Winter by Marissa Meyer

from goodreads

4 stars

So, this post was supposed to be done on Christmas Eve and totally wasn't. It seemed to be a pretty crammed day and I didn't even touch a computer until today. Our weekend didn't go as planned to do an unforeseen family circumstance, so it changed our Christmas plans slightly.

While I didn't get as much reading done as I would have liked I had a great Christmas and I am looking forward to a great New Year of reading and other fun things. The next big project is renovating part of our basement to become our new office and then our old office will become a bedroom for Miss G. We'll see how that goes.

I will do my best to do my regular Thursday post tomorrow. It might be a bit tight as we are going to watch Star Wars tomorrow morning! Very excited. But, if for some reason I don't get around to it, have a very Happy New Year!

Synopsis

This is the conclusion of the Lunar Chronicles Cinder and her friends infiltrate Luna in the hopes of bringing down the evil Queen Levana. This chapter of the Lunar Chronicles is loosely based off of Snow White.

My Thoughts

When it comes to an end of a series, especially one as fun and awesome as the Lunar Chronicles, either you will feel satisfied or you won't. There have been many endings where you are left feeling a bit jipped really and you feel a bit disappointed, or a lot disappointed. This was not the case at all with Winter. While it was not my favourite book of the series, I felt satisfied with how it ended. Everything got wrapped up in a way that made sense and stayed true to the series. It had romance, adventure, battles, deception, humour, the perfect blend of sci-fi and fairy tales. It was great!

The book is long. It is double the length of previous installments. The length came in part because of multiple/simultaneous story lines that caused some repetitiveness. It was helpful to help keep everything straight, but it did add to the length of the book. And we get it. Princess Winter is beautiful...you don't need to beat us over the head with it!

I found the last battle a bit drawn out and melodramatic. And, the fight was really intense and then just seemed to end which felt a bit anti-climatic.

I appreciated how well thought out the society of Luna was. It was interesting to learn of the different sectors and how things are labeled and what people do. This helped the characters become memorable and real.

My one other beef has nothing to do with the story it is more of the construction of the book. I get that 800+ pages is a lot of pages and that using normal paper would cause it to be super thick, but, the pages were almost too flimsy and I found it quite difficult sometimes to turn the pages as the paper would sometimes stick/turn together. I am not sure what they could do differently, but it was bit frustrating.

All in all, if you liked the rest of the series you will like Winter. While it is a bit more serious in tone there is still a playfulness that sets this series apart from all other dystopians. While it won't leave you in breathless awe it will not leave you disappointed. Now I think I will have to find the time and reread the series... I think I have my summer planned out!

The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands

from goodreads

5 stars

I am so excited for tomorrow! Yes, it is Christmas Eve. But that's not why I'm excited. My husband is off tomorrow so he can help the kids and I might be able to have some uninterrupted reading time in the morning. I love lazing in my nice, warm and comfy duvet in the morning just reading. I sure hope he isn't expecting a lazy morning... I think we might have to have a discussion tonight.

Synopsis

Christopher is an apprentice for an apothecary, Benedict Blackthorn. Apothecaries are being targeted by some cult. Christopher has to decipher clues in order to save the guild and stop these murders.

My Thoughts

What an awesome book! I read it in a day. I just could not put it down. It had suspense and intrigue and funny bits and puzzles. It was just great.

I will admit I went into the book with a bit of trepidation. This is the author's first book and it seemed to be heavily pushed and that combination does not guarantee a success, quite often it is hit and miss. This is definitely a hit.

I liked how he was able to incorporate historical detail without it feeling like a history book. He is able to create this great world without the reader feeling bogged down in details. You are learning, but you don't feel like you are learning.

He doesn't shy away from the brutality of life in the 1660s. He also doesn't shy away from the brutality of torture and murder, so if you are squeamish, this might not be the best fit for you.

Even though it is set in the 1660s, the characters are relatable and you would love them as your friend.

This is a great mystery and a great adventure. If you are looking for a last minute book for someone on your list pick this up. While anyone could read this book, this might be a good one to introduce to a preteen boy who might not be as interested in reading as you would like. The suggested age for this book is 10-14. I would think that the 10 year old would need to be a bit on the mature side and be able to handle some gore. Just love this book!

Open Heart, Open Mind by Clara Hughes

from goodreads

4 stars

Well yesterday there was a minor Christmas miracle. I actually started feeling a tiny bit Christmassy and got out some of our decorations. So we finally have a nativity scene out (it is a Veggie Tales one, I feel sort of sacrilegious) and our stockings.

The kids kept wanting to put more and more out but I squashed those ambitions. Usually we have decorations in our bay window. But our tree is in front of the window and is so big that you really can't get to the shelf part or see it. We'll save those for next year, when hopefully, we will get a smaller tree!

Synopsis

One of Canada's best known athletes, most decorated olympian in both summer and winter olympics, opens up about the demons of her past, the demons she still faces, how sport helped her but also hindered her as well.

My Thoughts

This was a great, fast read about a Canadian celebrity.

It is amazing, the success she has found, considering she didn't find sport until late, by most standards. As well, it is amazing the early success she had considering the booze and drugged filled life she had as a teenager.

I think she did a great job of balancing her life stories and her sport stories. The balance helped maintain interest. For me nothing is worse than a book purely about just sports things, the games they played and training they did. While an important element, I like learning about the actual person, how they think, and feel. I felt that I actually got to know Clara the person, instead of learning about all her stats and awards.

I like how she doesn't always try to show herself in a positive light. She shows us times when she didn't act well, when things didn't go the way she planned. It was interesting how she had her on stigma against mental illness (she refused to believe she had depression when first asked about it) and now she is the spokeswoman for mental illness awareness and is working hard to remove the stigma.

I appreciated how she showed her relationship with her husband in a real light. She shows their highs and their lows. They seem really cool and suit each other and that is awesome. By the way, their wedding, totally awesome. It should be an inspiration to all those getting married.

While not a deep memoir, it still shed light on her life, dark times, good times, self-discovery and how sport literally saved her life. This memoir definitely helped make Clara a whole person and not just a memorable smile.

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

from goodreads

3.5 stars

I have mentioned before how I grew up in a house filled with books. While there were many bookshelves everywhere we did have a dedicated room we called the library which had floor to ceiling book shelves. The books were even divided into sections.

I loved going in there and looking at all the books and thinking about what it would be like to read certain books or not.

One book that always caught my eye but I never picked up was The Princess and the Goblin. It was one of my mom's favourites, but I never got around to reading it. When I made my list of books for the year I put it on. It had been on my to read list for so long it was ridiculous. The time was now. Well, I finally read it and I am so happy that I did. Now on to the next!

Synopsis

Princess Irene lives in the mountains, but can not be out at night. That is when the goblins come out. Curdie is a miner, he has learned of a plan the goblins have. Curdie's and Princess Irene's story lines weave together for a magical fairy tale.

My Thoughts

This was a cute story. It was a story that allowed magic to happen without it feeling weird. It had adventure, magic and love.

While it was a bit slow at some parts it was still a fun story. I love the character of Curdie. He seemed so brave and sure of himself. He was cool. I also liked Princess Irene. She was strong willed but also cared for those around her, and she had this naive kind of trust that was lovely.

As with anything written over 100 years ago the cadence of words, the choice of words and pacing of the story was odd and could make this story hard for some readers to enjoy. With classics, either you like it or you don't, it is really a style preference, or more, a style "I can put up with it".

This is and was a children's book. Do not expect a deep Tolkein type novel. It is just a fun story. A story for story sake. If you read it to your kids, I'm not sure what their reaction would be, if they would like it or not. I think my kids would listen to being read aloud but not absorb it. This might be better for 12 and over. But, it is delightful, definitely worth the read.

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

from goodreads

1 star

December has been a busy month of reading. Next week I will do a blog post everyday to catch up.

Have a fun weekend!

Synopsis

This is from goodreads as I only got to page 153.

When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.

Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty facade is a town at war.

Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils... Pagford is not what it first seems.

And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

My Thoughts

So I could not finish this book. Not because it wasn't well written, it was. Not because it wasn't interesting, because I did find it so. But mostly because of some of the subject matter. There is a mother who is high on drugs and trying to take care of her children. That was just hard for me to get through at this point in my life. I just didn't feel like reading about drug abuse, overt poverty and the sense of hopelessness that can go along with those things. Those subjects are definitely worthy of attention and discussion, I just didn't feel like having that discussion right now. I needed something lighter and a bit happier I guess. Less heavy.

I will probably try this book again at some point in my life. I would like to know what happens. The characters are so well thought out and well rounded that you almost feel like you have known them forever. But for now, this will stay on my couldn't finish shelf.

A Pirate's Night Before Christmas by Philip Yates Illustrated by Sebastia Serra

from goodreads

5 stars

I don't know what it is about pirates, but man they sure are fun. As soon as my kids' eye catch a pirate book they have to get it. Miss G even wants to make pirate gingerbread men for Santa because of the book The Gingerbread Pirates.

When you think about the history of pirates and what they were like in real life, they really weren't so fun. In fact, I would not want to encounter them or encourage my kids to learn of them and their ways.

I guess that what happens with the distance of time. Things, that in reality were quite horrible, become fun through nostalgia. We have the luxury of picking out the good things so we can have fun and casually ignore the horror.

So, thanks time. Modern pirate kid books will have a place on our shelves because of you.

Synopsis

It is the night before Christmas on the Sarrk and the pirates are waiting for Sir Peggedy. A great piratey take on the Clement C. Moore Poem, The Night Before Christmas.

My Thoughts

This was such a fun book. Like his other book, A Pirate's Twelve Days of Christmas, Yates does a great job of planting you into pirate's life and becoming one of the crew.

I love the pirate jargon, and Sir Peggedy. I love how Yates is able to keep true to the original yet make it completely his own. Serra's unique fun style of illustrations add life and vibrancy to the tale.

This is a great, fun, Christmas book that is definitely going to be a classic in our house.

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

from goodreads

5 stars

Have you ever felt that there are so many books and so little time? My to read list keeps growing and growing. With so many interesting books being published ever day, plus the books that are already published that I haven't discovered yet, it seems like I will never read everything that I would like.

This past year I made a list of books I would like to read. I only have two left on my list, so I made it through. While it was a good method to get some books done, it felt a bit constricting because there were some other books that caught my eye and I wasn't sure if I should go for those books or keep to the list. Thanks to some awesome reading months, where I got so much done, I was usually able to do both. But not always.

This year I have decided not to have a set reading list. Instead I have a list of suggestions where if I don't know what to read I can read something from that list. I'm not going to feel rushed to read those books but I will never be stuck with the question what to read next. I'll see how that goes.

Synopsis

Alice is a cognitive psychology professor at Harvard. She has built a successful career and is a sought out lecturer. But when words start to go missing and she gets lost in areas of town she knows very well, she knows something else is going on, early onset Alzheimer's.

My Thoughts

What a simple, elegant, breathtaking story. I ended up reading it in a day. I could not put it down.

I thought it refreshing to see the disease of Alzheimer's from the perspective of the patient. I think it illuminates many aspects and deficiencies in the support for patients and the differences in opinions, limited trials and slow diagnosis that sometimes occur.

I liked how it showed how those with Alzheimer's get frustrated too. While sometimes they don't remember and so things aren't a big deal, there are times when they are lucid and know that something is not right, or want to have a say but not sure how to say it. Yes, it is frustrating for the caregivers too, but sometimes when we give people labels it is easier to take away what little humanity and dignity they have left by just doing everything for them, even decision making.

I really loved seeing the different relationships in Alice's life. Her disease brought her closer to one daughter, and really, closer to her family in general, as she is realizing that family is the most important thing, not the accolades of the world.

The relationship with her husband was at times hard to watch. Here is a man, who's work is everything to him. Yes, he loves his wife and family, but he feels that his work in cancer research is what he needs to focus everything on. When he stops having time to run with her because of his lab I wanted to slap in on the head. Pass the torch man, there are times and places for things and it was sad, yet understandable how he was putting his work first and wife second as that was his way of dealing with the devastating prognosis.

While I'm sure there is poetic liscense and it might not be 100% accurate for what the patients with Alzheimer's think and feel, I think this is a great book to help get rid of the stigma of Alzheimer's, especially the early onset of it, and to increase our empathy for those living with it and those in their family.

The only drawback to the book is that now any memory slip or lost word I have makes me think I have early onset Alzheimer's. I am a lot more paranoid about it now. Maybe that is a good thing?

The Santa Trap by Jonathan Emmett Illustrated by Poly Bernatene

from goodreads

3 stars

Well... I am slowly starting to feel a bit more Christmassy. On the weekend we went to a nearby tree farm and got our Christmas tree. It looked way smaller in the field. In reality it takes up like half our living room. But, it makes me smile every time I see it. It is definitely worth the slight inconvenience if it does that.

It was the kids Christmas party at my husbands work on Saturday as well.  They always do such a great job. Miss P's dreams were fulfilled because she finally got to sit on Santa's knee. She has been talking about doing that for weeks. And, for the first year in a long time our family didn't make the cry wall! Now if that isn't an accomplishment I don't know what is.

Synopsis

Bradley Bartelby is bad and never likes the presents Santa leaves him, so he has come up with a plan.

My Thoughts

If I was rating this just on my own without thinking of how my children enjoyed it, it would only be a 2. My husband and children enjoyed it and chuckled, but I really did not enjoy this book.

I didn't like how the parents were spineless. I didn't like how Bradley really didn't seem to learn anything. I understood why Bradley built the Santa's Trap, but I felt he didn't learn from this experience and thus would not change his ways. That seems like a waste. To me it was a "what was the point" type book. I know that not all children's books have to have a logical point but it should still be fun, and for me it just wasn't.

I did like the drawings. I did like the elephant element. And I did like what happens at the end with the tigers. I could see the beginnings of Bradley humbling himself. But because the end didn't show real character change I just felt it was a let down.

Your kids will probably have fun with this book so it is worth stomaching it, but for the adult, unless you are like my husband, it will leave something lacking.

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein

from goodreads

4 stars

One of my book club friends is in a total reading slump. Even some of her go to authors haven't helped. How frustrating that must be.

I, on the other hand, seem to be on a reading high. Lately I have been reading some awesome books. The book I just finished yesterday I read in a day. I couldn't put it down. Poor Miss P probably felt neglected. Thank goodness for Peppa Pig compilations.

My fear now is that this high won't last and I will soon be in a slump! hopefully that won't happen, but you just never know.

Synopsis

Rose, a young American pilot, is caught by the Nazis and sent to Ravensbruck.

My Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While it is a companion/continuation of Code Name Verity, it could be its own stand alone book. You would not have to read Code Name Verity to understand the story.

I have read quite a lot about this time period and studied it in university. Yet, whenever I read a new book about this era it amazes me just how much more there was to WW II. It was all encompassing war and it seems that the Nazis were scattered in what they were trying to achieve. Instead of being focused on one way of achieving their goals they were spread all over the place trying tons of different things. I don't know if anyone could learn everything that went down back then in a life time. It overwhelms me.

Telling the story using "the rabbits" was an interesting angle. I know people know of the experimentation done in Auschwitz but I did not know about the experimentation in Ravensbruck. What horrible things to have happened to these women.

The cast of characters allowed for the portrayal of the various types of prisoners in the camps. Some of the situations or relationships were, perhaps, a bit contrived but it did allow for a broad overview of the camp and all the facets that went with it.  I would not call this the definitive work on Ravensbruck but it is definitely a great jumping off point to delve and gain an interest in this subject.

I like how this book was able to go beyond the war and showed the Nuremberg trials, and other tribunals, that went on to hold those people who did such gross things to humanity to account. That is one thing I think I would like to research more myself.

One character that I appreciated being included was Anna. She was a german prisoner who actually used to work at Ravensbruck and administered sedatives to the rabbits. Her character shows that there is a big grey area when it comes to the war. Some were all about inflicting pain and horror onto others. Some were merely trying to figure out how to survive themselves. Her character throws a wrench in the simplistic view of good and evil that is sometimes caste up on the German people when discussing this era of their history. It was not an all or nothing scenario.

Whenever I read stories like this, set in concentration camps, I always wonder to myself, what type of prisoner would I be? I would like to think I would be noble, and decent. But then, part of me things I might be like those prisoners who were kind of crazy and would grab food wherever they could and fight over a sock. For those who were able to keep part of their humanity I totally salute them.

This was a great and heart wrenching read. I think it was done very well. It was not over the top graphic, but it also didn't try to downplay the horrors. That is a balance that is hard to perfect, yet Wein did so. Definitely a must read.

The Twelve Days of Christmas in Canada by Ellen Warwick Illustrated by Kim Smith

from goodreads

3 stars

December 1st! I guess it is really time to get serious about Christmas. Usually by this time if I haven't bought things I have at least a list made up and some sort of plan. This year... not happening. It's not that I'm anti-Christmas or feeling particularly grinchy. I just haven't got my brain to the place of sugar plum fairies yet. I'm sure I'll get there, hopefully before December 24th.

What do you to help you get into the Christmas spirit?

Synopsis

Two children and their grandmother travel across Canada over twelve days.

My Thoughts

This book confused me. It's a picture book, but then it is also a travel guide to Canada. Though the pictures look like it should be a book for kids 4-8, it is more appropriate for 10-12.

For every day there is a lengthy letter telling all about what they did on that particular day. And then on the other page there is an added line to the song of The Twelve Days of Christmas. The letter is too long to hold little kids attention so we just looked at the pictures and sang the song. When I read it myself later the letters were full of fun and cool facts and made me excited to take a cross Canada tour. You can learn a lot. So, if you are reading it then I would totally change how you read it according to what kids you are reading it to.

This book celebrates all fun things Canada, but in a rather long winded way. While I think it is great I think it is missing its target audience, or at least is unsure of who the target audience is. Because of this confusion I don't think this book will be as loved as it should.

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

from goodreads

3 stars

Well the snow that was here at the beginning of the week is now gone and we have rain. Oh crazy November!

Synopsis

(Synopsis from goodreads)

The Woman in White is a Victorian melodrama concerning a mysterious woman in white who bears an uncanny resemblance to the fiancee of Lord Glyde, a sophisticated fortune hunter. First published as a serial between 1859 and 1860, this chronicle of evil, suspense, and villainy is believed to be the first English novel to deal with crime detection.

My Thoughts

This was a difficult book. There were some parts that I loved. There was action and intrigue and excitement. Others, and these parts were the majority of the book, were very tedious and slow and I really didn't care.

I like how Collins writes the story through letters, journal entries and recollections. He did something similar with his book The Moonstone and I find it very affective. It is an inventive way of getting multiple points of view.

The character of Fosco was quite interesting. I wish I knew more about how he became friends with Sir Glyde so I could better understand their dynamic. But man, he is one scheming, evil dude. Yet, it is hard to not like him.

I wish we found out more about the connection between Laura's father and Sir Glyde. Like why did her father wish for the marriage? If they had met through Fosco, then it would not make much sense for her father to be so excited about the proposal. Was it blackmail? Were they actually friends? It would have been interesting to know.

This book is kind of scary in that it could happen. For Real! It is not some other earthly tale. It is a tale that shows holes in the perfect perception of Victorian England and makes me very glad that we have DNA testing and other ways to prove identity.

The ending was a bit of a disappointment. It kind of wrapped up a little too nicely with very little effort. I'm glad things worked out the way they did, it just seemed too contrived and easy.

This was just a bit too blah for me to be super excited about it. I am definitely glad I read it. I just wished that the intensity in which it started out had continued throughout the entire book.

Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton

from goodreads

3 stars

November is such a strange month. In one week you can go from a balmy 16 to snow. On Saturday we went to my husband's company's Christmas party. When we arrived it was chilly, but not snowing. By the time we left 5 hours later it was a winter's wonderland outside with about 2-3 cm of snow over everything. Good thing I finally got around to buying Miss P her winter boots!

Synopsis

Friends out for a walk want to catch a beautiful bird. It's okay... they have a plan. What could possibly go wrong?

My Thoughts

To be honest, I wasn't as impressed with this book as I thought I would be. The premise seemed really cool and I was ready to be thoroughly entertained, but, it just didn't happen for me. My kids and husband on the other hand were giggling away. Perhaps this is a case of it's me not you.

It is a good book for kids who are learning to read or for young readers who enjoy repetition as it is a story of repetition.

I did enjoy the illustrations. I thought they were kind of cool.

I think this is a book that might grow on me over time and I didn't mind reading it over and over. I just would choose a different book over it if I had a choice. But, your 2-6 year old will probably love it.

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

from goodreads

4 stars

I got distracted and forgot to post yesterday! Gak. My husband's company Christmas party is tomorrow and I had to find an outfit. We usually don't go to the Christmas party, but Matt reached a milestone year with the company so its our time to go. I am definitely more a relaxed, comfortable clothes wearing type. Having to find something that was a bit more formal was a bit daunting.

I think I picked an outfit that stayed true to me though so that's good. Thank you Reitman's! What would I do with out you.

Synopsis

The next installment of Mindy Kaling's musings on her life in Hollywood and Show Business.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. Sometimes you need a little light hearted fluff to get you through more serious literary pursuits. This was the perfect blend of dishing about Hollywood, self-deprecating humour and sage advice.

She has a great writing style. While reading it I felt like I was getting letters from a great friend, or at least a long distance pen pal you just can't give up.

I like how she keeps it real. We see the long hours and sacrifice it takes to be successful. It is not all frilly dresses and parties. I think sometimes we might want fame, or at least the money that can go along with it. But what we don't usually see in the tabloids or entertainment shows are the hard work, sacrifices, and ungodly waking hours that are involved. Seriously 6 a.m. does not exist in my world let alone 5. How do they do it?

I also liked her essay to the girl who asked her where she got her confidence. Sometimes the best answers are ones that take a while to figure out and can't be said right on the spot. I hope that girl is able to read her answer.

There were some essays that I have to admit I glossed over. The alter-ego email essay... it just wasn't for me. Kudos to you who did read it.

Overall this was a light, fun, informative and just nice read.

When We Go Walking by Cari Best Illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker

from goodreads

3 stars

I know I have sung the praises or the library before, but I have to do it again. I love the library and the best part is my kids love it too.

The programs that they have at the library are so great. Miss P and I go to two programs a week. There are stories, singing, dancing, crafts and games. She always looks forward to going. When I tell her it is library time she gets a big smile on her face. When we drive by the library or are walking by it she yells out "Library!" and then promptly asks to go in and see her favourite library worker, Sam.

The older two don't go to the public library as much. We get busy after school. But during the summer we try to go as often as we can and they participate in the summer reading club. This fall I did sign them up for one program that is through the library and frontier college. It is called reading buddies. There are two children per adult and they go into the library and read books for the first half hour and then play games for the last half hour. Miss V and Miss G have had such a fun time going. They want me to sign them up for another session, if the library is hosting one.

It is so nice to have a whole community gathered around your children helping them with their love of reading. Reading truly opens doors to new worlds and ideas. Yay for reading and yay for libraries!!

Synopsis

Wendy and her family walk down rambling road. They each see different things and Wendy likes to collect things too.

My Thoughts

I was kind of disappointed with this book. The cover looked so promising, but I found the story kind of flat. It's cool that the girl is creative and all but seriously, something should be done about her hoarding tendancies. That just seemed to bug me.

I did like how the family members all looked for things to see and each person saw a different thing. I also liked how it went through the different seasons and how different things could be found at different times. I liked how the book kind of encouraged us to get out there and walk. Physical activity, especially when done together with the family, is the best! It was also neat to see Wendy use her imagination and make her own "Rambling Road". But, once again, all the junk she brought home irked me. So It was sort of a bitter sweet moment.

The artwork in the book is fantastic. I love the differing textures used. You can tell it is a collage of different items and textures but it doesn't feel jumbled or disjointed. They items work seamlessly to create really great pictures.

So this book was ultimately a jumble of feelings, some good some not so good. In the end I just felt it a bit too lackluster and it just wasn't for me.

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

from goodreads

3 stars

I don't know exactly what it is but books set in small towns seem to be the most charming. Whether it is the microcosm of society that is presented, or that we all yearn for simple rural living, the characters are lovely, relatable and you often want to sit and have a cup of tea with them.

I grew up in a small town, and I definitely wouldn't call it charming. Perhaps it was the town. Or perhaps that is the great thing about literature. Authors can make their small town one of perfection.

Now that isn't to say that a book set in a big city can't have charm either, but usually for that charm to work you have to narrow it down to a neighbourhood, or street. There needs to be a cozy factor and intimate factor and then the charm just comes naturally.

Synopsis

Major Pettigrew is retired, widowed and sort of stuck in his ways. When he learns about the death of his younger brother he is rocked to his core. He begins to look at things a differently, even Mrs. Ali, the local corner store owner.

My Thoughts

This story was charming. It was cute and quaint. The inhabitants of the town were exactly as you would picture them to be. There are the busybody women, their hopeless husbands, the secrets and the stuck in the muds.

I loved the character of Mrs. Ali. She is so classy and cool. I would love to have a conversation with her.

I liked how the author showed that prejudice is everywhere, even when people are trying to be well intentioned. Perhaps it is still a throwback to colonial times and it just isn't thought of. Even today people talk about "immigrants" yet some of the people we think of as immigrants have been here just as long or were born here. And really who cares! Seriously, people need to get over it.

I thought the Major's son was a bit of a loser. I wished that at some point either the Major or someone called him out a bit and made him realize he was being an insensitive jerk who was too busy trying to climb the social ladder than being a descent human being. Even at the end when he gets a bit humbled he doesn't show any true remorse and doesn't grow at all. I kind of found that disappointing.

I found some parts of the book to be a bit dry. Some things seemed to be thrown in or weren't followed through which made it unsatisfying.

For a first book this was cute and charming. With a bit of tightening up it would be really great. I think I might have appreciated the book more if I was a bit more mature in my life. Being in my early 30s it was hard to completely empathize or relate to the characters. But that being said, I still enjoyed the read.

The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

from goodreads

4 stars

Miss G is always inventing things. She has heaps of drawings and plans and goes through so much tape is is rather ridiculous. Some of her creations are pretty interesting. Often she runs to her room saying"I have a great idea for the best thing ever!"

What can be frustrating at times is when she needs help with her creation and she expects you to know exactly what she needs and wants. When you tell her you don't know what you want her to do, she does not always believe you and then gets mad when you tape something at the wrong spot. Or sometimes her plan does not always work out the way it did in her head... that can be frustrating too.

When I say this book on my library's main page I knew I had to get it out. It screamed Miss G because I had heard those words before.

Synopsis

A little girl along with her puppy assistant set out to make the most magnificent thing.

My Thoughts

This author totally got the little girl inventor thing down. The brilliant ideas, the thorough drawings, the many, many, many trials and the frustration when things weren't going quite as planned.

I liked how the author shows that many of the greatest things are created through the trial and error process and that you might not get it perfect the first time. I liked how methodical the process was. I liked how a cooling off period or walking away period is sometimes what is needed when you are stuck. I also liked how the author showed that while some of her models weren't good for what she wanted they worked for other people. Sometimes when we set out to create something we might create a thing we didn't expect but is useful for others.

The drawings were quite nice. They were simplistic yet exactly what this story needed.

This is a great book to encourage kids to solve their own problems, think things through and keep trying. I really enjoyed it.

Sandrine's Case by Thomas H. Cook

from goodreads

2 stars

Reading is ultimate adventure. You really don't know what you are going to get. When you crack the cover you could be on the cusp of discovering a new favourite or a bitter disappointment.  I guess it can be a bit like russian roulette.

There are so many other factors that go into whether a book is a hit or not. A lot depends on you as the reader. The timing of books is so important. If you have just finished a favourite and the next book isn't as great it could be a greater disappointment then it would have been if it had been read after a different one. Sometimes it could be the mood you are in, the weather outside, how much reading time you have in your schedule and more.

This reading year is starting to wind down. So far, it has been a pretty good year for reading. I have read more than I thought I would. I have a had a pretty good mix of books. And there haven't been too many books that have been complete duds and that makes me happy. How has your reading year been?

Synopsis

Samuel Madison is on trial for the murder of his wife Sandrine, though he maintains it was suicide. During the trial Samuel lets his mind wander and he reflects on his life with his wife.

My Thoughts

This was not a favourite. I only finished it because it was a book club read.

I found the book boring and repetitive. I couldn't stand any of the characters and really didn't care what happened to any of them. And honestly what was the point of Albi. It kept coming up but it really wasn't this big revelation everything made sense kind of explanation. The ending was a let down. I figured there would have been some kind of twist or something but no.

I think I have a problem with stories like this because of the unhealthy promotion of relationships. I feel like I am the only person that seems to understand that long term relationships are not going to be hot and steamy the whole time. There will be disappointments with ourselves and our spouse. But we get on with it and move on. Relationships are about putting others needs before our own out of love and concern. It is about building up those around us. I know this is an ideal and not always easy, but I think a lot of the problems with the characters in this book, and others, could have been rectified if the characters had an honest and frank discussion with each other and weren't so wrapped up in themselves and their convoluted ways of doing things. Why can't we ever see a nice normal relationship? (sorry for the rant)

I did like how the story was told, through reflections. I did like the bit of redemption that Samuel went through to change his life for the better. But that was about it.

This was the first book that I have read from this author. I might give others a try. He is obviously successful as he has written a lot over many genres. But this book has definitely not made me want to rush out and read everything he has written.

The Hanging Girl by Jussi Adler-Olsen

from goodreads

3.5 stars

Today is a very blustery day. The clouds are coming in and I have a feeling that there will be a sprinkle of rain right when I go out to get the older kids from school. It seems to always rain when I go to get the kids. It will stop as soon as we get home but for those ten minutes if it is going to deluge it will.

On a grey like this it is hard to think of anything to do or say. All I really want to do is curl up in a cozy blanket and read or snuggle with Miss P. Looks like I have my afternoon all mapped out!

Synopsis

This is the next installment of the Department Q series featuring Carl Morck. The cold case this time is looking at a girl who was killed on the island of Bornholm. The case takes them to a sun god commune in Sweden and to many other interesting characters. We are also beginning to find out a bit more about Carl and his connection with the shooting that paralyzed one of his partners and killed the other.

My Thoughts

This was another great nordic crime.

Adler-Olsen is the master of parallel story lines. He is able to blend together what is happening with Carl and his team with that of possible people of interests story lines so seamlessly. I always like trying to figure out how he is going to blend the story lines together.

The cold case was interesting and the lady at the commune was a bit crazy! Seriously, how does he come up with some of the characters that he does.

I really wished that more was resolved in Carl's life before his accident. Is he friend or foe? Was he a corrupt cop or was he all above board. I really want to know. I have invested so much into him and I hope he is not a bad cop. I just want answers.

I also wanted Assad's plot to move on a bit more. I know that he has some kind of secret from his former life and I would love to know what it is.

Even with the little movement in Carl's and Assad's plot lines I loved seeing them together and watching their friendship grow. You can tell that they really care for each other and see each other as partners.

If you are a fan of Department Q you will not be disappointed with the latest installment.

The 13 Days of Halloween by Carol Greene Illustrated by Tim Raglin

from goodreads

4.5 stars

Well, Halloween is coming up this Saturday. I am still making some last minute tweaks to the kids costumes but for once I am feeling like we are ready.

Miss V is going to be Little Red Riding Hood. I made her a red and white tutu style skirt and a nice warm fleece hood and cape. Hopefully the cape will help her stay a little warm when they are out on Saturday. Halloween can be pretty chilly in Canada.

Miss G is going to be a ballerina witch cat, the last time I checked. Hopefully it all works out for her and she will be happy with the result.

With Miss P I totally thought we would have an extra year of putting her in whatever costume we wanted, but nope. She is determined to be a dinosaur/dragon. Luckily my friend has a dragon costume lying around and I think it will be perfect. Seriously, how did my 2.5 year old get so opinionated?!

I am looking forward to a nice quiet Halloween. Our neighbourhood is an older one so there aren't as many kids. Last year I think we got 15 kids at our door. So, it should be a nice time of reading and relaxing while my husband take our our kids and I wait for whoever drops by.

Yay for Halloween!

Synopsis

A nicely dressed, gentlemanly ghoul gives gifts to his friend.

My Thoughts

Well here is another book where they take a familiar song and change the words around to be a fun Halloween book.

I loved the illustrations and the toads. The toads were probably my favourite.

I loved how everything worked with the tune so we could all sing along. My kids liked seeing all the different gifts. Miss P especially liked the spiders and the worms. She also liked the lady's dresses. Every time we turned the page she would exclaim "ooh pretty dress". She likes her dresses, what can I say.

All of us were a bit disappointed at the end when we don't get to see what the gift is that the lady gives the the man. I tried to make it fun by saying "oh, we get to use our imaginations. What do you think she gave?" But the kids weren't buying it. My husband even exclaimed "Laaame!"'

This is a fun book that will definitely get you in the creepy and fun Halloween spirit. Happy Halloween!!

Three Evergreen Nominated Books

Ever since I found out about the Evergreen awards, through the OLA, I get super excited ever January. That is when the nominations for the year come out and I am so excited to read great Canadian literature. I usually don't get through the whole list. Last year and this year I have read about half, and that's not too shabby. Right now you can vote for who you want to win the award. If you go to the Waterloo Public Library's home page there is a button to click that will take you right to the online voting platform. Voting closes next week so make sure you have your say on what book you think was your favourite.

Here are the final three Evergreen nominated books I have read.

from goodreads

Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese
5 stars

Synopsis
When the kid is asked by his dying father, a man he really doesn't know and care for, to be taken out in the woods to die, he learns about himself, his past, and real love.

My Thoughts

This was such a lovely story. This is the second book by Wagamese that I have read and he leaves me in awe every time. There is something about his prose that transports you into a different time and place, so effortlessly, you become enveloped.

I loved how he refers to the different characters as "the old man" and "the kid". In some instances you don't know what the real names are until half way through the story. There is something about that that is just charming and in this story so appropriate. It confirms, in a way, that these are characters who are down to earth and just trying to do their thing and do the best they can with their lives. They are not trying to put on airs.

This story shows the importance of knowing your roots, knowing the stories of those who have gone before. To know where you have come from. This book also shows the perils of loosing yourself and not expressing your fears and sharing your burdens. Often times when we try to be "strong" those are the times when we really are at our weakest. It is strong to share, it is strong to express fear.

To sum up this book I would have to say it is simple, yet breathtaking. It is definitely worth the read.

from goodreads

The Lobster Kings by Alexi Zentner
3 stars

Synopsis

This is a family saga of the Kings family. This is a mix of lobster fishing, drug wars, proving yourself, and mythology all rolled into one story.

My Thoughts

This book was okay. I found the main character, Cordelia, rather annoying and one dimensional. All she seemed to think about was her boat, lobsters, and proving that a woman could do it. I guess it is hard to understand this one dimensional thinking since I don't feel a particular calling or yearning in my life. I also didn't like how Cordelia felt she had to take things into her own hands. There were times, especially the thing at the end, where it was sheer stubbornness and stupidity that she didn't call or wait for back up. She was not only risking her life but those of her crew on the boat and that is just not acceptable. In fact it is kind of selfish.

The story is broken up by talking about art, specifically art done by the first Kings on Loosewood Island. While it was interesting and sometimes tied into the story, at times it was a bit much and the flow of the story was lost. It kind of made the story drag a bit.

I guess this book was sort of like the wild west but in the east and in fishing boats instead of on horses.

At the end of the book it left me feeling kind of meh.

from goodreads

Juliet was a surprise by Bill Gaston
2 stars

Synopsis

This is a collection of short stories.

My Thoughts

This collection was just weird. There were a couple of stories that were okay but for the most part it was just strange and I didn't get it. Strange and weird are not necessarily bad but in this case it was. It left me feeling confused and that I had just wasted my time.

Perhaps it is just the genre. I usually don't read short stories and so maybe that is just the way they are. But, I kinda doubt that.

One thing I did like is how we just got plopped into the middle of someone's life and got to see a snippit of it. There was no need for build up or lengthy explanations. You just kind of went with it.

While this has not turned me off trying out short stories again, I would not recommend this book. It wasn't for me.

The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine

from goodreads

5 stars

Summer is over and autumn has definitely settled in. I think autumn is one of my favourite seasons to read in. I obviously enjoy reading anytime of year, but there is something about autumn where you can curl up in your favourite chair with a cup of herbal tea and cozy socks that makes reading a pure joy.

My favourite place to read is in my love seat that is in front our big bay window. I get a lovely view of the tree lined street I live on and in the fall it is beautiful with brilliant oranges and yellows. So beautiful.

Synopsis

(I am stealing the synopsis from goodreads because it is just so good.)

You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of Sinclair's department store!

Enter a world of bonbons, hats, perfumes and MYSTERIES around every corner. WONDER at the daring theft of the priceless CLOCKWORK SPARROW! TREMBLE as the most DASTARDLY criminals in London enact their wicked plans! GASP as our bold heroines, Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lilian Rose, CRACK CODES, DEVOUR ICED BUNS and vow to bring the villains to justice...

My Thoughts

This book was simply a delight. I was drawn to it because of its gorgeous cover. And this book had everything great heroes, horribly mean villains, deception, street urchins, kidnapping, treason and more.

The backdrop which is almost a character to itself is the Sinclair department store that is about to open. The store is the biggest and fanciest store in all of London. It is full of dark stair cases, opulent show rooms and more. I would love to go there and walk around.

I love the characters. Sophie, who is an orphan, who is used to living more comfortably but is determined to make it. Lilian, who is from a well off family but wants to be an actress. And then a great cast of supporting characters. While the characters were young, young teens, there actions were appropriate. Sometimes books or t.v. shows who have young characters are not realistic in what they have them do (I'm speaking to you Arthur). This book was completely believable, especially given the time the book was set in (pre world war one).

While there were times in the mystery that seemed rather obvious it was still a fun and I would say sophisticated mystery and story. For those who are a bit sensitive there is a drugging, a shooting and an intentional murder. Though it is not gory and doesn't go into detail, it still happens.

I think this is the perfect book for your budding detective. I would recommend it for 11 and up. This is the first book in what is to be a series. I am really looking forward to the next installment.

The Halloween House by Erica Silverman Illustrated by Jon Agee

from goodreads

5 stars

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And it seems to be especially true when it comes to books written for specific holidays. Why reinvent the wheel when you can take something beloved and make a few tweaks to come up with a great holiday tale.

I am definitely one of those people who will take a song and change the lyrics to come up with something to fit the situation. I must say that seems to be a talent all on its own. It can be hard to fit things into the rhythms and rhymes.

So hear to all the original creators of songs and rhymes and stories that allow the rest of us to use our creative juices. We wouldn't be able to do it without you.

Synopsis

Two men on the run from the law decide to hide in a mansion. Yet what they meet there is not what they thought.

My Thoughts

This book is awesome! Not only do my kids love it, but I love it too.

It is a play on the song "Over in the Meadow" and the rhymes fit the song perfectly. I would sing the song but it was still a bit too cheerful for the book so I changed the song to its minor key form and it definitely helped the story become a bit more eerie.

In this Halloween house they meet werewolves, vampires, worms, skeletons, witches and more. The illustrations really helped the story come alive. I loved seeing the scared expressions on the faces of the convicts as they were running from monsters and dancing with skeletons.

I especially love the last picture of the book. I won't tell you what it is but it definitely completes the book.

If you are looking for a fun book to get you into the Halloween spirit this definitely is the book. It was such a delight.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

from goodreads

4 stars

Growing up I watched a lot of movies from the 40s, 50s and early 60s. I love them! Black and white, technicolour, musicals, film noirs, I watched them all. I especially loved and still love Alfred Hitchcock. Like seriously, how could you not.

Some of my favourites aren't his most popular but they are still great, such as The Trouble with Harry and To Catch a Thief.

I know when I was young I saw Rebecca, but I didn't remember much if anything of the story line or anything. All I remembered is that the housekeeper was creepy. Now that I have finished the book I think I am going to have to rewatch the movie. Perhaps a Hitchcock marathon is in order.

Synopsis

After a whirlwind engagement and marriage our narrator arrives at the home of his husband, Manderly. Once there the presence of his first wife, Rebecca, can be felt everywhere in an almost oppressive shadow.

My Thoughts

This was a confusing read, but ultimately I really liked. It seemed to have me go through a bit of an emotional roller coaster with me going from feelings of indifference, to exasperation, to anger, to relief, to sorrow, to hope.

The settings were great and you could picture things to clearly. I don't know if it is because of the style or if because I have seen the Hitchcock movie version before but I pictured the scenes of the book in black and white.

For most of the book I felt so sorry for the narrator. Here she was this young, innocent, inexperienced girl who was not sure of herself or her new station in life. She really needed her husband to be a bit of a mentor for her and he was not. It bothered me that Maxim, her husband, seem so indifferent and didn't notice how uneasy she was. It also bothered me that she didn't gain gumption to sort herself out and do things her way. Both those points eventually got rectified but it was almost painful to see the narrator go through such sadness and awkwardness.

While the narrator was going through her awkward period the book sort of dragged a bit, but once the boat went ashore the book picked up and was quite exciting and intense.

This book helps to illustrate the importance of not keeping secrets, especially from spouses. It shows the importance of having a belief in your capabilities and not feeling put upon by other people. It can be hard to do but so essential. It is also a book that shows the importance of choosing the correct spouse and not settling for crazy.

This was a great gothic read.

Monster Mash by David Catrow

from goodreads

5 stars

Growing up we were making the transition from records to tapes to cds. My family had a collection of very interesting records. There was a Smurf record, a Muppet compilation, and my favourite one with spooky songs. This was my first interaction with the song Monster Mash. You cannot hear that song with out wanting to do your best 50s dance moves.

Now I get to pass that song on to my own kids, and they like it because it is about monsters and it is just fun. While listening to a cleaned up sound version isn't quite as nostalgic as listening to a scratchy record, this song still brings me a lot of joy and usually kicks off a dance party.

Synopsis

Illustrator David Catrow takes the beloved song Monster Mash and brings it to life through his fun illustrations.

My Thoughts

This book was so much fun. Nothing is better than trying to make your spookiest voice while reading it. My husband is the champ. He is so good at spooky accents.

When we got it out I wasn't sure what to expect. I didn't know it was going to be the song Monster Mash. I was thinking they were going to try create monsters in a mashup or something. So when my oldest kept singing Monster Mash and then my middle daughter kept asking about the Monster Mash song I was a bit confused and was like what is going on. But then when I finally read the book myself it all clicked together.

This was a great book. The illustrations were just perfect for the song and it got you in the spooky groovy feeling. It was just so much fun.

So if you love the song, you will love the book.

They Left Us Everything by Plum Johnson

from goodreads

4 stars

While I am fairly youngish, 32, my parents are rather elderly. I was born late in their life as the youngest of six children. While my parents probably have quite a while to live, as some of my grandparents lived to be quite old, their mortality is still present in my mind.

While they are still doing well for their age they are definitely starting to slow down, be more cautious and need more help. Their memory is slowly going and they just aren't as with it as they once were, which I am not as patient about as I should be.

When they finally move from their house, or when they pass on, I am not looking forward to going through their stuff. My mom, more than my dad, is a collector of things. They aren't even particularly nice things or collectible things. It is just stuff. Walking into her house is sort of like walking into a community yard sale. And you know what, if that makes her happy I'm all for it. Unfortunately going through the stuff will be quite another thing. While most things will be donated or discarded we will still need to sift through everything as it is all sort of jumbled together. Really, who knows what kind of treasures we will find.

At least I have the comfort in knowing that when that time comes I won't be tackling it myself. I have other siblings who are as capable of moving stuff around as I am. It can be a team effort and not a solo expedition.

Synopsis

Plum Johnson has been looking after her parents for years. When her mother passes away she is filled with a sense of relief and yet has guilt as well. She decides to tackle clearing out her parents house and while doing so confronts her own conflicted feelings.

My Thoughts

This is a book that everyone caught in the sandwich generation should read. It is a mix of family history meets antiques meets therapy. She is fairly candid about her feelings, about her struggles with her parents, especially her mother, and her desires for her children. She shows the process of going through what parents leave behind and dealing with the estate.

I like how she touches on the subject of not really knowing someone, in this case a parent, until they are gone. As she read her mothers diaries she discovered her mothers fears, hopes and ambitions. I think it is this late discovery of how her mother truly felt about her that made the author long for more time with her parents, even though when her mother was still living it was hard too. The only people we really know are ourselves. When we see the outward shell of those around us it is hard to know if it is an act or them. We don't know what they are thinking or what makes them tick. Her mothers diaries and letters helped this author know more about her parents and in turn her own life.

It was also interesting to see how the actual things were dealt with. Somethings were heirlooms, or antiques or something not intrinsically valuable, yet it seems those less valuable items were what held the most sentimentality.

There were times when the story line of her time emptying her parents house got a bit lost and a bit overshadowed. She would often start talking about the life her parents lived, which, while interesting, isn't why I wanted to read the book. I was more interested in what Plum was going through than the history of her parents.

Over all it was an enjoyable read, one that I can definitely identify with.

Frankenstein: A Monstrous Parody by Ludworst Bemonster aka Rick Walton, Illustrated by Nathan Hale

from goodreads

4 stars

I don't know about the timing of things in retail. I can't find a bathing suit in July but I am able to find my Hallowe'en costume. How can that be right? When I was visiting a friend in Michigan a couple weekends ago we went to Hobby Lobby (that store is dangerously awesome) and they were already having sales on their Christmas decor! What is going on!

Well, at least the library waited until last week to bring out their Hallowe'en books. That is a bit better. So to help get me into the Hallowe'en spirit I got out a whole bunch, so you will be seeing a lot of Hallowe'en books over the next little bit. Happy Hallowe'en in a month!

Synopsis

A clever and spooky tale inspired by Madeline. But instead of little girls it is little monsters.

My Thoughts

I loved this book. It made me laugh and smile. The similarities in style to Madeline were spot on which made this book all the more awesome. I loved how it was "twelve little monsters in two crooked lines". Awesome.

Where the book fell from a full 5 for me was the ending. It seemed to fall a bit flat. It was almost as if the author was like, "well we need to wrap this up, lets just end it now". I don't know it just was weird and left me feeling lacking. The rest of the book was so spot on perfect that you can almost forgive the strange ending.

So if you are looking for a book to get you into the Hallowe'en spirit pick this one up. It is a hoot!

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

from goodreads

2 stars

I know that you can't judge a book by its cover. Though, it would make choosing books a lot easier. The prettier the cover the better the book and vice versa. Nothing is worse than getting a book that you think will be awesome and then having it totally tank. While I don't use the covers as my sole means of choosing my books I will say that sometimes they do play a substantial role. There have been quite a few books that I hadn't planned on reading this year but I picked up or put on hold purely because of the cover. For the most part I haven't been disappointed.

Covers play such an important role in the seduction of reading. The people who design covers truly are artists. Some covers are so beautiful and intricate it can truly take your breath away. Others not really. I guess as long as they engage the part of your brain that thinks "hey, I wonder what that book is about?" then it has done its job.

Synopsis

Nella comes to Amsterdam, the young bride of Johannes Brandt, a man quite a few years her senior and a very successful merchant trader. While the house looks like a typical wealthy household it is anything but and Nella has to piece its secrets together with the help of the mysterious miniaturist.

My Thoughts

This book had so much potential. The elements were all there. Yet, it managed to fall flat and I was left wondering why I bothered to read it. I probably wouldn't have kept going if it wasn't a book club pick.

I found some of the prose to be repetitive. Because of this repetition it really hindered the story from progressing. And I found that the story pace was slooow. The characters never really developed into full people. This made it hard to really like any of them, or feel sorry for them or find compassion for them. I did like that near the end Nella finally seemed to get a backbone and took charge of her life, but by that point it really didn't matter.

I really don't know what the point of the character of the miniaturist was. And it was never explained whether the miniaturist was really a seer or the other people were just crazy and seeing things. And what was the point of the bird? I don't know.

I found the atmosphere of the story to be cold and grey. There is nothing wrong with that type of atmosphere, but I found it rather distracting and that is bad. The book took place in the winter and the author describes how cold and icy the house could get. It seemed weird to me, and I found myself getting distracted trying to figure out how these people didn't get frostbite or loose some toes, especially if it really was as cold as the author seemed to be describing. Like was it really cold, like Canadian cold, or was it more European cold that is usually around the freezing mark? There is a difference.

For a first book it wasn't too bad, and I would probably give the author another chance. This was just not my favourite.

In English, Of Course by Josephine Nobisso Illustrated by Dasha Ziborova

from goodreads

4 stars

I feel really lucky to have been born and raised in Canada. Canada is a pretty nice place to live. But even here, sometimes the grass seems greener in other places. Growing up, and even now to a certain extent, I have wanted to live in Europe. How awesome would it be to have so many different countries and cultures so close by and how cool would it be to learn a bunch of different languages. While Canada has two official languages I must say my french is not at all where it should be in order to converse easily with the francophones of this country. While english seems to be becoming the universal language, I feel I am am sort of doing myself a disservice by not trying to learn other languages.

Learning other languages helps develop different ways of thinking and communicating what is really in your head and heart. It bridges gaps between others. Also, think of how many more books you can read instead of having to wait for a translation. How awesome would that be?

Synopsis

This is a story of a young immigrant girl in New York. She and her other classmates are trying their best to understand this new world and being understood themselves.

My Thoughts

This was such a fun read. You never really think about how kids might feel in their new surroundings and a new language. You kind of figure they will manage. People always say "oh they will pick it up so quickly" and while the case may be true it is still difficult for them.

It was interesting to see the girl's thoughts about what they other students were saying, and then the thought process for what she was trying to say. We learn that a lot can be lost in translation.

I liked at the end the girl takes what she learned and expresses how motivated she is for her next story. She is not going to give up.

This is definitely a story that helps promote, patience, empathy, and love for those who are new and learning english or any language for that matter. They are people too with intelligence, charm and wit. May we all be kind.

The Alphabet House by Jussi Adler-Olsen

from goodreads

2 stars

There are a few authors I know if a new book of theirs comes out I will be reading it. Most of them are Nordic crime writers. I love their series, but there are a few others.

Sometimes these authors branch out and do a stand alone book or a book in a different series or even a completely different genre. I am always excited to read those because really its a crap shoot. You never know what you are going to get.

Sometimes it is interesting to see a different thought or side of that author. You are so used to them writing one way that you marvel at their brilliance when they write a different way. Or the flipside happens and you think to yourself, stick to what your good at, which is not this.

I must be difficult for writers, especially those with a huge following to branch out and take a chance. I think they have the furthest to fall and the harshest critics. No wonder J.K. Rowling used a nom de plume for some of her books. Or perhaps, once someone is so well established, they don't worry about it and write for the writing's sake. All I know is, I will keep reading.

Synopsis

Two british pilots are shot down over Germany while on a reconnaissance mission. To evade capture they jump a train. This train happens to be full of wounded SS officiers, some wounds more in the head then anything.

They have to pretend to be sick and a bit crazy at the hospital, but are they the only ones?

My Thoughts

I do love Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q series. I did not like this book as much. The idea was quite interesting. What toll would happen to you if you weren't crazy but were living in an insane assylum. Would you eventually go crazy? Also, you would have to try to figure out if others crazy or are they acting too.

The execution of this story was good, but the pace was slow. Nothing much happened except lying in bed, or trying to figure out how to escape, or steeling yourself up to pretend.

When the story went thirty years in the future it was interesting but weird, and by that point I didn't care what happened. I kept reading anyway. It was sort of weird that James' character didn't do more to try to get out, he seemed more the leader in the beginning and then that died.

Anyway this book was okay, but I probably shouldn't have spent as much time reading it as I did. I will continue to read Adler-Olsen's books, but this one was definitely not my favourite.

Sadie the Ballerina by Joan Betty Stuchner Illustrated by Bruno St-Aubin

from amazon.com

3 stars

Seriously what is it about little girls and ballerina's. It seems every time we go to the library we always end up with a Ballerina book in our bag. Maybe the ballerina books on the shelf can sniff out little girls who love to dance and some how zoom into their hands. Sort of like magnets. The kids can only see are the spines of the book yet they are able to sifter and sniff out books that deal with dancing or princesses or have glitter on the cover. It must be a gift, or some inner radar. I am definitely puzzled.

I guess there is nothing wrong with ballerina books. I should just be glad that they got something. But seriously, I don't care if the little girl wants point shoes or a tutu. And seriously, how many of them can really ever be the sugar plum fairy? Is there no other ballet that they can discuss? Maybe I should write a ballerina story, I could discuss a more obscure ballet and maybe the girl does not want to be a ballerina but a monster truck driver. That would jazz things up a bit.

What I do know is that I need to branch out the book selection. I don't think I can handle another ballet story for quite a while.

Synopsis

Sadie wants to be a ballerina and wants to go to ballet school. Her mother responds with the dreaded words, "We'll see."

My Thoughts

This was an okay read. Kind of your typical little girl wants to be a beautiful, graceful ballerina, but sometimes is clumsy. Nothing too new or inventive.

What irked me was what Sadie did at the ballet. I was like "thanks author for now making every little kid think that they should all sneak on stage and dance with the performers." Like seriously. Sadie didn't even really get reprimanded and in the end her parents agree to let her go to ballet school. If my kid did something like that we would leave as soon as she got back to her seat and we would be talking about proper etiquette while out in public. And they probably wouldn't be going to ballet school. At least not for a while. That kind of behaviour can be dangerous and absurd. Adults who did that would probably get arrested or something. I just could not believe it! It irked me so much.

So if you like ballet and you can handle ill-behaved disobedient children then this is the book for you.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

from goodreads

2.5 stars

Classics are a funny breed of book. It seems when you read them either you love them or you hate them. Very rarely do you fall in between, though it does happen on occasion.

Usually when I look back on the classics I have read I feel a great love and happiness come over me. I love thinking of sweet Jane Eyre and my heart still aches for her sadness but then rejoices at the happiness of her life. I remember the first time I read Great Expectations. I can still remember my exact location when I was reading the final revelations at the end of the book of the connection between the characters. (It was in the back of our car and we were driving back from Owen Sound and we were just passing the turn to Haliburton that is found in the little blip on the map called Tory Hill.)

I don't know what it is about classics that speak to us so much. Is it the wordiness? Is it the fact that they have stood the test of time and these are the books that we still know about in today's day and age? I don't know. Perhaps it is the difference in the language. The need to actually think about what the author was trying to say that makes them so enjoyable, or unenjoyable, to read.

All I know is I haven't read nearly as many classics as I wish to and I am looking forward to reading more.

Synopsis

This book follows the life of Dorian Gray. He is young and impressionable. He has his portrait painted and when he sees the beauty of it he makes a wish. He wishes that he would remain beautiful and young and that the portrait would age. As his life unfolds he begins to realize that that was not just some idle wish.

My Thoughts

I so wanted to like this book more than I did.

The actual story line was great and interesting and some of the social issues of the time that were dealt with were rather intriguing. Yet the execution of the story just wasn't there.

I found the monotonous and contradicting monologues rather tedious. I think you have to be in the right mood for the ridiculous and I was not in the mood when I was reading this. I also found the pages and pages of descriptions of embroidery and jewels almost unbearable. I almost quit reading then and there. During the monologues and descriptions I will admit that my eyes glazed over a bit and I did quite a bit of skimming. I know that you shouldn't skim but it was the only way I could get through it.

If the book was just the story of the painting and Dorian it would have been so great. When there was action happening in the book I loved it and couldn't wait to figure out what was going to happen. If only Mr. Wilde could have stuck to that type of narrative instead of having to put in his "witty" banter and descriptions, because the idea behind the book was quite awesome.

So all in all, I guess I am sort of glad that I read it but I was left unimpressed. It could have been so much more than just a "when is it over" book.

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

from goodreads

4 stars

While I do not consider myself to be a "Trekkie" I do really enjoy the Star Trek franchise of shows. I love how it can deal with social issues such as racism, sexuality and identity without it being in our face. Because it is dealing with alien races and cultures those topics seem to be less taboo then if it were on other shows.

I particularly enjoyed how TNG dealt with the character of Data. He was an android that was very human like and wanted nothing more than to be fully integrated into human life. Many times during the series the talked about questioning what was human and what wasn't. Did Data have humanity? Did he have a conscience? Were his emotions any less valid than that of a flesh and blood human? These kind of questions can be posed in various ways in the non Star Trek world too, but the concept of what makes us human is a very interesting topic to explore. Are we as human as we really think we are?

Synopsis

It is near the turn of the twentieth century. Chava is a Golem, a woman made of clay, whose soul purpose in life is to serve her master. When her master dies shortly after she is awoken, Chava finds herself in New York City. A city full of people's desires that she feels drawn and overcome to fulfill.

Ahmad is a Jinni who was set free by a tinsmith and has to come to grips with being bound to human form and not be as free as he is used to.

Both creatures have to figure out how they will fit into this new world they are in. When they meet they learn things from each other that help them find their path.

My Thoughts

This was a really interesting book. I really enjoyed the question of humanity. Does the golem have a conscience. Can she be empathetic and can she think for herself despite the limitations and drawbacks that being a golem has. It was interesting to see the struggle the rabbi had when he was helping her and trying to figure out what he should do about her. I really loved the character of Chava. My heart went out to her and I was hoping that she would be able to find her way and find happiness at the same time.

The book also discussed the topics of free will, thinking for yourself and things that are pre-destined or inherited. It also discussed the concept of "just because you can doesn't mean you should." How we need to overcome our selfish desires and look outside ourselves to help with our own contentment.

The book itself was sort of a mishmash of a lot of things. It was a fantasy type book with characters like the golem and the jinni. But it also seemed to be part historical novel as the setting of New York at this time was almost a character unto itself. It was obvious that a lot of research went into New York at the turn of the century and I learned a lot more about it then I thought I would ever know. Because of these many differences in genres at play there were times when the story sort of lagged a bit. Other parts seemed to speed ahead. I am glad that I persevered to the end. It was definitely worth it.

There were jumps between timelines. When it first happened it was a bit awkward because I didn't know what was happening and if other parts were connected or what. Everything made sense in the end but some of the transitions were a bit awkward. And some of the things in the desert kind of went on and on. I'm glad that I got some background knowledge on the jinni but some of it could have been a bit better edited to make the story a bit tighter.

There were also a few characters that I wasn't sure what the point of them was. They could have been out of the story and it would have flowed just fine. They didn't detract from the story, but their impact on either of the two main characters didn't enhance the story very much and the plot could have been changed to go around their absence. But that was really a minor thing.

All and all I did enjoy this book. I enjoyed the main story more than the fringes that it sometimes went off on. I found the character of Chava to be quite lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed her development. Ahmad was a bit harder to like but by the end you love him and find him actually quite admirable. When I started this book I really didn't know what to expect but what I got was great. Definitely worth the read.

I'm Proud of You: My Friendship with Fred Rogers by Tim Madigan

from goodreads

3.5 stars

I have been really blessed in this life. I have parents who supported anything I wanted to do. They weren't in my face and all up in my life, but if I wanted to do something, like spend a month in Quebec doing a program, they would drive me out there and let me do that. Even though it might not have been said often I knew my parents loved me and I knew that I had support and a soft place to land if I needed it. While I didn't do anything too world altering I knew that my possibilities really were endless.

Not everyone is that lucky. It wasn't until reading this book that I fully understood the roles of shows like Mr. Rogers or Mr. Dressup. These were where children could go and have a friend who thought they were pretty special for 20 minutes in their life. They really were like surrogate parents for children whose home life and school life might not have been the best. I'm not sure if there is anything like it on t.v. now and t.v. is the poorer for it if there isn't. We need more kids feeling they are great and can do anything and shows like Mr. Rogers helped accomplish that.

Synopsis

Tim Madigan, a journalist from Texas, has a chance interview with Fred Rogers, known better as Mr. Rogers, and that interview changed both of their lives. Tim gained a friend he could lean on and share things with when he felt he had no where else to go. Fred also gained that type of friendship. This is a book where you learn there are truly love filled people in this world with no cynicism attached.

My Thoughts

Growing up in Canada, and having only three channels, I did not grow up watching PBS or Mr. Rogers. I knew of him from spoofs and I finally watched a show when I was like 17 and it was kind of crazy. But there was something about this book that intrigued me, so I read it. After reading it, oh how I wish I could have watched his shows. Knowing what I know now, I think I will have to watch them on youtube or something. He seems really great.

What comes across in this memoir more than anything is Fred's unconditional love. He did not judge he just loved. He was so genuine. He was a rare commodity in this world where people are afraid of real emotions. They are almost afraid to love and truly open themselves up.

It helped me think about friendships I have. Am I as loving and genuine with my friendships?

In the beginning of this book I kept thinking, man all this guy does is take and take. how can Fred truly value this friendship? But then later you saw a more give and take relationship emerge and that was great.

I am glad that the author touched on what he called the furies and how now he is so happy with his life, a life he almost destroyed. It shows how important it is to surround yourself with great people and hope when you go through times like that.

While the authors trials, heartaches, and breakthroughs are worth reading, they are not what held my interest. I liked learning about how Fred was kind, compassionate and loving, and learning how I can incorporate that better in my life.

Don't read this is you are looking for a biography on Fred Rogers. This is not it. Instead read it if you would like one more role model in your life, one more person who would be proud of you.