Monday, January 31, 2011

Hush

Eishes Chayil's novel, Hush, is a serious YA novel about an issue that is real for many - too many- children.

Gittel narrates this story, alternating between 1999/2000 and the present. Now a teenager in an Orthodox Jewish community, Gittel is innocent in the ways of the world. Even icons like Oprah are unknown to her (she identified her as a person who sings opera - opera/Oprah ), and topics like s-x are definitely off limits. At the age of nine Gittel's best friend Devory dies tragically. Devory had a reputation of being a problem child. She didn't listen to what her parents told her to do, and often seemed as though she didn't hear others talking to her. Gittel has grown up with Devory and their families are good friends. When she stays at Devory's one night, she sees Devory's brother come into their bedroom and do something to his sister under the sheets. Gittel doesn't understand what has happened, but when she tries to tell Devory's mother about it, she is told that it never happened and that Devory makes up stories. Devory tries a variety of ways to call out for help, but the idea that sexual abuse could be happening in the home of a respected Orthodox Jewish family is unthinkable. Instead of getting help, Devory's cries get her into more trouble, until she kills herself.
Now nine years later, Gittel is visited in her dreams by Devory. Although she has grown up, Devory's death and what led to it continue to haunt her. Despite the fact that no one in her community wants her to speak of Devory's abuse, Gittel does try to tell someone what really happened to her best friend.

This is a heartbreaking novel. There were so many people who let Devory down, and at nine she did her best to get help, trying to find a way to avoid her home at bedtime, running away, and yet no one rescued her from her brother. Chayil's novel is based on the abuse she witnessed as a child, and brings to our attention the role of culture in how the crime of sexual abuse is treated.

While this is told in Gittel's perspective, I wondered while reading what Devory's suicide did to her brother, wishing that he would know that his acts essentially killed his sister. Wanting him to have to live with that knowledge and with the knowledge that he destroyed not only her life but his parents' as well. While he is a bit player in this novel - in terms of the amount written about him- he is a huge player in the events of this novel.
Hush has been named a Sydney Taylor Honor Book and a William Morris Finalist

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Left Neglected


Lisa Genova's second novel, Left Neglected, was impossible for me to put down. Sarah, the mother in this book, is living life in the fast lane. With too many things to do she rushes from her job - a demanding career that consumes at least 80 hours each week- to her home where she has three young children. Her husband is also working too many hours often staying late at work.

When one rainy morning Sarah has a car accident - her fault as she is talking on her cell phone, it is raining, and she isn't able to stop in time as she notices brake lights in front of her. She awakens eight days later, happy to be alive, but no longer the person she once was. Instead, Sarah now has Left Neglect, no longer recognizing anything on the left side of her body. Genova gives real examples of how Sarah is affected by this. She cannot see the food on the left side of her plate (yet when she rotates the plate, she is able to see it when it moves to the right side), she cannot see people on her left, and she is unable to control her left arm and leg. The able multi-tasker cannot even read a story to her daughter. Nothing makes sense when only the words on the right side of a book are read.

Sarah begins rehabilitation, intent on recovering one hundred percent. She improves and plateaus, and realizes how inadequate the health care system is as she is sent home from a rehab facility long before she is ready, and is eventually done with outpatient therapy, realizing that any return to "normal" will now be under her own direction. Luckily Sarah's mother is able to move in and help. This is especially important - not only is her mother caring for Sarah and her children- but it also gives Sarah and her mother a chance to reconnect. After Sarah's younger brother died when they were children, her mother has been absent at best.

Genova's novel ends realistically. As anyone who ever suffers an accident or near-death illness knows, "normal" is now different, not the same as before. I had to remind myself that Sarah is just a character in this novel. She felt real to me the entire way through. Genova writes in Sarah's perspective, and despite the brain injury, I enjoyed that Sarah's voice does not change. While her ability to use the left side of her body is diminished, her thoughts and voice are hers throughout. Perhaps the one aspect that didn't ring entirely true was the lack of any "why me?" or depression in Sarah. I can't imagine anyone suffering an accident such as hers without questioning it at some point. However, Genova does make a point of finding ways Sarah is lucky. Lucky to be alive. Lucky her children weren't with her. Lucky she is able to do as much as she is able to.
As Genova explains at novel's end, Left Neglect is a real disability, affecting many stroke and accident victims. Not only was this a fabulous novel, it also sheds light on a condition I had not heard of. This one is highly recommended.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

Wow! What a lot of controversy this book has created. I will be up front in saying the most I have read or heard has just been little blurbs here and there, and even before hearing the criticism I had plans to read this one.

While the book is titled Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, three sentences follow this title:

This is a story about a mother, two daughters, and two dogs.

This was supposed to be a story of how Chinese parents are better at raising kids than Western ones.

But instead, it's about a bitter clash of cultures, a fleeting taste of glory, and how I was humbled by a thirteen-year old.

What Chua should have added, was that this was also a book not only chronicling the Chinese way of parenting, but also couched in humor, not meant to be taken entirely seriously. And in addition to making herself out to be just a little bit crazy, it is also a book that shows Chua to be just as hard on herself as she is on her children.

So, yes Chua is a bit over the top in her parenting techniques. The excessive practicing of piano and violin forced on her daughters is, well, excessive. The many rules are also a bit too much. And, when she is asked who she is doing this for - herself or her daughters- she is almost entirely sure it is for her children. But despite all of this, I rather liked Chua. She has received much criticism for her parenting, especially for an incident where she called her daughter garbage (that has been on several newsclips I've seen).But what parent out there hasn't regretted something they've said in anger? Chua's desire for her daughters to be the best isn't really that strange, although her tactics at achieving it might be, at least in today's world. Many parents today give their children whatever they want all the while trying to be their friend. I have heard many a parent and teaching colleague bemoan this fact. Just this morning a library patron talked about his own grown daughter's attitude of entitlement. While he blames himself for this problem, realizing it was his parenting that helped create this attitude, it reinforces some of Chua's statements about Western parenting.

While Sophia, Chua's oldest daughter, willingly acquiesced to her mother's demands, Lulu, the rebellious second child fought back. She did not want to practice violin, and the two had many heated battles. Although by book's end there is peace, and Lulu and Sophie know that their mother has divulged to the world the inner workings of their feud, I am curious how the two girsl will feel about their private battles being made public - if not now, in their future.

I don't plan on using Chua's tactics with my own children. I might tell my children how good they have it - explaining how strict and disciplined their lives could be. But, I did enjoy this book, having read it with the knowledge that Chua wrote this as something humorous, not to be taken entirely seriously.

Who else has read Tiger Mother? What are your thoughts?

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Clara and Mr. Tiffany

Aside from knowing - at least at a basic level - what a Tiffany lamp looks like, I admit that I had no real knowledge about Tiffany lamps. Susan Vreeland's novel Clara and Mr. Tiffany shines light on this company and the (until now) little known artist of Tiffany's lamps, Clara Driscoll.

To write this historical fiction novel, Vreeland has done extensive research, allowing me to feel as though I was truly back in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Clara Driscoll works for Mr Tiffany, finding great satisfaction in her work at a time when women often did not work outside the home, and certainly did not seek a career. Clara's first husband passed away, which allowed her to work for Tiffany, as married women were forced to quit their jobs. While Clara fell in love and planned to marry again, circumstances once again intervened and Clara remained a single, working woman.
Although Clara loved her job and put a great deal of time and effort into it, she did not receive the recognition she longed for. Throughout her career she continually tried to implement new designs and make the department of women that she oversaw rise to the top of Tiffany's company.

This novel is not just a well written historical fiction book with a little romance thrown in. I also learned a great deal about women in the workforce in the early twentieth century, the Tiffany company, and Clara Driscoll. I anticipate this will be a popular book club selection in the future months.

Pay It Forward


Many years ago I read Pay It Forward ( I also saw the movie which rarely happens), the story featuring the concept of doing a kindness to someone else with the instruction that that person should then visit a kindness on another person. What a concept!

My local Christian radio station, 101.9, also promotes this concept by hosting their "Drive Thru Difference" Fridays, days they designate to visit a kindness on others by paying for the person's order behind you in a drive thru. While I have always thought about what a great idea this is, I have never participated myself. Yesterday I stopped at Kwik Star to grab a coffee before heading to work. As I approached the counter to pay, the gentleman in front of me looked back at me and told the clerk that he would be buying my coffee as well. I didn't know this man (unusual in our small town) but I thanked him a few times, feeling almost awkward about his generosity. However, it did put a smile on my face, and helps reaffirm that there are good people out there, something that it seems easy to forget as we hear more about the negative aspects of people.

I have been visited by more kindness than many people can imagine. The kindness extended by this gentleman yesterday helped me recall how many, many people showered us with cards, meals, prayers and gifts while my daughter was undergoing treatment for cancer. We will always be grateful for that support, and could spend our entire lives paying it forward to others. So, as life gets hectic and I run around from place to place, I am also grateful for the free cup of coffee to help remind me to stop and pay some kindness forward. It certainly put a smile on my face one day this week.
How about you? Do you pay it forward? Do you have any unique ideas for doing this?

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday




Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.


This week's selection:
Sweet Jiminy by Kristin Gore
Due out: April 26, 2011
Summary from Goodreads:


In the throes of a quarter-life crisis, Jiminy abruptly quits law school and flees Chicago for her grandmother Willa’s farm in rural Mississippi. In search of respite, Jiminy instead stumbles upon more trouble and turmoil than she ever knew existed. She is shocked to discover there was once another Jiminy—the daughter of her grandmother’s longtime housekeeper, Lyn—who was murdered along with Lyn’s husband four decades earlier in a civil rights-era hate crime. With the help of Lyn’s nephew Bo, Jiminy sets out to solve the long-ago murder, to the dismay of those who would prefer to let sleeping dogs lie. In Sweet Jiminy, Kristin Gore has created a lively and compelling story with authentic and genuine Southern characters that will enthrall and entertain readers.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Silverlicious


Today was a great mail day! I read other bloggers Mailbox Monday posts with envy sometimes because while I do receive books in the mail from publishers occasionally, I certainly do not get a lot of books this way. Today was an exception as three different books were waiting in a stack for me when I arrived home. Two are chapter books that I will need to review later, but one - from Harper Collins- was the long awaited Silverlicious. All three of my daughters squealed excitedly when I showed them what would be waiting for us at bedtime tonight.

We were not disappointed. Victoria Kann's books that began with Pinkalicious continue to entertain my girls. In this installment, Pinkalicious has lost a tooth. Not just any tooth, either. She has lost her sweet tooth, causing sweets to taste horrible. Although she writes a letter to the tooth fairy asking for help, the tooth fairy is occupied elsewhere and Cupid, the Easter Bunny and Santa's elf all try and help her out. By book's end all is silverlicous and Pinkalicious is happy once more.

While my absolute favorite book in this series that now numbers four is the original Pinkalicious, a book we often read at bedtimes even now a few years after reading it for the first time, each one of these books is well loved at our house. I have already ordered Silverlicious for my library at school where I am sure it will rarely stay on the shelves.

Pinkalicious lovers won't be disappointed by this new, beautiful, silver picture book.
*Review copy provided by Harper Collins

These Is My Words


If you have looked at my sidebar in the last two months a picture of These Is My Words by Nancy E. Turner has been up as my book that I am currently reading. No, I didn't forget to change book pictures, although that has happened before. I truly have been reading These Is My Words since before Thanksgiving. Highly, highly recommended by Janssen at Everyday Reading, I knew I would enjoy this pioneer story. After all, I grew up reading and re-reading the Little House books and Janett Oke's Love Comes Softly series. When I saw Janssen's glowing endorsement of this book and realized it had been on my TBR shelf for almost ten years I knew I needed to read it. However, I have this rather strange quirk where I have certain books I designate to be read only at certain times. I have a book on my treadmill while I run. And I have a book on my Airdyne when I bike. And for the mostpart I do not take those books with me to read anyplace else unless I am soooo close to the end that I know the next reading will not get me through an entire workout. Since I had These Is My Words on my treadmill it has not been read on a daily basis, and even survived a three week hiatus from running.

Sarah Agnes Prine is a plucky, feisty heroine. This book spans two decades, from 1881-1901 as Sarah and her family make their way west before finally settling in the Arizona territories. Sarah goes from a teen age girl to a married woman and mother. Her diary is a testament to hard work and persevarance as well as hope.

Although Sarah does not have much formal education, she longs to learn more and is elated when she comes across a wagon of books left along the trail. Sarah takes what she can, eager to learn more. While life out West is hard - there is sickness, death, attacks by Indians -Sarah continues to write in her journal. She especially longs for the one book that Jack Elliott, an Army man, took. While she has tried to find a way to reclaim it, Elliott continues to find reasons why the book should remain with him. It seems that everyone in Sarah's family (and myself) could tell long before Sarah that Jack had feelings for her. She continues to ignore his advances, eventually marrying another man. Still, since this book spans decades, it is easy to see that Jack Elliott won't give up that easily.

As a reader I was entertained by Sarah's ideas and attitude, wishing for her to find happiness and love with Jack. Romance is not my genre of choice, and These Is My Words is not a romance. But, there is definitely some romance in it - and the old-fashioned way in which this romance is lived out is perfect. This book spans two decades and Sarah grows and changes as she ages and because of different events in her life. Although this is a work of fiction, Turner's characters were so genuine and human that they seemed real. I am so looking forward to reading Sarah's Quilt, the sequel to These Is My Words.

I agree with Janssen that this one is a must read, a true gem.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

The Lake of Dreams


I know I am in the minority for not having read The Memory Keeper's Daughter, Kim Edwards' first novel. However, just because I have a hard time getting excited about a book that has received soooo much press doesn't mean I don't or won't ever read it or other work by that same author. So, when I saw that Edwards had a new novel coming out, I decided I wanted to give it a try before everyone else beat me to it.

The setting - a town named The Lake of Dreams - is beautiful, a small town with much history set on one of many lakes. Lucy has come back home for a visit to her hometown. While the reason for her return is that her mother, who has broken her arm, needs her help, Lucy is also in need of some time to come to terms with her father's death ten years previously. His sudden death occurred right before Lucy left for college and she has never really returned home to stay since then. She has moved from town to town, continent to continent, and this extended stay with her mother gives her a chance to reflect on the events that led to her dad's death. While she has always blamed herself, secrets are revealed allowing Lucy to see a different side to the events that surrounded his death. Lucy is also confronted by the feelings she had for her ex-boyfriend, Keegan, who has remained in The Lake of Dreams and is running a successful glass blowing business.

While home Lucy happens upon letters written decades ago, having to do with women's suffrage. After reading them she begins to investigate further the woman, Rose Jarrett, a relative, who wrote these letters. Although the author is no longer living, her daughter, Iris, now ninety-five, is. Lucy must decide if she is willing to unearth another family secret in order to bring Iris the truth about her past.
This novel kept me entertained. I was especially grateful when I could find longer stretches of time to read and really get into the story. For the first part of the novel it was difficult for me to get any reading time in and the constant interruptions and reading only a few pages at a time didn't let me get into the story as quickly as I would have liked. However, once I did find some reading time I was quickly involved in this story. Edwards has created a real family, full of different personalities and dramas that span years and even generations.
Edwards' writing was easy to get into, and I will be looking forward to plucking The Memory Keeper's Daughter off my TBR pile someday soon.

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares


Rachel Cohn and David Levithan's latest book, Dash and Lily's Book of Dares did a great deal to redeem themselves in my eyes. A few years ago I tried and tried to read Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and just could not. While I know I am in the minority on this one, I thought the book was awful. And yet, when I saw Dash and Lily's Book of Dares coming out and read a few positive posts, I requested it at my library.

Told in alternating voices, Dash and Lily have not met when their story begins. Dash is visiting the Strand, a beyond enormous bookstore in New York City, when he finds a red moleskin notebook with clues inside. Unbeknownst to him these clues are sent from Lily, although it is later revealed that her brother and his boyfriend were the real masterminds behind this as an attempt to help Lily branch out and experience life. The two begin a unique correspondence back and forth in the red moleskin, not meeting, yet learning more about each other. When the two meet neither is what the other expected, and yet their story is not done.

Cohn and Levithan's writing is so sharp and witty and clever, a true treat. This little romance left me hoping for Dash and Lily - two lonely souls in New York City over Christmas- to find true friendship in each other.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

The Good, The Bad and the Barbie


Tanya Lee Stone's non-fiction look at Barbie dolls and this icon's history was a rather interesting look at how Barbie came to be.
As a child, I was not much into Barbies. Already at a young age, if there wasn't reading involved, I really wasn't interested. My younger sister went through a phase where she collected and played with Barbies - a fact I am sure she attempts to forget today.
Of course I have heard the criticisms about Barbie - the unrealistic expectations girls have for themselves when they see how Barbie looks- but have never really thought much about whether this is true or not. Mostly, the girls I knew who played with Barbies enjoyed dressing them and undressing them, allowing them to be or do unlimited things.
Stone doesn't provide just one opinion on Barbies. Instead she traces this doll's beginnings to Ruth Handler, the woman who came up with the idea of the Barbie doll (her own daughter's name is Barbara, while her son is named Ken). She also provides a history of how the doll has changed through the years and various examples of how girls felt about Barbie dolls and Barbie's impact on their childhood. In 2009 Barbie turned 50, and is still going strong.

This book is well researched and informative, a complete history of this doll that all girls know.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Friday Five


The Friday Five is hosted by Kate at Kate's Library.

Last week I started my list of links and never even got around to finishing it up. I'm going to try and be better this week, even though the new Kim Edwards book, The Lake of Dreams, is calling my name and I am sooooo close to finishing it.

1. As a huge fan of The Babysitter's Club, I loved this post looking at where those girls might be today.

2. And, since I am becoming nostalgic about these most beloved books, I also enjoyed Kay's post about her favorite girl sleuths.

3. USA Today's Winter Book Calendar is up. I love looking at just about to be released books and adding to my TBR list.

4. I have yet to sign up - and need to get on it quickly- but Margo at The Fourth Musketeer is inviting bloggers to help celebrate Women's History Month.

5. Lisa at Books Lists Life has a post up about her top ten pantry staples. I am still trying to come up with mine. In no specific order the ones I am always wanting to have on hand: milk, bread, eggs, peanut butter, noodles, cheese, oatmeal, apples, ... I have 2 more slots to fill and I'm stuck. What about you? I like Lisa's post and am planning on checking her responses again later.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

The Boys Start the War

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Boy/Girl Battle series begins with The Boys Start the War, a book I had never picked up until late last week. Lately we have been struggling with bedtime reading. It seems we have somewhere to be on most evenings, and the thing that gets shorted is reading at bedtime. We might find time to read for a short while, or not at all. Since I always read a chapter book and picture books because I have children at ages where both types of books are necessary, bedtime reading takes a while.
So, I've felt like we have been slipping in our reading. When we miss nights there isn't a lot of continuity to what we are doing, and once we miss one night, it seems easier to miss more. We did read the third Sassy book by Sharon Draper last month. My middle daughter loved it, but my oldest daugher had already read it to herself, so she wasn't very interested in listening to me read.

Last week I decided to bring home The Boys Start the War by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. I have managed to check these books out to kids at school without ever reading them myself. Instantly my oldest daughter was hooked, begging for me to read more. And quickly after that, my middle daughter was interested. One night we managed to read seven chapters. I could have read more because the girls were so enjoying listening to the different tricks the Malloy girls and Hatford boys continued to play on each other. From the first prank, when the Hatford boys collect and distribute dead animals along the riverbank by the Malloy's house to the Malloys hiding on the Hatford's roof, scaring them with their strange noises, there is never a dull moment in the war between these boys and girls.

Luckily, even though we read this one so quickly, we are still able to read more about these kids. There are NINE books in this series. We have already begun the second one, which started off with the boys taking a camping trip. Last night at the end of the second chapter the girls were begging for more and bedtime reading is sure to take place again tonight. Yay for this great series!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.
This week's pick: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
Due out: February 22, 2011




Product Description from Amazon:
A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, The Paris Wife captures a remarkable period of time and a love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley.Chicago, 1920: Hadley Richardson is a quiet twenty-eight-year-old who has all but given up on love and happiness—until she meets Ernest Hemingway and her life changes forever. Following a whirlwind courtship and wedding, the pair set sail for Paris, where they become the golden couple in a lively and volatile group—the fabled “Lost Generation”—that includes Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, and F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. Though deeply in love, the Hemingways are ill prepared for the hard-drinking and fast-living life of Jazz Age Paris, which hardly values traditional notions of family and monogamy. Surrounded by beautiful women and competing egos, Ernest struggles to find the voice that will earn him a place in history, pouring all the richness and intensity of his life with Hadley and their circle of friends into the novel that will become The Sun Also Rises. Hadley, meanwhile, strives to hold on to her sense of self as the demands of life with Ernest grow costly and her roles as wife, friend, and muse become more challenging. Despite their extraordinary bond, they eventually find themselves facing the ultimate crisis of their marriage—a deception that will lead to the unraveling of everything they’ve fought so hard for. A heartbreaking portrayal of love and torn loyalty, The Paris Wife is all the more poignant because we know that, in the end, Hemingway wrote that he would rather have died than fallen in love with anyone but Hadley.

Mini Shopaholic


At this point I can't even tell you how many books have been published in the Shopaholic series....too many perhaps. Yet, I keep picking them up - entertained by the travails of Becky Blomwood as she seems to never learn from her past mistakes.

In Mini Shopaholic Becky's two year old daughter, Minnie, is beginning to take after her mother's shopaholic ways. She already knows brandnames, and especially enjoys getting what she wants on shopping excursions. While Becky might secretly wonder if Minnie's behavior is out of control, when her husband Luke suggests they consult a professional, Becky becomes worried and sets out to engineer things so that Minnie looks like a little angel. As can be expected, Becky's plans fall through miserably and not only does Minnie look spoiled, but Becky's own shortcomings are glaringly obvious.

While parenting Minnie has revealed a new dimension in this series, Mini Shopaholic sees Becky attempting to throw her husband Luke a surprise party for his birthday - on a budget! Sticking to a budget is not something that comes naturally to Becky, who has extravagant plans, and things quickly get out of control.

As with all the other Shopaholic books, Kinsella ties everything up neatly at the end, while still leaving room for further installments. I enjoyed the laughs this book provided, all the while rolling my eyes at the many poor decisions that Becky makes. Fans of this series won't be disappointed, nor will lovers of chick lit.

Monday, January 17, 2011

The Bright Side of Disaster


Previously I have gushed about Katherine Center's novels. Today I finished off the last Center novel that I had yet to read, The Bright Side of Disaster. This is a book I purchased back in 2007 when it was first published. And even though I read her newer books, this one continued to sit on one of many TBR piles. An insurance policy of sorts for whenever I needed a guaranteed good book.

I was not disappointed. Although I decided to read this one only while using my Airdyne bike, today -because I was 50 pages from the end- I broke down and quickly read the rest while the house was still quiet this morning.

Jenny and Dean are awaiting the birth of their baby. Life might not be perfect, but overall, Jenny is happy with her life and all she has to look forward to. Dean may not be the most supportive potential father, but he doesn't seem to have any glaring flaws. Until he goes out one night and never returns. Jenny is left to begin her life as a parent alone. Although she finds her role as a mother all-consuming, she does manage and even appears to be making an effort to move on with her life, when - of course- Dean returns. Now Gardner, the neighbor she had a date with seems a distant memory as Dean tries to move back in and resume life as it once was. However, although Jenny was not angry when Dean quickly departed, she is angry now that he has returned, and things aren't so "happily ever after" for them.

Of course I knew how I wanted this one to end, and Center did not disappoint. Her novels seem to fall somewhere between chick lit and women's fiction, which makes for a great read, full of characters I can relate to.

I wish Center could write more quickly because now I have no more of her work to read until something new is published.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Bridal Show Beauty







As promised, here are the pictures of my oldest daughter at the Bridal Show. It was a long day of waiting around, so she promptly started fighting with her sisters once we arrived home. Ugh. Her hair and dress are beautiful, though.

Sunday Salon


This weekend I am particulary thankful that tomorrow is another day off. I have managed to develop an icky cold and have felt achey and chilled and have a nasty cough on top of it. My oldest daughter is modeling in a bridal show today, which means instead of sitting on the couch, snuggled under a blanket, I will be with her at a rehearsal, her hair appointment, and then at the show. I attended this bridal show once years ago and know what a zoo it is, so I am not overly excited about today. However, I encouraged her to try this. Children who received a wish from Make A Wish were asked to be models. Leah received a wish in 2006, and even though being in front of people is out of her comfort zone, I thought she might actually enjoy it if she would give it a chance. So, soon we will be off. I am planning on bringing a book since I think there is a great deal of waiting around that is going to happen, as well as some snacks and drinks. If I have time (and if they turn out) I will have to post some pictures.

Last night my husband had some guy friends over to watch the Packers win - the first time he has had people over to watch in our newly renovated TV room. Now if we could just get some new furniture. I am hoping that the restrictions placed on my book buying will result in some extra money for things like that.

It's still snowy and cold here in Iowa, but this past week I received my Eddie Bauer Summer Preview Catalog, which must mean that someday summer will arrive. I dream of life without snow boots and mittens and hats.

Hopefully I will feel better tomorrow since I have lots of stuff I should get done. What's up for your Sunday?

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Fixing Delilah


Fixing Delilah is Sarah Ockler's sophomore novel - a solid, if not better, YA novel than her first, Twenty Boy Summer.

Delilah and her mother have grown apart. Her mother is a workaholic and Delilah is experiencing some teen rebellion. With the unexpected death of Delilah's grandmother, the two pack up to spend the summer in Vermont with aunt Rachel as they prepare her house for sale and plan a funeral. Delilah reconnects with the neighbor boy she has not seen for eight years- since her mother and aunt Rachel fought with their mother and left abruptly never to return or talk to her again. Delilah is desperate to find out what happened to her mother's other sister, Stephanie, who died suddenly at the age of nineteen before Delilah was even born. When she comes across Stephanie's journal she feels as though she is getting a bit more information, but still wants to know what happened that destroyed her mother's relationship with her grandmother. However, finding out is not easy either, as now Delilah must come to terms with what she knows.

While what Delilah finds out is unexpected to her, prior to reading this portion I had contemplated what revelations would be coming, anticipating that one would be about Delilah's parentage. Ockler does tackle this, and while I suspected it was coming, there are other revelations I had not anticipated.

Fixing Delilah is a great read for YAs wanting a bit of romance and family drama.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Book Blogger Hop


Friday's Book Blogger Hop is hosted by Jen at Crazy for Books.

This week's question:

"Why do you read the genre that you do? What draws you to it?"

While I like to think that I will read just about anything, there are some genres I enjoy more than others. I absolutely love historical fiction, women's fiction, and memoirs. My tastes have changed a bit over the years, but even as a child I gravitated toward realistic fiction, historical fiction and biographies. When I read to my own children I try to read fantasy to them, and yet when they pick out books for themselves or express what books they enjoy the most, they also pick the same genres that I enjoy. I can't decide if this is sort of an inherited trait- my mom and aunts generally read these types of books, too - or something that we have more control over.
With women's fiction I am sure I am drawn to these books because they are usually full of characters I can relate to or can understand. I love history, and historical fiction novels are a great way to learn about history without memorizing a bunch of dates and names in addition to developing an understanding of how people were affected by events in history. I know some people don't understand why memoirs are at the top of my list, but I am fascinated by people in general. Everyone has such a unique story - full of experiences that has made them who they are, and I am always interested in hearing about these lives that are so different - and sometimes so like - my own.

You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know


You Don't Look Like Anyone I Know is Heather Sellers' memoir, a look at what it is like to live with prosopagnosia, a disorder that made it impossible for her to identify people by their facial features. It is also an account of a childhood with two parents who would be considered dysfunctional by most. As an adult Sellers recognizes her mother's behavior as that fitting someone with paranoid schizophrenia. While Sellers had always recognized her mother's behavior as odd, the idea of her mother being a paranoid schizophrenic was hard for her to accept and believe. Her own diagnosis was also hard to come by, although the many examples Seller gave of not being able to identify people -including her own fiancee and step sons -makes it obvious that something in her brain is not quite wired correctly. Despite her best efforts and describing this disorder, I am still unable to truly picture anything other than a person with their facial features as a blur. Sellers articulates that this is not the case. She, as a highly educated and intelligent person, is a capable spokesperson for this rare disorder that is not often talked about. In addition to being able to talk about the more clinical aspects of prosopagnosia, Sellers can also convey the emotions that accompany this problem: the feelings of confusion, the desire to avoid social situations.

While I enjoyed this book, I did find myself skimming from time to time. The story moved along, yet I became irritated with her indecision/confusion about her marital relationship, and why (despite the warnings of her friends) she decided to marry her husband (then ex-husband) Dave at all.

Certainly this book is about Sellers life with face blindness. It is also a memoir of a childhood that was a far cry from mine, simply because of her mother's own mental illness. That Sellers went on to become a person who has triumphed in spite of her disability is memorable.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Dirty Secret


Jessie Sholl has a dirty secret. Her mother is a hoarder. After years of trying to hide the fact that her mother has this disorder, Sholl has finally come out of the closet, so to speak. Her memoir, Dirty Secret: A Daughter Comes Clean About Her Mother's Compulsive Hoarding comes at a time when shows such as TLC's Hoarders has piqued our interest in this little talked about disorder.

I received this book a few months ago for a blog tour and several times I picked it up to read prior to this month's tour. Each time I sadly put it down, knowing that if I read it too soon I would forget the details of this memoir. Finally, finally as we turned the calendar to 2011 I knew I could begin reading. Sholl, a writer by trade, provides an inside look at this lifestyle. Once I started reading, it was almost impossible to stop. Her story begins when her mother is diagnosed with colon cancer and Sholl must return to her Minneapolis home to help out. Upon her arrival she is greeted by the clutter she knows so well. From there, the book chronicles Sholl's childhood as well as the present day, alternating between them seamlessly. While her mother's hoarding didn't begin until the death of her boyfriend, Sholl can recount strange behaviors from back in her childhood. One incident Sholl shares occurred while she was in kindergarten. Her mother was so intent on making a shopping trip to Savers that she told Jessie to tell her kindergarten teacher that she needed to stay all day at school since her mom wouldn't be there to greet her when she got home. Unable to make herself give this message to her teacher, Jessie comes home to an empty house she is locked out of. She spends the freezing winter afternoon trying to shut herself between the screen door and door to her house in an effort to keep warm. When her mother comes home, she is not concerned for Jessie, just excited by the bargains she found. Even years before her hoarding came out, her focus on gaining possessions caused her to ignore her own children. And, Jessie's own father (the two divorced when Jessie was young) worried enough for his children's safety that he purchased a home near his ex-wife so that he could keep an eye on his children.

Now an adult, Sholl tries to be helpful to her mother who is aging, and appears much older than her actual age would indicate. She takes turns being frustrated by her behavior and wanting to help and protect her. However, when Sholl develops scabies from being in her mother's house and has a difficult time getting rid of them, her patience is stretched to its limit.

While it would be wonderful to say that Sholl cleaned her mother's house and it is now neat and tidy, that is not how hoarding works. This illness is ongoing, it is the way in which Sholl now reacts to her mother's continued hoarding that has shifted a bit.

While this is a memoir, Sholl includes different facts about hoarding, so that I was able to learn a great deal. Her personal story gives this book credibility and makes it difficult to put down. Sholl's own skills as a writer shine through as well. Dirty Secret was quickly devoured -after which I spent an entire day cleaning my daughters' bedroom, alternating between my belief that I have a hoarder-in-the-making, and relief that my mess does not compare to a true hoarder's.
To read more from Sholl, visit her blog.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.
This week's pick: The Bride's House by Sandra Dallas
Due out: April 26, 2011
Product Description from Amazon:
It’s 1880, and for Nealie Bent, seventeen, the splendid Victorian house under construction in Georgetown, Colorado, is like a fairy tale come to life. She dreams of living in “the Bride’s House,” as she calls it, with Will Spaulding, the young entrepreneur sent from the East by his grandfather to learn about the mining business. Will is not the only one who courts Nealie. Charlie Dumas, a miner who lacks Will’s polish, wants to marry the hired girl, too, and although Nealie rebuffs him, Charlie refuses to give up. Ultimately, Nealie must deal with lies, secrets, and heartache before choosing the man who will give her the Bride’s House.
For the motherless Pearl, growing up in the Bride’s House is akin to being raised in a mausoleum. Her father, robbed of the life he envisioned with Nealie, has fashioned the house into a shrine to the woman he loved. He keeps his daughter close. When the enterprising young Frank Curry comes along and asks for Pearl’s hand in marriage, Pearl’s father sabotages the union. But Pearl has inherited her mother’s tenacity of heart, and her father underestimates the lengths to which the women in the Bride’s House will go for love.
Susan is the latest in the line of strong and willful women in the Bride’s House. She’s proud of the women who came before her. Their legacy and the Bride’s House’s secrets force Susan to question what she wants and who she loves.

Prisoners at the Palace


Britain's monarchy is something I have been fascinated by since I was a child. One of the first books I read about the royal family that spurred this interest was The World of Lady Jane Grey by Gladys Malvern (1964). This book felt like a soap opera on paper, yet even though the story was fictional, much of it was also based on real events.

Prisoners at the Palace by Michaela MacColl is also a novel about Britain's royal family, this time focusing on Princess Victoria. I will admit I have not read much about Princess (and later Queen) Victoria. While I know this book is based on historical events, I will have to read further to find out more about the goings on as Victoria reached adulthood and became Queen after the death of her uncle, The King.

Prisoners at the Palace is told through the eyes of Liza, a new maid to the princess. Her parents have left her orphaned and destitute. Initially she anticipated being made one of Victoria's ladies in waiting, as she had been groomed to lead a life in high society, yet after her parents' death, she is instead hired as a maid and has to forego any dreams of grandeur and wealth. Victoria likes Liza's company most of the time, and Liza for the mostpart, enjoys Victoria. However, Victoria's own mother seems to have little interest in her daughter and there are definite plans afoot to portray Victoria as simpled minded, unable to make decisions for her country as Queen. The two young ladies work together along with the help of a homeless boy, using the inner chambers of the palace as his home, to thwart the plans of taking over the crown from Victoria.

This book has definitely made me more curious about Queen Victoria's reign. It seems that most of my reading has centered around Henry VIII, Bloody Mary, or Elizabeth I. MaColl has done a great deal of research to be able to write a book that contains not only a great story but also a wealth of information about life during this time period. This one languished for a while in my library stack. Although I had read a few good reviews, the cover was not really calling to me. I am not sure how teen readers will feel about this cover. Hopefully they can look beyond that because the story is definitely worth reading. This was a fast read. The story moved along nicely, with a bit of suspense as Liza worked to help the Princess prove herself and inherit the crown. MacColl's author's note provided background information, and while the story ended prior to Victoria being crowned, there is information about Queen Victoria's later life that is included.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Award Winning Thoughts


Today was the big day! The ALA Youth Awards were announced this morning in San Diego. I have enviously read other posts about the many ARCs bloggers have collected at this conference, and just being present for this event would be spectacular. Each year I look forward to the announcement of these awards anxiously. While a part of me would like to have read the award winning books prior to the announcement of their winning, I also revel in the fact that an unknown title that wins means I have a near guaranteed chance of a great book.

Today, I was happy to see the Newbery winner and honor books. I did appreciate Esme Raji Codell's post just this morning about some dark horse favorites that were on my list for potential winners. None of them were selected. If you are still interested in some great reads that didn't win an award, check out her post. Moon Over Manifest, the winner of the Newbery Medal, is at home on my TBR pile. I can't wait to get into it, as it is my most favorite genre, historical fiction. Visit ALA's website to see the entire list of Newbery winners.

On the Caldecott front, I don't think I will ever be able to pick out which books might win a Caldecott. I feel like I read a lot of great picture books during the year. While I know each of the three books selected (the winner and two honor books), I don't know if any of them would have made my short list.

No matter who the winners are, seeing a list of wonderful authors and illustrators being honored for their work in providing kids with great books to read is exciting. I can hardly wait to lay my hands on these titles and dig right in.

Just A Few Days Late, Right?


While I had in my mind which challenges I was planning on signing up for, taking the time to actually do that has not happened so much. I am currently participating in the Read From Your Shelves Challenge and the War Through the Generations Challenge. The third challenge I am just now joining is the E-Reader Challenge. I love my kindle. I do. But, by the time I read my library books, there is never enough time for kindle reading. I have many books on it now that I know I will enjoy. So, this year I want to make this more of a priority. The E-Reader Challenge is hosted by The Ladybug Reads. My goal is to read 12 e-books this year - only 1 per month- with the hopes that I start turning to that for some of my book selections, too.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Bonobo Handshake


Back when I reviewed Ape House Sara Gruen, Bonobo Handshake by Vanessa Woods was recommended. That was another title I was still waiting to read, so I was glad to hear how good it was. When I started reading on Friday morning, I was instantly into the story. Woods' book is party biography, chronicling her work with Bonobos, her courtship and marriage to Brian, the man who started her career with these apes. It is also not a biography as it provides a great deal of information about bonobos and life in the Congo.

Although initially brought to the Congo and working with Bonobos through her husband, Woods also fell in love with these animals. She shares different stories of her work with them and her relationship with many of them. When a Bonobo that she has worked with and grown to love becomes sick and dies, she grieves for these animals as though they were her children. Life in the Congo is hard, and there are many needless deaths as various groups fight amongst themselves, all seeking control. Woods is able to provide background information about the Congo's political background and the different African tribes.

This book was informative, entertaining and well written. I finished off Bonobo Handshake in just one day, all the while being totally amazed by these animals.
For more information about the Bonobos, visit Friends of Bonobos.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

The Things a Brother Knows


I have only read one of Dana Reinhardt's books up until now - although I own How To Build a House and have yet to read it despite my best intentions. The Things a Brother Knows is Reinhardt's newest book, centering around two brothers. Levi is the younger brother. He isn't as tough or masculine as his older brother Boaz who has joined the Marines and is serving his country, fighting overseas. Although the brothers aren't extremely close, Levi is looking forward to Boaz's return home. Then his parents will stop worrying and life can return to normal. Except that life doesn't return to normal when Boaz comes back. Boaz stays in his room and doesn't talk to anyone. Even though he is looked at in his town as a hero, the war has definitely left its mark on Boaz. Physically he appears fine, but emotionally the war has left him with many scars. Although he doesn't talk to Levi, he does use Levi's laptop. Levi wants to know what is going on with Boaz, and snoops on his computer activities, looking at the websites that Boaz has been visiting. When Boaz begins walking to Washington, DC, Levi is intent on finding his brother on his journey and helping him put his pieces back together.

The Things a Brother Knows helps cement my love of Reinhardt's work. There are a few books out there for young adults that are realistic fiction books about our current war. I have loved each one of them, and this one is no exception. This book helps expand the collection of books about this important topic.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Perfect Square


Perfect Square by Michael Hall doesn't come out until March, but I received a galley before Christmas and am so excited to finally get to use it this spring. I have seen one blogger's prediction that this is one that will receive Caldecott buzz in 2012, and I am hoping it receives some sort of attention.

Hall begins Perfect Square with a square. As the story progresses the square is torn into various shapes and other things are constructed from it. The illustrations are great, and the way Hall ties this all together is also clever. I am just dying to use this with a group of students because this has a great extension activity written all over it. The ELP teacher at my school wrote down the title and author today, too, after I gushed about it. Next week I plan on promoting it to our art teacher.

Perfect Square is a selection that students that kindergarteners will enjoy and so will fifth graders. The adults I have shown it to are all loving it as well, so there is a wide appeal.

Book Blog Hop


Friday's Blog Hop is hosted by Jen at Crazy For Books.

This week's question:

"What book influenced or changed your life? How did it influence/change you?"

This is such a hard question! I guess the most obvious answer would be the Bible because that book is responsible for my beliefs and faith. However, there are so many books that have influenced me - maybe not changed my life- and there continue to be new books that I come across that touch me in some way. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom is a book I have thought about often and certainly makes me think of the way we live our lives as is The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. I think that in most cases I take away something from every book I read, and am changed a little bit from each and every book.
I have managed to survive the first week back at school after winter break, and don't have anything too exciting planned for the weekend. My husband is gone getting his coaching endorsement this weekend, so it will be just me and the girls. Sometimes this means I can get a lot of stuff done, and other times I get almost nothing accomplished. We'll just have to see how this one pans out.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Sweetgrass Basket


Marlene Carvell's free verse novel features sisters who have been sent to school away from their Native American tribe. At book's beginning there is a short paragraph explaining a bit about this practice which I found fascinating. Told alternatively between Sarah and Mattie, the two girls struggle with loneliness, all the while grieving for their mother who has died. When Mattie is wrongly accused of taking some jewelry she is devastated and runs away.

This was a very fast read, and while I have read some good reviews about it, I was disappointed in it. I was hoping that the setting would be a primary focus and I really wanted to learn more about what the school experience was like for Native Americans who were sent away to school. Instead this story focused mostly on the sisters and the way they felt about being at school. The rest of the story focused on Mattie's reaction to being accused of theft. For young readers I could see how the plot would be confusing to them, and they would automatically think that Mattie and Sarah's experience was universal.

Overall, there was nothing really wrong with this one, but my reaction is only lukewarm.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Matched


By now I have read several reviews of Ally Condie's Matched. Because fantasy/dystopian novels are definitely not my genre of choice, I initially didn't think much about reading this novel. But, my good friend Kristin made me look at it a bit more closely, carefully going over the plot and telling me how good it sounded. I requested it from the library and was the first one to get to read this one. And I thoroughly enjoyed it. There are some aspects that are The Giver-ish - the controlled society especiall reminded me of The Giver, but with an entirely different plot.

As the story begins, Cassia is waiting to hear the name of the boy she is matched with. The Society Officials tell each person who they will be mated with, as well as what job they will do, where they will live, and other aspects of their lives. By doing this, the Society has created a world with optimal living conditions, eradicating diseases entirely. When Cassia finds that she is mated with Xander, a boy she has been friends with since they were young, she is elated. She doesn't have to worry and wonder about the person she will spend her life with. But, after Xander's face appears on the screen, the face of another young man also appears. Cassia starts to wonder why Ky's face is also on her screen. The two are hiking partners and gets to know each other as they climb, fighting off their attraction to each other for a while. Cassia feels as though she must make a choice - something forbidden in their society - and risk everything to follow her heart.

The world Condie creates is such a fascinating one. As I read it was intriguing to find all the ways Cassia lived that were so different than our world. Matched is set in some future time and there are references to no longer being able to write using a pen or pencil, to famous authors whose works had been destroyed, to diseases that killed people. Dylan Thomas' poem Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night is used as a reference point for many of Cassia's feelings. I love this poem and have for many years (probably being the one poem that I actually have memorized), and loved how this was referred to many time as Cassia tried to decide if she should choose to follow the dictates her Society had already set for her, or defy their control and make choices for herself.

Matched is left wide open for a sequel to occur. Personally, I can't wait. This is one book that may force me to rethink my general distaste for dystopian novels. There are lots of good discussion points in Matched, and the story is hard to put down.

Waiting on Wednesday




Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week's selection
The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon
Due out May 4, 2011
Product Description from Amazon:
It is 1968. Lynnie, a young white woman with a developmental disability, and Homan, an African American deaf man, are locked away in an institution, the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded, and have been left to languish, forgotten. Deeply in love, they escape, and find refuge in the farmhouse of Martha, a retired schoolteacher and widow. But the couple is not alone-Lynnie has just given birth to a baby girl. When the authorities catch up to them that same night, Homan escapes into the darkness, and Lynnie is caught. But before she is forced back into the institution, she whispers two words to Martha: "Hide her." And so begins the 40-year epic journey of Lynnie, Homan, Martha, and baby Julia-lives divided by seemingly insurmountable obstacles, yet drawn together by a secret pact and extraordinary love.
Rachel Simon is also the author of Riding the Bus With My Sister: A True Life Journey which was one of Barnes and Noble's Discover New Writers Picks.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Harper Collins - Taking Care of Me


For a while I have been getting random packages from Harper Collins. I always know - even before I open the envelope- that there is something wonderful inside. One of my latest arrivals - although it has been several weeks now since I received it - is Mary Engelbreit's Fairy Tales. First of all, I love Mary Engelbreit's art work. Not only did I receive this wonderful new hardcover book, but also received Mary Engelbreit's Christmas book, too. Because I have had this one for a while, I already know how perfect this collection is to use at bedtime. We have read several of the selections more than once. Although all twelve stories are wonderful, Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Princess and the Pea, and Rumplestiltskin are some of our personal favorites. Each story has beautiful illustrations in Engelbreit's signature style. If you are looking for a new family favorite or a beautiful collection of fairy tales, this is one book to look into. It is beautiful!

Monday, January 3, 2011

Unbroken: Amazing!


Just before Christmas I started Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. I didn't get very far into it, even though I was enjoying reading about Louie Zamperini's early life. Then Louie joined the army. I became less interested, mostly because I don't really have enough background information on military life. When different types of planes are being talked about, it sort of goes right over my head. I was also trying to read this while we were at my in-laws for Christmas. There were a lot of interruptions. I knew I would come back to this one, but I set it aside because I had other library books that were due back. Yesterday I picked it up again and began reading - and reading - and reading. Finally late last night (which I will be paying for today) I finished off Unbroken. The one word I have to describe this story is amazing. Louie's ability to survive everything that happened to him is amazing. To summarize quite quickly: Louie was a runner, looking to compete at the Olympics. World War II derailed those plans and after his plane went down during the war, he and a few other men floated in a raft for a LONG time subsisting on very little food and water. When they were rescued, they were then taken as POWs where Louie suffered much abuse for years. Today Louie is a 93 year old man who has forgiven all that happened to him.

Laura Hillenbrand's ability to tell Louie's story is also amazing. The amount of research that went into this story, and Louie's ability to recall these events decades letters is incredible. Had I finished this one in 2010, it would certainly have made my "best" list for the year. Now I will be recommending it to everyone - it is truly a remarkable story, reaffirming one man's will to survive and his eventual ability to make peace with his past.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

What the Dead Know


A few months ago I was turned on to the writing of Laura Lippman. I enjoyed the book, I'd Know You Anywhere, so much that I checked out another of Lippman's books. What the Dead Know was written in 2007, a suspenseful story about the abduction of two sisters in 1975. When a woman is arrested for leaving the scene of an accident and claims to be the younger sister, Heather Bethany, this decades old case is investigated yet again along with the woman's claims. This story is told in multiple perspectives and time periods. Through all of the narrators different facts emerge about what happened that day in 1975 when Heather and Sunny Bethany went to the mall on a Saturday afternoon and never returned. While reading I had convinced myself that the woman claiming to be Heather Bethany was who she claimed to be. I never disputed her claims, and yet, different clues that were uncovered seemed to point to this woman lying about her identity. I am not very good at solving mysteries, and this one by Lippman was another book with an ending I didn't expect. While I think I enjoyed I'd Know You Anywhere a bit more, What The Dead Know was still a book I found hard to put down.

2010 Recap: Crunching the Numbers

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, 2010 - as far as reading goes- was shaping up to be an excellent year. While I didn't finish all my challenges, or feel like my TBR pile is any smaller than it was a year ago, I did read a whopping 289 books! This year I kept track of a few more statistics than I had previously:

Of those 289 books:
128 books were YA
161 were adult
41 books were written by male authors
248 books were written by females
49 books were ones I owned, 240 were library books
63 books were non-fiction, 226 books were fiction

In 2011 I still plan on keeping track of all of the above, but I have also added one more bit of information to track: year of publication. While my husband doesn't understand why I would need to know any of these things, I still think it is interesting to look back on my year of reading. I don't think this information will make me change my reading in any way, but it gives a pretty good break down of where I am getting my books, and the types of authors and books I read.

Onward to 2011 and a year filled with more reading!

The Blessings of the Animals


Katrina Kittle's The Blessings of the Animals is one I have seen around the blogosphere. From the first time I saw it's cover, I knew I wanted to read it. (Who says you can't judge a book by it's cover?)

This was an enjoyable, quick women's fiction book. Cami is a vet, in tune with the animals she cares for. While she has always worked around her husband's moods, she is stunned by his announcement that he plans to leave her. Cami is left to regroup and look at her marriage and learn more about herself. Her former sister-in-law and best friend, Olive, is getting married herself, so Cami finds herself still involved in her ex-husband's family. Her brother, David, is openly gay and he and his partner are trying to adopt a child together. For a while it seems that everyone has someone, except Cami. However, there are a few different options for Cami as she explores dating again. Through it all, Cami's attachment and relationship with the animals helps her find some peace and refocus on her future.

I really enjoyed this book. I appreciated the ending and how very "real" it felt; Kittle did not compose some trite, predictable ending. Kittle has also written The Kindness of Strangers -still sitting on a pile of books somewhere in my house that needs to get read.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Read From My Shelves Recap


While I did finish the War Through the Generations Challenge, the Read From My Shelves Challenge was not quite as successful. However, I did read from my shelves - just not always from the titles listed.

Even though I only completed half of my list, I am still counting this challenge as a success. At least I did read some books that had been languishing on my shelves for far too long. In 2011 my list is composed of the titles I didn't complete in 2010, plus a stack of books I am adding to my list. I didn't see that a list is required this year for the challenge, but I laid out the books I most want to get to, and if I read anything else, that should count, too.

The 2010 List:
Adult Titles:
1. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See
2. Clara's War by Clara Kramer
3. While I'm Falling by Laura Moriarty
4. After You by Julie Buxbaum
5. The Mighty Queens of Freeville by Amy Dickinson
6. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
7. Shelf Discovery by Lizzie Skurnick
8. The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center - midway through
9. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
10. Mockingbird by Charles J. Shields -midway through
11. Sister of My Heart by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
12. Black and White by Dani Shapiro

Young Adult/Tween Titles:
1. Rumors by Anna Godbersen
2. Tell Me Who by Jessica Wollman
3. Dangerously Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
4. Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson
5. The Alchemyst by Nicholas Flamel
6. The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
7. Blue by Joyce Meyer Hostetter
8. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
9. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
10. What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
11. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
12. Percy Jackson - The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

The following list is my new 2011 list of books I hope to read:

The 2011 ListL

Adult Titles:
1. Clara's War by Clara Kramer
2. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
3. Shelf Awareness by Lizzie Skurnick
4. The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center
5. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear
6. Mockingbird by Charles Shields
7. Sister of My Heart by Chita Banerjee Divakaruni
8. Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
9. Safe From the Neighbors by Steve Yarbrough
10. Roses by Leila Meacham
11. The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale
12. The Postmistress by Sarah Blake
13. Without a Backward Glance by Kate Veitch
14. Four Spirits by Sena Jeter Naslund
15. Summer at Tiffany by Marjorie Hart
16. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
17. Self Storage by Gayle Brandeis
18. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates
19. Ask for a Convertible by Danit Brown
20. Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire by Rafe Esquith
21. Little Bee by Chris Cleave
22. Dirty Secret by Jessie Sholl

Middle Grade and YA Titles:

1. Tell Me Who by Jessica Wollman
2. Dangerously Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
3. Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James Swanson
4. The Alchemyst by Nicholas Flamel
5. The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
6. Percy Jackson the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
7. Sugar and Ice by Kate Messner
8. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
9. Countdown by Deborah Wiles
10. Extra Credit by Andrew Clements
11. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
12. Eli the Good by Silas House
13. Assignment Rescue: an Autobiography of Varian Fry by Varian Fry
14. Good bye, Mr. Chips by James Hilton
15. The Road Home by Ellen Emerson White
16. Envy by Anna Godberson
17. Alice on Her Way by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
18. White Sands, Red Menace by Ellen Klages
19. One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia
20. Blue Plate Special by Michelle D. Kwasney