Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

from goodreads

2.5 stars

I am trying to come up with some thing to say at the beginning of this post and my mind is a complete blank. It is hard to come up with something new and fresh and not the same old thing. Talk about weather, talk about books, talk about family. I have sort of been there, done that, got the t-shirt. What to say, what to say. This is probably what authors struggle with sometimes. They know that there is something extraordinary that they can put on the page but they got nothing or just don't know how to funnel it down onto the page.

Hopefully something will come to me for the next time. But for now, this is it.

Synopsis

Louisa Clark tries to help Quadriplegic Will feel good about life again.

My Thoughts

This is a book that has been getting a lot of attention. The movie came out this past summer and so a lot of people started reading it. It has been on my to read list for a while and I decided to finally read it because the movie was coming out. I wanted to read it before I saw the movie.

Well, I now have one less movie to watch because after reading this book I have no desire to see it. I really don't know what all the fuss was about.

The whole book was cliche. The characters are the same as you find in a lot of British pop lit. The older successful man who is having to adjust to a new life, the mother hovering at the edges, the crazy girl who has no ambitions and dresses interesting, getting a job she might not really be qualified for, who also has a weird relationship that everyone else can see is a disaster but her. Those characters sound familiar?

I found the character of Will to be annoying. He is asking Louisa to stretch and do things she hadn't tried before, yet he was unwilling to stretch and do the same for himself.

On the cover and from different reviews they said we would need our tissues and that is was super romantic. I am not sure what they were talking about. I kept waiting for the romance but to me it wasn't there (and I like chick flick romances as much as the next person). I just didn't get it and didn't care.

The one positive that can come from this book is opening up a discussion of euthanasia, about allowing ourselves and others the choice to live and die as we choose. It helps us think about our lives and if we are stuck in a rut or if we are willing to try something that might turn out wonderful. Are we making the most out of our lives? It shows how we can feel constricted in our lives in a lot different ways, whether it be physical limitations or emotional ones.

In the end, I didn't really enjoy this book. It is not one I would recommend and I don't care enough to read the sequel. While it does give the reader some serious issues to think about it is not enough to make it the ultimate romantic read.

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

from goodreads

3.5 stars

I have always been a reader. I always had a book on the go. Long car trip, no problem, because I had a book. Long bus ride to school, no problem, because I could read. Some of the books I read during my pre-university years have really stuck with me. The Giver is one such book. The idea that you could have a world that made you not see colour, or that didn't remember anything that would cause pain or emotional distress, was so foreign to me that it left me with a sense of incredulous awe. I also loved reading more upbeat books like Gordan Korman's MacDonald Hall series.

It is funny the books that stick with you through the years, the ones that you could read over and over again. Some of them are like old friends helping you know that you are not alone, that others get you. Others are just there to give you an escape and give you dreams. Thank goodness for books.

Synopsis

Jackson's life is in turmoil. His parents are selling all their possessions but won't be completely honest with him about why. Then a giant cat shows up.

My Thoughts

This book is not going to become my favourite, I found it a bit dry, but the story is worthwhile. This is a great book to introduce children to the struggles that families face. This is a great book to help children who are going through tough times, no food, sleeping in cars, feeling helpless. This is a great book that shows that feelings of uncertainty or being scared are okay to have.

The author does a great job at showing how illness can lead to poverty. And that illness and poverty really affects all family members. She also does a great job at showing how we need to educate ourselves and develop many different skills so that we can always be employable. Jackson's parents were free living people, but kids made them become more settled. Their dreams were about playing music all the time. And while it is important to try to live your dreams sometimes those dreams need to be shelved so that necessities can be taken care of and then those dreams can come out again. Reading this book as a parent helped me remember that plans are necessary and that the family's needs need to come first, and my dreams can happen just maybe in a different way or a bit different timing.

I also like how this book shows us how we don't always have to do things on our own. That there are times when self-righteous pride needs to be set aside. Jackson's father refused to go to a shelter or to the food bank. He said others needed it more than they did, even though they were living in their car and were sometimes going hungry. He shows us that sometimes we need to accept that we are at the bottom and need a helping hand up. And it is okay. It doesn't mean you are trying to get something for nothing or taking advantage of people. It just means that you need help, and when you are back on your feet you will pay it forward.

This book shows us how we all need someone in our corner, some friend or parent or even a 6' cat named Crenshaw.

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

from goodreads

2 stars

What a dusty few days it has been. On the weekend my husband did the finishing touches to the new office space so that means moving time. I have been moving desks, and shelving in. And then I have to go through the old office stuff. Our old office became a dumping ground over the last few months. Why try to keep it tidy when you are going to be moving stuff? Right? Well now it has come to pay the price for our uncaring. We have to go through papers and random items and sweep up spilled sparkles and finally make a decision and consolidate our filing system. Fun, fun, fun. Hopefully that will all get done so that on Saturday we can paint the walls the shade of green Miss G has requested and then move her stuff in.

I know that I will feel an immense sense of accomplishment when it finally all gets done, but it is getting to that point that seems a hopeless task. Oh well, on piece of recycling at a time. I'll get there. And then I will take a much deserved reading holiday!

Synopsis

This is the next installment of Red Queen Series. This finds Mare Barrow and Cal in league with the rebels. They travel around the kingdom trying to find the other anomalies like Mare, red blooded but with silver capabilities. As they search they feel the crunch of time as the newly crowned King Maven seeks to thwart and capture them at every turn.

My Thoughts

Well, as you can see from my rating, I was far from amused with this book. After reading Red Queen last year I was eagerly awaiting the next story. I was kind of disappointed.

Yes, there was action and we got to learn more about the rebels and what happened to Mare's brother. But the story itself I found boring and repetitive. Like super repetitive. Like so super repetitive. Do you get the idea that it was repetitive?

I also find her mixed feelings about Maven hard to understand. While reading the first book I totally thought that she and Cal were the love interests and I really didn't think that she and Maven had that much of a connection, not really. So when she goes on about her feelings for him and how mixed they are and she saves notes from him, it was really hard to wrap my brain around, because I feel she has a stronger connection with Cal. That could be just me. But if there were teams, I would totally be team Cal.

The story was slow. The ending a bit too quick. I will still read the next book when it comes out. I care about the supporting cast of characters, not so much Mare. I think this was a bridging book that had to happen to get the story where it needed to be for the next book, that is my hope anyway. But it was definitely a let down after Red Queen and I wouldn't blame readers for not wanting to continue.

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

from goodreads

3 stars

I really admire authors, especially on their debut novels. When you write a book you are really opening yourself up. Not so much that your work is a view into your soul, but rather, you are putting on display something that you have worked hard on and the critics will be coming.

Critics can come in many shapes and forms. There are the formal critics who are educated and make this their living. They see writing in ways that others miss. And then there are the actual readers. Normal people who have picked up your book in the hopes of being entertained or informed or whatever.

Being prepared for other people's thoughts and ideas on your words seems terrifying to me. I am sure there is a bunch of built up anticipation and expectations. So thank you first time authors, and for longtime authors who were at one time first time authors. Thank you for opening yourself up for our thoughts. It is a brave thing indeed.

Synopsis

Jack and Mabel have left their old life in the eastern United States, to try their hand at homesteading in Alaska. They are childless, though they at one time dreamed of having children. One day they build a snow maiden and that changes their life forever.

 My Thoughts

This book had a lot of cool ideas, but I found it confusing and a bit jumbled.

The character of Faina confused me. Was she a snow child turned to life? a real person? a real person reincarnated into snow? There were so many theories running through my head as I tried to make sense of this character. I would think I had it figured out and then something was done or said which made me have to change my mind. Even with it finished I'm still not sure. Maybe that's the point?

I also felt Jack and Mabel's age seemed unclear. At some points they seemed to be in their 50s. Then they would say something or did something and that would make them seem older or younger. I found their characters really hard to picture. And seriously Jack, open up emotionally already.

I loved the character of Esther. She is the right kind of feisty. I wish I could meet her and be enveloped in her hugs.

I loved the character that Alaska played in this book. Ivey does such a great job of painting the untamed nature of Alaska. I totally need to vacation there sometime.

When I read this back in November/December, there was still grass on the ground and it was warm. I wished I had waited until there was snow on the ground and I was curled up under a blanket by a fire. I think I would have appreciated everything, especially the landscape, even more.

For a debut book it wasn't bad. There was a lot going for it. I just wished things were more clear and thought through.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

The Heir by Kiera Cass

from goodreads

3 stars

I seem to be the type of reader that once I start a series I want to see it through to completion even if some of the books are sub par. There is a feeling of being incomplete that just irks me. I need to know what happens. The worst is when you have to wait for the next to be published. Sometimes it is nicer discovering a series once most of the books are already out. Then you can go through the series at your own pace without having to wait for the next ones.

Right now there are a few books that I'm waiting to be published. Since I have such a long list of other books I want to get through I don't feel the impatience I might ordinarily feel while waiting. Now I just need to make sure I remember the plot line once they are finally out!

Synopsis

This is a continuation of The Selection series. Fast forward 20 years in the future and it is now Maxim's and America's daughter Eadlyn's turn to be part of the selection.

My Thoughts

This was okay. While this series is in no way high brow and adventure packed there was something about the original series that sucked me in. I definitely considered it to be my guilty pleasure read. This addition to the series did not suck me in at all.

I found it really hard to like the main character, Eadlyn. I found her whiney and rather clueless. You would think with parents like America and Maxim she would be way more down to earth, but nope. She seemed to use her "power" to threaten people instead of help. I also didn't like how America seemed to change into being more in line with royal thinking instead of being her usual rebellious self. I know that as you grow older you tend not to rebel as much but I would still expect some boundaries to be pushed.

I also found it weird that America and Maxim's kids didn't know more about their parents story and their selection experience. You would have thought it was common knowledge.

I think it would have been nice if there was a book that bridged the two series. I would have liked to know more about how they dealt with the rebels and made change in their kingdom.

So this book was definitely not as fun to read as the others but it hasn't prevented me from wanting to read the next one when it comes out.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

from goodreads

5 stars

I am going through a bit of a reading frustration this week. I read one book that totally hit me at just the right time. I read it in a day, staying up to the wee hours of the morning to finish it. I usually don't do that as I have kids to look after in the morning but I could not put it down. It was a light enjoyable read. Now I have descended from that reading high and finding it hard to settle down into my next literary conquest.

Does that ever happen to you? You read a book that has fit into your life so well and then when you try to move on every other book is kind of a let down? Hopefully this phase will be over soon and I will find a book that I can fall right into. Until then I will just have to keep persevering.

Synopsis

Eddie is an old lonely man who feels he has had a wasted life. When he dies in an accident Eddie arrives in Heaven where he encounters five different people who help him see his life in a new light.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book.

While Albom's version of heaven isn't exactly how I picture it, it does make you think about what it will be like. Perhaps this isn't too far off.

I like the idea of being able to get a chance to see how our lives have affected others, hopefully positively. Sometimes I think we all feel that our lives have been wasted or we have failed in someway. But, when we actually stop to think of friends, teachers and family that surround us we realize that our sphere of influence is greater than we think. A simple or boring life does not mean that life has been a failure.

I like how Albom shows he interconnectedness of us all. It was interesting to see how certain parts or problems of Eddie's life all seemed to be connected somehow. Coincidence? I don't know.

I think the take away from this is that sometimes the everyday mundane things we do have the most impact on others. We are greater than what we think. No life is a wasted life. We are all of value.

If you haven't read this book before I urge you too. If you are looking for a great pick me up this is the book for you.

The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini

from goodreads

4.5 stars

Well for the past two weeks I have been on hiatus. My family and I were on a long road trip going to Indianapolis, Minneapolis, Thunder Bay and then back home. It was fun the kids had a great time and I think even us parents had a great time. There was a little bit of everything for everyone which made us all happy and satisfied.

While it was fun to be on vacation it is nice to be home and relax back into our ways. For this week since I have a bunch of books waiting for me to review I will be posting a review a day so I can feel caught up and motivated to read even more. Next week I will return to the regular schedule.

Synopsis

This is a tale of love, regret, guilt and redemption.

My Thoughts

This was a beautifully crafted story. I loved the realism and the complexity of emotions that was shown in this book.

This book deals with the complexities of what is right and wrong. The gray areas in life. It deals with not confronting our guilt and how we feel about things. It deals with feeling stuck between the traditions of your family and culture to wanting to break out and trying something new.

I really enjoyed learning about the Afghanistan that existed before it became super popular on the news channels of the early 2000s. It truly is a land that has had turmoil for the past 30 years or so and that is so sad.

I like how this shows that class and rascism is not just a North American phenomenon but that these kind of prejudices exist everywhere. It doesn't make it okay, but it makes it a world wide problem that we all need to work on. The Us vs Them conundrum really is what causes most of the conflict and devastation in the world. Not just in wars, but in broken hearts and hurt feelings as well.

While this story helped bring to the forefront some of these complex issues to think about, the story itself is beautiful in its simplicity.

I just really loved it, and I would love to see a kite battle someday. That sounds really amazing.

The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy

from goodreads

5 stars

Do you ever find yourself in a reading theme. Like all the books you pick out seem to be in a similar setting or other parallels? That happened to me a few weeks ago when I took out books from the library. Little did I really realize at the time but all three were set in WWII. My book club and I have a little joke about books written in WWII because it seemed that one year about a third to half of our books were set in that time period. We were a little tired of it by the end and so the next year we did our best to limit WWII period books. (There is nothing wrong with historical fictions based in that time period. It is a great diverse period to be able to write about. I just don't want to be reading about it all the time.)

It is funny how sometimes you get hooked into a reading theme. That is what I like about doing the blog. I feel like I need to provide a diverse amount of books so it really stretches my reading and almost forces me to diversify. And I'm so glad. I have been reading some really great books lately because of that and I am very grateful.

Synopsis

It is Poland 1943. After being given German sounding names by their step-mother Hansel and Gretel are left in the woods to find people to help them, while the step-mother and their father flee from the Nazis. In the woods they meet Magda, who is known by some of the villagers as "the witch". This is a book with a beautiful cast of characters that make this story alive and rich.

My Thoughts

What a beautiful tale. While it doesn't shy away from the horrors of occupied Poland or the holocaust, it shows how normal people did what they could to get through the war. It was not acts of bravery or colluding with the enemy. It was doing their best to stay true to themselves that helped them get through this dark time.

This was definitely an ensemble cast piece. While Hansel and Gretel are the titular characters, they were not the sole focus. Their story was equally interwoven with the other villagers, the partisans and the Nazi occupiers.

Murphy tells sides of the war and the Nazi world vision that is not always discussed, but is worth being mentioned It is amazing/horrifying how thoroughly thought out the Nazi world vision was and how this world vision gave so many different facets to WWII. No wonder this time period gives us such diverse books. She does a great job of not being sensationalist. She is real and tells of some of the hard things or horrible things not to shock us but because to do justice to the story it is necessary.

I loved Nelka and Telek's story. It was so lovely and heart wrenching.

I liked how she showed us the step-mother's and father's side of it. It was interesting to see what they were doing at the same time as Hansel and Gretel.

There was only two things that made the story be a bit off to me, but not so much so for me not to give it a full five stars. It was what happened to Gretel and what happened when they first got to the city. I get why its there, it just felt a bit weird to me. I don't really know how to explain it.

This is definitely a must read. Especially if you like WWII historical fiction.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

from goodreads

3.5 stars

This past week the kids have been kind to me. They have let me relax in my bed and read for about 20 minutes before getting up and starting my day and the tasks of feeding them and coaxing them out of their pyjamas. If that isn't
luxury I'm not sure what is.

I'm not sure what it is about summer reading that always fills me with nostalgia, but I always seem to be more excited and really want to craft a great summer read list in my head. I don't feel this kind of pressure/excitement any other time of the year. Though, my Christmas holiday reading takes some thought. I guess summer is always the time for adventure, when anything can happen. It is the time when you don't always have set schedules and can let any day be an adventure.

Now being a busy mom means that I can't spend all day reading, though wouldn't that be heaven? But, I can fill the bulk of my day with the sweet sweet words of an engaging story, and that is awesome. Next year, I really need to get a hammock. Now that would be summer reading bliss.

What's on your summer reading list?

Synopsis

Vida Winter, a recluse author, hires Margaret Lea, a shy biographer and helper in her father's rare book shop, to write her life's story. More is revealed and healed for both of them than thought possible.

My Thoughts

Well, what to say about the Thirteenth tale? The first half drove me crazy. I almost stopped reading. Well, I did stop reading because I had to return my copy to the library. Then my book club friend loaned me her copy. So after a three week respite I picked up where I left off and thoroughly enjoyed the last half. I don't know if the story just picked up there and I was able to like the characters a bit more or if I was just in a different head space. But there was a vast difference for me. The first half I would have been rating it a 2.5 but the second half was a clear 5.

So what did I love about this book? I loved the love of literature that oozes throughout the pages. This is definitely a great book to read for the literary lover. She has some amazing quotes about how books just hook you and can become part of you and your identity. (I really must start writing them down so I have them while I'm writing the review.)

I loved, but was also somewhat puzzled by, the ageless quality of this book. I have no idea when this book was set. It could have been set in anytime, and I think that is what makes it such a great read that will stick with you. It is timeless.

I loved some of the twists and turns that were found in the second half. The story really had you going all the way until the end.

I couldn't stand the whole situation of Vida's story in the first section. The whole situation and characters were so abhorent that it made it hard to want to keep reading. None of the characters really had any kind of redeeming quality and I just didn't know why I should care about knowing about them and their life.

So while it was a bit of a mashup in feelings about this book, I did enjoy it. The second half more than made up for the dismal first half. So if you are able to slog through the first 180 pages the ending will be worth your time and effort. If you can't slog through it, no worries, I almost gave up too.

Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick

from goodreads

5 stars

I picked out this book purely based on the covered bridge on its cover. I love covered bridges. I live about 20 minutes away from one, out in West Montrose. It is the last remaining historical covered bridge in Ontario, at least that is what wikepedia is telling me. Pretty cool. Even though I knew it was there, and saw pictures of it, and I have a friend who lives out there, I had not been on it until just a couple weeks ago. It is kind of embarrassing really. But there you go. It was quite fun when we finally drove over it. It was only one lane and it was dark, and the kids were like "why are we driving into a building?" Oh the memories.

Covered bridges just look so beautiful. They hearken back to when times were much simpler. I guess the word I'm looking for is nostalgic. Covered bridges are definitely nostalgic. Therefore, why wouldn't a book with a covered bridge on the cover pique my interest. They are a rare thing of beauty.

Synopsis

Truly Lovejoy's, yes that is a most unfortunate name, life has been flipped upside down. Her Father was injured in Afghanistan meaning what she thought was a permanent home in Texas is not. Instead the family is moving across the country to Pumpkin Falls to take over her grandparents book store.

While helping going through books, Truly finds an interesting letter in an original copy of Charlotte's Web.  With the help of her knew friends Truly sets out to decode clues and find out where this letter came from.

My Thoughts

This was a joy to read. I had so much fun.

I loved how the author dealt with real issues that happen in families. The Father is injured and trying to readjust to his new life out of the military. He and his family have to navigate that new reality together. The sibling dynamics were believable and relatable. The nicknames and the embarrassment when they are used in public, classic. The sacrifices that the whole family has to make sometimes were great to see. It was refreshing to see a family who struggles but does not call it quits, a family that was not all glamourous and happiness, but you could still feel their love and connection. It was so nice.

I loved the setting of Pumpkin Falls. I think I would like to live there forever. It seemed large enough that the stores on main street could stay open but small enough that it still felt quaint. The cast of characters, though not unique, held their own and seemed a right fit. The bookstore is my kind of heaven. I would love to curl up in one of the comfy chairs in the reading nooks and just escape for a day. Everything about it sounds awesome. 

Truly, despite her unfortunate name, is a lovely character. She is one I think most kids could find something relatable in. She is flawed, but she doesn't always let that get her down. She seems to make the best of most situations and she is a real kid doing real kid things.

I loved how the author talked about different books, and introduced different genres of books as well as how she referenced older movies (like from the '50s). High Noon and To Catch a Thief are among my favourite movies. This book will help broaden the readers horizons and look to the awesomeness of the past and how that can help them appreciate what is created now and help them create in the future. Some of the books referenced are definitely on my to read list now.

This is more than just a mystery book. It is a great and timely story. It is a story about a girl and her family dealing with change. It is about friendship and dealing with twerps. It is about learning to feel comfortable in your own skin. Despite the crazy names of the characters, trust me, Truly is just the beginning, this was a great book. I think kids 10 and up will enjoy it and I think parents will enjoy this as well.

Take the trip to Pumpkin Falls, you won't regret it. I am hoping to visit there again soon. Until then, I will have to make the recipe that can be found at the end of the book to tide me over.

The Selection Series by Kiera Cass

from fantasticfiction.co.uk

3.75 stars

January was such a book reading month. I feel like those log chutes, where there are so many logs waiting to be sent through that they are jamming up because there is only room for one. I am trying to go in the order I finish them, but then I don't because for whatever reason I feel like talking about a different book and then boom, I realize I forgot one.

This is a series I read during Christmas, and I am finally getting to them now. Oh well. Better late than never!

Synopsis

It is the world after world war four. The North American continent is now on big country called Illea. Illea is in conflict with New Asia, and society is set in a caste system with 8 castes.

America Singer is in one of lower castes, a five. When a chance comes for her to enter a contest to marry the prince, soon to be king of Illea, her mother convinces her this is a great opportunity to advance. America isn't that sure. Why? Her heart is already given to another.

My Thoughts

When I think of how to describe this series I think, Hunger Games meets the Bachelor, only with way better accessories. I'm not sure why I picked the first book up but I am glad I did. I read the entire series during Christmas. While most of it is just fluff, there is still some substance in there. And reading these books made me so happy that I don't have to be a teenager again with the whole does he like me or not dilemma.

I think I liked this series the most because of the world that the author created. While the main crux of the story is the "Selection" and the love triangle between Prince Maxon, America and Aspen, Cass created a world that was very layered and seemingly well thought out. This is a society that was turned on its head to nothing that we recognize today. We learn that the first King of this new country was not as altruistic as he is remembered. The whole idea of two different kinds of rebels was interesting and I would have loved to learn more about them. The Northern rebels, who want information, and want to make a better society that is more just and fair. And the Southern rebels who just want to be elevated so they can squash those who squashed them. Those types of dynamics are part of life to day. The whole justice vs. revenge take on the ills of our lives/world. Very interesting. Perhaps she could do a spin off story that looked at the different rebel camps. (She has written a few spin off novellas available in ebook format.) There are also wars going on, but I don't think everything is truly on the up and up there. So many questions that just don't really get answered merely, teased at. Perhaps a longer book and one not written in the first person would have allowed her to focus on that a bit more too. It would be interesting to know more.

Near the end of the third book The One something is revealed about her father, and then that's all you hear about it. More answers and explanantions would have been nice. Why mention it or reveal it if it's not going to be explained later or bear any meaning after. It does connect one minor plot thing, but that's it. It would have been nice to know more and know if her father held some other role than just being an artist.

These are not books you want to read if you are looking for a serious book. But if you don't mind a little bit of teenage romantic fun once in a while this would be good a great pick. I think your teenage girls will like it, while you might be yelling at it saying "Just tell him/her how you feel!" "Be honest!!!" "Geez, just believe him already." I also found that some of the lines were a bit repetitive. 

I did like the characters. While sometimes I found America a little annoying, I liked her. She is not as strong as Catniss but she is not quite so foppish as Bella. America sticks to her moral character and does things she knows is right.

There is a fourth book coming out this year called The Heir.  It takes place many years after this series ends. I wonder if it will cover any of the changes of the society and delve more deeply in the rebellion stuff.

There was so much that was cool about this series, I just wanted a bit more substance and less "does he like me or not? Who to choose, Maxon or Aspen?" I wanted to know more about the world and society outside of the Selection. It seemed there was more going on, yet we never got to explore it.  I wonder if a movie or mini-series would be a good platform to address some of the questions I have about the society at large.

So, if you are into the YA book scene, I definitely recommend this series. It was a fun read.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

from goodreads

2.75 stars

Happy New Year!

It is crazy that it is 2015. I feel I did all this New Year stuff not that long ago and now it is upon me again. I guess that is what happens when you get older. As a kid days seem to go on forever. When we went to school the school day seemed so long. Now as a parent I feel the days fly by and that I just dropped the kids off and now I am having to pick them up. It is funny what age, experiences and priorities do to time perception.

While I enjoyed 2014 I am looking forward to 2015. My family and I have some exciting excursions and trips planned for this year. I am excited by some of the financial goals we have planned this year and am looking forward to doing my part in making those plans a reality. I am also looking forward to some of my personal goals too. While I don't make resolutions at the New Year I do like to take this time to reflect on how I am doing with my goals and seeing if there is any tweaking that needs to be done or a redistribution of energy. It is exciting. How do you celebrate your New Year? Do you make goals or resolutions?

Synopsis

Claire Randall and her husband Frank are in Scotland rekindling their relationship after being apart during WWII. While Frank is learning about his geneaology, Claire is learning about botany and is enjoying her time in the highlands. When Claire goes to a local stone circle she is suddenly flung back roughly two hundred years. There she meets Jaime a charming highlander. Claire needs to make a decision. Go back to Frank and the modern world, or do what she can do help her new friends and make a life with Jamie?

My Thoughts

Before reading this book I knew nothing about it except that it took place in Scotland. I only knew that because I caught a bit about the the t.v. series and they happened to be in scottish kit. I didn't know it was a huge hit or anything.

I don't know what the big fuss is about it. While I do think it is well written, there was so much sex, and almost rape, and more sex. While sex is part of the adult experience and is an important aspect in our lives, I was like, get on with it already. We get it, they are both horny. Let's move on. I like a good romance as much as the next person, but seriously, leave some room for the imagination. Though, you  might pick up some new tips. Just saying.

Because there was such a focus on the sex aspect of their life I found the story did not flow as quickly as I would have expected. When there was more action it was a really good read and intriguing. I guess going into the book I was expecting more of the action part and less of the romance side of things.

What also was time consuming was Claire's back and forth struggle about fidelity with her husband from the 20th century and that of the one in the 18th. Was she still being faithful if her husband didn't really exist? Was it okay to stay with this new love? While the moral dilemma is an interesting issue to explore, I found it went on too long. It seemed she, for almost the full 600 pages of her being in the 18th century, was always questioning it. While it is important not to be light about it the constant flip flopping and guilt was kind of crazy.

I also wish we found out more about Geillis Duncan. I don't want to give anything away so I will be really obscure here. We find out something, I would say rather pivotal about her, but then that's it. We don't know if there are more like her or how she came to be one or anything. It's like why bring it up if you aren't going to do anything with it. Perhaps it plays more of a role or theme later on in the series. I don't know.

There are seven more books in this series. I don't know if I am in a rush to read them. While the ending left me slightly intrigued as to what the characters were going to do I'm not sure if I am interested in knowing more. I hear that the t.v. series follows the story pretty well. Maybe I will just watch them if I want to learn more.

I think I might have liked this book if I was in a more racy mood, but I was not and so it was just meh, to me. Maybe in a different and time and season I would like it better. It has a ridiculously high goodreads rating, but I just didn't get it.

Ithaca by Susan Fish

from goodreads

4 stars

There are times, during nap time mostly, when I stop and think, what next? By that I mean. When my kids are all old enough to be in school during the day, or when they are grown up and have left the house, what next? What does that next chapter in my life look like. Do I want a career outside the one in my home? Do I want to harness the ultimate power in my domestic engineering life? What next?

I haven't come up with any definitive answers. All I know is that whatever "what next" is I want to be an amazing person, and an amazing and supportive wife and mother. If I can check those boxes, I think "what next" is going to be okay.

Synopsis

Daisy Jane finds herself in a bit of a transitional place. Her husband of nearly forty years has died suddenly and her only child lives half way around the world in Singapore. She is now trying to navigate in a world where she has never been alone. When she sees a sign about fracking and decides to take a night course to learn more about it her eyes are opened to what she herself can contribute, even if it is just soup on Wednesdays.

My Thoughts

I picked this book up mainly because it was written by a local author. It is kind of neat to know that in this small city we have authors. Usually, I think of authors being aloof or in a metropolis or in a secluded farm house. Really, they come in all sort of shapes and locales.

I was very pleasantly, not really surprised, but content, satisfied, I don't know the word but what ever it was I was that, pleasantly.

The location of Ithaca was superb. I have never been there but next time I am in that general area I think I will go. It sounds beautiful. I forgot that Cornell University is there and the Moosewood Cafe. I definitely need to check it out.

The character of Daisy Jane was super interesting. I think it is because she is going through what I feel I might go through at some point. She was a homemaker now thrust into making lots of decisions. She no longer had her family to focus her energy on. She had to take stock of herself and decide what she wanted to do for herself. That kind of personal inventory is not the easiest to do.

I love the idea of a community soup night where you open your home to whomever. And the soups sounded delish! I know that in downtown Kitchener there is a family that has a potluck every week. What a great way to build community.

The comparison between losing a spouse due to dying and then losing a spouse due to a chronic disease was interesting. Disease does change people. In the terms of the one characters wife, she had MS. She was unable to do the things she used to do. Her personality changed, the dynamic of their relationship changed. Is that harder or just different than if the spouse had just died. While grieving is still part of the process, is any of it easy? It gave some interesting food for thought.

Then there was the story line about the fracking and environmental aspects of it. Fish did a great job with this, describing the issue without it feeling like we were in a lecture hall. She wasn't preachy and really left it up to ourselves what we thought about it.

For a book that really wasn't that long there were many seeds of ideas that were planted. It was an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

from goodreads

4 stars

I have come to the conclusion, which most readers eventually come to I'm sure, that I will never get around to reading every book I want to. There are just so many books that are published everyday. Even when I think I am doing well at whittling down my to read list more just keep on getting added. And forget about trying to stay current with the literary world. Quite often by the time I get around to a book it almost seems passe.

But coming to that conclusion has lead me to other insights. Such as knowing when a book is just not worth my time to continue with it. Because I have so many other books on my list, why would I bother keeping on reading something that is just not doing it for me. I still will keep those on "the list", because maybe they would be better if I read them later, or didn't feel the pressure of my holds list at the library. But I have definitely become more picky about which books I will slog through and which ones are not worth the effort. It has become freeing in a way. Giving myself permission to say "I fought the good fight to try to be interested, but it's just not to be". And you know what, that's okay.

Synopsis
Hazel knows that she is going to die, sooner rather than later. She has cancer, but thanks to a miracle drug she has lasted longer than what her parents and doctors thought possible. At a support group she meets Augustus another cancer kid. This is a book about their love story, their adventure, and what it means to be human.

My Thoughts

What a great book. What a wonderful and heart-wrenching story. It is funny, poetic, lovely, sad and hopeful. It gives an insight into the cancer teen world that you don't think about. While the story focused mostly on Hazel and Augustus, you catch glimpses of how it effects friends, parents, and the relationships with the cancer patient and those people.

I love how Green talks about the complexities of what it means to "fight cancer". Of course the patients would love to keep on living and experiencing life, but there is also feelings of guilt, frustration, humiliation, concerns  and fears.

The one thing that I didn't like about the book, or at least I didn't find it as believable, was the intensity of the love connection between Hazel and Augustus. Supposedly they had this crazy super in love connection, a love that changed them, redefined them, and would go down in history as the best love ever. I just didn't get that. I felt I was only getting mere glimpses into their lives. Supposedly they spent a lot of time together, but to me it was like they knew each other for a day and then bam, they were in love and inseparable. I guess it was just the time line that seemed funny and was hard for me to really picture their crazy in love status.

There is a bit of a plot twist which kept up some of the suspense and drama. It was cool and heartbreaking all at once.

I think this is a great book for all ages, well teen and up. This is a book that I think adults will like and learn from just as much as their teen counterparts. John Green, you did good with this!

The Giver by Lois Lowry

from goodreads

5 stars

There are some books that are meant to be read at certain points of your life. There are books I read as a preteen and real teen, that meant a lot to me at that time period. If I tried to read them now they would not have the same impact. But there are other books that I read as a teen that still give me insight and help shape the world around me. They still help me decide what I should value in the world, and what I should change. The help me be me.

The Giver is one of these books. Every time I read it I fall in love with it again and I am able to re-evaluate what I find important and what I do not. What I want the world to become and what I fear.

I am bit leery about seeing the movie. This book is so near and dear to me I am worried what Hollywood is going to do to it. Will I be sitting there saying "that's not how it was in the book, why did they do it like that?" Or will it give me an even deeper understanding to the world that Lowry created and thus a deeper understanding into our own world? We'll have wait and see.

Do you have a book like this? A book that no matter which time in your life you read it it still gives you joy and fulfillment?

***Spoiler Alert***
I am going to do my best at not giving any spoilers. But I know this book inside and out and may inadvertently give too much information. So there might not be any spoilers, but then there may not be. So read at own risk. :)

Synopsis

Jonas is entering an important stage in his life. He is twelve and at that age he gets placed in the career that he will work in for his life. He is excited and nervous all at the same time. But, when his name is skipped over at the ceremony, the whole community is a titter. Then he meets, the "Giver".

My Thoughts

I love this book. To me this is the ultimate dystopian. I can still remember the first time I read this book. I was twelve, my mom handed it to me before a road trip. And I was sitting in the front of our Plymouth Sundance totally in awe.

I love the world Lowry creates. I love how she slowly gives you tidbits about the community. I started picturing it one way and then she gives us another clue and it totally changes how I picture things. This makes it exciting and also gives the choices the community has made greater impact. For example, I pictured the streets with a bit of a slant or hill, especially when going towards the river, but then I read that there were no hills or real contrasts in elevation. Mind blowing.

I love how this book teaches the importance of love and bonding with friends and family. It teaches how important our emotions are, especially those of love. It also teaches the importance of facing hurt, disappointment and heart ache, with bravery and patience as this helps us with our empathy and understanding of others.

There is one scene that disturbs me more as a mother than it did when I first read it. It is the one with the baby twins. Some might say this scene shouldn't be in the book. But I think it opens the door for important discussion. A discussion that teens need to have so they can decide where their moral compass lies.

I would love to have more answers to some of my questions about this community. Such as, how many other communities are like this? How are they able to control the weather? How did this get formed? Why are they so technologically advanced when some of the other books in the series seem not as advanced? And so on. But without these questions answered it is still a satisfying read.

It is a simple tale, and it doesn't go as in depth as some adult readers might want it too but, as a older kids/YA book, it is great. It begins the conversation. This is the first book in The Giver Quartet. I have read all of them. I think The Giver is still my favourite, though I did enjoy the other books as well. They deal with different issues, yet they still allow a conversation to be had. Books that provide the jumping off point for conversations can't be all that bad.