Princess Peeper Picks a Pet by Pam Calvert illustrated by Tuesday Mourning

from goodreads

3.5 stars

Sometimes when I pick up a book and look at the cover I get taken a back and think, is that really their name! Tuesday Mourning... seriously?! Even after doing the google thing, I still don't know if that is a pseudonym or not, but it is pretty cool, and I like her drawings.


Synopsis

This book is about a princess who wears glasses. She goes to the Royal Academy for Perfect Princesses, though she doesn't quite fit in. When the Grand Matron announces a pet show, Princess Peepers sets out to find the greatest pet of all. This is one book of a small series of Princess Peeper books.

My Thoughts

My kids liked this book. Anything about princesses, they are there and they are loving it! I like that Princess Peepers doesn't try to blend in and stays true to herself, though it would have been nice to see her stand up for herself a bit more.

I found the book rather confusing. Sometimes she is referred to as Princess Peepers, other times she is referred to as "the princess". Usually one would only use the term "the princess" if we didn't know the princesses name. When reading aloud I always wanted to say "the princesses", as I thought maybe she was referring to the group. It was very strange.

I was also confused about what message was trying to be brought across. Morals in children's books are always hard. Either the author beats you over the head with it or they don't go far enough. It is a hard balance to strike. With Princess Peepers, I would almost say that the author doesn't go far enough. It is great to see Princess Peepers doing her own thing and being happy with her interests, but when the other girls say mean things about her pet ideas, I wished she said, "this is my pet and I like it!"

Though it is not a conventional Princess story, I think any princess at heart will enjoy Princess Peepers.

Cleaning House: A Mom's 12-month experiment to rid her home of youth entitlement by Kay Wills Wyma

from goodreads

4 stars

I hope you had a very merry Christmas and that Santa left nice things for you under the tree. I had a nice relaxing day, though the baby kept trying to eat paper, the older kids toys and everyone else's chocolates! As the new year approaches my thoughts have been focused on how I can change for the better and become a better person, wife and mother. This book was a great one to read at this time of reflection.

Synopsis

The author realized she was enabling her children to always be dependent on her and her husband. She decided she that she had to teach her children to work and that a magic cleaning fairy did not exist. Over the 12 months she allowed her children to develop skills that they will need in life. The book is based on her blog.

My Thoughts

I loved this book. I think it is one I will buy at some point and refer to often. It is full of ideas on how to make our kids more confident in themselves as well as some simple things we can try to help them along. Parenting can be a daunting task, especially when trying to teach life skills. It takes patience and tenacity to not want to jump in and do it for them. Wills Wyma, is able to inspire me to be more patient and to really teach and empower my kids.

I like how she is a human and shows us her flaws. She is not claiming to be an expert. She makes this a relatable narrative.

What dropped it from a 5 star rating was the overall style of the book. It read more as a blog then a book. It is almost as if they just copied and pasted her blog entries. Sometimes that works, in this case it did not. You were reading it almost as if she was doing the experiment right then, even though she had done it over a year ago. She used to terms like "yesterday" and "this month..." which just made it for a more awkward read. I think it just needed to be edited so it could be read as a book not a blog.

On the whole, this was a great read. I am glad I read it. It is very entertaining. It is great for parents young and old. It has something that anyone can relate to. I look forward to implementing some of her ideas in my household.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss

from goodreads

5 stars

It is Christmas Eve, Santa comes tonight! It is very exciting!!! This book is a Christmas classic. I love it. And I am not afraid of the Grinch trying to steal our presents tonight. We have our Christmas goat standing guard, protecting our gifts. Thanks Ikea!

Synopsis

The Grinch lives in the mountains above Whoville. The Grinch hates Christmas more than anything in the world. The Whos in Whoville love Christmas a lot! Well The Grinch decides he is going to stop Christmas from coming by stealing all the Christmas paraphernalia. Will he succeed?

My Thoughts

I loved this story. I loved it ever since I was a little girl. Every year I waited with anticipation to watch the cartoon version on T.V. It is my favourite Christmas special.

I love the descriptions Dr. Seuss uses. They are easy for children to understand. The whole heart being two sizes too small thing. I love his dog Max, and how well the Grinch can get down and up the Chimney. Santa has magic on his side, I don't know how the Grinch manages to do it.

I also love that this book teaches the moral that Christmas isn't about the receiving of presents without being preachy about it. The Whos simply carry on with their Christmas festivities without any fuss or muss. We see the Grinch's change of heart and it is more powerful because he came up with it himself. With our observance of his change, we get to reflect on what Christmas means to each of us. Dr. Seuss doesn't tell us what it means, just that it means a little bit more. We can leave the interpretation up to ourselves. I like that.

I know that this book can be over done, but it is such a classic. And this is one classic that to me, never gets old!

Have a wonderful Christmas. I hope that Santa leaves a great book under your tree or onto your e-reader. (I am hoping that Santa is going to leave me lots of time to get some of my reading done ;) )

Moon over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

from goodreads

4 stars

This is a beautiful story. I enjoyed reading it, yet, it is not a story that will stick with me forever. Have you read book like that? While you are reading it you enjoy it so much, and then later, you try to recall the story it is gone or the details aren't as clear.

Synopsis

In this story we meet a young girl named Abilene. She and her father were drifters, jumping one train after another. One summer her father sends her to the town of Manifest, where she is to live with a man named Shady. When she discovers a box with someones keepsakes, hidden beneath the floor boards, Abilene ends up on a quest to discover who the mementos belong to and in the end discovers where she belongs as well.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were easy to picture, though some of the secondary characters were not as fleshed out as they could have been.

Even though the book skipped between two time lines, it was not confusing. It was always clear what timeline was what and the transitions flowed seamlessly. That is so essential for a multi-time line book and the author did a fantastic job of it.

There were times when the story sort of lagged and I wanted to skip ahead, but on the whole I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think we all need a town like Manifest to return to, a place where everyone knows your name and accepts your part in it. It is timeless and full of what Abilene would call "universals". Although it is labelled as a young adult audience book, it would be enjoyed by those of a more mature audience as well.

The Berenstain Bears Save Christmas by Stan & Jan Berenstain with Mike Berenstain

from goodreads

3 stars

Growing up I loved Berenstain Bear books. I loved it when my teacher at school read them to us. Sister Bear was my favourite. Now as an adult, I read them to my kids, and find some of them are a bit more preachy then I remember. But, the morals are good, and maybe the things that I find preachy are the things that I need to work on. So thanks for the reminder Berenstains!

Synopsis

It is Christmas in Bear Country and the bears are all fighting over toys at the Bear Country mall and trying to out do neighbours in the decorating department. Santa Bear sees this and gets annoyed and says if things don't change he is going to cancel Christmas! Mama Bear, always the wise voice of reason, discovers that she doesn't like how commercial and over the top Christmas is getting and does her best to change how her family is acting in hopes that it will save Christmas and make Santa Bear happy.

My Thoughts

While this book does a good job of letting children know that Christmas is more about kindness and love then getting gifts, it seems a bit odd to me. Why didn't Mama Bear express her desire for more simple decorations before Papa and the Cubs put up all the decorations on the tree house? Like she was there, and that seems like a lot of wasted time and effort if it just going to be pulled down again.

Also, as if all their neighbours took down all their stuff, just because the Bear family simplified. Maybe it makes sense to kids, but as an adult, who does that?

So on the whole, it is a good book to get kids thinking about Christmas, and what it truly means and that it is a time of thanks and giving, more than huge wishlists and crazy behaviour. So the kids will like it. As the adult reading it, it is not quite as enjoyable, but then anytime you are sharing a story with children it is great. So read it in that spirit, not for your own edification.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

from goodreads

3 stars

I have never read this author before. To be honest I had never heard about this author before until this book came out. It's weird how some authors you love yet no one else has heard of them and vice versa. What cosmic force throws certain authors in our paths? It's weird. Anyways, a big thank you goes out to my husband's aunt who lent me her copy. I probably would still have been on the library's hold list if it wasn't for her.

Synopsis

A man goes back to his hometown for a funeral. After the funeral he drives around to places of his childhood. He drives to the farm at the end of the lane where the Hempstock family live. There he encounters memories of his childhood, and a time when darkness was unleashed there.

My Thoughts

I really like the way Gaiman writes. His words are very rich and delightful. I loved how he described things and he really was able to paint a picture with them. He probably used more words then he need to in order to tell the story but, I did not find it wordy. There is a fine balance between beautiful description and boring wordiness. Gaiman is on the right side of the balance.

As for the story, I didn't care for it all that much. There were some interesting bits, but on the whole it did not leave me breathlessly in awe. I am sure there are some good discussion points for the book but, if there are they are over my head. To me it was just a meh story. I did start to like the story more once I realized it was fantasy and not just general fiction. When I first heard about the book and when I first started reading it I didn't know what genre it was. I thought it was normal fiction and was like what the heck is going on? Is this supposed to be super creepy or something. Then I found out it was fantasy and I was like, oh...I get it now... it is not scary or creepy, it is supposed to be fanciful. Got it!

I wish I knew more about the Hempstock women and their farm. Was it always there? Could people always get to their house or did their house appear only to those whom they wanted to come and visit? Was it brigadoonish? Also, whose funeral was this man going to? Was it one of his parents?

Although the story itself did nothing for me, I loved the writing and so I will give him another try at some point.

A Piratey Christmas

From goodreads

The Gingerbread Pirates by Kristin Kladstrup illustrated by Matt Tavares

4 stars

The pirates are back! When I saw this I knew I had to check it out. The gingerbread pirates on the cover were so cute!

Synopsis

On Christmas Eve, Jim and his mother are decorating gingerbread men. Jim decides to make pirates. Jim's favourite is a captain with a toothpick peg leg. That night when everyone is asleep Captain Cookie comes alive and is determined to find his crew and save them from the cannibal Santa Claus.

My Thoughts

This was a great book. I am so glad I picked it up. the illustrations were great. The expressions that the different gingerbread pirates had were priceless.

I love the idea of Santa being a cannibal. Sometimes during Christmas I wonder about the decorating of human looking cookies. Though cute, it is rather twisted, so it is nice that this book dealt with it.

This is a great book that helps us remember the magic of Christmas. Your kids will love this book, and you will too.

from goodreads

A Pirate's Twelve Days of Christmas by Philip Yates illustrated by Sebastia Serra

4 stars

We got this book out last year, and as soon as the Christmas books came out at the library this year the kids grabbed it again. I don't think they know what the real words to the Twelve Days of Christmas are.  It is kind of funny hearing them sing Christmas songs about cutlasses and a parrot in a palm tree.

Synopsis

On the eve of Christmastide the Captain tells his mates that they are going to go off plundering and that the cabin boy has to stay and swab the decks. When the cabin boy tells them it's Christmas the Captain said that the holiday is only for landlubbers and that he has to stay by himself on the boat. Then presents keep appearing and the cabin boy and the pirates know that Christmastide is the best time of year.

My Thoughts

Once again, a piratey Christmas, you got to love it. I love that the book can be sung to the Twelve Days of Christmas song. Any book you can sing along with is great. 

I love all the pirate speak. You really get a pirate feeling reading all the pirate jargon. I love that they refer to Santa as "jolly ol' Sir Peggedy". At the end of the book there is a Pirate Glossary, so the kids can know what the different pirate terms mean. What a smart idea.

Every book I read I like to read the acknowledgments and book dedications. The one by the author is definitely worth the read. It is lovely.

This is just such a fun book. I think it will be a Christmas favourite for years to come 

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

from goodreads

5 stars

It is nearing the end of the first week of December. Christmas preparations are in full swing. My family and I cut down our Christmas tree last weekend. The smell is heavenly. With all this thought of Christmas I decided to read A Christmas Carol. It is the first time I have actually read it. I have seen many movie renditions, even with Scrooge McDuck, but I had never taken the time to read it. I'm so glad I took the time this year.

Synopsis

Ebeneezer Scrooge is a misery old man who is a penny pincher and uber tightwad. The accumulation of wealth is his soul focus in life, and his social conscience is rather lacking. On Christmas eve he is visited by four ghosts

: the ghost of his former partner Jacob Marley, the ghost of Christmas past, the ghost of Christmas present and the ghost of Christmas future. Through his experiences with these ghosts Scrooge learns what is truly important in life and decides how he wants to live his life from now on.

My Thoughts

This was a truly delightful tale. I don't know why it took me so long to read it. Perhaps it is because it is written by Dickens. Dickens can be wordy and thus, at times, be hard to follow. A Christmas Carol is not horribly wordy and was a very fast read. So don't be turned off by the fact it is Dickens, it is very readable and does not make your head hurt.

The edition I read was illustrated by P.J. Lynch. The illustrations were so beautiful and enhanced the story. Some illustrated additions have rather grotesque images. The pictures in this edition made you feel the warmth of Christmas and chronicled the change in Scrooge very well. They were perfect.

I love how positive this book is. It shows that no matter what are faults are we can change, it is never too late to change, and it is worth the effort to make those positive changes.

I also like how the spirits did not lecture Scrooge on his faults. They simply showed him how things were and left it up to Scrooge to feel guilt and sadness and come up with the idea to change. Quite often we are well aware of our own imperfections. We don't need people harping about them. Gentle reminders and kindness help us change more than lectures.

Although this story is over done in movie renditions, even the Muppets have a version, it is so worth the read. And this time of year is the perfect time. It will definitely help put you in the holiday spirit.

No Pirates Allowed! Said Library Lou by Rhonda Gowler Green illustrated by Brian Ajhar

from goodreads

4 stars

I don't know what it is but lately when we have gone to the library we have been drawn to pirate books. There is something about swashbucklin' pirates that is fun. So if over the next little bit you seem to only see pirate books, sorry about that. We will try to branch out.

Synopsis

Big Pirate Pete bursts into Seabreezy Library looking as scary as he smells. He says his treasure map shows that X marks the spot there and he demands to have the treasure. It is up to Library Lou to make big Pete less loud and smelly and help him find the treasure that the library has within.

My Thoughts

This was a great book. It was funny for both kids and adults. Anything with pirates and dirty underwear is going to be a hit. I liked how the pirate said "Letters?...Thar be more than X?" Classic.

I thought it was a very clever at showing children that there are lots of different kinds of books. Showcased were rhyming books, easy reading, classics and non-ficiton. It broadens the children's horizons in a very fun way. It shows the value of having different kinds of books in their lives.

The rhyming pattern of this books fits the story so well. I am always in awe of authors who are able to tell a great story through a poem. That talent just astounds me.

I think your kids will love this and have a great time laughing and learning with Big Pirate Pete and Library Lou.

The Reinvention of Love by Helen Humphreys

from goodreads

2.75 stars

Historical fiction is a strange fish. Sometimes history itself is pretty boring yet through fiction you can bring it to life and breathe excitement into it. Other times the history itself is super exciting yet, when you add fiction to it, borarama. This book was kind of a mixture of both scenarios. It was a tough nut to crack.

Synopsis

This is the story of Charles Sainte-beuve's affair with Adele Hugo, wife of Victor Hugo. It discusses the affair as well as the ramifications that happened from it for all involved. The book is set up in decades and changes voices from Charles to Adele and then Adele's daughter Adele, also known as Dede.

My Thoughts

Humphreys did a great job researching the era, using actual letters and notes from all participants and in general creating a very believable story. Yet I found it quite dull. The character Charles kept moaning and going on about his love for Adele and how ugly and fat he was getting. I just wanted to shake him and say, "stop living in the life of your poems and grow a freaking back bone already." I know, I know, it is historical fiction and this very well might have been his true sentiments but, it did not make for interesting reading.

This was supposed to be the love of a lifetime for both Adele and Charles. I found it to be very hollow, I didn't feel a strong emotional connection. Supposedly there was a very strong emotional connection between them but, it did not come across on the page.

When I saw the title I thought that this book was going to be about love. I felt it was more about regrets. Regrets of living in the time they were, regrets of not being able to choose the life you want, and regrets of own personal failings. Yes, they were able to look back on life and know that they had love, but to me, the book was not really about love. Perhaps the point of the book is help us to realize that it is better to be loved for 5 minutes than never to be loved at all. I don't know.

Reading this book has made me question whether I want to read any Victor Hugo. He was kind of a pompous jerk in this book. I felt sorry for his family, who were not able to get from under his control.

So on the whole. The book was meh. Other people in my book club really enjoyed the language and description. I think it is one of those books that either you love it or you meh it.

Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella by Jan Brett

from goodreads

4 stars

I love Jan Brett books. Mostly for the detailed illustrations. My favourite book of hers is The Mitten. Just looking at the front cover of this book I knew that her classic, detailed style would enchant me into this story. If you have never picked up one of her books before I really urge you too. And while you read the book, take time to really observe the illustrations. I find something new and wonderful in them every time I look.

Synopsis

This is basically the story of Cinderella but played out by chickens on a cold winters night in a Russian forest.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. Not so much for the story but, for the illustrations. They were beautiful. I loved the way she used different varieties of chickens to play different characters. Cinders was a plain gray chicken. The Prince was a cockerel with the biggest tail plume ever. I loved the chickens with the long head feathers. They worked with their role in the story.

I loved the details on the dresses and the ice palace and the chicken tower. In so many illustrated children's books that kind of detail is not there. In fact it is usually the simpler the better. Brett shows that illustrations can be complex yet, simply convey the story. She shows that illustrations are worth pausing for a moment to explore.

The story itself is essentially Cinderella. There is no new twist to it, and for me there really doesn't need to be. My children liked the book for the story, but as you can tell I liked it for the illustrations.

So if you like chickens and you like Cinderella, then you will like this book. If you like beautiful artwork then you will like this book. It is definitely worthwhile to pick up.

Wishes and Stiches by Rachael Herron

from goodreads

Sorry this took so long to get up today. I have been sick and this is the first time all day I can actually concentrate! This is a book I have had on file for awhile. 

3 stars

During the summer months I have more time to read. Usually I am scrambling to get my book club reading done. Summer reading seems to be purely for relaxation and allows my brain a break. This book does that. It is knitting meets harlequin romance. I never knew knitting could be so steamy.

Synopsis

This book is about a woman named Naomi Fontaine. She is a doctor who moved into the small town of Cypress Hollow, a town obsessed with knitting. Because of her own social awkwardness she feels she does not fit in and that no one really likes her. Then comes Rig Keller, a doctor who takes over the other half of her practice. He is very attractive and charming. They fall for each other and learn about themselves along the way.

My Thoughts

This is not high brow stuff, but it is a cute story. It made me want to branch out and knit something really cool. She even includes a pattern for a shawl at the back of the book. Very cool!

Sometimes the story got lost with all the sex descriptions and the last 70 pages, where all the exciting stuff happened, went by too fast and made me wish for more description there. For me I would have preferred less sex and more story and personal connection.

She does have other books in this Cypress Hollow series. Perhaps I may check one out next summer. So if you like knitting and you like romance, then this book is for you.

Book Club Selections for 2014

I have put up my book club's selections for 2014. You can find them here. Or you can click on the book club selections tab.

The hardest part of choosing books is that there are so many out there that we want to read or reread. It is hard to keep it just to twelve!

Have a happy Wednesday!

The Hueys in It Wasn't Me by Oliver Jeffers

from goodreads

3.5 stars

I would have given this book somewhere between a 2 and 2.5 stars. But my kids for some strange reason loved this book thus, the higher rating.

This is part of a series of Hueys books.

Synopsis

When the Hueys get into a big argument it is up to Gillespie to make the peace.

My Thoughts

So when I first picked up this book I knew it was going to be a bit different. The artwork is simple, yet oddly eye catching. And what parent hasn't heard the words "it wasn't me" like a billion times. So, I thought I could relate to it on some level.

After reading it through once I closed the book and said, "what was that?" I didn't know how to feel about it or know what the point was. I felt like it sort of left me hanging without any real closure. I guess I felt unsettled like I needed something a bit more.

Jeffers did a great job showing how arguments start as simple little things and then, can quickly escalate into madness. He also showed how the art of distraction can work. But, the characters go from being in the hugest argument of their life to all of the sudden, calming right down and looking at a dead fly. What?!? I get that the fly in a way started the whole argument thing, but what?!?

My children loved it. I read it through once, and initially they weren't sure what to think either. But then while I was getting dinner ready I peeked into the living room and their was my 4 year old sitting on the couch with the book reading herself the story. It was a super special moment. I could her her quietly pretending the argument out and then saying "it wasn't me". She then helped make the peace. Obviously this book spoke to her.

I am not sure if I will look up his other Hueys books. I might look up some of his other books and see what they are like.

This may not be an adults favourite but, my kids did like it. So battle through the many, many readings of it and eventually they will be reading it themselves.

The Library at Night by Alberto Manguel

from goodreads

3.5 stars

I have a secret. It is one I have not told many people. Here it is, I wish I was a librarian! I love the smell of books, I love arranging books into categories, I like the way they look on shelves. I of course also like reading books but, man, to be a librarian and decide what books to have in my library and which ones can go. That seems the ultimate power and fun!

Reading this book made me realize that I am not the only person in the world who loves libraries and the order of libraries and everything about libraries. It is very comforting to know that.

Synopsis

This book features and discusses libraries and books from around the world. From the 3rd century B.C. to modern days. It discusses how libraries, whether personal or public, influence our lives and, in some ways, reflect ourselves and our identity.

My Thoughts

Despite the title, this has really little to do with a library at night. It is more metaphorical and figurative. And, despite this being a book about libraries, it was a really interesting read. Some non-fiction makes your eyes glaze over and you forget what you have just read. This book is very easy to read and there is minimal eye glazing. The first two chapters and the last two chapters, were not as interesting to me. At first I wasn't sure if I was going to continue. I am really glad I did.


I like how he started each chapter with personal reflection or insight into his own his own library that he built himself at his property in France. He shares is indecisiveness of how to organize his books and how the way he organizes his books and the shape of the library itself affects how he reads in the space. I had really never thought of it before but it is true, the place you read affects how you read. If you are in a study carrel at university, you are going to read more studiously. If you are wrapped up in cozy blanket in front of a fire with a warm beverage, you will be more relaxed and be able to truly escape into the story. Manguel brings to light other library universal truths, that you know exist but had never thought about before.

I really enjoyed the discussion about shadow libraries. A shadow library is what books are not in the actual library. Why were they taken out or never purchased to begin with? What is not in a library can tell us just as much about a library or a philosophy of a people as what is actually in it, if not more. I also liked his discussion about technology and how we cannot be completely dependent on it and get rid of hard copies of documents and books. It was music to my ears and I was in total agreement with what he said.

After reading this I am interested to read his book A History of Reading. One more to add to my to read list. That thing never gets shorter.

Although it is very readable, this is definitely a book for the book lover and library lover. You need to understand the joy and art of reading to truly appreciate this book and understand what he is saying. So, I won't be getting this book for my husband for Christmas, but otherwise a very good read.

Have I got a Book for You! by Melanie Watt

from goodreads

3.5 stars

This book is a very unique children's book. Salesmen could get some pointers from this wily fox.

Synopsis

This book is about Al Foxword, salesman extraordinaire! He can sell anything to anybody including, an umbrella to a fish. He pulls out all the stops to get you to buy this book because, has he got a book for you!

My Thoughts

As an adult, I loved it. We all know the gimmicks salespeople use to get us to purchase things and Foxword is no exception. I loved the fine print through out the book, such as, "This small print is here to inform you that the frog above is a paid professional actor. Results and smiles may vary." Classic. I loved the ending. It got a chuckle out of me. The whole book is rather cheesy, but in a charming way.

As for my kids, they are still young and pretty naive about the whole selling of stuff by pushy salespeople. They didn't get the humour, though my 6 year old started to understand after the third time reading it. My 4 year old, still doesn't get the humour.

I think any savvy future sales person could pick up some tips from this sales fox. Though it is a picture book with pictures that younger children will love, I think it is better suited for ages 8 and up or a sophisticated 6 or 7 year old.

I probably won't read this book over and over, but I think it is a very clever idea.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

from goodreads

4.5 stars

When it comes to reading what is considered a classic  it is hard to give it a rating. Either you love the language used or you don't. Dickens is very wordy and sometimes your eyes do glaze over but, the story is great when you read between the wordiness.

Synopsis

This follows the life of a boy/man named Pip. It begins with Pip as a boy. He runs into an escaped convict whom he gives food and a file. While still young he is ordered to go to a Miss Havisham's, to play. Miss Havisham is a very rich and very odd lady, who has an adopted daughter around Pip's age. While there Pip realizes how un-genteel and crude he is and he begins to feel ashamed of himself and those whom he loves.

Later, as a blacksmith's apprentice, Pip is told that he has a secret benefactor who wishes to increase his fortunes and expectations in life. Pip sets off for London to be educated as a gentleman. With his new "expectations", Pip learns what is truly important in life, though it comes with heartache and humility.

My Thoughts

I first read this story when I was in grade 12 for my english class. I loved it. Rereading it 13 years later my opinion of it has not changed. I love this story. I love it is because of the whole notion of what makes someone great. Pip thinks he needs to be rich, have nice things and a good education in order to be a good and worthy person. Yet, we see the character of Joe, and we realize that those things, though helpful and nice, does not make the worth or the goodness of a person.

The book also delves into the subject of forgiveness and grudges. Those characters who held onto grudges or the wrongs done to them where unhappy and wanted to drag others into their own misery. While those who freely forgave, as Joe did, were happy and content and brought up those around them.

The ensemble of characters that Dickens created was fantastic. They each seemed to embody a particular character flaw or goodness. I loved the range of characters that Wemmick had. He was either the office Wemmick or he was the Walworth Wemmick. It is interesting how he is able to completely compartmentalize his life. I think that is something most people have a hard time doing. I also love Wemmick's need for portable property.

My favourite character was Joe. I mean, how could it not be. Joe is the best person. If we could all be half as kind and loving as Joe the world would be a much happier and nicer place. His undying devotion to Pip, his kindness to his rather abusive wife, his gentle manner, he is truly a saint. Joe is the person you want as your best friend. Your heart aches for him when he is treated unkindly, and in the end you are so glad that he has found true happiness.

I am glad that Pip realizes what is truly important and life and becomes less obsessed with worldly possessions and pride. In the end, he becomes a man with whom you would like to become better acquainted.

Dickens is wordy. Sometimes the story slowed a bit because of that. Some chapters seemed randomly thrown in. I know it was written as a serial for the newspaper, so that might be why they seemed so random. I just sort of skimmed over those until I got back to the meat of the story.

If you are nervous about reading the classics, or Dickens, try Great Expectations. It is a great story. Masterpiece Theatre did a great adaptation not too long ago, if you watch an abridged version first to whet your appetite before diving in. Here is the trailer below.

By the Light of the Moon by Sheridan Cain Illustrated by Gaby Hansen

from goodreads

2.5 stars

This is another middle child pick. Gotta love library day at school!

Synopsis

This book is about a mother mouse who is tucking her little one into bed. A mole comes along and says the farmer is going to plough the field in the morning so she shouldn't put her little one there. The mother then goes around trying to find a nice cozy bed for her little one.

My Thoughts

Positive first. I loved the illustrations. Each picture seemed to be bathed in the light of the moon. I loved that the pictures seemed to have that soft light and colouring of a bright moonlit night. The mice were super cute, though a bit oddly shaped for a mouse. The pictures made me want to lie in the middle of a meadow under the stars on a warm summer's night.

As for the story itself. Ugh! To my girls it was just another story. It did not really engage them or invoke any kind of reaction. As for me... it invoked a lot of reaction. I felt like yelling to the mouse mom "If you think this is the best place for your baby for heaven's sake leave him there! You are the mom! You know what is the best for your baby! Don't keep moving him around when he is clearly tired and stop listening to all the busy bodies who don't know your child or your situation!"

As mothers, or parents for that matter, we hear a lot of interesting advice from a lot of people who generally mean well. This book just made that loathing feeling of listening to unsolicited advise envelope me.

From the cover I thought that this was going to be a great book about love and tender feelings between parent and child. It was not that at all. I don't even know what the moral of the story is or why kids would enjoy it. I don't know if all the different animals coming to the mother mouses aid is supposed to be funny or not. I don't know if the kids are supposed to get the message that they know what is best for themselves, as the mother mouse never stands up for herself and her position. It could be a way to find out how other animals live, but there are better ways of doing that.

Perhaps I am reading too much into a children's book of less than 35 pages, but this one made me annoyed.

So avoid if possible, or if you can't avoid it don't try to read too much into it. It will just make you go crazy!

Happy Reading! See you Thursday!

The Nightmare by Lars Kepler

from goodreads

3.5 stars

I thought this would be a good one for Hallowe'en, it was spooky and somewhat scary. Lars Kepler is the pen name of a Swedish married couple who writes crime fiction. This is their second book. Their first book was The Hypnotist

Synopsis

Penelope and her boyfriend are being hunted by a man who will stop at nothing to kill them. Joona Linna, detective extraordinaire, has a mystery on his hands. A body is hanging in the middle of a room, suicide? murder?

Both story lines come together making it clear that a bigger plot is a foot. One that would change the international landscape forever.

The villain is quite creepy. He is able to find out your worst nightmare and if a deal goes south he makes sure your nightmare comes true. Death does not stop it.

My Thoughts

Lars Kepler has a interesting writing style. They write in the present tense. Sometimes the sentences are a bit short and choppy. That might be because of the use of present tense in describing the actions or it could be because of the translation. I'm not sure. The choppiness can be distracting, just because of its abrupt nature. In a way it sort of fits the action sequences.

The chapters are short, usually only two to three pages long. This keeps the pace of the story quick and you want to keep reading. It is very easy to say, "one more chapter", too many times. There was many a late night while reading this.

The author obviously did their research. The technical musical knowledge as well as musical history knowledge needed for this is amazing. It is nice when things are researched well. It helps the plot seem believable, which in this case is kind of scary. Sometimes I wonder if thrillers like this give bad guys ideas, I hope not.

If you are squeemish this might not be the book for you. There are some quite graphic and violent scenes. It is a thriller through and through. You are on pins and needles to the very end.

On the whole I enjoyed this book.

Harry Hungry by Steven Salerno

from goodreads

4 stars

I don't know about you, but I am haunted by the words, "Mom, I'm hungry." Usually I hear them when I have done my necessary tasks and have just gotten comfortable and opened my book. How do they know? The time I really hate it is 15 minutes after they have finished eating. It's like why didn't they eat more!!! (o.k. breathing has calmed and rant has finished.)

My six year old picked this one out.


Synopsis

This book is about a baby named Harry. He becomes hungry yelling, "Harry Hungry". The mother says "in a minute... in a second" and flies in with a snack before Harry gets too upset. But then, Harry keeps wanting to eat. He eats the refrigerator and the garden hose, both of which are just appetizers. He keeps eating and they have to call in the army. Will he ever stop? Read to find out.

My Thoughts

My kids really liked this book. They thought some of the things Harry ate were pretty funny. They laughed a lot. As a parent that is music to my ears.

While this is not my favourite children's book, I think parents will like it or at least empathize with Harry's parents. It is nice to know that you are not alone with the plight of a hungry child. Parents all over the world try to figure out what to stuff in their kids' mouths next.

So read this book, perhaps you will get some snack ideas. Garden hose anyone.

A Schedule/Format Change

Doing my book review blog over the past few months has been really fun. It is nice to read and share that experience with others.

Since I have been having so much fun I have decided to post more often. I will be posting every Tuesday and Thursday. Tuesdays will focus on children's picture books and Thursdays will focus on older children to adult chapter books.

Tomorrow will be my first post with the new schedule. It is exciting!

006 and a Half by Kes Gray and Nick Sharratt

from goodreads

4.5 stars

When we go to the library, I unleash my girls on the children's section. They run around looking with a discerning eye for the best two books they can find (two books each is my limit).  Well, my four year old found a book with  pink spine and knew it was the book for her. I helped her pry it from the shelf and there on the cover was a girl with dark sunglasses and a mustache. Uber cool!

Synopsis

This is the story of Daisy, who decides to become a spy. She dresses the part, with sunglasses and mustache. She speaks in spy code. She fills her pockets with spy gadgets and gear. When her friends and neighbours don't understand her she gets discouraged and thinks about hanging up her spy stuff. Will she really?

My Thoughts

I loved this book. I found it funny and even my kids thought it was great. I loved it when Daisy uses her spy speak to tell her mother what she wants for dinner. "'Ostriches will be swimming in tomato sauce this evening,'...(which, as any spy knows, means 'a big portion of chicken nuggets and lots of ketchup, please!')"

The illustrations were awesome. I especially liked the thought bubbles showing what people are thinking her spy speak means. Hilarious!

This is part of a series. I have not read any of the other books but I am looking forward to getting them from the library. If they are anything like this book I know my girls and I will enjoy them

Kids young and old will enjoy this spy adventure. I am glad my daughter likes pink!

Jane of Lantern Hill by Lucy Maud Montgomery

from wikipedia

4 stars

I have a confession to make. I am not a fan of the Anne of Green Gables series. Like the movies, can't stand the books. I've tried, oh my, how I've tried. I just can't do it.

When I found this book I was 12. I figured maybe this would help me get into Montgomery's writing. Well I fell in love with this book... still to this day cannot get into an Anne book. Jane of Lantern Hill has a sweetness to it that makes you feel full when done. Do books do that for you? Make you feel full?

Synopsis

This is the tale of Jane Victoria Stuart. The tale begins with Jane living with her mother in her grandmother's house in Toronto. Her mother is always off at parties or dinners, leaving Jane to be alone with her grandmother, who is jealous of anyone who tries to steal her daughters attention. Jane's grandmother makes Jane feel stupid and of little worth.

Jane always thought her father was dead but she discovers he is alive and he is demanding she comes to Prince Edward Island and spend the summer with him.

Jane is loathe to leave her mother but still goes. As soon as she sees her father laughter fills her heart and she comes to know her own worth.

My Thoughts

This is a book that teaches us the importance of standing up to people, communication and that our home environment effects our life. It is a book of heart ache for the emotional abuse Jane suffers and of triumph when Jane learns she is capable of many things.

You can feel the wind on your face and smell the salty air as you read. You long for a simpler time and want to be transported there. I love how industrious Jane is and often wish I was just as industrious (though I do have my days).

I highly recommend this book. If you love Anne I'm sure you will love Jane. If you don't like Anne, give Jane a try.

Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith

from goodreads

3 stars

I don't know why, but I have always had a curious fascination with the Queen. I remember when I was a little girl wanting to go to a tea party at Buckingham Palace. My parents aren't the most staunch of monarchists, I don't think they really care, so I have no idea where this love of all things royal came from. When this new biography came out I knew I had to read it.

Synopsis

This is an in-depth biography of Queen Elizabeth II. It starts at her birth and goes until the present, which at the time of writing was the wedding of William and Catherine and an epilogue that includes the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

It goes behind the scenes of what it is to be the sovereign of the Commonwealth. You get to see the interactions of the Queen between different heads of state, her family, and the greater populous at large.

It shows a woman doing the balancing act of wife and working mother. You see her ability to understand and appreciate the traditions of the past, but also understand the need of change to current and future circumstances. It is truly a book the shows, love, devotions and fierce loyalty.

My Thoughts

This was a great read. Though there were some sections, which mostly dealt with horses and state visits, that were rather boring. There were great little tidbits of information that showed her has human or showed her great humour. I would share them with my husband and we would both get a great laugh. I think the author did a good job of giving us rich detail without it feeling like a long list of facts. She managed to weave a story out of different events which meant even the boring parts were readable.

Because the Queen does not give interviews, we don't get to know how the Queen truly feels. We get other people's ideas of how she thinks and feels but it would be nice to know what she thinks about different situations and family fiascos. (The Queen won't have an official biographer until after she is dead, it will be interesting what comes out then.)

The book over all gives a very positive view of the Monarch. Even if she makes some unwise decisions  the author spins it positively. I am not sure if that is because of the authors own lopsided, pro Queen views, or if the Queen is just that awesome at spinning what could be negatives into positives.

The author got somewhat repetitive. For example there was probably nine or ten times when the author quotes someone as saying how the Queen put them at ease. We get it. The Queen puts everyone at ease, we don't have to hear about it from Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, and other random people.

One thing I learned is how much of a diplomat the Queen actually is. I did not realize how much behind the scenes negotiating and talking she did with other world leaders to help deescalate situations. I sort of viewed her as a figure head and not so much as being part of the diplomatic corp. I am not sure why.

I liked the parts about her interactions with her family. She fiercely loves them and wants the best for them. I wish there was more about her family relationships, but it is understandable as that is ultimately personal and private.

On the whole I was left a little bit in awe of this woman. She became Queen at the age of 25, an age when most people are still discovering themselves and developing their own views on things. She had to learn as she went along and she is quite amazing considering the pressure she was and continues to be under.

Picking My Book Club Selections

This year my book club has decided to have each member choose three books (there are four people in my book club). Usually we just throw our suggestions in a hat and pick at random. Though, there is always one month that is Tina's month as she sometimes didn't have suggestions. I love Tina's pick month.

This year there are three categories in which our choices are to fall into. A non-ficiton, a book from our childhood which we loved, and our choice. We are going to be making our list of books at this month's meeting, so I have been thinking about my choices a lot. I have really enjoyed reflecting on the books I read in childhood that has helped to shape me into the person, and reader that I am at this moment. I read Judy Blume, C.S. Lewis, Gordon Korman, Lois Lowry, and more. Some of the books I read I shake my head at now, silly romantic. I am still not completely sure which book I will choose. Right now it is between The Giver by Lois Lowry and The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Spear. I still have a few weeks before I need to make my final decision.

What books did you like to read when you were young? What books are you thinking to add to your book club list?

The Village by Nikita Lalwani

from goodreads

1 star

Since I didn't read past page 50 I will use the synopsis from the cover.

Synopsis (as stated above this is not my own synopsis, but from the cover of the book)

After a long trip from London, twenty-seven-year-old BBC filmmaker Ray Bhullar arrives at the remote Indian village of Ashwer, which will be the subject of her newest documentary. From the outside, the town projects a cozy air of domesticity -- small huts bordering earthen paths, men lounging and drinking tea, women guiding bright cloth through noisy sewing machines. Yet Ashwer is far from traditional. It is an experimental open prison, a village of convicted murderers and their families.

As Ray and her crew settle in, they seek to win the trust of Ashwer's residents and administrators: Nandini, a women's counselor and herself an inmate; Jyoti, a prisoner's wife who is raising her children on the grounds; Sujay, the progressive founder and governor of the society. Ray aims to portray Ashwer as a model of tolerance, yet the longer she and her colleagues stay, the more their need for a dramatic story line intensifies. And as Ray's moral judgement competes with her professional obligation, her assignment takes an uneasy and disturbing turn.

My Thoughts

I think the idea of the book is interesting. There is probably a great story in there, but I could not get into the book.

The main character, Ray, was hard to figure out and feel any kind of emotion for. I didn't know if I wanted to like her, sympathize with her, dislike her, tell her to get a life... it was one crazy roller coaster.  She seemed more interested in how people thought of her than actually trying to make any kind of connection with them. I just found her frustrating and thus didn't care what happened to her. That in turn, meant I really didn't care if I knew more about the story.

This might have been a case of trying to read the book at the wrong time. Sometimes you try out a book and it is not for you. Then you pick it up a few years later and it is a great read. So, perhaps, I may try it again, but it won't be for a long time.

To be fair, I did skip ahead to see if there was anything that piqued my interest enough to keep trying to read it. I did not find a thing.

So to sum up, interesting subject, lacklustre execution.

Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard and Most Loved in All the World by Tonya Cherie Hegamin

 from goodreads

5 stars

My four year old brought this book home from her school library. There were many moments when I thought this is exactly how I would react!

Synopsis

It follows the life of a blue bird who woke up on the wrong side of the nest. As he walks through the day, for he is too grumpy to fly, he meets other animals that help him find his happy back.

My Thoughts

I thought this was a very clever book. It shows that you can be grumpy in a non-destructive way. It also shows that when you encounter someone who is grumpy to the extreme you can still be pleasant and not add to the grumpiness. What is so great about this book is it helps us learn about ourselves and how we react to things and teaches our children how to navigate emotions. 

Because of the repetitiveness of the book, my four year old was shortly reading this to me! It was nice to be able to foster her reading and storytelling confidence.

This is a fun read that child and parent enjoy and will be laughing at together.

from goodreads

3.5 stars

This book is beautifully illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera.

Synopsis

This is a beautiful book of a mother, who is a slave, and her daughter. The mother creates a quilt with each square representing something. In the end the mother sends her daughter, along with the quilt, with people belonging to the underground railway. It is a book about love and sacrifice. 

My Thoughts

This is a book that shows the difficult choices that many faced during this hard and sad time of history. Families were broken apart. Children sent with others in the hopes that their future would be brighter. It is heart wrenching.

I liked how this book allowed us to bring up the topic of slavery and race relations. I was able to explain to my children what it meant for someone to be whipped and why freedom was so important. For my children it is hard to for them to fathom a person owning another person. They are so blessed. This book helped them understand kindness and empathy towards others.

The illustrations in this book are beautiful. Many pictures use textiles so we can actually see the quilt the mother is diligently making. The other pictures, while beautiful, are somewhat abstract from a child's standpoint so a child may not enjoy them as much as an adult.

The flow of the book was, at times, awkward. Some of the words more in a southern type voice while others were not. It may have helped to have it all one way or the other.

On the whole it was a great book and a great conversation starter.

The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma

from goodreads

2.5 stars

This is the first book of a trilogy. It has been translated from French. It has interesting ideas but on the whole this was not one of my favourite reads.

Synopsis

This book is set up in three parts. Part one is set in 1896. It follows a man named Andrew Harrington, a young man about to commit suicide on the eight year anniversary of the murder of his true love, a prostitute in Whitechapel in London, who was killed by Jack the Ripper. He is stopped and, with the help of author H.G. Wells, is given a chance to perhaps change the future.

Part two follows a young woman named Claire Haggerty. She comes from the upper class and hates the time she lives in. She has dreams and ambitions that she is not allowed to follow as her role is to marry well and produce children. When her friend invites her on the second excursion of Gilliam Murray's voyage to the year 2000 she is determined to stay in the future. There she meets Captain Derek Shackleton, the man who saves mankind from automatons . Wells makes an appearance in this part as well. (I would say more about his role but it would give things away.)

Part three begins with a run strange murders happening in London. Three bodies have shown up with giant holes burned through their chests. There is no weapon of the time that would inflict such a wound. At each body there is a passage from books that have not been published yet. Wells tries to figure out how to keep his work, and that of his contemporaries, in the annals of history.

This book is definitely time travel with a twist.

My Thoughts
I thought that this book was going to be great and was really excited to read it and figure out how they were going to put the pieces that are found on the book cover synopsis together. However, I found the book cover synopsis a bit misleading.

I found that this book was really hard to get into. It was kind of slow and I wanted to tell the Andrew character to get a life and some gumption. It was so melodramatic. Some holes were poked into the story. Marie (the Whitechapel prostitute) had a husband, then all of the sudden he wasn't around. The book picked up once H.G. Wells came into the picture. So I kept reading and was excited for the second part, but it went back to a dull story. Readable but dull.

I found that the flow of the parts was a bit off as well. The first two parts are somewhat similar in feel and fit nicely together. The third part was different and I felt as if it was tacked on.

There are some interesting questions that come up. Are there parallel universes? Is time really a fourth dimension in which we can move? Do we have free will or is everything destiny? But it was not well explained and on the whole the book did not hold my interest. It was very easy to put down and do something else instead of saying "just one more chapter".

So to sum up, sounded interesting but a let down.

The Grave Robber's Apprentice by Allan Stratton

from wpl website

5 stars

I love this book. This was the book that made me start thinking about doing a book review blog. I want everyone to know about this book. I loved it so much

Synopsis

This is a story about a boy who was washed ashore while a baby. A grave robber found the baby and adopted him to be his son, and to help him rob graves. At age thirteen the boy pairs up with a princess who is fleeing the evil archduke. Through this meeting the boy is flung into adventure and find out his true identity.

My thoughts

This book is the perfect blend of adventure, humour and romance. the pace is perfect. It keeps you engaged and not lost. You can perfectly picture what is going on. For me a sign of a good author/book is when I can see the action playing in my mind like a movie. This book does just that. I could see clearly what was happening, what the characters and locations looked like.

This book would be great for boys and girls. I know that is hard to find books these days that really get boys excited about reading. There is enough adventure and action happening that it would keep a boy's attention.

It is also so nice and refreshing to read an adventure book without having to worry about explicit scenes occurring. You could just get lost in the adventure and not have to read through, swearing, gore, and sexual intentions. Nice and clean.

Although the book is meant for kids 10 and up I think adults would love to read this book. It would be a great one to read together as a family.

A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen

from goodreads

I don't know what it is about the summer but that is when I seem to read all my psychological thrillers. Maybe summer is the time to be more edgy and daring, or perhaps since my summer mainly means going to kid activities I need a bit of excitement in my life, so I live vicariously through these books.

4 stars

This summers line up of Nordic crime novels did not disappoint me. At the top was Adler-Olsen's third installment of his department Q series. This is a series I love and each book leaves me longing for the next one to come out. While some elements continue from one book to the next, such as the shooting that injured the protagonist Carl Morck and his partner, it is not necessary to read all the books leading up to this one. You will not feel completely lost, though you will want to read every book in this series. Have I said how much I really love this series?

Synopsis

The book starts with the discovery of a message in a bottle in Scotland. The message was sent 15 years earlier from Denmark. The message lands on Department Q's desk. As Morck and his team decode the message it puts them on the trail of a serial killer who selects his pray from various closed community religious sects. The killer's new victims have been chosen and it is up to Morck and his crew to find them before it is too late.

My thoughts

I think this is one of the best ones yet. Although the first book in the series, The Keeper of Lost Causes was pretty awesome too. Adler-Olsen is really good at getting inside the head of the killer and showing how methodical he is at covering his tracks. Though the killer uses a lot of schemes, they are simple and therefore believable.

I like how we get to really love the characters, especially Carl and his work mate Assad. You care what happens to them and want good things for them. I like how we get to see Carl's home life so we can relate and sympathize with him. Though, in this book there is less about his home life than in previous books. Carl can be a bit of a prickly person, yet we see that he does have a soft side and does care for those around him, no matter how much he might complain about them at other times.

This book moves along fairly well and you can't wait to find out how they figure it all out. I must a admit I skipped ahead sometimes because I was so impatient. I wanted to know right then.

The translation I think was well done. I think the translator was from Great Britain, or trained in British English. There were a lot of terms that we, in North America, don't use, such as bloke and chap. As well, in the book the first floor referred to the upstairs floor. In North America we would call that the second floor. But that did not distract from the story. It was just an interesting point.

I also like how this book could be used as a social commentary for the state of affairs in Denmark. I am not really up on any Danish politics, but the reaction that people have when they see Assad (who is from Syria) as well as the budget cuts and money concerns in the police make me think if I knew more about it I would probably thinking, man, that's a good dig.

So I hope you give this book a try and enjoy it as much as I did.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

from goodreads

3.5 stars

I just finished reading this book for one of my book clubs. This is a captivating book about the deportation and forced labour of Lithuanians in 1941 by the Soviet regime.

The Synopsis

This story follows a young woman named Lina. She is the daughter of a university professor. Her father was already taken from them. Lina, her mother and younger brother were taken from their homes and put into cattle cars and sent to labour camps in Siberia.

While in the camps Lina uses her incredible artistic talent to draw what she sees happening around them. She also creates secret messages, which she passes along to others, in the hopes that they will reach her father so, he can find out where they are and let him know they are still alive.

Lina discovers her will to live no matter the circumstances. She learns the power of love and kindness even amongst, hardship, abuse and despair. She learns that things are not always black and white but life often is amongst differing shades of gray.

My Thoughts

Even though  my degree is in history and I took a lot of courses about this time period, I really didn't know much about this event in history. I knew that Stalin had slave labour camps in Siberia and I knew that the conditions in those camps were harsh, but I didn't realize how harsh. I also didn't know the extent of the expulsion that occurred in the baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, also to a degree Finland. Over 1/3 of the population in these countries, were gone. It is definitely a part of history that I want to learn more about.

The author does a good job to help us know the harshness of Lina's new reality. Yet, she does it in such a way that is not so graphic that it is horribly disturbing. I want to know what happens, I want to know the extent of suffering, yet I don't need a blow by blow, and an in depth description of how skeletal they are, or the way their dead bodies crumpled when they fell. Some things my imagination can picture quite well. So, the author did a good job of letting us know enough and then letting our imagination fill in the rest. She did not hide the horrors, she just didn't beat us over the head with it.

I also like how she showed the relationship between the different characters. It was through these relationships that we see the gray areas of life. Her mother and one of the soviet guards, Lina and another Lithuanian youth, the grumpy old man and everyone else. It is through these gray areas we see where love and kindness can flourish in difficult circumstances.

I recommend this book. Though it is a teen fiction book, teens and adults alike would like to read this. This would be a great book to read as a family or in a classroom to get a good discussion going on difficulties in life. How we can face things in a negative way or a positive way and the difference our attitude can make.

Welcome

Have you ever read a book that you need to tell everyone about. You want the whole universe to know how awesome that book was. Or you want them to know to avoid it like the plague. Well this is what this blog is for me. It gives me the chance to let people know about the books I've just read, what it's about and what I think about it.

I will have a new post every Thursday (to start off with). I will rate it (see tab for rating system) and give a bit of a synopsis. Since I am open to reading anything, the books will be anything from children's books to adult's, non-fiction to the greatest fantasy.

I love the library! I love that I can read as many books as I want and it doesn't cost me a thing, well, as long as I get them back in time. So the books I will be reviewing will have come from the library or at least can be found at one (some may be from my personal collection). I will try my hardest to make sure that the books are accessible to everyone. Some of the Canadian books I review (because I am from Canada) may not in the library of other countries. So sorry about that in advance, but they may be worthwhile trying to find.

All the books I post about will have been the books I have just finished reading. I have a few books in my personal archive, so I during busy times I can write about them.

I am not getting paid by anyone to do this. I just like sharing a good story. All the books are just what I feel like reading, or they were on my book club list (which the members make themselves). If ever my readership is such that I get approached by a publishing company or author I will let you know where I got the book, but the rating and comments about it will still be my own.

So hopefully this blog will help inspire your next read and will help broaden your reading scope. Happy reading!