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.