My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises by Fredrik Backman

from goodreads

4 stars

I feel like I haven't been super branchy outy lately in my reading. If I read a book from a series I feel compelled to read the entire series right away (If the books have all been published and I actually liked the first book). This means that I am not getting much done on my to-read list for this year, which is fine. That list is more there for if I am stumped for what to read next. But still, it would be nice to tick off a few. It also means that I am not as far ahead on my book club reading as I would like to be. But, I am sure I'll manage.

Do you get like that with reading. Where you feel you can't read anything else until you read everything by that author or in a series?

Synopsis

Elsa is a 7-year old who is different and much more grown up than you would expect. Her best friend is her free-living grandmother. When her grandmother dies, she leaves Elsa a treasure hunt to figure out and more is revealed about the neighbours around her then Elsa realizes.

My Thoughts

This was such a delightfully fun read. When I loved A Man Called Ove so much I was nervous if I would like this one as much. I really shouldn't have been.

This book had enough happiness, sadness, quirkiness, mystery and lovingness that you couldn't help but love Elsa and her family. You want to envelope Elsa in a big hug and let her know things are going to be just fine and that she has people she can count on.

Sometimes the narrative got a bit lost when things got switched between the imaginary world that Elsa's grandmother created and the real world. You had to work at it to keep things straight, at least I did. And sometimes the imaginary world took over too much, it would have been nice just to get on with the story sometimes.

My other beef was, Elsa was only 7. How is it okay that she was running around by herself so much. I don't consider myself to be a helicopter parent, but there is no way I would be fine with my 7 year-old running around the city streets and being as independent as Elsa was. It just didn't seem realistic to me and kind of bothered me.

Those minor criticisms aside I thought this was a beautiful story of love, loss and forgiveness. You should definitely put this on your to read list. (Please note, I read the British version of this book, it is also known as My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry.)


 

The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy

from goodreads

5 stars

Do you ever feel like time flies by yet stands still. That is how I am feeling right now. I can't believe it is the end of March already, yet, I feel like I am not getting any closer to the end date of June 4 (my due date). I will never get there.

Not that I can complain. I am not large. I can still easily put on tie up shoes. I don't have horrendous heartburn. And, in general, my energy level is pretty good. I guess it is just the sense of impatience, of wanting to get on with life instead of being in holding mode.

Oh well, I guess I should take this time to be grateful I can still use both hands to hold a book instead of juggling a book and a feeding baby or not having to remember to download an audio book and fiddle with electronics. Now if I can only make a dent in my to read list before June I will be a happy camper.

Synopsis

The bards of the land tell tales of Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty, but the princes of the story are only known as Prince Charming.

This is a book where we get to know the princes behind the tales. And, how happily ever afters aren't really what we expect. This is a tale of vengeful witches, bandits, dragons, giants and trolls. It is so much fun!

My Thoughts

This was such a fun book. It was a delight from beginning to end. Really, what's not to love? It had adventure and love and action and learning about yourself. Everything that belongs in a great tale. It was action packed and silly but not in corny or obvious ways.

I loved the personalities of each prince and princess. They were all unique and had qualities that they learned to appreciate in each other. Each character was well thought out and added so much to the stories. Even the secondary characters had a place and would have been missed if they were not in the story.

I loved the whole bard aspect of the book. What a novel approach. I also loved the illustrations by Todd Harris. They added so much to the book.

This is a tale you can just get lost in and love. I am excited to read the rest of the series. I think this would be a great book for ages 10 and up. It is just great, clean, good fun.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

from goodreads

3 stars

Today was supposed to be an awesome day. The kids were to have pyjama day and pizza day at school today. That meant I wouldn't have had to force them to get dressed in the morning and I wouldn't have had to worry about lunch, just snacks. But, Mother Nature had a different plan in mind. Over night there was freezing rain which coated trees, roads and everything in a nice layer of ice. This meant that schools were closed and the dreams I had of a nice easy morning were dashed. The morning was still nice and easy, we all lazed in bed a bit longer than normal, but I just couldn't appreciate it as I should have. I kept thinking of what could have been.

Oh well, at least now we have a super duper long weekend!

Synopsis

This book takes place in Afghanistan. It follows two women and their lives as sister wives to a rather conservative man. It looks at the lives of women in Afghanistan and how they have changed throughout the 20th century. It is heartwarming and heartbreaking.

My Thoughts

While this book dealt with important issues and brought them out in a compelling narrative, I didn't really enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I think it was because of the unending sadness of what was going on with the characters. These women never seemed to be able to catch a break. If anything bad or horrid could happen to them it did. A little reprieve no matter how short would have been nice. I guess Hosseini was showing us the reality of what women go through under repressive regimes and men. That reality does need to be acknowledged. I guess maybe I needed a lighter more hopeful book at this time instead of one that showed the drudgery and injustices women face.

It was interesting to see how differently women were treated under the different regimes. And how drastically the changes were from one to the next. Under the communists women were given a lot of freedoms and were treated the same as men. Then the communists were gone, the Taliban came in shortly after and they were treated as subhuman. The hospital scene in the book still haunts me. Things like that should never be allowed.

It is kind of interesting how the more conservative in views the regime or husbands were the more their views didn't make sense. They wanted sons to be born, yet they gave the women appalling conditions to give birth in, which would lead to infant mortality rates. And those rates are not sex biased. Also, these people wanted to lead and reign over people. Well if population growth doesn't happen, there will be no one left to reign over.

This book was great at showing the history of Kabul and Afghanistan. It showed the great history of the land, and the sadness when it was destroyed. It showed a people determined to survive even if they might not be thriving and the hope for better times to come. It was a bittersweet story, one I might have enjoyed better if I was in a different frame of mind.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

from goodreads

3.5 stars

When it rains it pours. I don't know what it is but no matter how well I usually manage my holds in the library system there seems to come a time when I am deluged in books. Now being deluged in books isn't really that much of problem, unless you have to have them read in a certain amount of time or be doomed to be put to the end of the list! Of course this usually happens at the most inconvenient time, such as, a big project due, trying to get work done around the house, or some other life event.

Right now I am in the middle of that deluge. And of course I am in the middle of some house projects so trying to find the balance of needing to get these books read and organizing my house is pretty tricky, and I will admit I probably pick reading over organizing more than I should, but I know I will get through it. Both things will get done. Especially after I finish just one more chapter.

Synopsis

Enter a magical realm where people have super human gifts, or graces. Katsa is one of those. She has two different coloured eyes which means she has a grace. Her grace haunts her and is dangerous, she is a lean mean can kill/mame machine.

When she is sent a mission to save a man from prison her life changes unexpectedly. She learns more about her gift, and more about a secret that could poison the seven kingdoms of the realm.

My Thoughts

This was a great fantasy. This is the perfect book to start on your fantasy journey. It wasn't too weird and it was just fantastical enough. Some fantasy books are extreme and throw every mythical creature at you. This book just dealt with differing powers and no elves or fairies, so it was great. (Nothing against elves or fairies they just can be a bit hard core for the novice fantasy reader).

I liked that the characters were real, dealing with real issues. The adventure was believable and the outcomes didn't seem overly contrived.

This book did suffer from some first time author, not blunders, but issues. There were bits in the story that just seemed too jumpy or went from one extreme to the other. An example was, Katsa realized something about Prince Po, and while it may have been a bit upsetting she totally freaked out and I didn't get where this extreme anger came from. She seemed fine one minute and then was totally hating on him the next. It was hard to wrap my brain around. Another thing that was a bit weird was the climax of the story. It seemed almost too short and everything got wrapped up a little too neatly. I know that is better than a long drawn out story, but it almost seemed too quick.

All in all, I did enjoy the story. I really liked the world that Cashore created. There were some really neat ideas and dealt with some pretty cool moral dilemmas.

There are two more books in the series which I hope to get to at some point soon. From what I understand they are stand alone books that are set in the same realm. They focus on different characters but there are appearances from familiar characters from other books. I definitely recommend this book.

Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

from goodreads

3 stars

Well, March Break is starting to come to an end. There has been much reading, youtube watching, pig making and scrounging up acceptable snacks. I have enjoyed sleeping in a bit, and not worrying about making lunch. Also it has been a great week because I have had no appointments! No bundling up three kids to sit in a cramped waiting room for me. I call that a win.

But this March Break has made me realize how much I need to make sure I have lots of activities and things planned for the summer. Time to get serious on pinterest and become the awesomest mom ever for the summer! ;)

Synopsis

This is the story of Gretchen, a 17 year old girl who in entrenched in the Nazi Party. She looks up to Hitler as a father figure and even calls him Uncle Dolf. Yet, after meeting Daniel Cohen a reporter and a Jew, everything she thought she new as certain is called into question, and she starts to question whether her father's death was really a tragic accident or murder.

My Thoughts

This was a well researched and rather accurate portrayal of Munich in the early 1930s. She wove the mystery in a way that was able to highlight events and philosophies. It was a really good approach.

What I found week was the narrative. Since Blankman was trying to fit so much history into the book (trying to fit the entire Nazi philosophy in one book is very tricky because it encompasses so much) the narrative really suffered.

There were many times where the timeline of the story was not accurate and this caused some confusion and awkwardness. An example of this was when Gretchen was going to a country house with Geli. She tells her brother that they are going to leave the next morning. Then you turn the page and she spends the whole next day helping her mom clean the house and doesn't really leave for the country house for another two days. While it wasn't major and didn't destroy the plot it was still kind of frustrating. There were other times when the timeline just didn't add up.

I also found things to be a bit repetitive, and seriously, how many times did Reinhard have to catch them. Like really?

In the end it was a mediocre story that strung together historical facts. I did not find it that intriguing, the characters that engaging or the romance that sizzling. Perhaps if I hadn't studied this period extensively in university I would have enjoyed discovering this time and the events a bit more and it would have been a bit more interesting. I do appreciate the obvious research that went into it. It is nice when a historical fiction is well researched.

There is a sequel to this book. I am not sure yet if I will bother with it or not. Perhaps once my to read book has been whittled down a bit more.

I am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb

from goodreads

3 stars

Today at our library there was a great children's entertainer, Erick Traplin. He really is awesome.

I decided to get there early so I could pick up a book that I had not put on hold but I knew was on the shelf. When I got there, 5 minutes after the library opened, the parking lot was almost full, and the tiny branch was filled to the gills. Totally not what I was expecting, but then it was Erick Traplin and so people wanted to get there early. Luckily the book I wanted to get hadn't been snatched up by the horde and then we were able to watch and listen and dance  to a great show.

If you ever have a chance to see Erick Traplin, he tours around Ontario, you totally should. Or download some of his songs. They are so much fun to dance to.

Synopsis

This book gives a brief history of Pakistan and the Swat Valley region. It also tells of a girl and her family who believe that education is the right of every person. The only way for positive changes in society is through educating ourselves. Ignorance breeds intolerance.

My Thoughts

I know I am probably the last person to finally read this book. Better late than never, right?

So what to say about it. Well...I loved her story. I loved finding out about her and her life. I liked seeing her thoughts and the support she had from her father and mother to really be an advocate and to follow her dreams. The things she has gone through, the dreams that she has, it is quite inspirational. If I was basing the book just on her and her family's story it would probably be a 5.

If I was judging the book as a whole, it was fine. Nothing too extraordinary. While it is helpful to get a historical background to why things are happening and how the taliban came to be in the Swat, it wasn't why I wanted to read the book. And, don't get me wrong. I love history. I majored in history. I think it is important to understand history so you can fully understand the present. But, I think there was too much of the history and less about Malala and what happened to her specifically. I could have read the last 100 pages and gotten what I wanted. I think people who pick this book up want to know about Malala and less about the history of Pakistan. Because of this the book dragged a bit and it was hard to know if it was Malala's voice I was getting or that of her co-author. Perhaps it was published too soon after the incident, as it does not include the work that she is now doing, and that would be interesting to read about.

I do think it is an important book to read. I do think that after reading it you get a better understanding about why Pakistan is the way it is and why foreign powers need to be really careful when they go in and try to enforce their views or prop up one regime. I also think that after reading this you will understand the importance of education for all, not just boys or girls but for everyone.

Malala's story is definitely one of inspiration and strength and how we can't give up our fundamental beliefs even when we are threatened. And that can be hard to do.

Moonlight Over Paris by Jennifer Robson

from goodreads

4 stars

In February it was my library's customer appreciation month. They had different activities and contests. One was a selfie contest, where you took a selfie in one of the branches and then tweeted it or emailed it. Well, since I have a twitter account (I really don't use it) and had my phone with me I decided to make my first tweet for the contest. And guess what! I won a prize.  They clearly weren't judging for technique as it is probably the worst selfie ever, (there was sun shining on the screen which made it hard to figure things out) but I was super excited. And what a prize! I got a free library bag, the best mug in the world (I have been using it every day), an interesting book about local history, a funky notebook, beautiful cards, a pen that works, a heart eraser and two zipper pulls that say "read". It was definitely more than I was expecting that's for sure. What a generous library!

I definitely value my library. I love my local branch. I love that my kids are so excited to go to the library. I love that my kids consider the employees their friends. I love that I can read so many books for free. If it wasn't for my library, there would be less blog posts, because I wouldn't be able to buy all these books! I love my library!

Synopsis

Years after the break in her engagement to Edward, and after a near fatal illness, Lady Helena Montagu-Douglas-Parr is at a loss of what to do with her life. She is in her late twenties, which means her prospects are non-existent, and at the moment she feels like her life has no real purpose.

With her parents permission she decides to go study art in Paris, living with an eccentric aunt. There she meets a variety of people, makes real friends including an American reporter, Sam Howard.

My Thoughts

This is the latest Robson installment. I love how her books can stand alone, yet are connected by the characters.

Helena was a character that popped up in Somewhere in France and After the War is Over, but you never really got to learn much about her. She was always someone I wanted to know more about so I am glad that this book is about her.

I really liked the characters in this book. I felt that they were fleshed out, they complemented each other and they were interesting. I also liked how we got to really see Helena transform from a tentative person, unsure in her life, to a confident woman willing to stand up for herself and break the mould.

It was fun to see Paris in the 20s. It really was the place to be. It seemed anyone who was anyone in the art/literary world was there then. Robson did a good job of showing that without it being a list of famous people at a party.

If you are looking for a steamy romance you won't get it. It is kind of slow. And while you can tell that these people have feelings for each other it is not front and centre. I kind of wished we could see more of their relationship and their blossoming friendship instead of all the talk about art. I am not a big art person and so the talk of art really didn't interest me.

All and all I did enjoy this book. I think I will compare everything that Robson writes with the brilliance of Somewhere in France. And while there is that comparison I don't know if I will enjoy any of her other books as much.

The Island of Dr. Libris by Chris Grabenstein

from goodreads

3 stars

Lately I have been distracted by reading. And that is an easy thing to do. I know I have housework to do, or projects to do, or kids to pay attention to, but the book seems to take priority.

Now there are times when you need that literary distraction and it isn't that much of a big deal. But, then there are other times when the distraction just is not good. Right now the distraction is not good because I am trying to get everything organized before Baby #4 comes. So while I have a plan of attack, it doesn't work when I'm lost in my fictional world.

I'm not sure how to get out of this reading dependence. It is usually not something I would view as a problem. Have you ever read too much?

Synopsis

Billy is spending the summer with his mom in a cottage by an island. There is no t.v. or video games or anything technology-wise that Billy can use to entertain himself. But the cottage does have a cool looking library. When Billy starts to read from the book, strange noises come from the island, noises that happen to match up to what he is reading. Billy decides to investigate.

My Thoughts

While there were elements that I liked, I did not enjoy this book as much as I did Grabenstein's other books, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, and Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics.

For me this was a mediocre book. It was just a story with nothing especially special about it. The ending felt a little flat. I thought more could have been done with Dr. Libris. He appears and then is gone and that's it. It's like what is the point? And, the thing that ends up happening with Billy's parents, while nice, seemed simplistic.

I did love the friendships in the book. I loved the adventure and the problem solving that went on. And after reading it I had a hankering for some blueberry pie.

I do think that the kids who are reading this book (9+) will love this book. They will love seeing the characters come a live and the things that bugged me, won't bug them. So in that way it is the perfect book for kids, just not the adults reading it with them.

I would love to see this made into a movie. While I was reading it I could see how this would translate really well onto the big screen. It would sort of be like a Night at the Museum type movie, but instead of museum artifacts coming to life it would be literary characters. I think a movie could add to the story. (And I rarely think that can happen with book adaptations).

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

from goodreads

4.5 stars

In life I think most of us try to be our genuine self. But there are times when we just plaster the smile on our face and fake it until we make it. That is not necessarily bad, but we need to have a safe place where we can be our genuine self. Whether that self is grumpy or sad or annoyingly happy it is important to have a time to express that.

In books it is exciting because you get to see the characters' genuine selves. If there is a faker we know it, and we usually know what their true self is as well. I think that is why some of the most beloved characters in literature, such as Jane Eyre and Elizabeth Bennet, and now Ove, are so well liked and treasured. They act as their true selves always. They act as they would always act no matter who is around or what is going on. They stay true to themselves.

What is one of your favourite characters that stay true to themselves?

Synopsis

Ove is a man who is set in his ways and some would say was grumpy and obstinate. Through the antics of crazy neighbours we learn of the love and loss of Ove and how one person can truly touch countless others.

My Thoughts

I could sum up this book in one word: delightful. Who knew that a tale of a man trying to end it all could be so lighthearted and fun.

This is a story that shows the magic of letting people enter your life, whether you let this happen willingly or not. It shows that love and pain that is in all relationships, new and old. This book shows that sometimes it is necessary to break out of our shell and sometimes we need to cling to what makes us us and not compromise our values.

The characters is this book were beautifully created and orchestrated. Ove, though thorny, is so lovable. You want so much good for him. And while some times you are like "It doesn't matter Ove, just let it go" you love him even more for being cantankerous. I love the hospital stuff. Hilarious! The rest of the cast of supporting characters are vastly different from each other but when put together works so well to support a funny and moving story.

I loved this story. There were times I was reading it and thought "Oh my gosh, Ove is my husband". That made reading it even more fun. It was like I was getting a glimpse into the future.

I highly recommend this book. If you are looking for a book that will make you laugh and cry, a book that will make you feel happy and fulfilled at the end, A Man Called Ove is your book.

The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel

from goodreads

4 stars

I cannot believe it is March already. While time sometimes seems to be going slowly, the days just fly past.

On Sunday I watched the Oscars with one of my book club friends. It was so much fun. I don't know what it is about award shows but I love watching them. I don't care about the dresses, or the speeches, or about the celebrity of it, really. Perhaps I like seeing people who have worked hard at their craft be celebrated and in awe and humbled by their achievement.

While watching it we were excited about seeing the film Mad Max: Fury Road win so many Oscars. When you think of the Oscars you think of more artsy and make you have to think movies receiving attention. No matter what type of movie is made, every one on them are working hard to do their best for it.

Do you like watching award shows?

Synopsis

I am taking the synopsis from goodreads as it is better than anything I could come up with to capture the fun and intensity of this book.

The Boundless, the greatest train ever built, is on its maiden voyage across the country, and first-class passenger Will Everett is about to embark on the adventure of his life!

When Will ends up in possession of the key to a train car containing priceless treasures, he becomes the target of sinister figures from his past.

In order to survive, Will must join a traveling circus, enlisting the aid of Mr. Dorian, the ringmaster and leader of the troupe, and Maren, a girl his age who is an expert escape artist. With villains fast on their heels, can will and Maren reach Will's father and save The Boundless before someone winds up dead?

My Thoughts

This is my first Kenneth Oppel book. I am definitely going to have to check more of his stuff out.

I love the idea of this monstrously long train full of secrets, deceptions, mythical creatures, different kinds of people with different stories. It was really cool to see the people from the caboose all the way up to the engine.

I love that there is a sense of normalcy, that things are familiar, but, there is enough fantasy to let your imagination go. It is a dark and mysterious story, it can be intense at times, but it is fun. Because of all the different aspects of the book you really can't pigeon hole it into a certain genre. There is history, adventure, mystery and fantasy. It is all delightfully mishmashed together.

I would love to see what happens to Will and Maren after their adventure on The Boundless. I think they would lead really interesting lives.

This is definitely a book that I would recommend for ages 13+. It does deal with some nefarious characters that might not be the best for younger audiences.