Under the Visible Life by Kim Echlin

from good reads

3.5 stars

Well Christmas has come and gone. And not nearly as much reading was done. I think the problem was a) I got a puzzle for Christmas that I was excited to work on and b) right now the book I am reading, while excellently written, just isn't holding my interest or pulling me in. There are some books where you just can't put it down, while others you can put it down with ease. I hope that this book picks up a bit and pulls me in.

It might be the timing of it too. Right now I am feeling the time crunch because there are four books on my to read list for this year that I want to get done, but I have to read this one first because of the hold list at the library. It is never great when you have to read a book then in there because of outside factors. It is much better if you get to choose the timing of the book. I can feel the lure of the other books so strongly.  I think I might just return it and put it on hold again. I think it would be the perfect spring/summer read.

What do you think? Do you believe in the timing of books?

Synopsis

This is a story that follows two women from two completely different world. They are both having to survive in a world that has been set up against them. Through their love of music, especially jazz, they are able to connect and become each others support.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. This was definitely one where I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen to these two women.

You have Katherine who decides to take charge of her destiny. The man in her life might have done her wrong, but she had a dream and she wasn't going to wait around for some guy to help her get there. I like how the author shows the struggles and hardships she goes through to find her success. Sometimes we just see the end result of someone's success without seeing how they struggled to get where they got. Life isn't always easy. It is hard work.

Mahsa was a lovely character and your heart goes out to her. Her struggles would have been so difficult. Coming from a culture which see women as mere commodities would be hard to break from. The trickery of her uncle and her feelings of being stifled and unable to escape I can't even imagine. Her character allowed us to see how living in two different worlds can be difficult and exhausting. It is like living a lie or being pulled in two.

There is definitely something you can learn from each woman.

The one thing that dragged the book down was the abstract discussion about music. I like music but I don't need to delve into it's mysteries. I just I don't "get it". While the music was the unifying factor in the book it got a bit much sometimes.

On the whole a very lovely read.

Belle: The Slave Daughter and the Lord Chief Justice by Paula Byrne

3 stars

When I think about slavery my mind usually goes to the cotton fields of the southern United States. These fields were the source of fear, heartache and cruelty. They led to the American Civil War. They led to books, poems, artwork, legends and films. They are big on the North American consciousness.

What we often forget is that slavery happened other places before the hey day of the cotton fields of the south. There were plantations of all kinds in Barbados, Jamaica, the Bahamas and other islands that make up the Caribbean. Yet, these stories seem to get lost or pushed aside in the collective knowledge of slavery. At least, it seems like that from the Canadian and American perspective.

The writers of history have successfully erased the violence and cruelty of European slave ships and plantations. They seem to have only pegged it to southern Americans. It is astounding how we can easily cleave to some knowledge and conveniently forget others. For that reason I am so glad that we have dedicated historical writers, always looking for truth which leads them to look at things from different angles. We all have chequered pasts, we should not feel doomed by them but we need to know about them so we can learn and have a more positive outlook on our future.

Synopsis

This is a glimpse into the abolition movement in England by way of a picture of Dido Belle.

My Thoughts

Well this is a tough book review.

On the whole this was a very interesting read about a section of history we often forget, the slave trade of the British Empire. Since they were one of the first governments to abolish the slave trade we usually cast them in a great light and think, "Oh the commonwealth is so good because we decided not to have slaves, unlike those crazy Americans". Yet, the commonwealth did participate and participate fiercely in this heinous practice. This book brings to light some of the travesties such as the slave ships, what happened to runaway slaves, and the view of woman slaves and their offspring. Through Byrne's research and the stories she found a thorough picture was painted of the slave trade in the Caribbean. That history was interesting and sobering.

But the book isn't called "The Slave Trade of the Caribbean". This book is about Belle, (well actually, her name was Dido) or at least, it is supposed to be about her. And in the end, you really don't know more about her than you did at the beginning. You know there is a picture, you know that she existed and did live with her Uncle who happened to be a Lord Chief Justice but that's it. You don't know her thoughts, you don't know if she persuaded her uncles views. Everything that was said about her or her relationships was nothing more than inferences or extrapolations. It was not really fact.

This book was advertised as a biography of sorts which is very misleading. I think calling it a biography is a bit of a stretch.

For this misdirection the book was sort of disappointing. The readers thought they were going to be learning about Belle and her life, instead we got a history 101 on the British slave trade and the abolition movement of the late 18th century.

I did enjoy this book, it was readable and I found the history to be well researched an presented in a readable manner. It was worthwhile reading. However, it was not the content that was advertised. So if you decide to read it you have been warned. Reader beware.

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.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

from goodreads

4 stars

I can't believe it is already past the half-way mark of September. Seriously, where did the time go. Since school has started I am starting to get into a bit of a familiar groove. Having two little ones at home is a nice change, though I do miss my older ones. During the day I only have one child coming with me with demands and desires instead of three. (The baby doesn't count, while he likes to eat he isn't super demanding.)

Now I just need to get into the groove of doing things for me again. Get into my schedule. I am looking forward to that!

Synopsis

Jacob loved hearing the stories behind his grandfather's pictures but that is what they were to him, stories. When his grandfather is horrifically killed Jacob decides to go to the orphanage, on an island off the welsh coast, where is grandfather grew up to find out more about him. What he finds is not what he expects.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure I would. The cover made me think it might be more creepy or more of a horror genre, which I am not into, but it wasn't and I was able to really get into the story.

The story was simplistic but there was a depth to it. You didn't get lost in details but there was a depth in character and story line that I liked.

I loved the concept that the author used of taking old pictures and then putting a story around them. Some of the photos were incredible and even though they didn't seem that they were connected Riggs was able to do it in such a clever interesting way that made complete sense.

Jacob's father was an interesting character, definitely an anti-hero. He was a good juxtaposition against Jacob.

The time loop thing was a bit wonky. I got confused by it a little bit. But I'm sure, if you are into time loops and know a lot about them it would make complete sense.

There are two more books in the series and I am excited to read them... I will have to stick them into my never ending to read list!

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

from goodreads

4 stars

When you were younger did you ever see other kids' parents and wish they were yours? It might have been the cool mom, or the industrious mom. It might have been the kid who had the coolest clothes or had their hair crimped. (Remember the crimping phase?) The briefest glimpse we got of other people's mothers made us envious and wish our mom was as awesome. For surely those moms never made their kids eat their vegetables or tidy their rooms. It was probably all fun and giggles.

As we grew up and as a parent ourselves we realise that there is no perfect mom. They all have issues and struggles. They are all going to insist on eating vegetables and tidying rooms. Sometimes when we see kids with all the cool gadgets that is often a way for the parent to make up for time away or feelings of guilt or to make the kids be quiet while the parent gets on with their life.

We all have our moments of parenting glory and parenting embarrassment. I know I will not be honoured for the mom of the year award... probably ever. And you know what that's okay. I know I am trying the best I can in the moment and that's all that can be asked of me or anyone. And I know, or at least hope, that someday my kids will understand that and then in their eyes I will be the awesome mom they always wanted.

Synopsis

Coraline feels a bit neglected by her always working, weird food eating parents. She discovers a mirror world with the perfect mother... or so she thinks.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. I am a bit late on the Neil Gaiman scene, but I definitely need to read more from him.

As a parent reading this book it helped to show life through a child's perspective. Sometimes when we become an adult we forget what it was like to be a kid, or sometimes adult concerns overwhelm us that we forget to take a moment and just be and let our kids be kids. This book helped me think about the actions I do each day and ask myself, Am I being neglectful? Am I meeting their emotional needs?

This book was a great way to show kids and adults alike that things that seem perfect aren't always what they seem. We all have problems, some just show more than others.

I liked the whole quest part that Coraline must go on. The goal she had kept her focused and kept her from getting distracted. The rock with the hole in it that helped her see clearly helps us know that when we are unsure about something there is always a way to see clearly.

This book offers great insight to the modern family. Yes work is important, yes our own interests are important, but kids and their likes and dislikes are just as valid an important. We need to find a balance so that everyone can feel loved and heard.

This is a great book. I would think kids 9 and up would enjoy it. Their are some creepy bits and some of the pictures in my copy where a bit creepy (even for me), but it is definitely worth the read.

The Crown by Kiera Cass

from goodreads

4 stars

This week was fun. We went to Centre Island in Toronto. They have a small amusement park there that the girls had a blast at. We had a blast at it too. We went the day after the long weekend so it was not super crowded. A lot of rides barely had any line ups. And most of the rides were nestled amongst trees so the shade was super duper fantastic. My pale skin thanked it.

When we started feeling a bit hot we walked over to the beach and cooled off with a short swim and then went right back to the fun. While at the beach we saw people riding these really awesome bikes. They looked like mini golf carts and could have two people pedalling or four people pedalling. And what I thought was just a big basket in the front was actually a seat for young children. So my whole big family of six would have been able to fit in it! I think I know what we will be doing next year, riding around Centre Island in style!!

Synopsis

This is the concluding instalment of the Selection Series. Princess Eadlyn makes her choice.

My Thoughts

I did not like the book that came before this. The main character Eadlyn was really unlikeable and I didn't like how America was portrayed, I felt she had changed too much. So I was reading this book purely to know how it wrapped up, not because I really cared about the characters. But man, was I pleasantly surprised.

This was a very satisfying end to the series. Eadlyn came across in a way more likeable way. You actually are cheering her on and are hoping good things for her.

I liked the different twists and how Eadlyn did things her way. She did things I totally thought her parents would have done before her and I am still at a loss to why things hadn't changed as much between book three and four.

I wished I had reread book four because I forgot who some of the characters were and it took a bit of time to play catch up.

This, as with the other books in the series, is the perfect summer fluff reading. It is romance with a little political intrigue thrown in. If you are looking for more action and girl power read a different dystopian. This series is perfect in its simplicity and romance. It doesn't pretend to be more than what it is which means you can read and not think too hard about it and that type of book is definitely needed.

Red: The True Story of Red Riding Hood by Liesl Shurtliff

from goodreads

4 stars

Summer!!! The sun is out, the beach is calling my name and I have finally had the frozen lemonade I have been craving. Summer and its hot weather has finally arrived.

I have signed up the kids for the library reading club. The girls are actually excited and are really thinking about what kinds of books they want to get from the library. It always makes my heart happy when they are excited about going to the library and not grumpy or making it feel like a chore.

Yesterday we went to one of the kick off parties our library is holding to celebrate the summer reading club. Being there helped remind me that no matter where you go, or what branch of your library you go to (we went to a party that was held at a different branch than our regular one) there are always dedicated staff ready to help you. The staff created a warm environment that allowed the kids to explore, want to share what they made and discovered, have fun, and get excited about reading. It was such a nice morning and a lot of that had to do with the great staff. Here's to a magical summer of reading.

Synopsis

Red's granny is sick and Red goes on a quest to find a cure for her granny. A cure that Red hopes will make her granny live forever.

My Thoughts

This was great! This is a fun story that still teaches you, or at least allows you to think about, life, death, the ability to let go, accepting change and being happy and grateful for what you have.

One of the most prevalent, and I think best, themes is looking at what scares us and how these fears can limit us or hold us back. We need to work through these fears and be willing to try again. Yes, there may be risks involved, but, there are always risks in whatever you do so you might as well keep trying.

I love how Shurtliff blends different stories together. Yes, it deals with Red Riding Hood, but it also has elements of one of my favourite stories Snow White and Rose Red. There were also other fairy tales that were thrown into the mix such as Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Beauty and the Beast. All these different tales flow together seamlessly and helps create this fantastical world that makes sense and you think it is real.

I loved the dwarfs. Now I know why they are always mining for gems. Ingenious!

This is a fun fairy tale retelling that you definitely have to add to your summer reading list. This would be good for ages 9 and up.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

from goodreads

2.5 stars

I know that we all know this already, but reading is amazing. We can learn so much. Our minds can be opened to new worlds and ideas. Fiction is especially good at this. Society is easy to explore and think about when reading a fiction story. When we see what the characters are going through you can get the sense that you are not alone or you can learn about differences or different perspectives on common problems.

Reading is never a waste of time. No matter the story we can learn something about ourselves. It could be a deep philosophical things or it could be as simple as learning you don't enjoy a particular genre. With all the different authors and genres and stories we will always be fed and nourished and hopefully all have a more broad view of the world.


Synopsis

This book chronicles the happenings of the Stephanides family, and more specifically the defect on the 5th chromosome that has gone down the line and created Callie/Cals hermaphroditism. Going from Turkey to the streets of Detroit, this is an interesting look at family, what makes us male and female and belonging.

My Thoughts

Well this book was definitely a surprise. When it was first put on the book club list I thought I was going to be reading a quaint book set in a county in England. So this was definitely not the story I was expecting.

I really enjoyed watching the evolution of this family. The grandparents tale was quite interesting. I also liked watching the evolution of Detroit. The transformation of the city during the different eras was quite interesting.

The subject was also interesting. What makes us male, what makes us female? Hermaphrodites are not often the main character of a book and I found it interesting learning about the different kinds, what they have to go through. It is not often talked about so it was nice to see it put into the forefront. It definitely helps to open a dialogue about the subject and get us thinking about it.

What I didn't like was just how boring the majority of the book was. I loved the grandparents story, I loved Cal talking about his life in Germany (this is once he is way older) and I liked the part of the story once they realized something was not quite right and they were going to doctors, and experts to figure out what was happening and Cal made a decision of what he wanted for his life. Everything else, was just boring. It seemed that the author had so many different characters and storylines that he was trying to do justice to that it just got drawn out and wasn't all that interesting (at least for me). There were a few times that I wanted to just stop reading as it was not holding my interest, but I trudged through because I knew they would be talking about Cal's condition eventually and so I kept going.

This is a book that did have an interesting premise, and that premise will stay with me for a while as it put in mind some thought provoking questions and ideas that will be fun to mull over. The rest of the book and most of the characters will not stay with me and, in that way, made it not all that great.

Matched Series by AllyCondie

from goodreads

3 stars

The end of school is two weeks away. Lately I have been researching different programs at our library, different books to keep the girls entertained and figuring out my own summer reading list. What I am discovering is there is so much choice. Everything looks good, and it is hard to pare things down. I want to read everything now, which would be an awesome super power, but is not a realistic option. Trying to find the perfect summer read, or the next great book for the kids is a hard undertaking. I have to be careful not to build up my expectations too much or else it will be a let down. Oh the horror of too many books and too little time!

What are you looking forward to reading this summer?

Synopsis

Cassia lives in a society that seems perfect. But when a glitch happens she realizes that there are limits to what she can do, what she can learn, and who she can love. The fabric of her society starts to unravel as she tries to figure things out and save/be with the person she loves.

My Thoughts

This was a pretty average series. The premise had a lot of potential and seemed interesting, but I don't think it lived up to its hype. It had parts that I liked and parts that just seemed meh. The first book did have a Giver vibe. Condie gave us a detailed society with things really thought out.

As the series progressed the story went in directions I wasn't expecting. I found the last two books to be such a contrast from the first book that it was hard to make the leap at first. I found that it dealt with too many abstracts. I wish I knew more about who lived on the fringes. It was confusing to know how they fit into the society. Not all of them were hiding from the society but, they weren't part of it either. It was confusing. I think it would have been helpful to have a map of the country as well. They talked about different provinces and cities, but it was hard to picture.

I found Cassia and Ky's relationship to be a bit hard to believe at first. She talked about her best friend Xander and how she was glad she was matched with him. But when she starts to think that Ky was an option all of the sudden he is all she wants. How could she fall so fast and so deeply? It seemed that Ky was always on the fringe of her radar. How could they be so intense? It just didn't seem believable.

While I liked how the series ended, and I liked it wasn't like all the other dystopians with lots of guns and violence, by the end I was reading just to finish it. I really didn't care about the characters and the society. I just found it dull. All the references to art work and poems and how those things were commodities got confusing and abstract.

This series would be good for getting your feet wet in YA dystopians but it was not my favourite series. It was just a bit dull for my liking.

The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra by Helen Rappaport

from goodreads

2 stars

Well I think life is finally going to settle down. I will hopefully get more reading done than I have in the past few weeks and my schedule will be as such that I can be more consistent with my reviews. And why is this? I had my baby! YEA!!! We had a boy and he will be known in my blogging world as Mr. S.

It will be interesting to discover the differences between the girls and this boy. I am so used to dresses and pink and sparkles and dolls it will be cool to discover the boy side of the world. So far he does much the same as the girls or any other baby. He eats, poops and sleeps. Ah the life of a new born.

Synopsis

This is a look at the lives of the daughters of the last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II. It gives background on their parents lives, especially their mother and also looks a bit at Russian society during their life.

My Thoughts

This book was not what I was expecting or hoping for. I was expecting more information on the girls to really get a sense of who they were. Instead there were lots of names, lots of discussion surrounding the tsarina's health, and basically the same information being toted around about them, how they were simple, naive and secluded.

I know that information about the sisters, especially primary sources, would be harder to come by as their journals and letters would have been destroyed or lost or perhaps were incomplete, but I was still hoping for more of a complete picture. Instead of being the focus of the book, as the title would seem to indicate, the Romanov Sisters seemed to be in the background of their own story and not the star. So much attention was given to their brother and his ailments, their parents and others. I think I know more about them then the sisters.

Perhaps if I knew more about the time period and more about Russian history during the war and revolution I might have appreciated any new information that Rappaport found out about the sisters. But, as a newbie I didn't know what was already common knowledge and what was ground breaking so couldn't appreciate it.

I also found that the ending of the book was rather fast. The last few chapters were actually interesting and dealt with the time that they were under house arrest before their execution. I understand that the author has written a book that deals with their last days in detail, and thus, didn't want to go into the same detail in this book. But it would have nice to have a bit more than what she gave. One second they were in a new place, the next paragraph they were being lead to a basement and were killed. For a slow moving narrative, this chain of events was abrupt and quick and left me with a sense of "what just happened?"

On the whole this book does not give history or biographies a great name. While the subject matter should have been interesting, the delivery was not there. I probably would have stopped reading it if it wasn't for book club and if I didn't have the hope of perhaps learning something more, something interesting.

I do appreciate the tragedy of their lives. I wish that they could have lived more. It is such a tragic and sad way to end your life. I guess that is what will remain with me from this book. The sense of tragic loss. And loss that could have been avoided perhaps if their parents and those around them could have gotten out of their old ways of doing things and seen how the world was changing. It is sad.

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.

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.)


 

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.

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.

Meet the Austins by Madeline L'Engle

from goodreads

3 stars

Long weekends always mess up my internal calendar. Even though I knew it was Tuesday, it felt like a Monday. So when I thought about doing my post, I kept saying to myself, "I don't have to do it today, I don't need to post it until tomorrow." Well, now the day is almost over and it has finally sunk in that I have a post to get up.

Does that happen to you when you have a long weekend or holidays? Does your rhythm get all messed up?

Now that being said, I love long weekends. I love it when my husband gets to spend more time with us and help deal with the crazies. And by crazies I mean children, and by help deal with I mean have fun and spend quality time.

This weekend was family day so we put up drywall, went tobogganing with some friends and then watched a movie. It was lovely and low-key. Those are the best kinds of long weekends.

Synopsis

The Austins are a fun family that live in rural New England. When a girl named Maggie is sent to stay with them after her father died things get to be a little more crazy, but they have fun and love each other.

My Thoughts

I love Madeline L'Engle books. I had never heard of this series before but I am glad I was able to enter the world of the Austin's for a little while.

This does not read like your typical novel. It is more snippets into a year in the life of the Austins. So, I guess it is like a collection of short stories that surrounds the family.

I love the sense of family that oozes from the pages. They seem to have fun and love each other, though they get annoyed with each other too. They are real, not an idealistic fantasy. I love the setting of the big farm house set in the middle of nowhere. If money were no object and I could live in any setting, that would be it. An old farm house with enough sunny land for a garden and a nice forest patch for walking through.

Because there was really no narration or climax the book did lack a bit of energy. It was a nice read, a quaint read, but nothing that would get you too excited. And to be honest, there is nothing wrong with books like that. We need books like that once in a while to cleanse our reading palettes. So don't go into this book to think you will be thoroughly entertained, or that it will be supremely gripping.

This is the first of a series of books about the Austins. I will probably peruse their life every now and again, but I am not in a big hurry to do so.

Fairest of All by Sarah Mylnowski

from goodreads

4 stars

I have come to the conclusion that children are very inconsiderate. How was this conclusion decided upon? The stuffiness of and congestion of my head nose and sinuses. On the weekend Miss P was sick. She had a slight fever and was slightly congested. I was the person she decided she had to cuddle with all day. She was back to normal the next day. Monday rolls around and I am congested, can barely think and supremely irritable. And my thought was "doesn't she know this is the week that I need to organize some bins and tidy the mudroom?"

Now I know, you can always put off chores, but not these ones this week. I have already put off the mudroom since October and the bins are from last week. And my sister and her family are coming on Friday meaning 6 extra people in the house. So... these chores really can't be put off. No way, no how. Hopefully I will be less fuzzy tomorrow and can get to tackling these things before the masses descend. But, all I can think of is the inconsiderateness of Miss P, the germs she transferred to me (next time her dad can be her snuggle buddy) and the person that gave the germs to Miss P. Thanks for this cold which makes thinking hurt... how kind of you. NOT!

Synopsis

Abby and Jonah have just moved to a new town where things are different. Abby is having a hard time adjusting. Then one night Jonah and Abby get sucked through a mirror into the story of Snow White, which they manage to mess up and have to put right.

My Thoughts

This is the first of a series of books in the "Whatever After" series.

This was such a delight. I read this book out load to my older two and they loved it.

I thought that it was quite clever and showed the weirdness and timelessness of fairy tales perfectly. Mylnowski allowed Snow White to be someone who had ambitions and ideas. Snow White was definitely not going to be a girl who simply went a long with things just because it was her story. She wanted to write her own destiny which was quite cool.

We are all looking forward to continue the series. This is a perfect book for girl bonding moments.

I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend by Martin Short

from goodreads

4 stars

The older I get the more I am realizing, compared to most of the world, I am a bit of a prude. Like, I don't want to see unnecessary nudity, I don't want to hear unnecessary profanity, and crude humour doesn't really do it for me. It is a bit different when it comes to reading. I am pretty open to most things. Though, I doubt I will ever read erotica and if there is swearing, I hope it is done purposefully and inline with the character, not just because an author is trying to be poignant.

Now, I like to laugh as much as the next person, but what is it with comedians who have to say the f word every two words. Can't you get your point across and be funny and relevant without doing that? I guess that is why I like Jim Gaffigan so much. He is so funny, he is preaching to the choir with most of the things he says, but he isn't swearing the whole time. It is so nice! So here is hoping that more people will catch onto the fact that you don't have to swear so much to be liked or be funny. Or at least here is hoping Jim Gaffigan and others like him make lots of material so I can be entertained for years to come.

Synopsis

Martin Short gives us a look inside his childhood, early years as an actor and the love of his life.

My Thoughts

I must say, I love Martin Short! I mostly love him as a person, not so much the characters he created. Though I loved the Three Amigos. His character was my favourite. I probably wouldn't have rated the book as highly as I did if I didn't love him so much.

One weird thing about me is I love reading things about celebrities and watching interviews about celebrities. Mostly I love it because I like learning tidbits of trivia that I can later use to show my awesomeness in knowledge. If only I could figure out how to monetize all my useless information that I have stored. Jeopardy is probably not an option. Anyway, because I like learning things about celebrities, this book was right up my alley.

This is a book that you will laugh at and cry at. My favourite story was the one about the cat. It had tears streaming down my face. There was quite a bit of name dropping, but I didn't find it super obnoxious. You could tell the celebrities he was talking about, such as Tom Hanks and Steve Martin, were truly his friends and he was close to them. So, he may have dropped some A list names but it was not done without a purpose, it was done because they are people he has a true meaningful relationship with.

I think what made me love this book the most was how he talked about his relationship with his wife, Nancy. It was the common thread throughout. They encouraged each other, comforted each other, and weren't afraid to tell each other how it really is. Their relationship really was a team effort with give and take on both ends. That is so refreshing to see and have as a model. I'm not saying their relationship was perfect, and he isn't either, but it was real and not some weird perfection fantasy which I think too many people are trying to have these days. Their relationship seemed happy, and not in a manic way. They seemed to have genuine joy with each other. I think that is why everyone felt so said when they heard she died. They were each others other half.

I also liked the 9 categories of life that Short reflects on to help him determine how balanced (or successful) his life is. The 9 categories are self, immediate family, original family, friends, money, career, creativity, discipline, lifestyle. He makes some good points. That is definitely a must read section.

I have heard that it is better to listen to the audio version. Short narrates it himself so you get to hear his impressions and weird voices. I might listen to it at some point to get the full effect but my imagination was quite good and I enjoyed the book nonetheless.

All in all this was a great read about a real, genuine, not on happy pills guy you helps us have great life lessons. He has a charmed but not over the top life, and really, this book helped me fall in love with Martin Short all over again.

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.