Friday, May 31, 2013

End of the Year

I know it's only May 31- but for us teachers, it is the end of the year. Today we had a school-wide field day that hopefully gave me a good start to my summer tan. 

My reading has been a bit slower this past week because of the end of year types of things that go with this job.  Inventory and a book fair have taken up a lot of time these past two weeks. 

Tomorrow is a teacher work day, but after that....I am anxious to get into my summer reading and hang out at the pool.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

The Comfort of Lies

Randy Susan Meyers' The Comfort of Lies was an entertaining women's fiction novel that helped me pass my rainy Memorial Day weekend.

Tia, Caroline and  Juliette are three women who have never met each other, yet there lives connect in ways the three could never imagine.

Tia is head over heels in love with Nathan, a married man. She dreams of the two of them being together someday and of Nathan leaving his wife.  When she finds herself pregnant, she is hopeful for their future, but Nathan is instantly upset with this news and has no intention of leaving his wife and sons.

Juliette thinks she is happily married.  When Nathan confesses to his infidelity, Juliette must decide if she can forgive this man she loves and keep her family intact.  

And Caroline is unable to have a baby of her own. When her husband, Peter, talks her into adopting, Caroline agrees despite the lack of maternal instinct; Caroline is much more drawn to her career than to mothering.  

The common thread that these three women have is the small girl that Tia gave birth to.  Meyers' story takes a story that could be a bit predictable, but adds a bit of a twist by involving and connecting all three women.  Tia, Juliette, and Caroline were likable enough, even though I didn't necessarily agree with any of their decisions at different points while reading.  

Meyers is also able to move the story along by allowing all three women to share their stories in alternating chapters.  This glimpse into what makes each of them think and react the way they do helps develop their characters and makes them seem human.

Meyers is also the author of The Murderer's Daughters, which I have sitting in my TBR pile by my bed. After enjoying The Comfort of Lies, I hope to pick up The Murderer's Daughters this summer sometime.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday

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

This week's pick: The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan
Due out: November 5, 2013



Product Information taken from Goodreads:
Moving between the dazzling world of courtesans in turn of the century Shanghai, a remote Chinese mountain village, and the rough-hewn streets of nineteenth-century San Francisco, Amy Tan's sweeping new novel maps the lives of three generations of women connected by blood and history-and the mystery of an evocative painting known as "The Valley of Amazement."

Violet is one of the most celebrated courtesans in Shanghai, a beautiful and intelligent woman who has honed her ability to become any man's fantasy since her start as a "Virgin Courtesan" at the age of twelve. Half-Chinese and half-American, she moves effortlessly between the East and the West. But her talents belie her private struggle to understand who she really is and her search for a home in the world. Abandoned by her mother, Lucia, and uncertain of her father's identity, Violet's quest to truly love and be loved will set her on a path fraught with danger and complexity-and the loss of her own daughter.

Lucia, a willful and wild American woman who was once herself the proprietress of Shanghai's most exclusive courtesan house, nurses her own secret wounds, which she first sustained when, as a teenager, she fell in love with a Chinese painter and followed him from San Francisco to Shanghai. Her search for penance and redemption will bring her to a startling reunion with Flora, Violet's daughter, and will shatter all that Violet believed she knew about her mother.

Spanning fifty years and two continents, The Valley of Amazement is a deeply moving narrative of family secrets, the legacy of trauma, and the profound connections between mothers and daughters, that returns readers to the compelling territory Amy Tan so expertly mapped in The Joy Luck Club. With her characteristic wisdom, grace, and humor, she conjures a story of the inheritance of love, its mysteries and senses, its illusions and truths.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

All The Things You Are

I seem to be late to the party in reading Courtney Sheinmel's books.  I devoured All The Things You Are yesterday on one of our rainy days we had at home.  This was a perfect middle grade/tween read about a topic that I've never seen covered in a book for kids.

Carly seems to be living an ideal life.  She goes to a private school and has a close group of friends she hangs out with. Her mom has an exciting job as a stylist on a soap opera, and Carly knows some of the soap stars personally.  Even her stepfather, Faux Pa, is a kind, caring  man that Carly has known and loved since she was very young.

When Carly's  mom is arrested for embezzling funds from her job, Carly's world is turned upside down. At first Carly believes her mother is innocent - after all, she is one of the nicest people Carly knows.  So, when her mother admits to having taken money Carly is stunned - and angry.  

No longer does Carly have a good group of friends. Her friends have heard the news, too, and some of them no longer want to be friends.  Her stepfather is still supportive of Carly but is also upset with her mother.  And, now that she has pled guilty, they know that she will be going to prison for a while.

This was a fascinating story to read.  I know of two people who have embezzled money from their jobs.  In both cases, I was no longer working where I would see them on a daily basis, but was stunned that these wonderful people would make such a poor decision.  Sheinmel is able to portray Carly's mom as a real person - she is neither all good or all bad, but very human.  All of Sheinmel's characters are well developed and the various feelings and sides to this story made this book a great read.


Monday, May 27, 2013

The Girls of Atomic City

World War II has become a fascinating topic for me. A few years ago I felt like I had read enough about this time period, and now have changed completely, becoming more amazed at how the world was impacted by this war with each story I read.

The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan is a non-fiction account of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a community established to help build the atomic bomb.  Few of the women and men who worked there knew the details of the job they were doing, and there was a definite air of secrecy surrounding the work they were doing.

Kiernan tells the story of several women who worked at Oak Ridge, from their life before Oak Ridge was even established, to what made them interested in working a job at Oak Ridge, and even concludes with what happened in their lives after World War II ended.  Although men and women worked at Oak Ridge, it is the women that Kiernan focuses on, as more and more women were forced to enter the work force since many men were already serving their country.

Within The Girls of Atomic City there are many references to Los Alamos, New Mexico, the location where scientists worked on the atomic bomb.  There are many similarities between these two locations, yet, I have read many things about Los Alamos, but had never heard of Oak Ridge, TN.  

As we celebrate Memorial Day and the men and women who have served our country, The Girls of Atomic City is a book that touches on a little known location during WWII, where women - and men - found a way to serve their country.  

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Sunday Salon

I was excited for this three day weekend until it decided to rain the entire time.  While I like the idea of curling up with a good book and relaxing, the day-after-day-ness of it has definitely made me ready for the sun.


Yesterday I was sure that Middle Sister's soccer game would get postponed or canceled. I checked my cell phone and email repeatedly, but as the game time neared, I frantically got ready to go to see her play.  Although MS did wear pants under her shorts, she decided to take them off in our van when she saw some of her teammates in shorts.  The spectators were cuddled up in blankets and rain gear.  


My sister and her family came back to catch one game, and were impressed with MS' ball handling skills and persistence.  She has improved so much!

Today we have made a half-hearted attempt at cleaning, did some grocery shopping at Wal-Mart and Hy-Vee and are planning on seeing The Croods tonight with my mom.  
I've managed to do quite a bit of reading. I started and finished A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story by Qais Akbar Omar, a great memoir that I plan to review this week.  We've been working on watching the entire Gilmore Girls series and after three years of slowly working our way through the first two seasons are now (finally) on season three. 

Those plans don't sound too thrilling, but I have just 4 days of school left and my girls have 8 - we are on the homeward stretch!   

How about you? Any big Memorial Day plans? 

Friday, May 24, 2013

Read Along - Under The Dome


I can't think of the last time I've participated in a read along. In fact, I might never have participated in a read along before. 

Under the Dome is one of those books that has been on my mental TBR list since it came out. Since I saw a few bloggers signing up to participate, I figured I'd join in.

I'll download the book tonight to my kindle, but right now I am still reading a few other books, so I might not start over this long holiday weekend. 

Here's the blurb I copied from Coffee and Book Chick in case you want to participate:

•Ms. Jilly Bean, aka Fizzy Thoughts, for the fabulous idea earlier this year for an Under the Dome readalong. While I won't be able to send gifts out to everyone (I am not creative like that, have no idea what to do), I hope everyone enjoys the collaboration together.


•Thanks also go out to Trish at Love, Laughter, Insanity, Lesley at Prairie Horizons, and Lisa at Lit and Life for dealing with my last minute Twitter panic that I missed the readalong, and then thoughts on set up, all in the past twenty-four hours!

Although the mini-series will premiere in exactly one month on CBS, our summer readalong starts now and will extend past the mini-series premiere. I plan to DVR the show and watch it after the readalong has concluded. Reading and blogging has taken a backseat for many of us this year, but I can definitely attest even more so to it. I think the only thing that can bring me back into the thick of things is a combination of Stephen King and, most importantly, a summer readalong with all of you!

I can't wait to dive into this book.  I've read Stephen King once before when I was completing my library masters degree and read The Green Mile.  I loved it, but never felt compelled to read more since my first inclination is not to read anything falling under the horror category.

Happy Reading!



Thursday, May 23, 2013

Giant Dance Party

Yesterday after a long day of work (right now they all seem long as I am weeding and inventorying my entire collection along with running a book fair) I was happily surprised by a big box of books from Harper Collins.  Every title elicited a smile or an "ooh" from my girls, but it was Giant Dance Party by Betsy Bird that we sat down to read at bedtime.

I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical. The idea of giants dancing didn't sound very promising to me. But....I loved this story. 

Lexy has decided she no longer wants to attend dance lessons. It isn't that she doesn't like dancing.  She does. But she hates performing in front of people.  Instead she decides to give dance lessons which will allow her to pursue her passion while not having to perform.  Although it is hard at first to find any lesson takers, soon a group of fuzzy blue giants show up ready for Lexy to teach them.  And when it is time for their big performance, they, like Lexy, are a bit shy.  Except that this time Lexy, who is now their teacher and in charge, must help them get over their stage fright.

Cute, cute, cute.  Bright illustrations by Brandon Dorman bring this story to life.  This is a fun story to read, while still giving a message about overcoming your fears.  

Incidentally, Betsy Bird is the author of  Fuse8, a childrens literature blog hosted at School Library Journal. I've been reading Bird's blog for several years now, and although I don't know her personally, was excited to see this book by someone I "know."

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday

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

This Week's Pick: Widow Waltz by Sally Koslow
Due out June 13, 2013



Product Information taken from Amazon:
Sally Koslow’s fourth novel is deftly told through the alternating viewpoints of her three remarkable female protagonists as they find the grit to survive devastating losses and reinvent their lives. Warm and witty, The Widow Waltz will appeal to readers of Cathleen Schine's The Three Weissmanns of Westport, Hilma Wolitzer, Elizabeth Berg, Anna Quindlen, and J. Courtney Sullivan.

Ben Silver had it all—a successful law practice, a New York apartment overlooking Central Park, a beach house, fine art, club memberships. Yet when a massive coronary fells him while training for the New York City Marathon, it’s revealed that his life was a lie. He’s left his wife, Georgia Waltz, and their two daughters almost penniless.

Georgia must now rally to support her family while mourning a husband whose private enigmas keep surfacing. To her surprise, she also discovers that it may even be possible to find new love in the land of Spanx and wrinkles. Meanwhile, her daughters must face the responsibilities of adulthood that they have avoided and put their hidden talents to work.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Reconstructing Amelia

Sometimes I find myself recommending books to people saying that such and such book is like another book I have read.  In my mind, there is a connection and I love looking at "read-alikes" lists.

When I read that Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight was like Gone Girl, I knew instantly I wanted to read it. I loved Gone Girl. 

A friend of mine who had read Gone Girl and then read Reconstructing Amelia a few week ago warned me that the comparison was a stretch at best.  Although both books were suspenseful, that seems to be where the similarities end.  At least for me.  I will recommend Reconstructing Amelia, just like I recommended Gone Girl, but more because it is a fast read with a twist, than on the comparison that those books are so much alike.

Kate is a busy single mother, juggling a law career with parenting her teen-age daughter, Amelia.  Although she likes to think she and Amelia have a great relationship and there aren't secrets between them, like most teenage girls, Amelia has a life that her mother knows nothing about.  So, when Kate is called to come to Amelia's school because her daughter is in trouble, she is stunned. Amelia is a bright student, a "good girl." Even more stunning -and devastating- are the events that unfold as Kate arrives at the school. Amelia has jumped from a building, killing herself. 

Kate is unable to believe that Amelia would have killed herself. What looked like an open and shut case is examined at more closely and more questions emerge.  Secret clubs, a blog full of gossip and hurtful comments, bullying, all come to Kate's attention.  As she pores over Kate's emails, texts, and other communication her daughter had, Kate is confronted for the first time with how little she really knew her daughter. Yet, she holds firm in the belief that she knew her well enough to know with certainty that Amelia did not kill herself.

Reconstructing Amelia was entertaining. It was fast paced, and well constructed.  As Kate delved further into her daughter's life I had to remind myself that no matter what Kate unearthed, Amelia would never come back to life.  Amelia and Kate both take turns narrating chapters, so it was easy to get to know Amelia and hope for an ending happier than the inevitable jump from the roof.

I'm not a good guesser when it comes to suspense novels and who-dunnits, so I am always a bit surprised at the endings of these books. Reconstructing Amelia is no exception, although I appreciated that McCreight is able to tie up all loose strings efficiently and believably.

Monday, May 20, 2013

American Wasteland

I am not the most wasteful person on the planet, but I am not nearly as frugal or conscientious about using what I have as my parents are.  I venture to guess that is true for many people from my generation.  And my parents were probably a little more wasteful than their parents.  Sadly, our country is full of wastefulness, yet we still have millions of people who go hungry each and every day.

American Wasteland by Jonathan Bloom is a book I think everyone should read.  It is certainly eye-opening as Bloom looks at all the food we waste in our country.  From farmers leaving food in the field without harvesting it to consumers throwing away excess without ever preparing it, tons of food (literally) are thrown away every day.  

Recently we have been having a discussion in our household.  Farm girl that I am, I have continued to humor my mom by filling  up an old ice cream container with leftover table scraps that she can feed her cats.  My husband, who grew up in town, has never heard of something so disgusting and nearly gags every time that plastic bucket gets brought out.  However, disgusting or not, I would be the one winning kudos from Bloom.  Leftover food scraps often end up in landfills where they produce methane - which is responsible for global warming.  And these food scraps produce methane for no small amount of time, either- they can produce methane for twenty five years! 

As Bloom writes about the farmers who decide not to harvest certain crops because the cost of paying workers is greater than the amount of money they will make when these crops are sold, or the crops that are weeded out simply because they don't look perfect, there is little I can do to change those things.  However, I can change the way I buy food and the way I use it at my home, something Bloom also write about.

American Wasteland is full of research and statistics, as Bloom has done his homework on this topic. But, it is also an enjoyable read, full of vignettes to back up his points on the wastefulness we Americans seem to take for granted.

This is a book I'll be talking about for quite some time, and one I'll be recommending to everyone.  While I doubt I can eliminate waste entirely from my home, I do plan on continuing to give my table scraps to my mom's cats, and I certainly plan to inventory what we have in our refrigerator before shopping as well as making up a menu so I know what it is I am shopping for.  

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Sunday Salon

My posting this past week was a bit sporadic due to my oldest daughter's doctor appointment.  I love the fact that we are now seven years post treatment and only have to go back once a year -but, that doesn't make them any less stressful - at least to me!  I didn't accomplish much in the way of cooking or cleaning, either this past week, so I have to play catch up today.

After all the hospital stuff (EKG, echocardiogram, and bloodwork) were done, we did get some shopping in.  First stop: Prairie Lights Book Store- an awesome indie bookstore in Iowa City. We always can find ways to spend money there.  

The best buy we had was a new dress for Big Sister who has grown a bit and has nothing dressy left for church (her two younger sisters still have lots of cute sundresses in their closet).  We found this dress at Scheels:

The adult brand that is producing this new kids line is Soybu, and even though I didn't buy anything for myself, I did like the clothes and have filed this away for future shopping trips for myself.

We've had summer-like weather this weekend, and today it is humid - the right kind of weather for a good 'ol storm.  My husband is working on planting hostas and ferns along our trail in our woods and is buying flowers for our window boxes.  I would love to cuddle up with Reconstructing Amelia, but feel slightly guilty that he would be working while I am lounging and reading.

I have just two weeks left til the end of the school year- and what a busy two weeks it will be!  Two softball games, two soccer practices and one game, a talent show I am helping with at school, finishing up my book fair and beginning inventory, organizing a track and field day for the last day, still getting my NLXF classes in....I will be in great need of a break!  

I'm off to enjoy the rest of my Sunday - and may just forget about my guilt and sit and read for a bit anyway.  


Saturday, May 18, 2013

On Sal Mal Lane

Life on Sal Mal Lane seems a bit idyllic- an entire universe all by itself.  In the late 1970s/early 1980s in Sri Lanka, as tensions rise leading up to the country's civil war, the residents on Sal Mal Lane seem immune to the larger world, content to exist together despite differences of religion.

The children on Sal Mal Lane are the central figures in this story, and since this novel is told through their eyes, the tensions that begin to come to Sri Lanka, are not felt initially by the children.  When the Heraths move to their new house on Sal Mal Lane they are immediately looked up to by the other residents. Their father has a job with the Ministry of Education and all four children dess well, sing Christian hymns, and are educated.  Perhaps the best part about the Heraths is that the children openly embrace friendships with the children on their street, despite the fact that the neighboring twin girls are only half clothed, and their older brother is a bully.

Freeman's descriptions of Sri Lanka created a beautiful picture in my mind, and the story provided an entirely new knowledge about this country and the sorrow it endured during the war.  By creating characters that were so human, the suffering and pain felt during Sri Lanka's civil war is brought to life.

Freeman's novel is beautifully written, a tribute of sorts to the suffering of Sri Lankans - definitely worth taking the time to read and enjoy.


Thursday, May 16, 2013

The Engagements

Just like most Americans, I have heard the famous slogan, "diamonds are forever", for as long as I can remember.  I never took much time to think about it before. However, that changed with the reading of The Engagements, J. Courtney Sullivan's latest novel.

Frances Gerety penned the now household slogan long ago for DeBeer Diamonds that has stood the test of time.  Sullivan uses some research about Gerety's life to pen chapters in The Engagements depicting her at various stages of her life - as a young copyrighter, as a woman who chose to remain single, and finally as an older woman looking back on her life and career.

Sullivan ties together many different stories set at different times with the common thread of an engagement ring:

Gerald and Evelyn's story begins with their unlikely courtship and eventual marriage.  Their only child is a bit of an embarrassment as he continues to make poor choices in love and life.

James and Sheila struggle with making ends meet and James would like nothing more than to replace the diamond ring that was taken from her when she was robbed.

Delphine lives in France with her husband, Henri, a musician.  When a dashing young American arrives on the scene she is instantly smitten.

Kate has always been opposed to marriage, although she and her partner are raising their daughter, Ava, together. She has been put in charge of her cousin's wedding rings as he and his partner plan to wed now that gay marriage is legal.

I appreciated all the characters that were created by Sullivan and their unique stories.  The synopsis I have given for each is a simplistic account of a well developed story - of characters, time period and place that allowed me to feel as though I was truly in the place and time Sullivan was writing about.

Sullivan ties in Gerety and her role in creating diamonds as a lasting symbol of love seamlessly. 

This entire novel was a joy to read- a perfect summer beach novel.  Sullivan is fast becoming one of my go-to authors.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday

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

This Week's pick: Until She Comes Home by Lori Roy
Due out June 15, 2013

Product Information taken from Amazon:

Winner of an Edgar Award for Best First Novel for Bent Road, Lori Roy returns with Until She Comes Home, a tale of spellbinding suspense in which a pair of seemingly unrelated murders crumbles the facade of a changing Detroit neighborhood.

In 1958 Detroit, on Alder Avenue, neighbors struggle to care for neighbors amid a city ripe with conflicts that threaten their peaceful street.

Grace, Alder’s only expectant mother, eagerly awaits her first born. Best friend Julia prepares to welcome twin nieces. And Malina sets the tone with her stylish dresses, tasteful home, and ironfisted stewardship of St. Alban’s bake sale.

Life erupts when childlike Elizabeth disappears while in the care of Grace and Julia. All the ladies fear the recent murder of a black woman at the factory on Willingham Avenue where their husbands work may warn of what has become of Elizabeth, and they worry what is yet to become of Julia—the last to see Elizabeth alive.

The men mount an around-the-clock search, leaving their families vulnerable to sinister elements hidden in plain sight. Only Grace knows what happened, but her mother warns her not to tell. “No man wants to know this about his wife.” Ashamed that her silence puts loved ones in harm’s way, Grace gravitates toward the women of Willingham Avenue, who recognize her suffering as their own. Through their acceptance, Grace conquers her fear and dares to act.

On Alder Avenue, vicious secrets bind friends, neighbors, and spouses. For the wicked among them, the walk home will be long.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Sunday Salon: Mother's Day

Mother's Day 2013....cold temps again here in Iowa. Just 34 degrees when I woke up, and despite the fact that it is sunny and looks beautiful, I've been cold all day.

The girls all played in the kids' bell choir at church and I taught Sunday School for the pre-K class.  Last night we went out to eat with friends in celebration of Mother's Day, so today we snacked for lunch.  Everyone humored me and took me to see Admission with Tina Fey.

My sister-in-law told me it was based on a book, and about ten minutes into the movie I knew exactly which book:
I'd read Admission when it was published in 2010, and although I couldn't recall details, remember really enjoying it. Well, I liked the movie, but the book is always better.

We have two softball games for Big Sister this week, soccer practices and a game, gymnastics, and my fitness class each day.  I am having a hard time concentrating on reading right now because on Thursday our oldest daughter has her yearly exam in Iowa City with her oncologist.  She appears to be fine, but there is always the fear of a recurrence.  If you are a person who prays, please pray for her to have a very boring, routine check-up and the all clear for another year.  It is probably a good thing we are busy this week as that is preferable to sitting at home worrying.

I've had a bad day of snacking and right now am waiting for Big Sister to whip up a batch of cookies....calories don't count on Mother's Day, do they?


Friday, May 10, 2013

Dear Girls Above Me

Today I spent my  morning hall duty reading excerpts from Dear Girls Above Me: Inspired By a True Story by Charlie McDowell to my co-workers.  

Charlie lives downstairs- directly underneath- Claire and Cathy, two single women, who say the most hilarious things, without even meaning to be funny.  

Dear Girls Above Me,

"How do you spell... this word?" Unfortunately, I don't have a visual, but aren't you pointing to it?

Charlie began sharing snippets like the one above on Twitter and soon had quite a following.  Taking his Twitter postings and adding more of his life story, McDowell's book made me laugh out loud several times.  

I did enjoy the humor in Dear Girls Above Me, yet was happy that I read this in short bursts, since I would not have appreciated the humor for a long period of time.   In fact, following him on Twitter might be enough to satisfy my need to know more Cathy and Claire.


Thursday, May 9, 2013

This Is What Happy Looks Like

Beginning with a spate of emails, Ellie and Graham "meet" each other online, chatting about a variety of things and revealing parts of themselves to a total stranger.  Ellie lives in a small town in Maine, a daughter to a single mother, while unbeknownst to her, Graham is a new teen heart-throb, living in California with his pet pig. 

The two never reveal their names, but Graham is able to find Ellie based on the information she shares in their correspondence.  He manages to have his newest movie filmed in Ellie's hometown, and the two meet for the firs time.

It isn't all smooth sailing as Ellie has her own secret she is keeping and can't afford to have her name in the news as Graham's new girlfriend. 

Although the probability of this story actually happening is slim to none, I loved it. It's a sweet summertime romance with a fun premise, a beautiful setting and likeable characters.  Pure enjoyment!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday

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

This week's pick:  The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
Due out : July 30, 2013

Product Information taken from Amazon:
From the author of the critically acclaimed What Alice Forgot comes a breakout new novel about the secrets husbands and wives keep from each other.


Three women. One secret. And a letter that will change everything—forever.

Tess. Rachel. Cecilia. Three women living three very different lives. But when Cecilia opens up a Pandora’s box, their lives will intersect in ways none of them could foresee.

Cecilia is the woman who seems to have it all: a successful career, a gorgeous husband, and three wonderful daughters. One day she finds an old tattered letter in the attic that’s addressed to her, to be opened only in the event of her husband’s death. But he’s still very much alive. When Cecilia casually mentions it to him on the phone, he laughs it off, telling her to put the letter away. Yet when he flies home early from an overseas business trip, and then frantically searches for the letter, Cecilia realizes there’s something important in it, something she needs to know. Yet even Pandora herself could not prepare Cecilia for what the letter reveals.



Tuesday, May 7, 2013

The Lions of Little Rock

Whoa! When I handed out The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine to my fourth grade book club girls, I hadn't read the book yet myself. I bought it when it was published, excited about it. Yet, I have managed to hold off on reading it despite the many glowing reviews I've read.

It certainly deserves every bit of praise it has garnered.  

Set in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1958, Levine has crafted a story that centers around the segregation/integration of Little Rock's schools.  Marlee is twelve years old, the youngest in her family, and for the most part, what I would call a selective mute.  She rarely talks at school, yet speaks to her family at home.  When Liz, the new girl comes to their school she chooses Marlee to be her friend.  With Liz, Marlee is less afraid to speak and try new things.  In her Marlee seems to have found a true friend. Until Liz is caught  "passing" for white.  
Liz must return to her own school, and maintaining a friendship is dangerous for both girls.  Tension is high in Little Rock.  Marlee's older sister is unable to attend high school because the schools will not open due to the Arkansas governor's rules about segregated schooling.  Now, ordinary citizens - Marlee's own mother inlcuded- decide to speak out for what they believe about educating their children.

The Lions of Little Rock has brought this important time period to life.  While there have been many books set in 1957 about the Little Rock Nine, Levine has chosen to write about the year following, a time she has researched extensively, and also a time not already overwhelmed with stories written about it.

The Lions of Little Rock is a novel I am so happy to have read- but also to get to discuss with my students.  Some of our discussions about this book have centered around the following:

1.  Marlee is able to describe people's personalities as various drinks.  What kind of drink are you, and why?  (This was a difficult concept for my girls to understand. They kept thinking of drinks they liked and selecting them).

2.  Does Marlee see herself as brave?  Is she?  How and why?

3.  JT doesn't seem to be a very nice boy at the beginning of the novel. Does your opinion of him change?

4.  Kristin Levine did a fabulous job writing about school segregation and life in 1958, America. Find some examples of things unique to that time period that she has included in the novel to help make the setting seem authentic.

5.  Why do you think Liz decided to "pass?"  

6.  Explain the significance of the title The Lions of Little Rock.

7.  Do some research on The Little Rock Nine.  What was it like for them to try and attend a white school?

With just a little under a month left in the school year, my book club will need to read quickly (for them) to get this book done.  Next year I won't wait so long to put this book in the hands of my students.  

Monday, May 6, 2013

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls

A debut novel by Anton DiSclafani, The Yonahlossee Riding Camp For Girls was a book I could barely tear myself away from.
Set in the early 1930's, Thea is a teenager dealing with first love and her own sexual desire.  As the daughter of a wealthy doctor and his wife in Florida, her life has been spent riding her beloved horse, playing with her twin brother, Sam, and her cousin Georgie.  Yet, when she finds herself in trouble because of a boy, she is sent away to the Yonahlossee Riding Camp For Girls where her father has paid for her to live and go to school for an entire year with nothing more than an occasional letter from her family.

Thea tells her story as though time has elapsed and she has survived the events of this tumultuous time in her life.  DiSclafani's depiction of life in Florida in the 1930's transported me back to that time and place - orange groves and unbearable summer heat  along with financial struggle as the Depression begins. As Thea spends her time at Yonahlossee, located near the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, she finds girlfriends - the first she has ever had in her life - and becomes more aware of her sexuality.

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls should be a huge summer hit - a perfect beach read  well worth every page.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Sunday Salon

We have been blessed by another beautiful weekend - mid 60's here, which makes up for the snow we received earlier this week.  Who would ever think we would get snow in May?

Not that I'm counting down or anything, but there are only four more weeks of school here.  The last two weeks I spend doing inventory without kids - the year is really winding down.

This is my fifth week of my Next Level Xtreme Fitness class.  The workouts are hard, but I love them!  I feel like I am really getting a great workout there and despite the fact that I thought I would only be able to get there three days a week, I have made it more times than that, and have even gone at 5 AM some mornings instead of missing a day. I am addicted!  Have I lost weight? Not really.  That's the bad news.  Do my clothes fit better? Maybe a little bit.  

We have had no commitments (aside from church) this entire weekend. It has been great!  I haven't been on a major cleaning binge, which I should have done, but I did do a bit of relaxing, along with some laundry, running, errands, and even managed to get the girls to the W to swim today for a bit.  

Soon it will be time for us to do our bedtime reading.  The girls are listening to me read Someone Named Eva, a Holocaust story that is generating some good discussion.  I will be finishing off My Foreign Cities by Elizabeth Scarboro, a memoir of her life with her husband Stephen who suffered from cystic fibrosis.  

I'm hoping for sunny weather this coming week as Big Sister has softball practice, and Middle Sister has soccer practice and a game. We round out the week with an elementary music concert, gymnastics, and a garage sale we are preparing for next weekend.


Thursday, May 2, 2013

Blast From the Past


These five books are highlights of my reading back in May 2013.  I could re-read all of these and enjoy them again - great books! What were you reading a decade ago? Last year?

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday

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

This week's selection: The  Wednesday Daughters by Meg Waite ClaytonDue out: July 16, 2013

In the tradition of Kristin Hannah and Karen Joy Folwer, Meg Waite Clayton, bestselling author of The Wednesday Sisters, returns with an enthralling new novel of mothers, daughters, and the secrets and dreams passed down through generations.


It is early evening when Hope Tantry arrives at the small cottage in England’s pastoral Lake District where her mother, Ally, spent the last years of her life. Ally—one of a close-knit group of women who called themselves the Wednesday Sisters—had used the cottage as a writer’s retreat while she worked on her unpublished biography of Beatrix Potter, yet Hope knows nearly nothing about her mother’s time there. Traveling with Hope are friends Anna Page and Julie—first introduced as little girls in The Wednesday Sisters, now grown women grappling with issues of a different era—who have offered to help Hope sort through her mother’s personal effects. Yet what Hope finds will reveal a tangled family history—one steeped in Lake District lore.

Tucked away in a hidden drawer, Hope finds a stack of Ally’s old notebooks, all written in a mysterious code. As she, Julie, and Anna Page try to decipher Ally’s writings—the reason for their encryption, their possible connection to the Potter manuscript—they are forced to confront their own personal struggles: Hope’s doubts about her marriage, Julie’s grief over losing her twin sister, Anna Page’s fear of commitment in relationships. And as the real reason for Ally’s stay in England comes to light, Hope, Julie, and Anna Page reach a new understanding about the enduring bonds of family, the unwavering strength of love, and the inescapable pull of the past.