My husband laughed at me when I bought this book. He thought it was strange that I would read a book about baseball. The truth is, I love baseball. I love that the game makes sense, that I can eat hot dogs and popcorn and be in good company doing so, and that watching baseball makes me proud to be an American. I love the game. He should not have been so surprised.
The real surprise, however, is how little The Art of Fielding is about baseball. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of baseball in the book, but the story really is more about commitment, friends, and love in all of its crazy forms than it is about baseball. It's a fantastic story. It's the sort of story that sticks to your ribs and stays with you for a long time. This one will be high on this year's Top 10 list.
I remember having a conversation with Rob years and years ago about people who are lucky enough to be truly great at something: Michael Jordan and basketball, Tiger Woods and golf, Elvis and music. You get the idea. Henry, one of the main characters in Harbach's story, is a great short-stop. Better than great. He was put on Earth to be a short-stop. He was error free and humble about it. He couldn't believe when scouts approached him that he could play his favorite game and make money doing it. But in an instant, it all changed. Henry's life changed, his game changed, and his team changed. And in an instant, The Art of Fielding changes from a story about baseball, to a story about life and how it doesn't always turn out quite the way you expect. But, if you stay true to yourself and if you know yourself and your limitations, as well as having just a little faith in yourself, all will be good in the end. Different, maybe, but good.
In addition to Henry, in The Art of Fielding, we get to meet Mike Schwartz, the catcher who convinces Henry to come to Westish College to play ball, and Owen Dunne, Henry's rather eccentrically well-rounded roommate who plays ball and has a full academic scholarship to Westish. We also get to know the President of Westish, Guert Affenlight, and his daughter Pella. The characters are so well-developed you can see and hear them. I feel a bit as though I was watching a movie over the past week, rather than reading a novel. And, as sometimes happens when I read, I am sad that the book is done. I looked forward all week to waiting in the carpool line for the girls, because I was able to open the book and read more about these amazing characters. Now their story is done. Sigh...
It really is a fabulous book and one that deserves to be read.
Happy reading, everyone!
:) Dodie
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Monday, October 27, 2014
#47: Sheltering Rain by Jojo Moyes
I love Jojo Moyes, her writing style, and her stories, which are unique and compelling. I did not, however, love Sheltering Rain. Now, that doesn't mean the story was terrible, it just did not impact me in quite the same way was her other books. If someone were to only be able to read just one of Moyes' books, I would not suggest this one. Me Before You would be the one I'd recommend.
Sheltering Rain is the story of Sabine, a 16 year old girl from London who is sent to live with her grandparents in Ireland while her mother, Kate, sorts out her dysfunctional male relationships. Kate has never been particularly close to her parents, and when she returns to Ireland upon the impending death of her father, she is startled to find that Sabine has grown close to her grandparents, and to many other folks in the town. Startled and a bit jealous that her daughter has done something she was never able to do.
The story is broken up into past and present sections, but there seems to be no rhyme or reason for the organization, which left me wondering at times what I was reading and who was telling the story. It felt like it took me forever to finish the book, too, and I didn't always want to read it (which is the tell-tale sign for me as a reader to know if a book is "good"--do I want to read it, or is reading more like work). Reading this book was a bit like work.
It does have a good ending and there were a few surprises along the way and I think the overall message is a positive one. So, the book is not by any means terrible. It just simply is not my favorite Jojo Moyes book. Nor will it be on my top ten list for 2014. Oh well. She's written so many fabulous books--they all can't be stellar, right? Law of averages and all...
Happy reading, everyone!
:) Dodie
Sheltering Rain is the story of Sabine, a 16 year old girl from London who is sent to live with her grandparents in Ireland while her mother, Kate, sorts out her dysfunctional male relationships. Kate has never been particularly close to her parents, and when she returns to Ireland upon the impending death of her father, she is startled to find that Sabine has grown close to her grandparents, and to many other folks in the town. Startled and a bit jealous that her daughter has done something she was never able to do.
The story is broken up into past and present sections, but there seems to be no rhyme or reason for the organization, which left me wondering at times what I was reading and who was telling the story. It felt like it took me forever to finish the book, too, and I didn't always want to read it (which is the tell-tale sign for me as a reader to know if a book is "good"--do I want to read it, or is reading more like work). Reading this book was a bit like work.
It does have a good ending and there were a few surprises along the way and I think the overall message is a positive one. So, the book is not by any means terrible. It just simply is not my favorite Jojo Moyes book. Nor will it be on my top ten list for 2014. Oh well. She's written so many fabulous books--they all can't be stellar, right? Law of averages and all...
Happy reading, everyone!
:) Dodie
Thursday, October 16, 2014
#46: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick
Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie is this year's selection for All Holman Reads, a program implemented at my youngest daughter's middle school. Every student in the school will read this book this winter/early spring. I couldn't wait until then to read the book. Besides, if I read the book now and the book is in the house, Emily might actually begin it and finish it by early spring. Yes, it will take her that long to read this 273 page book. One that her mother couldn't put down and read in a day. Oh well. She's not entirely like me, I guess.
Sonnenblick's book is the story of Steven, an eighth grader, and his little brother, Jeffrey, who is four. They have a fairly typical relationship, despite the age difference, and Steven thinks Jeffrey is the "most annoying thing in the world." The story changes dramatically when Jeffrey develops Leukemia and Steven starts re-thinking his relationship with his brother and his place in the world.
I loved this book for many reasons, but it's overall positivity of a rather heavy subject is high on my list. For instance, when Steven is feeling pretty low, discouraged, and neglected, Mrs. Galley (Steven's counselor) challenges Steven, on page 184:
Instead of agonizing about the things you can't change, why don't you try working on the things you CAN change?
What a great way to look at the world! While it doesn't happen immediately, Steven does resolve to find things he can change (like his attitude) about the horrible situation his family suddenly finds thrust upon them. If all of us could only be as positive!
Now, it's not all sunshine, roses, and lollipops. Even the sunniest, brightest people have moments of despair, but Steven manages, through his journal, to work through his feelings. I particularly like the entry he writes on page 196 of the book. His english teacher gives him this prompt: If you could pick one word in the English language to describe the universe, what would it be? Why? Steven's word choice: UNFAIR. That boy is brilliant! The universe is terribly unfair. And he proceeds to give all sorts of reasons why this is so, from cancer in his four year old brother, to the piano prodigy's broken arm, to bad guys walking the street. Steven is absolutely right. But I love that he writes about it, gets it out, and continues to focus on the things HE can change. I also love that in the world in which I live, and in which my girls live, a life where they have been getting medals their entire lives for things they didn't really earn, they are beginning to learn the truth. Life isn't fair and sometimes it just plain stinks. I appreciate Emily's school reiterating this important life lesson.
I also appreciate Steven's ah-ha moment on page 237 where he says, "for possibly the first time since all of this had started, I stopped feeling sorry for myself and thought of other people's situations." If only everyone, everywhere would do this all of the time. Can you imagine what sort of world we could have if everyone thought about others first, rather than themselves? It would be a lovely world indeed.
I think Holman has done an outstanding job in selecting yet another novel that will make their students think, and think beyond themselves. Steven and Jeffrey's story is a moving one. I am better for reading this book. Holman's student body will be, too.
Happy reading, everyone!
:) Dodie
Sonnenblick's book is the story of Steven, an eighth grader, and his little brother, Jeffrey, who is four. They have a fairly typical relationship, despite the age difference, and Steven thinks Jeffrey is the "most annoying thing in the world." The story changes dramatically when Jeffrey develops Leukemia and Steven starts re-thinking his relationship with his brother and his place in the world.
I loved this book for many reasons, but it's overall positivity of a rather heavy subject is high on my list. For instance, when Steven is feeling pretty low, discouraged, and neglected, Mrs. Galley (Steven's counselor) challenges Steven, on page 184:
Instead of agonizing about the things you can't change, why don't you try working on the things you CAN change?
What a great way to look at the world! While it doesn't happen immediately, Steven does resolve to find things he can change (like his attitude) about the horrible situation his family suddenly finds thrust upon them. If all of us could only be as positive!
Now, it's not all sunshine, roses, and lollipops. Even the sunniest, brightest people have moments of despair, but Steven manages, through his journal, to work through his feelings. I particularly like the entry he writes on page 196 of the book. His english teacher gives him this prompt: If you could pick one word in the English language to describe the universe, what would it be? Why? Steven's word choice: UNFAIR. That boy is brilliant! The universe is terribly unfair. And he proceeds to give all sorts of reasons why this is so, from cancer in his four year old brother, to the piano prodigy's broken arm, to bad guys walking the street. Steven is absolutely right. But I love that he writes about it, gets it out, and continues to focus on the things HE can change. I also love that in the world in which I live, and in which my girls live, a life where they have been getting medals their entire lives for things they didn't really earn, they are beginning to learn the truth. Life isn't fair and sometimes it just plain stinks. I appreciate Emily's school reiterating this important life lesson.
I also appreciate Steven's ah-ha moment on page 237 where he says, "for possibly the first time since all of this had started, I stopped feeling sorry for myself and thought of other people's situations." If only everyone, everywhere would do this all of the time. Can you imagine what sort of world we could have if everyone thought about others first, rather than themselves? It would be a lovely world indeed.
I think Holman has done an outstanding job in selecting yet another novel that will make their students think, and think beyond themselves. Steven and Jeffrey's story is a moving one. I am better for reading this book. Holman's student body will be, too.
Happy reading, everyone!
:) Dodie
Friday, October 10, 2014
#45: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
There's absolutely little that I can say about this book without spoiling it, so instead I am going to quote the writer of the reader's group guide that follows the text: "In a story full of surprising twists, Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl tracks the course of a marriage gone spectacularly wrong." It is the marriage of Amy (Amazing Amy) and Nick, two people that on the surface seem superbly matched. Throughout the course of this page turner, you realize that appearances can be deceiving and that not every couple's story has a happy ending--or even a fair ending.
I read this book quickly so that I could see the movie with Rob this weekend, but I can tell you that it's impossible to read this book slowly. I found myself reading during any 5-10 minute snippets I might find myself lucky enough to have: while waiting to pick up the girls in the carpool line, while my breakfast sandwich was cooking, while I waited for the girls to come downstairs for breakfast. It was so good I was frustrated that I had to go to work or be the mom. Yesterday I came home from work and read for and hour and a had before I had to pick up the girls from school. I finished it last night while the girls did their homework. More than once while I read I found myself with my mouth hanging open in disbelief about what I had read. I even shouted a "No way!" at one point last night. This book is amazing! Truly. I can't wait to see the movie. I just hope they don't cut the story too much.
My last comment will be this. A few years back the teacher down the hallway from my classroom told me that she had never met a child with one or both parents being a psychologist/psychiatrist who wasn't a total emotional and/or academic mess. Well folks, once you meet Amy, you just might agree. I totally do.
This one will be on my Top 10 list for the year. It's worth reading. Very worth reading.
Happy reading!
-Dodie
I read this book quickly so that I could see the movie with Rob this weekend, but I can tell you that it's impossible to read this book slowly. I found myself reading during any 5-10 minute snippets I might find myself lucky enough to have: while waiting to pick up the girls in the carpool line, while my breakfast sandwich was cooking, while I waited for the girls to come downstairs for breakfast. It was so good I was frustrated that I had to go to work or be the mom. Yesterday I came home from work and read for and hour and a had before I had to pick up the girls from school. I finished it last night while the girls did their homework. More than once while I read I found myself with my mouth hanging open in disbelief about what I had read. I even shouted a "No way!" at one point last night. This book is amazing! Truly. I can't wait to see the movie. I just hope they don't cut the story too much.
My last comment will be this. A few years back the teacher down the hallway from my classroom told me that she had never met a child with one or both parents being a psychologist/psychiatrist who wasn't a total emotional and/or academic mess. Well folks, once you meet Amy, you just might agree. I totally do.
This one will be on my Top 10 list for the year. It's worth reading. Very worth reading.
Happy reading!
-Dodie
Sunday, October 5, 2014
#44: The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks
I read The Best of Me when it was first released and apparently (after re-reading my original post about the novel) I wasn't impressed. Well, that just goes to show that: 1. You can benefit from re-reading books and 2. Your state of mind impacts your thoughts in terms of what you read. I finished my second reading of The Best of Me yesterday morning and I loved the story. LOVED. I cried a lot of tears. I don't think I cried at all when I read this the first time. What was wrong with me??
Amanda and Dawson's story was not the typical Nicholas Sparks story. No one was dying (although someone did die during the course of the story) and it was a darker story than what I am used to with Sparks. But, those facts did not make it a sub-par story. It was a beautiful reminder that our lives turn out the way they are supposed to, no matter what we do to alter our paths. It is also a reminder that life is hard and being an adult, and making adult choices, is really hard. But, in the end life turns out as it is supposed to.
May we all have a stranger in a blue windbreaker guiding us through life, keeping us safe, and helping lead us to the right choices.
Happy reading (or re-reading) everyone!
:) Dodie
Amanda and Dawson's story was not the typical Nicholas Sparks story. No one was dying (although someone did die during the course of the story) and it was a darker story than what I am used to with Sparks. But, those facts did not make it a sub-par story. It was a beautiful reminder that our lives turn out the way they are supposed to, no matter what we do to alter our paths. It is also a reminder that life is hard and being an adult, and making adult choices, is really hard. But, in the end life turns out as it is supposed to.
May we all have a stranger in a blue windbreaker guiding us through life, keeping us safe, and helping lead us to the right choices.
Happy reading (or re-reading) everyone!
:) Dodie
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