course of her life. I would love nothing more than to write a book one day. I have had the privilege of being published (in a VCU textbook on assessment), but I don't want to be remembered one day for being a Teacher of the Year who happened to really understand how to effectively assess the learning of 5 year olds. Well... I guess I do want that a little, but I don't want that to be the only thing people remember. Writing a book is powerful stuff and I so want to take on that challenge, but I have never been able to find the right words. The best I can do is to read the words written by others and detail my thoughts and feelings about their work. It gives me my word fix, but it's not the same. I have thought about writing down my life in a black leather book like Liesel, but have often wondered who might want to read it. My kids, I guess. Knowing my thirst for the written word, I'd probably read it over and over myself! But, I've never done it. I've never even tried. I'm too busy reading the words of others to have the time.
The Book Thief is going in my top 10 books for 2011. I loved it. Enough to read it again. And again. And maybe even again. I did realize as I read The Book Thief that I was going to have a hard time choosing just 10 books for my favorite reads list. It's going to be like trying to decide which child is your favorite. Words, all words, are a treasure and every book I've read this year has been meaningful. The Book Thief, though, is one of the most meaningful books I've read in a very long time.
Monday, October 17, 2011
#57: The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
I have only read a few Nicholas Sparks books that I haven't loved. But, I have read a few that stand out above and beyond his others, either for personal reasons or because they were just amazing stories told by an amazing writer. A Walk to Remember brings me to my knees every time I either read the book or watch the movie. The Notebook is the same way. Why I don't flip the channel each time the movie is on TV is beyond me. I guess it's like a train wreck--I just can't seem to look away. The Best of Me had the ability to be one of these standouts. Sadly, I'm afraid that it isn't quite to the same caliber as the others. In my opinion anyway.
Now, don't get me wrong, it was good. It had to have been good considering that I did nothing but read yesterday and I finished the entire book before 10:30 last night. But, it was not like Spark's other stories. At one point I closed the book, angry, looked at Rob and said, "There's no way Nicholas Sparks wrote this book." That's how different it is from other stories. The characters were dark, so you knew something bad was going to happen from the start. (Of course, as Rob reminded me, someone always dies in his books, it's just a matter of who, when, and how.) Even the good characters weren't so good. When I compare Dawson and Amanda to Noah and Allie (The Notebook), there's no comparison. And yet, still I read on.
Even the love story between Dawson and Amanda was weak. The stronger story here was about Dawson himself and his tragedy. I loved his character. His story brought me to tears, not his and Amanda's story. I thought Sparks wrote really moving love stories? Not this one. But, maybe all of this is on purpose. Perhaps this book functions as a warning to all those who are thinking back in time. To those who, like Dawson and Amanda, are searching so desperately to find their first love again, or at least the feeling of their first love again. While I so wish that I could explain more, I can't. It will give the story away. I have to admit, though, that I was able to figure out the ending of this book. About 40 pages out, I could see the ending. It was like I was in Geometry class in 10th grade all over again with a 25 step proof in front of me. I could see the beginning. I could see the end, and I could see every step from point A to point B. That's when I closed the book and cried. I knew what was going to happen and I couldn't believe that Sparks was going to take us there. And he did. And when he did I was so mad and so frustrated that I found it hard to keep reading. But I did, as I always do.
I am sure that someone already has the movie rights to this book but I am not sure that I will be able to watch it, should it ever make it to the big screen, as I do with A Walk to Remember or The Notebook. This one just didn't leave me feeling the same way.
Now, don't get me wrong, it was good. It had to have been good considering that I did nothing but read yesterday and I finished the entire book before 10:30 last night. But, it was not like Spark's other stories. At one point I closed the book, angry, looked at Rob and said, "There's no way Nicholas Sparks wrote this book." That's how different it is from other stories. The characters were dark, so you knew something bad was going to happen from the start. (Of course, as Rob reminded me, someone always dies in his books, it's just a matter of who, when, and how.) Even the good characters weren't so good. When I compare Dawson and Amanda to Noah and Allie (The Notebook), there's no comparison. And yet, still I read on.
Even the love story between Dawson and Amanda was weak. The stronger story here was about Dawson himself and his tragedy. I loved his character. His story brought me to tears, not his and Amanda's story. I thought Sparks wrote really moving love stories? Not this one. But, maybe all of this is on purpose. Perhaps this book functions as a warning to all those who are thinking back in time. To those who, like Dawson and Amanda, are searching so desperately to find their first love again, or at least the feeling of their first love again. While I so wish that I could explain more, I can't. It will give the story away. I have to admit, though, that I was able to figure out the ending of this book. About 40 pages out, I could see the ending. It was like I was in Geometry class in 10th grade all over again with a 25 step proof in front of me. I could see the beginning. I could see the end, and I could see every step from point A to point B. That's when I closed the book and cried. I knew what was going to happen and I couldn't believe that Sparks was going to take us there. And he did. And when he did I was so mad and so frustrated that I found it hard to keep reading. But I did, as I always do.
I am sure that someone already has the movie rights to this book but I am not sure that I will be able to watch it, should it ever make it to the big screen, as I do with A Walk to Remember or The Notebook. This one just didn't leave me feeling the same way.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
#56: Unfinished Business by Nora Roberts (and a bit about #57)
After reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, I knew that my next book was going to be:
1. Easy to read and follow
2. A light-hearted romance
3. Not the least bit complicated in any way
Well..I accomplished all three goals with this short (158 pages) Nora Roberts romance. I loved it, as I love almost all of her books. Brady and Van (short for Vanessa) are two characters that you can't help but love for who they are independently and who they can be together. If you happen to love books about musicians, this one might interest you, as well, as Van is a concert pianist. Brady is just Brady and you love him for how uncomplicated he is. Simply put, Unfinished Business is a good book for your beach bag, but probably not a good choice for your book club. It's just too easy. But after #56, I needed easy.
I am already 100 pages in to my next book The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks. I actually just closed the book (it's a real book, not a Nook book) and said aloud to whoever happened to be in the room, "I don't like where this book is going." I am afraid of what might happen to one of the main characters, whose name (Dawson) I suddenly just love--too bad I am past my child bearing years because that would be a name contender, regardless of gender. I also was crying by page 30. Well...as Rob said, "It's Nicholas Sparks. You buy the book, you buy tissues, you're all set."
I'm off to read. Happy reading to you, too!
1. Easy to read and follow
2. A light-hearted romance
3. Not the least bit complicated in any way
Well..I accomplished all three goals with this short (158 pages) Nora Roberts romance. I loved it, as I love almost all of her books. Brady and Van (short for Vanessa) are two characters that you can't help but love for who they are independently and who they can be together. If you happen to love books about musicians, this one might interest you, as well, as Van is a concert pianist. Brady is just Brady and you love him for how uncomplicated he is. Simply put, Unfinished Business is a good book for your beach bag, but probably not a good choice for your book club. It's just too easy. But after #56, I needed easy.
I am already 100 pages in to my next book The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks. I actually just closed the book (it's a real book, not a Nook book) and said aloud to whoever happened to be in the room, "I don't like where this book is going." I am afraid of what might happen to one of the main characters, whose name (Dawson) I suddenly just love--too bad I am past my child bearing years because that would be a name contender, regardless of gender. I also was crying by page 30. Well...as Rob said, "It's Nicholas Sparks. You buy the book, you buy tissues, you're all set."
I'm off to read. Happy reading to you, too!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
#55: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
I have very mixed emotions, although strong in both directions, about this book.
On the one hand, I spent 180 pages being completely and totally confused about what was actually taking place. I couldn't keep up with the characters, I had no idea what any of them, except Oskar, was doing, and felt certain that it was my age and lack of genious level intelligence that was keeping me in the dark. In addition, the stream of continuous dialogue made my head ache as I tried to follow along and figure out who was really saying what. Bottom line, I spend 180 pages feeling like a total idiot who was not smart enough to read this book.
Turn to page 181, everything changed, and the tears started flowing. All of the pieces of the story connected for me (FINALLY) and the story came together. In that moment, as I was calling for one of my girls to find my tissues, I could feel Oskar's pain and it overwhelmed me. I knew going into this book that it was about 9/11 and a boy who lost his father on that terrible day. I knew that it was going to be sad, but I felt like I could distance myself from it. I am a bad judge of my own character.
I might be able to distance myself from some of the events if 9/11. I wasn't in NY that day, I didn't know anyone in NY that day, my family was safe and sound, and I just prayed that we would prevail on September 12. But as I read this book, what I couldn't distance myself from was Oskar's search for his dad. In one quick moment, I was 13 again. The year I discovered how my father really died. A friend connected the dots for me and we were able to piece together the entire story (it was my version of Oskar's key and the Renter) and I have never been the same. I remember spending my teenage years searching for clues--what did he like to eat, what was his favorite color, who were his friends in High School--and praying that there was someone who could tell me something new about him. Just like Oskar, I searched. When the memories of this came back, I couldn't breathe. Sobbing to the point of not being able to talk (and won't my husband feel badly now about laughing at his wife who always cries over books) I plugged on and finished Oskar's story. I knew I had to see where his search took him. I knew where mine had led.
But it wasn't just Oskar's story that I was reading, it was his mother's story, and his grandfather's story, and his grandmother's story. And, it was about all of the people he met along the way while he searched. They were all connected. They were all a piece of each other's story.
Yes, this novel is about 9/11, but it's about so much more. For me, it was a reminder that even though I grew up without a dad, that even though I am still missing pieces of his life puzzle, I am part of him and he is part of me. For one short year, we were a part of each other's lives. I was too young to have memories of what he looked like, I have to rely on pictures. I was too young to know his personality and I rely on others to tell me stories of what he was like. I will never really know what he was like. I will never really know what happened in his mind the day he died. I will never really know anything for certain. But, like Oskar, when the searching was over, I was OK. My mom was OK, my family was OK, and we came to peace with it all and we all moved on. We don't forget, but we aren't crippled by the sadness anymore.
I do know that I can't possibly see this movie when it comes out. I will need to wait until it comes out on DVD and I can watch it in my own home. I know I am going to cry and I know that it's not going to be pretty, so why subject strangers to my drama? For those of you brave enough to venture out, let me know how you like the movie. Personally, I really liked the book (after page 180, that is!).
Happy reading!
On the one hand, I spent 180 pages being completely and totally confused about what was actually taking place. I couldn't keep up with the characters, I had no idea what any of them, except Oskar, was doing, and felt certain that it was my age and lack of genious level intelligence that was keeping me in the dark. In addition, the stream of continuous dialogue made my head ache as I tried to follow along and figure out who was really saying what. Bottom line, I spend 180 pages feeling like a total idiot who was not smart enough to read this book.
Turn to page 181, everything changed, and the tears started flowing. All of the pieces of the story connected for me (FINALLY) and the story came together. In that moment, as I was calling for one of my girls to find my tissues, I could feel Oskar's pain and it overwhelmed me. I knew going into this book that it was about 9/11 and a boy who lost his father on that terrible day. I knew that it was going to be sad, but I felt like I could distance myself from it. I am a bad judge of my own character.
I might be able to distance myself from some of the events if 9/11. I wasn't in NY that day, I didn't know anyone in NY that day, my family was safe and sound, and I just prayed that we would prevail on September 12. But as I read this book, what I couldn't distance myself from was Oskar's search for his dad. In one quick moment, I was 13 again. The year I discovered how my father really died. A friend connected the dots for me and we were able to piece together the entire story (it was my version of Oskar's key and the Renter) and I have never been the same. I remember spending my teenage years searching for clues--what did he like to eat, what was his favorite color, who were his friends in High School--and praying that there was someone who could tell me something new about him. Just like Oskar, I searched. When the memories of this came back, I couldn't breathe. Sobbing to the point of not being able to talk (and won't my husband feel badly now about laughing at his wife who always cries over books) I plugged on and finished Oskar's story. I knew I had to see where his search took him. I knew where mine had led.
But it wasn't just Oskar's story that I was reading, it was his mother's story, and his grandfather's story, and his grandmother's story. And, it was about all of the people he met along the way while he searched. They were all connected. They were all a piece of each other's story.
Yes, this novel is about 9/11, but it's about so much more. For me, it was a reminder that even though I grew up without a dad, that even though I am still missing pieces of his life puzzle, I am part of him and he is part of me. For one short year, we were a part of each other's lives. I was too young to have memories of what he looked like, I have to rely on pictures. I was too young to know his personality and I rely on others to tell me stories of what he was like. I will never really know what he was like. I will never really know what happened in his mind the day he died. I will never really know anything for certain. But, like Oskar, when the searching was over, I was OK. My mom was OK, my family was OK, and we came to peace with it all and we all moved on. We don't forget, but we aren't crippled by the sadness anymore.
I do know that I can't possibly see this movie when it comes out. I will need to wait until it comes out on DVD and I can watch it in my own home. I know I am going to cry and I know that it's not going to be pretty, so why subject strangers to my drama? For those of you brave enough to venture out, let me know how you like the movie. Personally, I really liked the book (after page 180, that is!).
Happy reading!
Monday, October 3, 2011
#54: Only His by Susan Mallery
Only His, by Susan Mallery is the last book in a series of books that revolve around the Hendrix Triplets. The story of the three girls concludes with the love story of Nevada Hendrix and her long-lost first love, Tucker. While I have loved getting to know these ladies and think that the town of Fool's Gold would be an intriguing, yet man-less, place to live, I was a bit disappointed in this last book. It was just really predictable. I sensed from the beginning that Tucker, a man who swore he would never be tied down to one place with one woman, would end up relocating and marrying Nevada (sorry that I ruined this one for you all out there, but seriously, you would've seen it coming, too). I did not predict the triple wedding ceremony, nor the very quick woman to woman kiss, but otherwise I was right on the money.
Now, does all of this mean that I would not recommend the book to someone. Absolutely not. Reading this book after reading the other two was essential in getting closure to the story as a whole. And, they were good, light reads. I am not sure, however, that the entire story of Fool's Gold is over, though. We met Charlie (a girl) and Heidi and Annabelle in the middle of this book and it makes me wonder if these three ladies aren't going to get their own stories at some point.
Let the record also show that after reading this book that I have a new appreciation for my garden tub and it's many uses. Read Only His to find out exactly what I mean!
Now, does all of this mean that I would not recommend the book to someone. Absolutely not. Reading this book after reading the other two was essential in getting closure to the story as a whole. And, they were good, light reads. I am not sure, however, that the entire story of Fool's Gold is over, though. We met Charlie (a girl) and Heidi and Annabelle in the middle of this book and it makes me wonder if these three ladies aren't going to get their own stories at some point.
Let the record also show that after reading this book that I have a new appreciation for my garden tub and it's many uses. Read Only His to find out exactly what I mean!
Monday, September 26, 2011
#53: The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
Number 53. I have surpassed my goal. Did anyone out there really think that I was going to stop reading once I closed the 52nd book? Seriously--does that sound like me at all?
A few months ago, Rob and I watched "The Lincoln Lawyer." It was the perfect movie compromise: a lawyer movie for Rob and Mathew Mcconaughey for me! Seriously, have you ever watched a movie with him as the star (or co-star for that matter) that you didn't love? Anyway, the point of this story is that I loved the movie, and not just because of Mr. Mcconaughey. The movie was great. Little did I know, because lawyer movies and books aren't typically my genre of choice, that The Lincoln Lawyer was actually a book before it became a movie and that there are other books in the series (right now there are 3). Rob suggested that I actually read The Lincoln Laywer before reading more in the series, but I have a hard time re-reading when I already know the ending (Harry Potter is the ONLY exception to this rule!). So, I moved on and read The Brass Verdict.
Of course, with every page and every word spoke, Mickey Haller was Matthew Mcconaughey. And, not a single page disappointed me. I've said it before, this is not my typical genre of choice, but it's nice to break from the mold at times and try something new. It has been a long read for me, but I chalk that up to the beginning of school, football, and field hockey. I am just beginning to be able to juggle life more efficiently again. It's only taken me a month! Anyway, the book was great. Solid, believable story. Good dialogue. Cool characters that I have grown to love. And, I even had the case all figured out! Well...until I realized that I was dead wrong and glad that I never took up a legal career because I am way too trusting and will believe whatever someone says. I don't want to give it all away...you'll have to read the book to get the entire story.
There's one more Lincoln Lawyer book on my shelf. Rob has already read it but I am going to need to wait a few months before I pick up another lawyer book. They make me think way too much and I need a break from thinking. Luckily for me, two of my favorite girly series have new releases tomorrow. They have already been preordered and if I remember to turn my Nook on tonight before I go to bed, they will magically appear at 12:01 am. Never fear, I will return to Mickey Haller and I will find out what happens next in his life as I imagine MM saying every word I read and looking gorgeous as ever as he's driven around in one of his 3 black Lincolns (hence...the Lincoln Lawyer). And when I do, I'll let you know how it all turns out!
A few months ago, Rob and I watched "The Lincoln Lawyer." It was the perfect movie compromise: a lawyer movie for Rob and Mathew Mcconaughey for me! Seriously, have you ever watched a movie with him as the star (or co-star for that matter) that you didn't love? Anyway, the point of this story is that I loved the movie, and not just because of Mr. Mcconaughey. The movie was great. Little did I know, because lawyer movies and books aren't typically my genre of choice, that The Lincoln Lawyer was actually a book before it became a movie and that there are other books in the series (right now there are 3). Rob suggested that I actually read The Lincoln Laywer before reading more in the series, but I have a hard time re-reading when I already know the ending (Harry Potter is the ONLY exception to this rule!). So, I moved on and read The Brass Verdict.
Of course, with every page and every word spoke, Mickey Haller was Matthew Mcconaughey. And, not a single page disappointed me. I've said it before, this is not my typical genre of choice, but it's nice to break from the mold at times and try something new. It has been a long read for me, but I chalk that up to the beginning of school, football, and field hockey. I am just beginning to be able to juggle life more efficiently again. It's only taken me a month! Anyway, the book was great. Solid, believable story. Good dialogue. Cool characters that I have grown to love. And, I even had the case all figured out! Well...until I realized that I was dead wrong and glad that I never took up a legal career because I am way too trusting and will believe whatever someone says. I don't want to give it all away...you'll have to read the book to get the entire story.
There's one more Lincoln Lawyer book on my shelf. Rob has already read it but I am going to need to wait a few months before I pick up another lawyer book. They make me think way too much and I need a break from thinking. Luckily for me, two of my favorite girly series have new releases tomorrow. They have already been preordered and if I remember to turn my Nook on tonight before I go to bed, they will magically appear at 12:01 am. Never fear, I will return to Mickey Haller and I will find out what happens next in his life as I imagine MM saying every word I read and looking gorgeous as ever as he's driven around in one of his 3 black Lincolns (hence...the Lincoln Lawyer). And when I do, I'll let you know how it all turns out!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
#52: 1105 Yakima Street by Debbie Macomber
Ever since I discovered Debbie Macomber's books, I have looked forward to the last week of August when her annual Cedar Cove (set in Seattle) novel is released. 1105 Yakima Street is her 11th book in the series. The 12th book (1225 Christmas Tree Lane) is released in three weeks and it is the last one in the series. Sigh...
I have read all 11 books (and have preordered the 12th) and have loved them all. 1105 Yakima Street was not my favorite (but it was still VERY good), but I think I have figured out why that might be. Each of the 10 previous books focus on one family and is named for the street address of the main family. 1105 Yakima Street is no different in this manner but the side plots of this book are more numerous to the point that the main family focus has been shifted. I felt like I was really only reading the story of Rachel, Jolene, and Bruce every 4th chapter. It was a little frustrating. However, I completely understand that Macomber is trying to wrap up lose ends and end her series. I fully believe that this accounts for the shift in focus, but the constant changing is what made this book less enthralling than her others. I am just glad that I read the letter from Macomber before reading the book. It made me sad to learn that the series was ending, but made the character shifts more understandable.
I am not sure what I am going to do next year when the last Tuesday of August rolls around and there's not a Cedar Cover book waiting for me to read. I discovered the series after Macomber had written the first 4, so I was able to read them all at once and then had to wait for the annual release like everyone else. So, for the last 6 years, I have looked forward to the last Tuesday in August (which is always my second day back at school so it gave me a silver lining in the cloud of summer being over) to read the next installment of the Cedar Cove story. These characters are now so real in my mind it's a bit like a family member moving, or your favorite TV show ending. I felt like this when Friends and Seinfeld were done. Now I am mourning a town in Washington, Cedar Cove.
If you haven't had a chance to read any of this series, you should give it a try. The first book is 16 Lighthouse Road and it will not disappoint you, I promise. I guess the good news for anyone picking up the series now is that you don't have to wait for an annual release--they are all out and ready to be devoured! I feel compelled to add, too, that this series of books and the characters from them are so wildly popular that there's actually an annual festival in Washington State each year called Cedar Cove Days. I guess it's like the Star Trek convention for the Romance sect! Anyway, I do hope that you'll give this series a try. I can only imagine that one day soon I'll start re-reading these books. I am just having a hard time imagining that the series is done. Too bad Nick at Night won't do a Cedar Cove marathon like they recently just did with Friends. I guess re-reading will be my version of re-runs!
Happy reading everyone. My 52 books have now been read! Woo-hoo!
I have read all 11 books (and have preordered the 12th) and have loved them all. 1105 Yakima Street was not my favorite (but it was still VERY good), but I think I have figured out why that might be. Each of the 10 previous books focus on one family and is named for the street address of the main family. 1105 Yakima Street is no different in this manner but the side plots of this book are more numerous to the point that the main family focus has been shifted. I felt like I was really only reading the story of Rachel, Jolene, and Bruce every 4th chapter. It was a little frustrating. However, I completely understand that Macomber is trying to wrap up lose ends and end her series. I fully believe that this accounts for the shift in focus, but the constant changing is what made this book less enthralling than her others. I am just glad that I read the letter from Macomber before reading the book. It made me sad to learn that the series was ending, but made the character shifts more understandable.
I am not sure what I am going to do next year when the last Tuesday of August rolls around and there's not a Cedar Cover book waiting for me to read. I discovered the series after Macomber had written the first 4, so I was able to read them all at once and then had to wait for the annual release like everyone else. So, for the last 6 years, I have looked forward to the last Tuesday in August (which is always my second day back at school so it gave me a silver lining in the cloud of summer being over) to read the next installment of the Cedar Cove story. These characters are now so real in my mind it's a bit like a family member moving, or your favorite TV show ending. I felt like this when Friends and Seinfeld were done. Now I am mourning a town in Washington, Cedar Cove.
If you haven't had a chance to read any of this series, you should give it a try. The first book is 16 Lighthouse Road and it will not disappoint you, I promise. I guess the good news for anyone picking up the series now is that you don't have to wait for an annual release--they are all out and ready to be devoured! I feel compelled to add, too, that this series of books and the characters from them are so wildly popular that there's actually an annual festival in Washington State each year called Cedar Cove Days. I guess it's like the Star Trek convention for the Romance sect! Anyway, I do hope that you'll give this series a try. I can only imagine that one day soon I'll start re-reading these books. I am just having a hard time imagining that the series is done. Too bad Nick at Night won't do a Cedar Cove marathon like they recently just did with Friends. I guess re-reading will be my version of re-runs!
Happy reading everyone. My 52 books have now been read! Woo-hoo!
Monday, September 5, 2011
#50 and #51: Only Mine and Only Yours by Susan Mallery
I have said it before and I will say it again, Susan Mallery's books are just so good! I have yet to read one that disappointed me.
Last year (I think it was last year as I couldn't find record of it in this year's 52 in 52) I read Susan Mallery's Finding Perfect and loved it! As it turns out, it was the beginning of a series of books about The Hendrix Family. Only Mine, Only Yours, and Only His were recently released and are a trilogy of books about The Hendrix Identical Triplets, all women. Finding Perfect centered around their friend, Pia, and it gave us a brief introduction to each sister. Now, with this new trilogy we get to know each sister in detail. Only Mine is Dakota's book, Only Yours is Montana's, and Only His (which has not yet been released, but I have already downloaded it to my Nook and will just be sure it's on on September 27th so the actual book can land on my Nook!) is all about the last triplet, Nevada. Don't you love their names? They were named by their three older brothers and as you can read in the books what they got was way better than the alternatives!
Dakota and Montana (and even Nevada, although I haven't yet learned much about her character) are women whose stories are true page turners. I read Only Yours in one sitting yesterday. It was a story I could see in my head, like a movie, and I just wanted to know how it all turned out. At 11:00 pm last night, I closed the book after seeing how her story ended (and being mad that I couldn't read the final installment today!).
September 27th can get here fast enough! Happy reading!
Last year (I think it was last year as I couldn't find record of it in this year's 52 in 52) I read Susan Mallery's Finding Perfect and loved it! As it turns out, it was the beginning of a series of books about The Hendrix Family. Only Mine, Only Yours, and Only His were recently released and are a trilogy of books about The Hendrix Identical Triplets, all women. Finding Perfect centered around their friend, Pia, and it gave us a brief introduction to each sister. Now, with this new trilogy we get to know each sister in detail. Only Mine is Dakota's book, Only Yours is Montana's, and Only His (which has not yet been released, but I have already downloaded it to my Nook and will just be sure it's on on September 27th so the actual book can land on my Nook!) is all about the last triplet, Nevada. Don't you love their names? They were named by their three older brothers and as you can read in the books what they got was way better than the alternatives!
Dakota and Montana (and even Nevada, although I haven't yet learned much about her character) are women whose stories are true page turners. I read Only Yours in one sitting yesterday. It was a story I could see in my head, like a movie, and I just wanted to know how it all turned out. At 11:00 pm last night, I closed the book after seeing how her story ended (and being mad that I couldn't read the final installment today!).
Now I have to be honest and admit that the setting of these books is a little far-fetched, but it makes for a great story. These stories take place in a fictional town called Fool's Gold, in California. It's a town dominated by women and sorrily lacking in men. Needless to say, when one appears, women jump (and the great stories begin!). Despite this, the actual stories (and yes there is a story line in each book that is about more than just love and sex) about the women are believable. In fact, these women are the sort of women I think many of us would like to be: resilient, strong, capable of taking care of themselves without men. Yet, as in any good romance story, they succumb every time! Both Dakota's and Montana's stories brought me to tears. Dakota's hit too close to home, and Montana's love story was just so touching I think you'd have to be dead not to be moved by it.
I also can't help but admit that these are the sort of books that I wish I had at the beach with me. They can be read in one sitting and that's usually what happens when I am in my beach chair with the water at my feet--I don't get up and can devour a book in a day, easily. But, I was not in control of when these books were released. But, if you haven't yet bought them and want to file away a couple of titles for good beach reads, I have just given you three!
September 27th can get here fast enough! Happy reading!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
#49: Faster Isn't Smarter by Cathy L. Seeley
The complete title of this book is Faster Isn't Smarter: Messages About Math, Teaching, and Learning in the 21st Century. I was asked to read this book as part of my new job within HCPS (Elementary Math Teacher in Residence) and reading this book has validated so many of my personal educational beliefs and philosohies. I wish that every parent with a child in the public school system throughout the US would read this book. It just might change how parents "teach" their pre-schooler and change their expectations for their school-age children. Sadly, though, it might make you want to move out of the US to one of those other countires who seem to have a better grasp on public education.
To give you some background, Cathy Seeley was the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics president (NCTM) and while she was president she wrote a series of President's Messages. This book contains many (maybe all, I am not certain) of those messages that were printed for NCTM's members. It is so nice to have them all in one book and organized by theme/topic. Better than that is the fact that each message is roughly 2-4 pages long. So, you can read one and feel as though you've learned something or you can read and entire section and feel overwhelmed! Seriously, I liked that each message was short and to the point and I could read one quickly and move on with my day.
For those of you who happen to be interested, here are the titles of some of my favorite messages. This will give you an idea of what Seeley's messages are about:
#1: Math for a Flattening World (the idea of a "flat" world is eye opening)
#6: "Teach Harder!" Isn't the Answer
#10: It's Not Just About Math and Reading
#15: Less Can Be More (that one was my fave!)
#32: Yes, but...(or...Believing in every student)
I just can't say enough good things about this book, one that clearly I was reading for work and not for "pleasure" but I did enjoy it. It wasn't like the typical books we have to read for work/school that are dull and boring. Cathy Seeley is entertaining and has valid points that anyone in the education field, or anyone with school-aged children, should consider.
To me, the title says it all. Faster isn't smarter. Anyone who has ever worked with a child in any capacity knows that. But, I wonder what the creators of Kumon would say to Cathy Seeley about that? I'd like to be a fly on the wall during that conversation!
To give you some background, Cathy Seeley was the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics president (NCTM) and while she was president she wrote a series of President's Messages. This book contains many (maybe all, I am not certain) of those messages that were printed for NCTM's members. It is so nice to have them all in one book and organized by theme/topic. Better than that is the fact that each message is roughly 2-4 pages long. So, you can read one and feel as though you've learned something or you can read and entire section and feel overwhelmed! Seriously, I liked that each message was short and to the point and I could read one quickly and move on with my day.
For those of you who happen to be interested, here are the titles of some of my favorite messages. This will give you an idea of what Seeley's messages are about:
#1: Math for a Flattening World (the idea of a "flat" world is eye opening)
#6: "Teach Harder!" Isn't the Answer
#10: It's Not Just About Math and Reading
#15: Less Can Be More (that one was my fave!)
#32: Yes, but...(or...Believing in every student)
I just can't say enough good things about this book, one that clearly I was reading for work and not for "pleasure" but I did enjoy it. It wasn't like the typical books we have to read for work/school that are dull and boring. Cathy Seeley is entertaining and has valid points that anyone in the education field, or anyone with school-aged children, should consider.
To me, the title says it all. Faster isn't smarter. Anyone who has ever worked with a child in any capacity knows that. But, I wonder what the creators of Kumon would say to Cathy Seeley about that? I'd like to be a fly on the wall during that conversation!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
#48: Room by Emma Donoghue
I was at the pool not too long ago when a former student's mother told me about Room. She gave me no details about the book except that she found herself crying off an on as she was reading the book. I now know exactly what she was talking about.
This book is not for the faint of heart or for the casual reader who simply wants to be entertained. This book is serious...it it hard to read at times...but it touched every part of me as both a woman and as a mother. Every woman's greatest fears are hit head-on in this book, yet are done within the safe confines of pages of a book that can be closed when the story becomes too intense.
Honestly, aside from a personal recommendation, I knew nothing about this book before I loaded it onto my Nook. I never even read the back of the book. I think it was better that way. There were certain parts of the first section of the book that were bothersome: why was this mother treating her son as she did, why did they never leave Room, and why was this mother still nursing her 5 year old? As the story progressed and as part one became part two, it all became clear. Instead of viewing this mother as negligent, I now saw how strong she was and how incredibly brave both Ma and Jack were.
Sometimes we read to comfort ourselves, sometimes we read for pleasure, and sometimes we read for entertainment. I am not sure that reading Room would fall into any of these categories. At times it was like a train wreck--I knew I shouldn't look, but I couldn't pull myself away. But, I am glad that I read it. It made me think a lot about how strong I might/might not be in a similar situation. It also reminded me of the lengths a mother would go to to protect her child and of how scary and confusing "outside" often is. Even when you've lived there your entire life.
Be brave, be strong. Read Room.
This book is not for the faint of heart or for the casual reader who simply wants to be entertained. This book is serious...it it hard to read at times...but it touched every part of me as both a woman and as a mother. Every woman's greatest fears are hit head-on in this book, yet are done within the safe confines of pages of a book that can be closed when the story becomes too intense.
Honestly, aside from a personal recommendation, I knew nothing about this book before I loaded it onto my Nook. I never even read the back of the book. I think it was better that way. There were certain parts of the first section of the book that were bothersome: why was this mother treating her son as she did, why did they never leave Room, and why was this mother still nursing her 5 year old? As the story progressed and as part one became part two, it all became clear. Instead of viewing this mother as negligent, I now saw how strong she was and how incredibly brave both Ma and Jack were.
Sometimes we read to comfort ourselves, sometimes we read for pleasure, and sometimes we read for entertainment. I am not sure that reading Room would fall into any of these categories. At times it was like a train wreck--I knew I shouldn't look, but I couldn't pull myself away. But, I am glad that I read it. It made me think a lot about how strong I might/might not be in a similar situation. It also reminded me of the lengths a mother would go to to protect her child and of how scary and confusing "outside" often is. Even when you've lived there your entire life.
Be brave, be strong. Read Room.
#47: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
I put off reading this book for the longest time because I just couldn't see reading an entire book about the circus. I refused to see the movie because I just couldn't see watching an entire moview about the circus. I have seen the error of my ways and am here to tell you that if you haven't read this book, you absolutely should. It is so much more than a book about the circus. Furthermore, I want to know when this movie comes out on DVD because I want to see it so badly I can't stand it (although I am glad that I read the book first!).
The one aspect of this book that I kept coming back to in my head while I was reading was how quickly your life can change. Nothing in this world is guaranteed and that's a scary thought.
This book also made me question how I would respond to tragedy--would I deal with it and move on, or would I try to escape, thinking that I had nothing left? I truly hope that I will never find out the answer to this question, but it is something to think about.
From a literary standpoint, one of the things I liked most about this book was the shift in time from present day to flashback (I know not everyone does so this is something to think about before you read this book). I can honestly say, too, that I'd rather have known the 90 (or is it 93?) year old Jacob more than the younger one. While he certainly had a life worth talking about as a young man, he was priceless as a 90 something adult.
As I said before, this book is so much more than a book about the circus. It is a book about survival on so many different levels. I am so glad that I finally listened to all of those FB friends who loved this book and read it myself!
The one aspect of this book that I kept coming back to in my head while I was reading was how quickly your life can change. Nothing in this world is guaranteed and that's a scary thought.
This book also made me question how I would respond to tragedy--would I deal with it and move on, or would I try to escape, thinking that I had nothing left? I truly hope that I will never find out the answer to this question, but it is something to think about.
From a literary standpoint, one of the things I liked most about this book was the shift in time from present day to flashback (I know not everyone does so this is something to think about before you read this book). I can honestly say, too, that I'd rather have known the 90 (or is it 93?) year old Jacob more than the younger one. While he certainly had a life worth talking about as a young man, he was priceless as a 90 something adult.
As I said before, this book is so much more than a book about the circus. It is a book about survival on so many different levels. I am so glad that I finally listened to all of those FB friends who loved this book and read it myself!
Friday, August 26, 2011
#46: A Place to Call Home by Deborah Smith
This book was recommended to me by my very best friend from Middle School. It seems that she knew me well then and still knows me now, too! I loved this book.
I have to be honest and admit that I read this book before and during my Disney trip a few weeks ago. So, I am feeling a bit removed from it now that I am more than half-way through #47 and have spent the past week focusing on school, not on my books. Because of this, the bog I am writing isn't going to be like my others. I am going to get stright to the point because it is the "big picture" of this book that I have taken with me, not all of the little details.
Claire, the famile lead in this story, is one of my favorite characters EVER, but I prefer her childhood character (who is a spirited and loyal and loving like no other literary character about whom I have read) to her adult character. Roan I loved from start to finish. He makes me proud of him on each and every page. I could identify a lot with his character (and it makes me wonder if this isn't why this book was recommended to me by a childhood friend). Roan comes from a hard beginning and with a little love and the faith of Claire all of that changes. Roan reminded me that some people can rise above incredible obstacles and can change their own lives for the better. He's an amazing character and an inspiration.
This book draws you in from the first page and is hard to put down. I did pick it up during down time in the hotel while at Disney just so that I could find out how it ends. I think this story and the message it conveys about individuals and families is going to stick with me for a while. That's a good thing.
Read it. You'll love Claire and Roanie, too! I promise!
I have to be honest and admit that I read this book before and during my Disney trip a few weeks ago. So, I am feeling a bit removed from it now that I am more than half-way through #47 and have spent the past week focusing on school, not on my books. Because of this, the bog I am writing isn't going to be like my others. I am going to get stright to the point because it is the "big picture" of this book that I have taken with me, not all of the little details.
Claire, the famile lead in this story, is one of my favorite characters EVER, but I prefer her childhood character (who is a spirited and loyal and loving like no other literary character about whom I have read) to her adult character. Roan I loved from start to finish. He makes me proud of him on each and every page. I could identify a lot with his character (and it makes me wonder if this isn't why this book was recommended to me by a childhood friend). Roan comes from a hard beginning and with a little love and the faith of Claire all of that changes. Roan reminded me that some people can rise above incredible obstacles and can change their own lives for the better. He's an amazing character and an inspiration.
This book draws you in from the first page and is hard to put down. I did pick it up during down time in the hotel while at Disney just so that I could find out how it ends. I think this story and the message it conveys about individuals and families is going to stick with me for a while. That's a good thing.
Read it. You'll love Claire and Roanie, too! I promise!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
#45 At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon
I have had At Home in Mitford on my shelf for about 4 years and even though my aunt told me that the books (it's the first of a series) were great and even though my mother-in-law read the first two and told me that they were great, I just couldn't bring myself to read one. It always seemed that there was something more pressing to read or that I had to read a book a friend loaned me quickly and then return it, so the books (I actually have the first two in the series) just kept waiting there on the shelf for the day when I finally decided to pick one up and read it. I did pick up the first one when I finished book #44 and it has taken me that long to get through this book.
Here's the thing...the book is good. I enjoyed the characters and the events kept me wanting to read more, but nothing about this book made me want to read it quickly. After thinking about it, though, I wonder if that's the point? MItford is a small town with small town characters that moves at a small town pace and so does the book. It doesn't help that each chapter is broken into small sections, so you can get a certain amount of satisfaction from reading a small part and then putting the book down. As a result, it took me a while to finish the book.
Like I said, it was good. I need to warn some readers that this book, and I think all of them in the series but I am not sure, has as it's main character Father Tim. I think it does take a certain reader to want to read an entire book whose main character is an Episcopalian Priest. I liked him and I think you will like him and all of his rather unique neighbors.
This book did give me a new appreciation for Priests, Pastors, and Ministers. I used to think that teachers had crazy jobs--low pay, demanding parents, crazy students--but now I am convinced that Priests, Pastors, and Ministers are the real people with the most demanding work on the planet. They can't escape it ever and are on call 24 hours 7 days a week. I realize now that hey rarely get a break and they are the ones who deserve it the most. God Bless them all!
The question I keep asking myself is will I read any more of the books? Yes, I think I will, but it will be a while. The Mitford books are good ones to read when you have all of the time in the world. They are the ones you carry around in your bag for weeks, reading little bits and pieces here and there and it doesn't matter if it takes weeks and weeks to finish a book. I bet Jan Karon would like for us to read them that way. So, yes, I will read more, but probably next year. One Mitford book a year is good enough for me!
Here's the thing...the book is good. I enjoyed the characters and the events kept me wanting to read more, but nothing about this book made me want to read it quickly. After thinking about it, though, I wonder if that's the point? MItford is a small town with small town characters that moves at a small town pace and so does the book. It doesn't help that each chapter is broken into small sections, so you can get a certain amount of satisfaction from reading a small part and then putting the book down. As a result, it took me a while to finish the book.
Like I said, it was good. I need to warn some readers that this book, and I think all of them in the series but I am not sure, has as it's main character Father Tim. I think it does take a certain reader to want to read an entire book whose main character is an Episcopalian Priest. I liked him and I think you will like him and all of his rather unique neighbors.
This book did give me a new appreciation for Priests, Pastors, and Ministers. I used to think that teachers had crazy jobs--low pay, demanding parents, crazy students--but now I am convinced that Priests, Pastors, and Ministers are the real people with the most demanding work on the planet. They can't escape it ever and are on call 24 hours 7 days a week. I realize now that hey rarely get a break and they are the ones who deserve it the most. God Bless them all!
The question I keep asking myself is will I read any more of the books? Yes, I think I will, but it will be a while. The Mitford books are good ones to read when you have all of the time in the world. They are the ones you carry around in your bag for weeks, reading little bits and pieces here and there and it doesn't matter if it takes weeks and weeks to finish a book. I bet Jan Karon would like for us to read them that way. So, yes, I will read more, but probably next year. One Mitford book a year is good enough for me!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
#44 Look Again by Lisa Scottoline
I am truly afraid of telling too much if I blog about this book as I usually do. So, out of respect to those of you who might want to read Look Again, I am only going to tell you that it is gripping, a true page turner, and if you read it, you will not be disappointed. I read it in under a day because I could not put it down. Seriously.
I will say this one thing before I end my shortest blog EVER, because I feel that some readers might not ever pick up this book because of the subject matter: I found myself comfortably distanced as I read this book. In others words, because of the life I live and where I live it with the children I have and the spouse I have and the lack of money I have, I was able to read the book and sympathize with the characters, while not worrying too terribly much about this entire string of events ever happening to my family. And for those of you who are reading this and who know me personally, to admit that I wasn't worrying about my family is seriously saying something. It was an amazing story and I hope that I would have the strength and the courage that Ellen had as a mother to do all of the things she did for her son, but I hope I never ever have to find out.
Read it. It is a seriously good book.
I will say this one thing before I end my shortest blog EVER, because I feel that some readers might not ever pick up this book because of the subject matter: I found myself comfortably distanced as I read this book. In others words, because of the life I live and where I live it with the children I have and the spouse I have and the lack of money I have, I was able to read the book and sympathize with the characters, while not worrying too terribly much about this entire string of events ever happening to my family. And for those of you who are reading this and who know me personally, to admit that I wasn't worrying about my family is seriously saying something. It was an amazing story and I hope that I would have the strength and the courage that Ellen had as a mother to do all of the things she did for her son, but I hope I never ever have to find out.
Read it. It is a seriously good book.
Monday, July 25, 2011
#43 The Summer We Came to Life by Deborah Cloyed
I am still trying to figure out what this book was about a full day after finishing it. This book, sadly, will not make my favorite list for 2011. It won't even make my "will recommend to friends" list for 2011.
The disappointing part about what I just typed is that the characters Cloyed created are amazing! I could visualize them, I could hear them talk, they were funny and realistic, I actually liked them--all of them. But, it wasn't good enough for the author to just tell a simple story about "The Vacation Club." For me, that would've been enough. The last trip of The Vacation Club after the death of a member (back of book jacket information...I am not giving anything away here). Even if she had included the scene with Sam and Isabel in the water, I still would've finished the book. But, Cloyed felt the need to weave in a metaphysical component that made the book die for me. Ironic, huh? A dead book about life. Funny.
So, I had read roughly 50 pages of the book and found myself in Barnes and Noble reading the back cover of the book to find out what the book was supposed to be about (a downfall of the Nook Color--no back covers to read) and realizing that I had missed a few things. I did not realize that Mina had died of cancer (on the back of the book) and that The Vacation Club was meeting for one last trip on a beach in Honduras (also on the back of the book). Why did I not know this? Was I thinking about something else as I was reading and missed it (possibly, but if I was doing that is it my fault or is the book not holding my attention) or did the author make the assumption that we knew if from reading the back of the book, or was she being mysterious and would fill us in on the details later? Beats me.
In addition to trying to figure out the basics of the book, Cloyed then completely throws me for a loop when we read Mina's journal to/from Samantha where Sam promises to find Mina and to bring her back (to life). This is where she lost me. If I have a hard time believing that a place called Heaven really exists, do you really think that I am going to believe that someone can bring someone back from the dead? Or can find them walking around an alternative universe? While I loved watching Sliders in high school/college and thought it made an interesting show, I am not a believer. (I also had a hard time with The Time Traveler's Wife). If being presented with this wasn't enough, trying reading journal pages written from one friend to another about physical research that point to alternative universes as truth. Not fun for me. I'm sure someone out there would like it, but I had a hard time with it. Perhaps I would've found it to be a bit more believable had either Mina or Sam been a super scientist, but that wasn't the case. I could never quite figure out why they needed to bring Mina back, other than the obvious--they didn't want their friend to die.
No sooner do I overlook all of this parallel universe business and get into the characters when something terrible happens (I won't spoil it) and I find myself in the middle of a couple of chapters that seem to be straight out of It's a Wonderful Life. I had just gotten over my disappointment with the chapters written as a transcript instead of real dialogue (I get why she did it but I didn't like it) and then she throws this craziness at me. I almost stopped reading right then.
But I am not a quitter, so on I read. The ending was good and things were resolved for me. The great characters came back and made me smile at the end, but I think it was tool late to save the book overall for me.
The bottom line is this: not every book appeals to every reader. Just because it wasn't my fave doesn't mean it won't be yours. You have to read the back of the book to find out if you like it enough to read the entire thing. And, I think you really do need to buy into the idea of parallel universes to truly enjoy this book. I can't do that. But I feel the need to say it again--the character development of this novel (the first for this author) was incredible. It was the plot that killed it for me. Again, the irony is too funny...
The disappointing part about what I just typed is that the characters Cloyed created are amazing! I could visualize them, I could hear them talk, they were funny and realistic, I actually liked them--all of them. But, it wasn't good enough for the author to just tell a simple story about "The Vacation Club." For me, that would've been enough. The last trip of The Vacation Club after the death of a member (back of book jacket information...I am not giving anything away here). Even if she had included the scene with Sam and Isabel in the water, I still would've finished the book. But, Cloyed felt the need to weave in a metaphysical component that made the book die for me. Ironic, huh? A dead book about life. Funny.
So, I had read roughly 50 pages of the book and found myself in Barnes and Noble reading the back cover of the book to find out what the book was supposed to be about (a downfall of the Nook Color--no back covers to read) and realizing that I had missed a few things. I did not realize that Mina had died of cancer (on the back of the book) and that The Vacation Club was meeting for one last trip on a beach in Honduras (also on the back of the book). Why did I not know this? Was I thinking about something else as I was reading and missed it (possibly, but if I was doing that is it my fault or is the book not holding my attention) or did the author make the assumption that we knew if from reading the back of the book, or was she being mysterious and would fill us in on the details later? Beats me.
In addition to trying to figure out the basics of the book, Cloyed then completely throws me for a loop when we read Mina's journal to/from Samantha where Sam promises to find Mina and to bring her back (to life). This is where she lost me. If I have a hard time believing that a place called Heaven really exists, do you really think that I am going to believe that someone can bring someone back from the dead? Or can find them walking around an alternative universe? While I loved watching Sliders in high school/college and thought it made an interesting show, I am not a believer. (I also had a hard time with The Time Traveler's Wife). If being presented with this wasn't enough, trying reading journal pages written from one friend to another about physical research that point to alternative universes as truth. Not fun for me. I'm sure someone out there would like it, but I had a hard time with it. Perhaps I would've found it to be a bit more believable had either Mina or Sam been a super scientist, but that wasn't the case. I could never quite figure out why they needed to bring Mina back, other than the obvious--they didn't want their friend to die.
No sooner do I overlook all of this parallel universe business and get into the characters when something terrible happens (I won't spoil it) and I find myself in the middle of a couple of chapters that seem to be straight out of It's a Wonderful Life. I had just gotten over my disappointment with the chapters written as a transcript instead of real dialogue (I get why she did it but I didn't like it) and then she throws this craziness at me. I almost stopped reading right then.
But I am not a quitter, so on I read. The ending was good and things were resolved for me. The great characters came back and made me smile at the end, but I think it was tool late to save the book overall for me.
The bottom line is this: not every book appeals to every reader. Just because it wasn't my fave doesn't mean it won't be yours. You have to read the back of the book to find out if you like it enough to read the entire thing. And, I think you really do need to buy into the idea of parallel universes to truly enjoy this book. I can't do that. But I feel the need to say it again--the character development of this novel (the first for this author) was incredible. It was the plot that killed it for me. Again, the irony is too funny...
Saturday, July 23, 2011
#42 Angel Falls by Kristin Hannah
I think that I can count on one hand the number of books that I have read in my lifetime where the main male character loves more deeply than the main female character. Angel Falls is one of those books and for that reason alone this book is worth reading. It puts relationships in perspective and makes you realize what real love, or in this case, TRUE love, is all about. (You'll have to read the book to realize why TRUE love is funny...)
I honestly wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book when I turned the last page. Believe it or not, I hadn't even made up my mind as to how I felt about it until it was almost over. Normally, Kristin Hannh's books have me reaching for the tissues long before the book is even over, but this one kept my emotions so constant that it took me some time to really form my opinion about the book.
So, here it is. I was still swimming in thoughts from the book two books ago (Fly Away Home) when I picked this one up knowing that Hannah's books always are wonderful. I was still trying to figure out exactly what I thought of myself as a wife and of my marriage overall, as Fly Away Home made me question EVERYTHING! Within minutes of beginning Angel Falls, a catastrophy hits the family and life as they knew it is never the same (you'll have to read it to find out exactly what happens, but I've told you no more--and maybe less--than the book jacket would). I wasn't sure if I could continue reading at that point because it was just so painful to read and some scenes just broke my heart. But, if you chose to read this book, you will need to just keep reading. It does get better and things do change.
And because things change, and because Kristin Hannah is so skilled at her craft, she made me reevaluate all of the things I was questioning in my life because of Fly Away Home. She made me realize that true love is rare and if you have it, you better work hard to keep it. Love is work, but it's work worth doing. And, I no longer feel inadequate because I have given my life, and perhaps a little bit of myself along the way, for my family. If I am anything like Liam, well...I have done my job as mother and wife and will hold my head high from pride. Loving with your entire being is what we all should be doing. I found myself wishing that I could love like Liam loved Mike. It also made me realize that loving like Mike is definitely dangerous!
Liam reminded me that love is not always passionate and sexy (although that is nice from time to time--enter Liam and Mike and the locker room scene) and that"s not always a bad thing. Love is comfortable and it's being able to be who you really are all of the time and not having to apologize for it. It's being supportive, but also knowing when your parter needs time alone or to be with other friends. And, it's knowing that when your partner is away that there's no reason to be jealous or envious because we all need friends outside of our marriage. While I would love to be all things to Rob, it's not going to happen. I will never play golf and I will never understand exactly what he does at work and that's OK. Likewise, I don't want to go purse shopping with him and I like that he doesn't quite get what I do at school because this gives me the chance to leave it all behind when I get home everyday.
Fly Away Home made me sad and worried. Angel Falls reminded me that I am very blessed indeed. I have a wonderful husband and two girls are really good girls, most of the time. No one is perfect, as MIke reminds us throughout this book, and I need to stop trying to be the perfect wife to a perfect husband. All I need to do is love my family. With love the rest will fall into place.
Once again, Kristin Hannah has written a book that is powerful and worth reading. I wonder how long until she publishes a new one?
I honestly wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book when I turned the last page. Believe it or not, I hadn't even made up my mind as to how I felt about it until it was almost over. Normally, Kristin Hannh's books have me reaching for the tissues long before the book is even over, but this one kept my emotions so constant that it took me some time to really form my opinion about the book.
So, here it is. I was still swimming in thoughts from the book two books ago (Fly Away Home) when I picked this one up knowing that Hannah's books always are wonderful. I was still trying to figure out exactly what I thought of myself as a wife and of my marriage overall, as Fly Away Home made me question EVERYTHING! Within minutes of beginning Angel Falls, a catastrophy hits the family and life as they knew it is never the same (you'll have to read it to find out exactly what happens, but I've told you no more--and maybe less--than the book jacket would). I wasn't sure if I could continue reading at that point because it was just so painful to read and some scenes just broke my heart. But, if you chose to read this book, you will need to just keep reading. It does get better and things do change.
And because things change, and because Kristin Hannah is so skilled at her craft, she made me reevaluate all of the things I was questioning in my life because of Fly Away Home. She made me realize that true love is rare and if you have it, you better work hard to keep it. Love is work, but it's work worth doing. And, I no longer feel inadequate because I have given my life, and perhaps a little bit of myself along the way, for my family. If I am anything like Liam, well...I have done my job as mother and wife and will hold my head high from pride. Loving with your entire being is what we all should be doing. I found myself wishing that I could love like Liam loved Mike. It also made me realize that loving like Mike is definitely dangerous!
Liam reminded me that love is not always passionate and sexy (although that is nice from time to time--enter Liam and Mike and the locker room scene) and that"s not always a bad thing. Love is comfortable and it's being able to be who you really are all of the time and not having to apologize for it. It's being supportive, but also knowing when your parter needs time alone or to be with other friends. And, it's knowing that when your partner is away that there's no reason to be jealous or envious because we all need friends outside of our marriage. While I would love to be all things to Rob, it's not going to happen. I will never play golf and I will never understand exactly what he does at work and that's OK. Likewise, I don't want to go purse shopping with him and I like that he doesn't quite get what I do at school because this gives me the chance to leave it all behind when I get home everyday.
Fly Away Home made me sad and worried. Angel Falls reminded me that I am very blessed indeed. I have a wonderful husband and two girls are really good girls, most of the time. No one is perfect, as MIke reminds us throughout this book, and I need to stop trying to be the perfect wife to a perfect husband. All I need to do is love my family. With love the rest will fall into place.
Once again, Kristin Hannah has written a book that is powerful and worth reading. I wonder how long until she publishes a new one?
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
#41 Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brasheres
Honestly, I wasn't going to write a lot about this book. All I needed to say, up until about 5 mnutes ago when the thought I am about to elaborate upon hit me, was how I wished that I had my own sisterhood. I'm not sure which of the Septembers I am most like. I can see bits and pieces of myself in all of them, except maybe Bridget, but I'd sure love to look like her. But wouldn't it just be so great to always have 3 people that you could call on to share everything, or even nothing? To have 3 people who know you better than you know yourself. While I'd like to say that having such a sisterhood is just another work of fiction, it's not true. There are plenty of people in this world who have such a sisterhood, or brotherhood as the case may be, and, honestly, I am envious of them.
So, it was with this thought in my head that I started thinking about friendship and, because I just watched the final Harry Potter movie last night, I thought of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and horcruxes. While I find it impossible to believe, I know that there are readers who may not be familiar with Harry Potter and who don't have a clue what a horcrux is. This isn't the best explanation but here goes: Voldemort, the bad guy from HP, put a little piece of himself in 7 (it was 7, right?) different random places (a ring, a diadem, a snake, in Harry, etc..) so that even if someone killed him, he'd never really be dead until all of the horcruxes had been destroyed, too. It made me wonder: where are my 7 horcruxes? Where I have left little pieces of myself so that if they are still alive, I will be too?
Obviously, we leave little pieces of ourselves all over. I'd love to think that each child I have ever taught carries a little piece of Mrs. Whitt with him/her every day. More personal than those 16 years of school children are my own children, who carry bits of me with them, like it or not. I would also hope that Rob carries a piece of me with him, too, and so would my Mom, my sister, and my dear aunt. But then, beyond family, there are the other important people in my life--the people who have touched my life in various ways--and I wonder if they carry a piece of me, too?
I know that I carry them with me. Maybe you can't call it a sisterhood (I would have to include brotherhood, too, because anyone who knew me growing up knows that I had more male friends than female friends), but I certainly feel a bit like Harry right now, carrying bits of friends from long ago inside me knowing that while I still exist, so do they. I carry Jessica, Brooke, and Dana, Heidi, Sarah, and Karen, Greg, Rob, and Joey, Maureen, Ronda, and Shandie (do my friends all appear in sets of 3?) with me each and every day. I carry what they taught me about love and life and friendship and I am grateful for each day I was able to spend with them and to learn from them. These people helped to shape me into who I am today--the wife, the teacher, and the mother. To these amazing people I give thanks.
I know that as I grow, I will house more people in my soul and they will live with me, teaching me and making me who I am. Maybe it's better that I don't have just 3 friends. Maybe it's better that I carry lots of people with me. I have been blessed in this life with lots of people to love and to learn from. Maybe I don't need a sisterhood. Maybe my horcruxes are all I need.
So, it was with this thought in my head that I started thinking about friendship and, because I just watched the final Harry Potter movie last night, I thought of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and horcruxes. While I find it impossible to believe, I know that there are readers who may not be familiar with Harry Potter and who don't have a clue what a horcrux is. This isn't the best explanation but here goes: Voldemort, the bad guy from HP, put a little piece of himself in 7 (it was 7, right?) different random places (a ring, a diadem, a snake, in Harry, etc..) so that even if someone killed him, he'd never really be dead until all of the horcruxes had been destroyed, too. It made me wonder: where are my 7 horcruxes? Where I have left little pieces of myself so that if they are still alive, I will be too?
Obviously, we leave little pieces of ourselves all over. I'd love to think that each child I have ever taught carries a little piece of Mrs. Whitt with him/her every day. More personal than those 16 years of school children are my own children, who carry bits of me with them, like it or not. I would also hope that Rob carries a piece of me with him, too, and so would my Mom, my sister, and my dear aunt. But then, beyond family, there are the other important people in my life--the people who have touched my life in various ways--and I wonder if they carry a piece of me, too?
I know that I carry them with me. Maybe you can't call it a sisterhood (I would have to include brotherhood, too, because anyone who knew me growing up knows that I had more male friends than female friends), but I certainly feel a bit like Harry right now, carrying bits of friends from long ago inside me knowing that while I still exist, so do they. I carry Jessica, Brooke, and Dana, Heidi, Sarah, and Karen, Greg, Rob, and Joey, Maureen, Ronda, and Shandie (do my friends all appear in sets of 3?) with me each and every day. I carry what they taught me about love and life and friendship and I am grateful for each day I was able to spend with them and to learn from them. These people helped to shape me into who I am today--the wife, the teacher, and the mother. To these amazing people I give thanks.
I know that as I grow, I will house more people in my soul and they will live with me, teaching me and making me who I am. Maybe it's better that I don't have just 3 friends. Maybe it's better that I carry lots of people with me. I have been blessed in this life with lots of people to love and to learn from. Maybe I don't need a sisterhood. Maybe my horcruxes are all I need.
Monday, July 18, 2011
#40: Fly Away Home by Jennifer Weiner
Fly Away Home was a very good book, but it has put me into a depressing funk that I can not shake.
The book revolves around three women: Sylvie (the mom), Diana (the doctor and oldest daughter), and Lizzie (the younger daughter and recovering addict). Weiner focuses on one woman per chapter--I like authors who do that. It keeps me focused and interested.
The basic idea of the book, women who reconsider their lives after a major crisis, has forced me to do the same and I am not all that sure how different I am from these three women. Well--two of them--I am not a recovering addict. Sylvie spent her entire life running the life of her husband. Now, I know that I do not run Rob's life. Far from it, in fact. But, I remember specifically thinking long ago that my life as a teacher would make his life easier. I could be with the kids during vacations and breaks, I could be home with them in the afternoons, etc. I have spent 17 years trying to make his life easier just to make mine more complicated. (I would like to try to be more like Sylvie in that she lives her days maintaining her size 6 waistline. I think the last time I was in a size 6 was college. Sad, but true.) When Sylvie is faced with a life changing decision, she also has to decide what to do with her life. She does reinvent herself and blossoms while she's doing it. This begs the question--have I dug my own grave by catering to my husband? It's all too much to think about.
Then there's Diana...she's a doctor, she's successful, she's a mother and a wife. She handpicked her husband so that she would have a stable life with a good man who loves her. She didn't want any surprises so she chose her husband accordingly. As a result, she is now bored with her marriage. I also remember thinking that Rob would be a great husband, and he is. He's a great provider, he loves his children, and I am fairly certain that he loves me, too. I "picked" him for all of those reasons. Does that mean that one day the boredom will set in? Then what? Do I need to work harder now so that doesn't happen? I don't think I can fit one more thing into my day as it is. All of this is just a lot of pressure.
Thank goodness for Lizzie who is just so busy trying to make it from day to day that she has no plan. But, she makes those of us who are planners seem like crazy neurotic women who end up alone. Which is EXACTLY what I have been stressing over since I read this book. In fact, today, eating lunch alone at the mall reading book #41, I realized that being alone is what will take me from this world (unless something else happens first). Being alone is NOT for me. I will be the wife who dies of a broken heart should Rob go before me. I will not be able to function.
Have I made you just want to run and out and buy Fly Away Home? I finished this book two days ago and have not been able to pick up a book since. I wanted a fun, light-hearted book to follow this one and should have just found another cowboy book. Nope. Instead, I downloaded Sisterhood Everlasting (the last Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants book) because I love the characters and they make me smile and I just knew that it would be a nice change of pace. Was I ever wrong. #41 has made me more sad and depressed than #40.
The book revolves around three women: Sylvie (the mom), Diana (the doctor and oldest daughter), and Lizzie (the younger daughter and recovering addict). Weiner focuses on one woman per chapter--I like authors who do that. It keeps me focused and interested.
The basic idea of the book, women who reconsider their lives after a major crisis, has forced me to do the same and I am not all that sure how different I am from these three women. Well--two of them--I am not a recovering addict. Sylvie spent her entire life running the life of her husband. Now, I know that I do not run Rob's life. Far from it, in fact. But, I remember specifically thinking long ago that my life as a teacher would make his life easier. I could be with the kids during vacations and breaks, I could be home with them in the afternoons, etc. I have spent 17 years trying to make his life easier just to make mine more complicated. (I would like to try to be more like Sylvie in that she lives her days maintaining her size 6 waistline. I think the last time I was in a size 6 was college. Sad, but true.) When Sylvie is faced with a life changing decision, she also has to decide what to do with her life. She does reinvent herself and blossoms while she's doing it. This begs the question--have I dug my own grave by catering to my husband? It's all too much to think about.
Then there's Diana...she's a doctor, she's successful, she's a mother and a wife. She handpicked her husband so that she would have a stable life with a good man who loves her. She didn't want any surprises so she chose her husband accordingly. As a result, she is now bored with her marriage. I also remember thinking that Rob would be a great husband, and he is. He's a great provider, he loves his children, and I am fairly certain that he loves me, too. I "picked" him for all of those reasons. Does that mean that one day the boredom will set in? Then what? Do I need to work harder now so that doesn't happen? I don't think I can fit one more thing into my day as it is. All of this is just a lot of pressure.
Thank goodness for Lizzie who is just so busy trying to make it from day to day that she has no plan. But, she makes those of us who are planners seem like crazy neurotic women who end up alone. Which is EXACTLY what I have been stressing over since I read this book. In fact, today, eating lunch alone at the mall reading book #41, I realized that being alone is what will take me from this world (unless something else happens first). Being alone is NOT for me. I will be the wife who dies of a broken heart should Rob go before me. I will not be able to function.
Have I made you just want to run and out and buy Fly Away Home? I finished this book two days ago and have not been able to pick up a book since. I wanted a fun, light-hearted book to follow this one and should have just found another cowboy book. Nope. Instead, I downloaded Sisterhood Everlasting (the last Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants book) because I love the characters and they make me smile and I just knew that it would be a nice change of pace. Was I ever wrong. #41 has made me more sad and depressed than #40.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
#37, 38, 39: A Creed in Stone Creek, Creed's Honor, and The Creed Legacy
I have spent the past week reading about the Creed Family and have loved every minute of it, right down to the last few pages where I shed joyful tears for a family who just has gotten it all right.
I loved reading books by Linda Lael Miller. They are filled with characters that are the sort of people you wished were real. Who knows--maybe in Texas and Colorado there are people like the Creeds and the Mekettricks. At least I hope there are people like these characters out there in the real world. I always leave these books with the desire to run away to a small town in Texas so that I can be part of a community where everyone knows everyone else, where everyone pitches in when a family needs it, and where everyone genuinely cares about the safety and well being of everyone else. And, if the cowboys really looked like the ones on the covers of these books...well, that would just be a bonus, now wouldn't it?
Seriously, though, the Creed Trilogy was a good one and worth reading if reading about cowboys is your kind of thing. I did not read them in the correct order because I was having a hard time finding the first one. So, I read the second one first and the first one second. The order really doesn't matter for the first two books, but be sure to ready the 3rd one last. You'd learn too much too soon if you read it any earlier.
The Creed books are about 3 men: Steven, Conner, and Brody (don't you love that name?). Conner and Brody are identical twins. As a child, Steven lived most of the year with his mother and spent only the summers on the Creed Ranch. Conner and Brody lost their parents when they were babies and were raised by their uncle, Davis, and his new wife Kim. Steven is actually their cousin and is the son of Davis. Obviously, all of what I have just recorded creates the most wonderful literary "baggage" for these three boys/men who have a lot to struggle with and move beyond in order to become the kind of men their families expect them to be: stable, husbands, fathers, ranchers.
They are, however, no ordinary men. I think this is exactly why we women read about them. They are extraordinarily good looking, extremely wealthy, and are just the three nicest guys on the planet. What woman in her right mind would not be fighting her best friend for the job of wife to any one of these three men? Well, there is a little fighting over them, but not amongst friends. Friends just don't behave that way. It wouldn't matter anyway. Once a Creed man sets his sights on a lady, he pretty much ends up with her in the end. But, she's always the woman you were pulling for from the beginning. She's the kind and gentle soul who never thought a Creed could love her. It's the perfect love story. Times three.
I think these books touched my heart in ways that Miller's books typically have not done before because they spoke to the issue of strong families and enduring families. While these books are wonderful stories, as you read them you are continuously reminded that they are just stories. However, Davis and Brody, in book 3, speak a lot to the subject of families: how few are perfect, how all will have struggles to overcome, and how it's necessary to pull together to make a fmaily work and survive. How refreshing to read something like that in a cowboy book where everything seems perfect! It made me really think about my own family--the one that lives in my house with me and all of the other members besides. We are not perfect. (If we were I wouldn't need to read stories about people who are in order to escape my all too real life...) But we love each other and we care about each other. We will pull together when people need extra help, we will come together for weddings and when babies are born, we will fight and we will make up. We are a family and that's what families do. Thank you, Linda Lael Miller and The Creed Family, for reminding me that my family is a pretty good one, too!
I loved reading books by Linda Lael Miller. They are filled with characters that are the sort of people you wished were real. Who knows--maybe in Texas and Colorado there are people like the Creeds and the Mekettricks. At least I hope there are people like these characters out there in the real world. I always leave these books with the desire to run away to a small town in Texas so that I can be part of a community where everyone knows everyone else, where everyone pitches in when a family needs it, and where everyone genuinely cares about the safety and well being of everyone else. And, if the cowboys really looked like the ones on the covers of these books...well, that would just be a bonus, now wouldn't it?
Seriously, though, the Creed Trilogy was a good one and worth reading if reading about cowboys is your kind of thing. I did not read them in the correct order because I was having a hard time finding the first one. So, I read the second one first and the first one second. The order really doesn't matter for the first two books, but be sure to ready the 3rd one last. You'd learn too much too soon if you read it any earlier.
The Creed books are about 3 men: Steven, Conner, and Brody (don't you love that name?). Conner and Brody are identical twins. As a child, Steven lived most of the year with his mother and spent only the summers on the Creed Ranch. Conner and Brody lost their parents when they were babies and were raised by their uncle, Davis, and his new wife Kim. Steven is actually their cousin and is the son of Davis. Obviously, all of what I have just recorded creates the most wonderful literary "baggage" for these three boys/men who have a lot to struggle with and move beyond in order to become the kind of men their families expect them to be: stable, husbands, fathers, ranchers.
They are, however, no ordinary men. I think this is exactly why we women read about them. They are extraordinarily good looking, extremely wealthy, and are just the three nicest guys on the planet. What woman in her right mind would not be fighting her best friend for the job of wife to any one of these three men? Well, there is a little fighting over them, but not amongst friends. Friends just don't behave that way. It wouldn't matter anyway. Once a Creed man sets his sights on a lady, he pretty much ends up with her in the end. But, she's always the woman you were pulling for from the beginning. She's the kind and gentle soul who never thought a Creed could love her. It's the perfect love story. Times three.
I think these books touched my heart in ways that Miller's books typically have not done before because they spoke to the issue of strong families and enduring families. While these books are wonderful stories, as you read them you are continuously reminded that they are just stories. However, Davis and Brody, in book 3, speak a lot to the subject of families: how few are perfect, how all will have struggles to overcome, and how it's necessary to pull together to make a fmaily work and survive. How refreshing to read something like that in a cowboy book where everything seems perfect! It made me really think about my own family--the one that lives in my house with me and all of the other members besides. We are not perfect. (If we were I wouldn't need to read stories about people who are in order to escape my all too real life...) But we love each other and we care about each other. We will pull together when people need extra help, we will come together for weddings and when babies are born, we will fight and we will make up. We are a family and that's what families do. Thank you, Linda Lael Miller and The Creed Family, for reminding me that my family is a pretty good one, too!
Friday, July 8, 2011
#36: Fleece Navidad by Maggie Sefton
My mother and I are knitters. She taught me how to knit when I was about 12 or 13 and then re-taught me again when I was about 32. She has also taught me to crochet. My undiagnosed ADD keeps me coming back to crocheting, however. Knitting just takes forever and it's hard to for me to fix mistakes. So, in my desire to have things looking pretty and perfect, I crochet. My mother and I also love yarn stores. We could literally hang out in them all day, just looking at every color and touching the different skeins to find the ones that are the softest. It's a little strange, I know, but serious knitters and crocheters are just like this. I've come to accept it and have moved on.
But when my Mom called me several years ago and told me the she had just read the BEST book EVER and that it was called Knit One, Kill Two I thought she had really taken this yarn thing a little too far. She promised me that it was worth my time and she was right (again, but don't tell her that!).
Fleece Navidad is the 6th in a series of knitting mysteries by Maggie Sefton and I have loved them all. I stopped reading them for a period of time because (I am going to be brutally honest here) I was too cheap to buy them in hardback. Sefton's books are always printed in those small hardbacks first and I just can't stomach spending $18 on the smallest hardback book in history. I have now waited long enough to read the next 4 in paperback. Fleece Navidad begins the round.
I don't want to say anything that might give this book away. What would be the point in reading a mystery? But, I will tell you that the characters are real, likable, and easy to remember, even when you haven't picked up a book in years. The mysteries are also believable and the events are not contrived. The one thing I do have to wonder is why the people of this small community in Colorado keeps living there? There sure have been a lot of murders there in one year. If I were them, I would be thinking about moving.
Dropped Dead Stitch is the next one in the series, but I am not going to read that one right away. My next book is a cowboy book. I just love a good cowboy book! Happy reading!
But when my Mom called me several years ago and told me the she had just read the BEST book EVER and that it was called Knit One, Kill Two I thought she had really taken this yarn thing a little too far. She promised me that it was worth my time and she was right (again, but don't tell her that!).
Fleece Navidad is the 6th in a series of knitting mysteries by Maggie Sefton and I have loved them all. I stopped reading them for a period of time because (I am going to be brutally honest here) I was too cheap to buy them in hardback. Sefton's books are always printed in those small hardbacks first and I just can't stomach spending $18 on the smallest hardback book in history. I have now waited long enough to read the next 4 in paperback. Fleece Navidad begins the round.
I don't want to say anything that might give this book away. What would be the point in reading a mystery? But, I will tell you that the characters are real, likable, and easy to remember, even when you haven't picked up a book in years. The mysteries are also believable and the events are not contrived. The one thing I do have to wonder is why the people of this small community in Colorado keeps living there? There sure have been a lot of murders there in one year. If I were them, I would be thinking about moving.
Dropped Dead Stitch is the next one in the series, but I am not going to read that one right away. My next book is a cowboy book. I just love a good cowboy book! Happy reading!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
#27 Love Wins by Rob Bell
I started reading this book back in May when Pastor Brian read exerpts from it during a Bible study class. I knew from the minute that I bought the book that I was in for a controversial read. Honestly, that was part of the draw for me. I typically do not think of religion, faith, and spirituality in the same light as others, so I thought that maybe I could seriously get something out of this book. Now that I have finished it, I just don't see what the controversy was all about. Maybe I am misguided and I will fully admit that I am clueless when it comes to the goings on mentioned in the Bible, but I just don't get what all the fuss was about.
OK, so maybe the idea of Heaven and Hell not being actual places but more states of mind ruffled some feathers. For me, this was not a new idea. My religion professor, Dr. Cain--a retired Baptist minister turned Religion professor--first introduced this idea to me back in the early 1990's. For me, this idea made a world of sense. I am a black and white kind of person and I am very reality based. The idea of a place beyond the clouds or below the Earth's surface was more than my concrete mind could fathom. If they were really places, why hadn't anyone found them yet? Why couldn't I go there and be with my dad and all of the other family I had lost? These were all questions no one could answer until Dr. Cain stepped in. But beyond that idea, what am I missing that is upsetting the Christian community? Why is Rob Bell being protested? If you are reading this and you have a thought, PLEASE post a comment. I'd seriously like to know what all of the fuss is about.
Furthermore, I am also baffled at the number of people who have totally rebuked his ideas of love, God, and Jesus. It seems to me that he, in book form, just elaborated upon exactly the same ideas presented to me in VBS when I was in Elementary School: accept Jesus into your heart and God loves you unconditionally. Again, maybe this all goes back to the Heaven/Hell debate as he does venture out to say that we should accept God's love and take Jesus into our hearts because it's the right thing to do and NOT because we are using this love to get us into Heaven. As someone who is 39 and who has not ever been baptized, I find his ideas refreshing. I am sure, however, that someone who has been raised in a church and who has followed the "rules" of the Bible would be outraged to think that upon death, I might just be allowed into Heaven because God does not turn his back on his children and that he can get what he wants. I am sure that this entire idea is outrageous. But, from my point of view it is no more outrageous to believe this than to believe that someone who had committed murder, but who had taken Jesus into his heart in prison would be allowed to spend eternity in Heaven. It all goes back to the idea that has been rolling around in my head since I was about 7 or 8: why is it not enough for good people who do good things to get into Heaven? And, what stops bad people who do bad things to turn the other cheek at the last minute and find Christ? Rob Bell recognizes this issue, speaks to it, and I guess has ruffled some feathers. But not mine.
The one idea that I will take away from this book, other than the idea that I might not rot in Hell for all of eternity because God might just get what he wants in the end, is that the Bible was written a long time ago. Because of that, we need to be careful about how we read it. While it is a religious text with great meaning and value, it is also a primary historical document. Words need to be read and interpreted historically and with the meaning they held then, not their 2011 meaning. Rob Bell was right to point this out, too, in his book. Perhaps that accounts for more ruffled feathers.
I liked reading this book. It was quick, it was certainly heavy and made you think and reflect, but it was written in such a way that you could understand the points being made. You might not agree with them, but you can certainly understand them. I am sorry that it made some people angry, angry enough to protest. But, for people like me--people who struggle with God, Jesus, Heaven and Hell on a daily basis--it gave us some hope that things might just be OK. And, that we might be OK. Maybe it's OK to question and to dig deeper, to not always accept things because it's what we've been taught or because it's the way it's always been. I know there are people who are reading this and are disagreeing with me completely, but if I am willing to take the risk to write it, or more importantly to believe it, then what's the big deal?
In the spirit of Rob Bell, here's a quick story...my mother is not a terribly religious woman. She was adopted at age 5, married right out of high school, a mother and a widow at age 25. By the time she was 36, she had married again and had a second child, my sister. Her new husband was a bi-polar manic depressive man who liked to drink way too much. She hasn't stepped in a church (except for the occassional funeral) since 1981 when she was married for the second time. She was, however, baptized and has encouraged me to do so "just in case." She's hopeful that one day she will be reunited in Heaven with my dad, but she's not sure it will ever really happen. She's got enough proof that Hell does exist here on Earth and that the person who delivered her from that living Hell was neither Jesus nor God, but herself. But, just in case, she's ready to go and to take her place in Heaven. While I find this story to be disturbing, and can only assume Rob Bell would, too, I know that there are others who would read it and rejoice. Here's a woman who has looked adversity in the face, come out on top, and is ready to meet up with her loved ones in Heaven. I find it all a bit too convenient and insincere.
Just like my mother, I have not been a terribly religious person (although the career aptitude test I took in High School suggested that I be a Religious Educator, isn't that funny?) and I still fall short of being a good model for my girls. I question too much, I believe too little, but in light of the fact that I lived what my mother lived all those years, it's easy to see why I might question and doubt. So, again I ask those people out there, what the big deal is? Why are you not accepting of my doubts or Rob Bell's alternative views of Heaven and Hell? If what the Bible says is true, then I'm the one taking the chance, not you. Truthfully, I am hoping that Love Wins. I am hoping that God won't turn his back on his children in the end. I am hoping that one day, before my time comes to leave this Earth, that I will feel his love as others have and will take Jesus and God into my heart. But I am not there yet. I will continue to learn, and will continue to question and to reflect with open eyes, an open mind, and an open heart.
Thank you, Rob Bell, for giving me a lot to think about. Thank you for giving me that hope that, in the end, Love will win.
OK, so maybe the idea of Heaven and Hell not being actual places but more states of mind ruffled some feathers. For me, this was not a new idea. My religion professor, Dr. Cain--a retired Baptist minister turned Religion professor--first introduced this idea to me back in the early 1990's. For me, this idea made a world of sense. I am a black and white kind of person and I am very reality based. The idea of a place beyond the clouds or below the Earth's surface was more than my concrete mind could fathom. If they were really places, why hadn't anyone found them yet? Why couldn't I go there and be with my dad and all of the other family I had lost? These were all questions no one could answer until Dr. Cain stepped in. But beyond that idea, what am I missing that is upsetting the Christian community? Why is Rob Bell being protested? If you are reading this and you have a thought, PLEASE post a comment. I'd seriously like to know what all of the fuss is about.
Furthermore, I am also baffled at the number of people who have totally rebuked his ideas of love, God, and Jesus. It seems to me that he, in book form, just elaborated upon exactly the same ideas presented to me in VBS when I was in Elementary School: accept Jesus into your heart and God loves you unconditionally. Again, maybe this all goes back to the Heaven/Hell debate as he does venture out to say that we should accept God's love and take Jesus into our hearts because it's the right thing to do and NOT because we are using this love to get us into Heaven. As someone who is 39 and who has not ever been baptized, I find his ideas refreshing. I am sure, however, that someone who has been raised in a church and who has followed the "rules" of the Bible would be outraged to think that upon death, I might just be allowed into Heaven because God does not turn his back on his children and that he can get what he wants. I am sure that this entire idea is outrageous. But, from my point of view it is no more outrageous to believe this than to believe that someone who had committed murder, but who had taken Jesus into his heart in prison would be allowed to spend eternity in Heaven. It all goes back to the idea that has been rolling around in my head since I was about 7 or 8: why is it not enough for good people who do good things to get into Heaven? And, what stops bad people who do bad things to turn the other cheek at the last minute and find Christ? Rob Bell recognizes this issue, speaks to it, and I guess has ruffled some feathers. But not mine.
The one idea that I will take away from this book, other than the idea that I might not rot in Hell for all of eternity because God might just get what he wants in the end, is that the Bible was written a long time ago. Because of that, we need to be careful about how we read it. While it is a religious text with great meaning and value, it is also a primary historical document. Words need to be read and interpreted historically and with the meaning they held then, not their 2011 meaning. Rob Bell was right to point this out, too, in his book. Perhaps that accounts for more ruffled feathers.
I liked reading this book. It was quick, it was certainly heavy and made you think and reflect, but it was written in such a way that you could understand the points being made. You might not agree with them, but you can certainly understand them. I am sorry that it made some people angry, angry enough to protest. But, for people like me--people who struggle with God, Jesus, Heaven and Hell on a daily basis--it gave us some hope that things might just be OK. And, that we might be OK. Maybe it's OK to question and to dig deeper, to not always accept things because it's what we've been taught or because it's the way it's always been. I know there are people who are reading this and are disagreeing with me completely, but if I am willing to take the risk to write it, or more importantly to believe it, then what's the big deal?
In the spirit of Rob Bell, here's a quick story...my mother is not a terribly religious woman. She was adopted at age 5, married right out of high school, a mother and a widow at age 25. By the time she was 36, she had married again and had a second child, my sister. Her new husband was a bi-polar manic depressive man who liked to drink way too much. She hasn't stepped in a church (except for the occassional funeral) since 1981 when she was married for the second time. She was, however, baptized and has encouraged me to do so "just in case." She's hopeful that one day she will be reunited in Heaven with my dad, but she's not sure it will ever really happen. She's got enough proof that Hell does exist here on Earth and that the person who delivered her from that living Hell was neither Jesus nor God, but herself. But, just in case, she's ready to go and to take her place in Heaven. While I find this story to be disturbing, and can only assume Rob Bell would, too, I know that there are others who would read it and rejoice. Here's a woman who has looked adversity in the face, come out on top, and is ready to meet up with her loved ones in Heaven. I find it all a bit too convenient and insincere.
Just like my mother, I have not been a terribly religious person (although the career aptitude test I took in High School suggested that I be a Religious Educator, isn't that funny?) and I still fall short of being a good model for my girls. I question too much, I believe too little, but in light of the fact that I lived what my mother lived all those years, it's easy to see why I might question and doubt. So, again I ask those people out there, what the big deal is? Why are you not accepting of my doubts or Rob Bell's alternative views of Heaven and Hell? If what the Bible says is true, then I'm the one taking the chance, not you. Truthfully, I am hoping that Love Wins. I am hoping that God won't turn his back on his children in the end. I am hoping that one day, before my time comes to leave this Earth, that I will feel his love as others have and will take Jesus and God into my heart. But I am not there yet. I will continue to learn, and will continue to question and to reflect with open eyes, an open mind, and an open heart.
Thank you, Rob Bell, for giving me a lot to think about. Thank you for giving me that hope that, in the end, Love will win.
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