#26: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

I just finished reading The Fault in Our Stars and I am so filled with emotion, I don't even know where to begin with this post.

I guess at the beginning...

The Fault in Our Stars is the story of Hazel and Gus, two teenagers battling Cancer.  I don't know why I ever thought for a second that this book could have a happy ending.  Perhaps I have been reading too many Kindergarten books for too long where everything turns out all sunshine, roses, unicorns, and lollipops.

The story is touching, and made me cry, but I was thinking about this book as a parent and crying because I can't imagine loosing your child.  As a wife, I was also secretly praying that when the time comes, I go before Rob.  I am weak and could never last without him.  It's so true.  I've always envisioned my life ending like the last scene in The Notebook.  I just couldn't do it.

Beyond the theme of cancer and dying, I think that in his book Mr. Green made a clever side-theme of why books shouldn't be taken too seriously.  They are, after all, made up stories about people who do not really exist.  Their stories end when the books end.  This theme, addressed point blank in his Author's note before the first chapter, is one that Hazel struggles with, eventually confronting the author of her favorite book to find out "what happens next" when the books ends.  Anyone who knows me, lives with me, or reads this blog knows that I NEED to know what happens next.  Maybe I am curious, maybe I just crave closure, but I HAVE to know.  But not this time.

You see, if I know what happens, if I probe a little more, there's the possibility I might learn that Hazel has lost her battle.  So, I am OK just reading the last chapter, closing the book, and living with hope.

Read this one.  Even if you are a grown-up.  Don't be afraid to borrow your child's book.  It's worth it.  I promise.  It will make you think twice about sequels.  Seriously.  And about how seriously you take the books you read.  They are just characters, they are just characters...I'm going to have to work on that one.

Happy reading everyone!
-Dodie

#25 A Walk in the Park by Jill Mansell

I bought this book in Bermuda and began reading it on the way home.  I finished it last week but haven't been able to find a spare moment to blog.  So unlike me, I know.  I can't tell you the last time I actually read something other than this morning for 10 minutes while I was sitting in the doctor's office waiting to be seen.  Clearly my lack of reading time is due in part to 1: It's May and birthdays have begun, 2: It's May and school gets crazy, and 3: We have decided to list our house and move.  But, that's another story for another day.  Regardless, I have been a bit delinquent with my reading.  Good thing we had so much snow and I was so far ahead of the game.

Anyway, A Walk in the Park was another book I chose because of it's adorable cover.  Sad, but true facts.  It sounded interesting and it was (the characters are like no others I have read about lately), but the cover is precious and the font is fun--it's easy to choose this one by it's cover.  In fact, I stood in the Bermuda Bookshop looking at each and every one of Mansell's books trying to decide which one to buy and read because they all had great story lines and they all had cute covers.  Shallow, but true.

A Walk in the Park is the story of Lara, her daughter Gigi, and Flynn--Lara's high school boyfriend and Gigi's father (yep...you do the math on that one).  It is a fabulous story, hilarious at times (especially when you meet Harry and Enjay), and one with a sweet ending.

This is one for the beach bag and then one for the bookshelf.  It really is beautiful!

Happy reading, everyone!
:) Dodie

p.s. I am not off to read but off to de-clutter my house to it continues to look like a museum so that we can sell it.