Sunday, September 30, 2012

Sunday Salon

Last night I had the unexpected pleasure of having an evening entirely to myself. My husband and a friend of his had been planning a camping trip with kids for a while.  Our friend has a four year old who had never camped out before.  Our girls love to sleep out in our tent- mostly in our front yard.  So the two guys took the girls and set up tents in our friend's back yard.  So what did I do all by my lonesome?
I read. I didn't turn the television on at all.  It was quiet in my house. Very quiet.  I had checked out movies for myself to watch, but I'm not much of a TV person. 
Now I am midway through The Orchardist and enjoying it. The girls and husband are home.  Soon I will take the girls to Hansel and Gretel, a play they will be attending with my mom and their cousins.  I am planning on picking up the rest of our groceries and supplies for their family birthday party next Saturday.
I can't believe tomorrow is October already!  I have been back at school for two months already.  Time is flying by.  Midway through the month we have parent/teacher conferences.  Middle Sister's birthday is coming up.  I have started thinking about Christmas presents.
Fall weather appears to be on the way, but I have enjoyed the sunny, warm weather yesterday and today. With any luck I can find my way to a lawn chair outside with a book in hand.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

A Smidgen of Sky

I'm always on the lookout for great tween realistic fiction novels for my daughters. These are the types of books I loved when I was growing up, and despite my best efforts at reading from a wide variety of genres, realistic fiction is often what my oldest daughter wants. (Scary how that apple doesn't fall far from the tree!)
A Smidgen of Sky, a debut novel by Dianna Dorisi Winget, due out in November, is a perfect tween read. Piper Lee DeLuna is still struggling to come to terms with her pilot-father's untimely death.  Because he died in a plane crash and his body was never found, she is sure he is alive somewhere and will eventually come back to her.  Over the course of the four years since the accident, Piper's mother has moved on, and is now engaged to be married to Ben.  Not only is Piper not excited about Ben replacing her father, Ben's daughter, Ginger, is not someone Piper wants to get to know or hang out with.
Ginger has always wanted a mother and she and Piper try to find Ginger's mom.  She left when Ginger was very young, not ready to be a mom yet.  When Piper locates her it is hard to decide if she is doing this for Ginger or herself.  
Winget's novel is full of lots of important lessons - from an awareness of online predators to lessons about love, family, and dealing with loss, A Smidgen of Sky is one I will be giving to my daughter to read, buying for my school library, and telling others about.  I am hopeful Winget plans on writing more books geared toward this audience.

Friday, September 28, 2012

A Killing In in the Hills

September was the month that I was going to focus on reading ARCs.  I have done that, to some extent.  I have taken back many library books that I haven't cracked open at all, and instead read ARCs or books I bought long ago. I am rather enjoying this. However, the stack of ARCs seems barely diminished, so I need to continue to focus on these books a bit longer.
I just finished A Killing in the Hills by Julia Keller this morning. I loved it! I am so hoping that Keller has a series in mind since this novel ends with a perfect opportunity to take the story further.
Set in Ackers Gap, West Virginia, Belfa Elkins and her daughter Carla, are in the throes of mother/daughter drama. Carla is a rebellious teen, and Bell is busy with work as Rathune County's prosecuting attorney, with little time or attention to much else.  Drugs are overtaking this small coal mining town, and many of the county's youth are taken up with this evil. 
As Carla sits at the Salty Dawg one morning waiting for her chronically late mother to pick her up, three elderly men are shot dead at the table next to her as they enjoy a cup of coffee. Carla remains unharmed - at least visibly- but doesn't share with her mother that she recognizes the killer.  He had been at a party she attended without her mother's knowledge.
What both Carla and Bell don't know is that Chill, the man who killed the gentlemen, is also planning on killing Bell.  Carla wants to help her mom and begins to do a bit of investigative work on her own, only to put herself at risk. 
Combine this plotline with a few subplots- a mentally handicapped young man who accidentally kills a neighbor boy he plays with until more evidence arises, Bell's mysterious past and the sister she hasn't seen in nearly three decades, A Killing In the Hills is a rich and easily absorbing mystery.
Just like Julia Spencer Fleming's Clare Ferguson/Russ Van Alstyne series, I felt at home with these characters as soon as I began reading.  I will be pressing this book into the hands of friends, knowing they will also find it hard to put down.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday

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

This week's selections:
Three upcoming young adult books that I am very excited to read:

Due out October 2, 2012
Synopsis taken from Amazon:
They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn’t exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire had a son. But what became of him she never knew. What was his name? Was he even alive?  She was supposed to forget him, but that was impossible. Now Claire will stop at nothing to find her child, even if it means making an unimaginable sacrifice.


Son thrusts readers once again into the chilling world of the Newbery Medal winning book, The Giver, as well as Gathering Blue and Messenger where a new hero emerges. In this thrilling series finale, the startling and long-awaited conclusion to Lois Lowry’s epic tale culminates in a final clash between good and evil.


Hattie Ever After by Kirby Larson
Due out February 12, 2013
Synopsis taken from Amazon:
After leaving Uncle Chester's homestead claim, orphan Hattie Brooks throws a lasso around a new dream, even bigger than the Montana sky. She wants to be a reporter, knowing full well that a few pieces published in the Arlington News will not suffice. Real reporters must go to Grand Places, and do Grand Things, like Hattie's hero Nellie Bly. Another girl might be stymied by this, but Hattie has faced down a hungry wolf and stood up to a mob of angry men. Nothing can squash her desire to write for a big city newspaper. A letter and love token from Uncle Chester's old flame in San Francisco fuels that desire and Hattie jumps at the opportunity to get there by working as a seamstress for a traveling acting troupe. This could be her chance to solve the mystery of her "scoundrel" uncle and, in the process, help her learn more about herself. But Hattie must first tell Charlie that she will not join him in Seattle. Even though her heart approves of Charlie's plan for their marriage, her mind fears that saying yes to him would be saying no to herself. Hattie holds her own in the big city, literally pitching her way to a byline, and a career that could be even bigger than Nellie Bly's. But can making headlines compensate for the pain of betrayal and lost love? Hattie must dig deep to find her own true place in the world. Kirby Larson once again creates a lovingly written novel about the remarkable and resilient young orphan, Hattie Inez Brooks.


My Name is Parvana by Deborah Ellis
Due out: Yesterday!

Synopsis taken from Amazon: On a military base in post-Taliban Afghanistan, American authorities have just imprisoned a teenaged girl found in a bombed-out school. The army major thinks she may be a terrorist working with the Taliban. The girl does not respond to questions in any language and remains silent, even when she is threatened, harassed and mistreated over several days. The only clue to her identity is a tattered shoulder bag containing papers that refer to people named Shauzia, Nooria, Leila, Asif, Hassan — and Parvana.
In this long-awaited sequel to The Breadwinner Trilogy, Parvana is now fifteen years old. As she waits for foreign military forces to determine her fate, she remembers the past four years of her life. Reunited with her mother and sisters, she has been living in a village where her mother has finally managed to open a school for girls. But even though the Taliban has been driven from the government, the country is still at war, and many continue to view the education and freedom of girls and women with suspicion and fear.
As her family settles into the routine of running the school, Parvana, a bit to her surprise, finds herself restless and bored. She even thinks of running away. But when local men threaten the school and her family, she must draw on every ounce of bravery and resilience she possesses to survive the disaster that kills her mother, destroys the school, and puts her own life in jeopardy.
A riveting page-turner, Deborah Ellis’s new novel is at once harrowing, inspiring and thought-provoking. And, yes, in the end, Parvana is reunited with her childhood friend, Shauzia.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Dear Blue Sky

Cass' brother, Sef, has joined the military and been deployed to Iraq. His departure has changed their household a lot. Not only is Sef gone, but their mother is battling some form of depression as she worries about her son, and it feels as though she is concerned only with him.  Cassie's best friend is no longer speaking to her, and as she tries to cope with the changes in her life, she begins to fall behind on homework. One assignment she is given, however, is something she finds very meaningful.  Cassie begins to follow a blog called Blue Sky and writes to the young Iraqi girl who authors this blog. Through Blue Sky, Cass can understand a perspective different from her own and also find some comfort in what she is going through in her own life.
Right now my fifth grade book club is reading The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis. This book is consistently the one title that my book club members vote as their favorite read of the year. Set in Afghanistan, Parvana must cut her hair and dress like a boy in order to get food and water for her family after her father's arrest. Life in Afghanistan is hard. Dear Blue Sky by Mary Sullivan reminds me of The Breadwinner a bit.
There are also several references to The Giver by Lois Lowry.  Cass has been assigned to read this novel for school, and having read this book myself did help in my enjoyment of Dear Blue Sky.
Although I don't think I will replace The Breadwinner as a book club selection, I would love to add Dear Blue Sky as a companion novel.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Gone Missing

I love Linda Castillo's Amish  mystery series. Although I am not a huge mystery reader, this is one of several series I enjoy and have come to feel as though I know the characters.
In her latest installment, Kate Burkholder has been summoned by Agent Tomasetti to help solve the mysterious disappearance of an Amish teenager.  Formerly Amish herself, Burkholder is able to relate to this population that keeps to themselves and doesn't welcome the intrusion of police officers.  As the investigation unfolds, it is apparent that not just one girl has gone missing, but that several have gone missing over a span of time and none have been seen since.
I was nearing the climax of this book on Friday as I left for work, and it took all my self control to not allow myself to read it at stoplights.  The teens that are missing all share the common element of being Amish, and they are also all teens that have experimented with things like smoking and drinking- activities deemed sinful by the Amish religion. 
As I read, I never envisioned the ending at all (I am no good at trying to guess who the killer is, so have given that up) and was totally enthralled with this story.  Castillo allows Kate's relationship with Tomasetti to advance a little as well, which continues to add to this series.
While I have enjoyed all of the Kate Burkholder mysteries, Gone Missing is one of my favorites. I'm so lucky to have received this one as an ARC from my friend, Kay, who I hope is not disappointed with how long it took me to get around to reading it.  In this case, it truly was me saving a book I really wanted to read so that the time it takes for another in the series to come out won't seem as long.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Sunday Salon

Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning is what I have been busy with the past two days.  This seems to be a recurring theme to my weekends.  Either I need to clean more during the week (when?), or be content with the mess so I don't spend all of my time cleaning on the weekends. The good news is that we got a lot done this weekend.  We are still de-cluttering and I finally feel that even though other people might not notice, I can tell that things are in their place and there isn't just an overwhelming amount of stuff. 
My mom is one of six children. Three of her four brothers and her sister were back this past weekend. My mom and dad bought the farm where my mom and her siblings grew up. My sister and brother and their families also came back along with a great aunt and great uncle.  In addition to enjoying seeing everyone, there was a lot of good food.
My girls and I watched Mary Poppins for the first time ever.  I was suprised by how much they loved it and my oldest daughter even is talking about showing it at her birthday sleepover.
It definitely feels like fall now and I noticed today as I was driving into town how beautiful the trees were becoming.  I do love this weather, and whipped up the first batch of chili for supper tonight.
We're off to see my uncle one last time before he leaves for Colorado tomorrow morning and then I want to sit down and relax for the last hour or two before I have to begin thinking about another week of work.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Motherland

I loved Amy Sohn's smart, funny mommy-lit novel Prospect Park West a few years ago.  The same characters return in Motherland and are equally as entertaining to read about. I found myself chuckling at their ability-or lack thereof- to problem solve and make decisions about their lives and relationships.
Sohn captures a bit of what I imagine a group of moneyed nearly forty-year old couples lives are all about in New York City, while also adding a bit of hilarity and incredulity to her story; it seems a little over the top, but in a good way.
A few years have elapsed since Prospect Park West ended, and Melora is no longer with Stuart, the producer. The two are splitting custody of Orion and Melora is trying to resurrect her acting career.
Gottlieb and CC's marriage is shaky.  Although CC is confident her husband would never cheat, he doesn't seem to enjoy being a parent very much, either, and is busy trying to sell a screen play.
Rachel is happy to be back with her husband, Theo, after her fling with a famous producer.  However, when she runs into him over the summer she can't get him out of her mind, and suddenly the paternity of her youngest child becomes an issue she tried to ignore.
Marco and his partner Todd are about to adopt a second child.  Marco is unhappy with this development and turns to drinking to cope as the relationhship flounders.
Karen is newly separated from her husband, unhappy with being single. As she explores ways to make money and the dating scene again, events occur that lead her to learn a few things about herself.
Sohn's look at these five couples could truly be written into a hilarious, and honest, look at parenthood in NYC today.  I loved this book and loved meeting up with the characters again.  Motherland could definitely be read as a stand-alone title, but having already felt a part of these characters' lives, this follow-up to Prospect Park West was entertaining and engaging, and has left me hoping that Sohn will continue to allow us to check in with this group of lovable, and somewhat dysfunctional, people. Although it's been several years since I've read anything by Candace Bushnell (Sex in the City), Sohn's writing and material remind me of Bushnell's novels.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

The Letter


Pat Tillman has intrigued me since I heard about him giving up his NFL career to embark on a military career.  I can recall watching some story that aired during an NFL game that I just happened to catch a glimpse of.  My husband filled me in a bit further on Tillman's backstory and I was simultaneously impressed and intrigued.
When I heard of Pat's death it seemed incredibly heartbreaking, but almost as though this ending was to be expected, elevating him to legend status, at least in my mind. 
Jon Krakauer's book Where Men Win Glory, delved deeper into Tillman's story, and I quickly devoured it.  When I saw that Tillman's widow, Marie, had also written a book, I was eager to hear her side of things.
The Letter is certainly a personal account of her relationship with Pat - from its beginnings when they were children in California and just knew of each other to them meeting and dating in high school.  Marie shares personal memories, letters from Pat, and how she dealt with his loss and eventually moved on.
This is a fast read and moves along quickly. After reading Marie's story about her life with Pat, and his desire for her to LIVE in the event of his death, I am more impressed than ever with Pat Tillman. Marie does not make him out to be perfect or without flaws - she shares of a time when Pat was in high school and was charged with a crime - but she also shares how seriously Pat reflected on this time.  If anyone thought that Pat Tillman was just a "dumb jock," Marie shares the discussion she and Pat had with Pat's brother about various books they all read and talked about. Marie's books gives Pat Tillman even more depth as little known bits and pieces about him are revealed.
As I was reading, the thing I was most amazed about was the number of years that had already passed since Pat's death.  For Marie, writing this book may have been cathartic. For me, the reader, it was a beautiful look at a person who felt compelled to make a difference in this world. Pat Tillman will not be forgotten.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday

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

This week's pick: The History of Us by Leah Stewart
Due out: January 8, 2013

Synopsis taken from Amazon:
In The History of Us, the newest novel by the celebrated author of The Myth of You and Me, three grown siblings return to their childhood home and face a family secret that forces them to reexamine their relationships to each other—and to the aunt who took them in as children.

Eloise Hempel is on her way to teach a class at Harvard when she receives devastating news. Her sister and her husband have been killed in a tragic accident, and Eloise must return home to Cincinnati to take her sister’s three children, Theodora, Josh, and Claire, out of the hands of her own incapable mother. She moves back into her mother’s ancient house and, after her mother leaves, pours her own money into its upkeep.

Nearly two decades later, Eloise is still in that house, still thinking about what she left behind. With Claire leaving for New York City for a promising ballet career, Eloise has plans to finally embark on a life that’s hers alone. But when her mother makes a competition out of who inherits the house, and Claire reveals a life-changing secret, their makeshift family begins to fall apart.

A “perceptive writer with a keen grasp of contemporary culture and domestic life” (Booklist), Leah Stewart creates a deeply moving story of love, loss, sibling relationships, and the paths not taken.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Precious Bones

Precious Bones, a debut novel by Mika Ashley-Hollinger, is set in the swamps of Florida in the late 1940s.  Bones loves the outdoors and the many animals that are her friends. Bones' father, Nolay, an Indian shares his way of life with his family, and in many ways seems larger than life.
When two Yankees make their way to Southern Florida as part of a real estate scam, things become a bit more interesting- especially when one of them turns up dead.  Nolay seems to be the prime suspect, something Bones can hardly believe.  As she and Little Man investigate on their own, they also turn up a few other truths about life.
I loved the setting of this book and the cast of characters created by Ashley-Hollinger.  Bones is easy to love, and I was rooting for her, hoping that her father wouldn't let her down. 
Precious Bones was entertaining, with several chuckles along the way- a perfect coming of age novel for a wide range of readers.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Sunday Salon

Another weekend almost over!  Where does time go?  Although we didn't have a lot of plans, I could still use another day to catch up. I think this same thing every weekend.

Saturday we went to Middle Sister's first soccer game.  The league is new and there have been some complaints by more than a few parents about the ridiculous way they divided up teams.  The people who divided teams are aware that they goofed up, but the season has begun, so some teams have really, really good players who are all a year older than other teams. And Middle Sister's team has a lot of new, young players.  The good part is that she has a great coach. The downside is that no matter what, they may never win a game.  I am totally not competitive but I was having a hard time even watching on Saturday morning.

I did finally finish off - and enjoy- Precious Bones - a great middle grade novel, along with Code Name Verity.  Today I began Motherland by Amy Sohn.  I so wish I could get through all the great books that I have stacked up, but so far it isn't happening.

The rest of the weekend was filled up with church, grocery shopping, a bit of cleaning, exercise, and watching Back to the Future with the family last night.

It's nearly time for the bedtime rush to begin. I have been munching on Big Sister's Pinterest recipe of the week: a bag of fritos, topped with a topping consisting of 1 c. sugar, 1 c. corn syrup and 1 c. peanut butter. So yummy!



Friday, September 14, 2012

The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving

Jonathan Evison's book is full of eclectic, quirky characters. The story centers mainly around Trev, a nineteen year old with muscular dystrophy and his caregiver, Ben Benjamin.  Although it seems odd that Ben would want to be Trev's caregiver, the trauma and heartbreak he has endured are not immediately revealed.  It is only through Ben's own recollections interspersed throughout the book that we become aware of his two children, Piper and Jodi, who are no longer alive.  He is still resistant to his wife's plans to divorce him and has little to look forward to, yet needs to move on as well as make a living. The two men form an unlikely friendship and eventually are given permission from Trev's mom to take a road trip.  On their way they meet up with an interesting cast of characters that lead them to take part in a birth, a cross country chase by a Buick Skylark, and a few arrests. 
Evison's inspiration (if you could call it that) for this novel comes from his own grief.  Decades ago his then sixteen year old sister took a trip that she never returned from, killed in a car accident.  His family is still trying to come to terms with the loss of this beloved sister.  Evison knows what it feels like to be Ben Benjamin, to want to remain in the past, yet to need to move forward and still embrace life. 
Amazon quotes a portion of The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving that I also underlined in my reading:
"Listen to me: everything you think you know, every relationship you’ve ever taken for granted, every plan or possibility you’ve ever hatched, every conceit or endeavor you’ve ever concocted, can be stripped from you in an instant. Sooner or later, it will happen. So prepare yourself. Be ready not to be ready. Be ready to be brought to your knees and beaten to dust. Because no stable foundation, no act of will, no force of cautious habit will save you from this fact: nothing is indestructible."
Although this might sound melodramatic and a bit depressing, Evison has hit upon a truth of life. We simply don't know what tomorrow may hold.  And while Evison's novel does hold some sorrow, it is also a hopeful book as Ben Benjamin and Trev both learn to move on.




Thursday, September 13, 2012

Off The Grid

I have a few friends who read mysteries almost exclusively. I admit they are usually fast moving and I do like suspense from time to time but it isn't the first type of book I gravitate toward. 
However, I do have a few series that I have become attached to.  PJ Tracy's books are some of my favorites.  Written by a mother/daugher author team, I love that these books are set in Minnesota, a locale with which I am familiar.
Monkeewrench, the first book in this series, introduces a group of brilliant computer geeks and two detectives.  Now, six books into the series, the Monkeewrench gang is still going strong.  Grace MacBride is spending some quiet time on a boat off of the Florida coast, trying to get rid of the demons that have long been a part of her life.  Just as she should be relaxing with a retired FBI agent, an assassination attempt sends her adrenaline racing and into danger once again.  In seemingly unrelated events, Somalis are found murdered - and later it is discovered that these Somalis had committed or were planning to commit acts of terrorism. 
There are a lot of tangled webs in this book and I couldn't begin to connect all the dots until I had read until the end.  With any luck PJ Tracy are already at work on the next book in this series that I am still enjoying.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday

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

This week's pick: Eight Girls Taking Pictures by Whitney Otto
Due out November 6, 2012

Product Description taken from Amazon:

This captivating novel opens in 1917 as Cymbeline Kelley surveys the charred remains of her photography studio, destroyed in a fire started by a woman hired to help take care of the house while Cymbeline pursued her photography career. This tension— between wanting and needing to be two places at once; between domestic duty and ambition; between public and private life; between what’s seen and what’s hidden from view—echoes in the stories of the other seven women in the book. Among them: Amadora Allesbury, who creates a world of color and whimsy in an attempt to recapture the joy lost to WWI; Clara Argento, who finds her voice working alongside socialist revolutionaries in Mexico; Lenny Van Pelt, a gorgeous model who feels more comfortable photographing the deserted towns of the French countryside after WWII than she does at a couture fashion shoot; and Miri Marx, who has traveled the world taking pictures, but also loves her quiet life as a wife and mother in her New York apartment. Crisscrossing the world and a century, Eight Girls Taking Pictures is an affecting meditation on the conflicts women face and the choices they make. These memorable characters seek extraordinary lives through their work, yet they also find meaning and reward in the ordinary tasks of motherhood, marriage, and domesticity. Most of all, this novel is a vivid portrait of women in love—in love with men, other women, children, their careers, beauty, and freedom.

As she did in her bestselling novel How to Make an American Quilt, Whitney Otto offers a finely woven, textured inquiry into the intersecting lives of women. Eight Girls Taking Pictures is her most ambitious book: a bold, immersive, and unforgettable narrative that shows how the art, loves, and lives of the past influence our present.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Gold Medal Summer

Although I read a lot of high school/middle grade novels, it feels like quite a while since I have reviewed a realistic fiction book for the upper elementary crowd. 
Gold Medal Summer by Donna Freitas was published this summer- a perfect reading selection for the gymnasts I know as the Olympics approached.
Joey Jordan's dream is to win a gold medal and be a champion gymnast.  Her older sister Julia has made this feat look easy, but Joey knows how difficult it is as she battles her own doubts and spends hour after hour training. A bright spot in her training is the friendships she forms with other gymnasts, although Joey must also deal with a few rivals who work at psyching her out.
When Joey reconnects with Tanner, who has just returned to town, she begins to realize there might be a world outside of the gym. And, when one of her coaches offers her an opportunity to develop a floor routine that is catered to her skills and talents, Joey can't refuse, despite the fact that she will be facing the wrath of her very demanding head coach.
This reminded me a bit of Kate Messner's Sugar and Ice which focused on the sport of figure skating and had a bit of a mean girl/bullying theme as well.  I loved Gold Medal Summer, and think that many girls can relate to Joey's predicament. Donna Freitas' latest novel is a gold medal read.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Love Anthony

Lisa Genova's Left Neglected was one of my favorite books last year.  I have heard nothing but rave reviews about Still Alice which is still on my TBR list, either, so I was very excited to see that Genova's third novel would be released this fall.
Love Anthony will no doubt receive positive reviews, despite the fact that I didn't fall as deeply in love with it as I did with Left Neglected.
Beth has just discovered her husband has cheated on her, leaving her alone to raise their three daughters.  She begins writing again, something she gave up when she became a wife and mother and no longer had the time to devote to her passion.
Olivia has moved to Nantucket after she and her husband have separated.  The two are still grieving over the loss of their son Anthony, whose diagnosis of autism at the age of three turned their world upside down.
As these two women alternate narrating their stories and Beth's story she is writing is also part of the novel, Beth and Olivia develop a connection that is amazing and inspiring to them both.
Although I enjoyed reading Love Anthony, this story was rather predictable and didn't have the depth of Left Neglected.  Because the bar has been set so high for Genova's books, perhaps that is why I felt a bit of a letdown. Despite the flaws I found with this book, I am sure that it will appeal to Genova's fans, and is certainly a quick and entertaining novel.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Sunday Salon

We have had beautiful fall weather the past two days- sunny and in the 70s - a perfect weekend.  However, I spent nearly all of yesterday cleaning (with little to show for it) inside.  Last night my husband and I attended a dinner honoring his college wrestling coach.  Wartburg College, our alma mater, has won 20 consecutive Conference Championships.  My husband's first year there (my first year as well), was Coach Jim Miller's first year as their coach.  He took their wrestling program from nothing to being written about in the New York Times.  Over three hundred people gathered to celebrate the Double Decade of Dominance and listen to former wrestlers reminisce.  I have attended two previous dinners (the 10 year and 15 year celebrations), and this one was fairly tame in comparison. 
Today we released balloons at church for Rally Sunday, had my youngest daughter's ears pierced, and I have just finished cooking up a few different choices for our busy week.  Middle Sister has soccer practices on two nights this week, I have a late night at work one night, and have a concert with friends I am attending on Thursday. 
The good news is that I have a few books finished that I am ready to post about, so even though the coming week looks busy, I have finally returned to a somewhat more normal blogging schedule. 
As soon as supper is done I plan on sitting down and reading Precious Bones and enjoying the last few hours of my weekend.  Can tomorrow really be Monday?

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Saturday Baking

My oldest daughters have been begging for me to find a cookie recipe given to me by my good friend, Jamie. Several years ago Jamie had my oldest two daughters over for a playdate.  Good mom that she is, she had her daughter and my two help her make cookies.  The girls fell in love with these tasty morsels and were thrilled when she emailed me the recipe.  We made them and enjoyed them, and then somehow the recipe went missing.
Last weekend my oldest daughter and I cleaned out two of our cupboards in an effort to get rid of too much "stuff."  Lo and behold, the cookie recipe was pushed to the back of the top shelf.  Immediately I was hearing requests for these cookies, and then had to referee a fight over which girl would get to make them. 
We have already consumed the first batch, so tonight Middle Sister made another batch to enjoy.

Oatmeal Chip Cookies

Sift together:
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
2 c. flour

Cream well:
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter, room temperature

Blend into creamed mixture: 2 unbeaten eggs
After eggs are blended, beat well
Add dry ingredients and mix well

Stir in 2 cups of oatmeal and 1 c. of choc. chips

Shape into dough balls

Bake at 375 degrees for 9-12 minutes. Do not overbake- take out sooner and let fall on cookie sheet so they are softer. Enjoy!

Friday, September 7, 2012

First Ever Meeting of The Staff Book Club

For several years now I have thought it would be great fun to have a group of teachers read some kids books and discuss them.  It's not like we don't already have enough to do, but childrens literature is much faster reading than most adult books, and it would give teachers who don't find time to read books for pleasure an opportunity to add some great reads to their list of books they may want to use with their class.

For our first ever meeting we read the book The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. This Newbery winner is a classic of childrens literature, and while a few teachers had read it previously (and by previously, I mean decades ago) most everyone else had not read it.  I read this novel as a child and enjoyed it, but also recall it being dark and depressing.  Re-reading it as an adult gave me an entirely different perspective on it.  While this is not a cheery story, I appreciated the history taught through this novel.

Katherine "Kit" has come to live with her aunt and uncle in Connecticut Colony after her grandfather dies.  Her Barbados childhood was full of fun and freedom, and Kit learned both how to read and to swim from her beloved Grandfather.  When she arrives in Wethersfield and realizes how different life is there compared to what she knew, she is a bit saddened.  Her aunt Rachel and cousins Mercy and Judith spend their days working - carding wool, making candles, and doing other difficult, time consuming tasks.  Uncle Matthew is a stern, rigid figure as well, and Aunt Rachel acquiesces to whatever her husband decides.
It is easy to see that trouble will follow Kit, since even before her ship reaches land, she has managed to draw attention to herself. When a child's doll falls overboard, Kit dives into the water to rescue the toy.  Her ability to swim sets her apart from the other passengers.  When Kit befriends  a Quaker woman, Hannah, who has been called a witch by others in the community, she must keep their friendship a secret. 
Add a little romance to this book - and with three protagonists of marrying age- there is a bit of romance- and The Witch of Blackbird Pond was a novel that the four of us enjoyed reading.

I wasn't sure if we would be able to discuss this novel without a few prompts, and happily found some here.
I handed out novels to almost a dozen teachers, but only four of us met to discuss.  Despite the low numbers, I am still happy that a few made the effort.  We are unable to meet during our contracted time, so we met before our Parent Led Conferences. This is the one drawback to our staff book club - with all the time already spent at school or doing school related things, it is hard to commit to more time away from home.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

City of Women

World War II has turned into one of my favorite time periods to read about.  City of Women by David Gillham is yet another title set during this time period, and well worth reading.

1943, Berlin- Sigrid is living with her mother-in-law, working a job in what has become a city full of women since the men are all at war.  Sigrid's marriage isn't one of wedded bliss and there is certainly no love lost between her and her mother-in-law.

When Sigrid becomes friends with a young woman named Ericha, she is pulled into a world of danger she tries to help save the Jews of Berlin.  Her own lover, also a Jew, is another of Sigrid's well kept secrets. As the novel unfolds Sigrid must decide whether she will put not only herself at risk but also her husband and his mother.

City of Women has received a lot of buzz, and is another great novel to add to the already very long list of World War II literature.  I initially thought this book would be about more than just a few of the women left in Berlin during the war, but was also not disappointed in Sigrid and Ericha's stories. 

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Waiting on Wednesday

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

This week's pick: Miss Dreamsville and the Collier County Women's Literary Society by Amy Hill Hearth
Due out October 2, 2012

Product Description taken from Goodreads:
A brilliant debut novel from a New York Times bestselling author about a transplanted wife from Boston who arrives in Florida in the 1960s, starts a literary salon, and shakes up the status quo.

In 1962, Jackie Hart moved to Naples, Florida, from Boston with her husband and children. Wanting something personally fulfilling to do with her time, she starts a reading club and anonymously hosts a radio show, calling herself Miss Dreamsville.
The racially segregated town falls in love with Miss Dreamsville, but doesn’t know what to make of Jackie, who welcomes everyone into her book club, including a woman who did prison time for allegedly killing her husband, a man of questionable sexual preference, a young divorcee, as well as a black woman.
By the end of this novel, you’ll be wiping away the tears of laugher and sadness, and you just may become a bit more hopeful that even the most hateful people can see the light of humanitarianism, if they just give themselves a chance.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Blast From the Past

These five titles are just highlights of what I was reading a decade ago.  How about you? What were you reading back in 2002? Last year?

Monday, September 3, 2012

Sunday Salon on Monday: Catching Up

This has been a busy week with activities in full swing. Wednesday was Little Sister's sixth birthday - a momentous event for her and something she has been counting down to for the past six months!

I am still purging more junk from my house.  There are bags of stuff waiting to be dropped off at Goodwill again and Middle Sister's bedroom is looking good. 

My friend Peaceful Reader has been asking me to join her in reading only ARCs for the month of September.  While I initially didn't think this would be possible because of my very large library stacks, I have set aside lots of books to go back to the library with intentions of checking them out at a later time.  While I might not read only ARCs this month, I am going to work really hard to get them under control.  I already finished one and am midway through another.

Last night we went to our neighbor's for supper - a wonderful meal of grilled salmon, steak fries, corn casserole and pie. The weather was beautiful as well, so sitting out on their deck after we ate and talking over a few drinks was the perfect end to the night.

Today, despite the fact that it is a holiday, we are planning on doing some work - cleaning our garage. I would love to curl up with Lisa Genova's new book, but sadly that doesn't seem likely.