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.

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.

Birdie by Tracey Lindberg

from goodreads

2 stars

I love watching the Olympics. Not only do you get to watch incredible physical feats, I get to read during the commercials. It's amazing how much reading I was actually able to accomplish. It takes so long to set up some events that I can read during that part too! Now if only their was an Olympic event for reading. That is a competition I could get behind. Marathon reading perhaps?

Synopsis

Birdie goes into herself and travels through her past. She is able to confront the demons that have been plaguing her.

My Thoughts

This book had so much potential but to me just fell flat.

This seemed to be the same story as so many others. A troubled woman, alcohol problems, sexual abuse and the desire to put her life together. While these things are prevalent in society, especially and unfortunately in Aboriginal communities, and we should know about them and deal with these issues as a society, the presence of them in this story made the story seem inevitable and predictable. You knew where things were headed and the climax confrontation with the uncle was not at all surprising.

The story was also hard to follow at times. You skipped around different timelines quite a bit and it was at times confusing. It took a while to sort out where you were.

I appreciated how the author showed why foster systems do not always work and it allowed a conversation to be had in that regard.

I had high hopes going in but it just didn't live up to my expectations. It could have been so much more.

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.

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

from goodreads

3 stars

This weekend is the long weekend, which means we are half way through our summer. It is kind of hard to believe. I had such plans and I don't think I have done any of them. But, since I have a newborn I guess I can give myself a bit of slack. It is hard to create a magical summer for your kids when you are sleep deprived and barely able to get out of bed in the morning. Next summer can be the magical one.

Synopsis

The protagonist is just going through the motions of life. When he meets Tyler everything changes as they create the Fight Club.

My Thoughts

I knew a bit about the story going into this read. I have not watched the movie but I knew about the ending. Because of this knowledge I read looking for clues and hints that showed the ending.

This is not a typical book I would pick up. I don't really like senseless violence or living in the confusing crazy world of others. I found this book very hard to rate as somethings were fantastic but in the end I just didn't like it.

The author did a superb job showing the confusion and agitation of someone going through an identity crises as well as showing the brutality people can inflict on others. He was able to craft a unique story in a unique way and it worked. I liked how he left the ending open. Things weren't wrapped up neatly. There were still some questions, but, again, this worked.

I also liked how they made soap. I found that intriguing and a bit out there but a neat side story. How else were they to fund everything?

I just really don't like senseless violence. The idea of violence for fun is repugnant to me. The whole vigilante thing was really disgusting. All the things that they did and the manipulation they used bothered me and I did not enjoy reading it. All these things combined made the story feel hopeless as there seemed to be no way out. No way to change.

I also found the story to confusing at times and repetitive. This was most likely to show the mind space of the character, which is fine, but as the reader it grates on you.

All in all this is not a book I would read again and I am not going to look for any that are similar or in that genre. One was enough for me. The chaos in the book just didn't do it for me in as a reader. I did appreciate how the author showed his characters state of mind. I did appreciate the writing, just the subject matter was not something I would gravitate to.

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.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

2 stars

Well it has been a while since I have posted. Why??? Well I have lots of appointments so that eats up my time. And because it eats up my time and I still have organizing and housework to do the blog was put on the back burner. Also, my laptop went caput. And while I have been using my husbands desktop, I didn't like ignoring Miss P that much as his desktop is in the basement. So it made spending time writing and editing blog posts not the easiest.

Well, thanks to our tax return I have finally gotten myself a Chromebook. It is not as fancy as my last laptop buy I figure since most of what I do is online anyway it made the most sense. Also, if I need to do anything else that requires an actual desktop, I can just use my husband's. I like that all my google stuff is right there and connected. Pretty cool.

Now I am just playing the waiting game. I am officially at term (37 weeks) and would love for this baby to get out. So send baby get out vibes my way.

Synopsis

This follows the life of Kathy and her two friends Ruth and Tom. They all go to a secluded school called Hailsham. This looks at their life at the school, and their life now and the memories they have. Through these memories they learn more about what their life is really about and the strangeness of the society they find themselves in.

My Thoughts

This is an adult, artsy, not violent version of a dystopian novel. I started into it thinking it was going to be more mysterious and thrilling, but it didn't turn out that way. I kind of found the book a bit dull and felt I was forcing myself to finish it.

I didn't understand why once the kids found out their true purpose in life they didn't want to run away and leave. They seemed to be accepting. Perhaps a little too accepting.

I wish that the author went more into the moral dilemma of the society. How this program really worked and was funded and how things got harvested. Like was it as the need arose or did they keep organs on bank or what. What did the rest of society really feel about it? Other schools were always alluded to. It would have been neat to see how those schools were run and what the difference was. How did the people get selected for what school they would go to?

I thought I was getting myself into a boarding school drama and ended up with it being a review of society instead. It took me awhile to realize it was a sort of alternate reality, though it could really happen and that is scary.

The time lines were a bit confusing as well. The author constantly alluded to something that would happen in the future, and then backtrack into the story to lead you to that point. It was not a technique I enjoyed reading. Once in a while maybe, but not every chapter. The story also jumped around a bit so it was hard to follow.

While the premise seems promising the delivery just wasn't there for me. I know some people love it, and that's great, it is well written. I just couldn't get into it to really enjoy it.

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.)


 

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

from goodreads

3 stars

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

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

Synopsis

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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.

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein

from goodreads

4 stars

Every time I read a book, whether I end up liking it or not, I am usually in awe of the author's imagination. It is amazing how every author comes up with a unique take on some aspect of life, or adventure, or creates a whole new world. The execution may not always be up to snuff, but the seed of greatness is always there.

That is probably why so many movies are made from book adaptations. The movie people see that seed and what to enhance it. Sometimes they do an excellent job. Sometimes not. There are times when I am reading a book and I say to myself, "I can't wait to see this as a movie". Or, you read a book and it plays in your mind as the movie. You can see it so clearly.

So thank you authors for putting your seeds of inspiration down on paper and giving us worlds and ideas we, ourselves, had not thought of. You open us to so much!

Synopsis

All over the U.S.A. complaints have been coming into Mr. Lemoncello that he didn't allow his last contest to be opened up to them. They want a chance to prove their library know-how. So here comes the library olympics, with the best of the best competing for supremacy and the hometown team feeling the need to prove themselves.

My Thoughts

I always get nervous with sequels, especially after the originals were so good. This did not disappoint. While I still liked the first book Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library a little bit more, this one was still right up there. There is enough of craziness, yet normalcy that would appeal to every reader. I love how he mentions books so that those reading are encouraged to check them out. And, it is fun! I want Mr. Lemoncello to build his next library in my city.

I also liked how this book addressed censorship and banned books. Though he didn't come out in a preachy way, he did express the idea that censorship of books is not a good thing. We should be able to have the right to choose for ourselves what books to read or not. Who is one person, or group of people, to say what book is good for me or not. Grabenstein introduces this idea if a fun way, that hopefully plants the seeds of anti-censorship into his young readers, or at least helps them start thinking about it and start a conversation about it.

As an adult reading it there were some plot points that seemed obvious and I guessed at. But, it was still a fun read and I know that the kids reading this book (10+) will love it!

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.

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.

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

from goodreads

4 stars

Lately the kids haven't been looking for new books. They seem to be wanting to read their old favourites. For Miss P that means a lot of Where is the Green Sheep.

Sometimes it is nice to go back and revisit old friends. I have many books that I like to go back to from time to time. I love spending time in their world. With my books-to-read list getting longer and longer I don't spend as much time with these old friends as I am forging new reading relationships. Perhaps I will need to change that.

Synopsis

Sally and her brother are stuck at home, with their mother out, feeling bored. Then comes the Cat in the Hat to change all that.

My Thoughts

I have a love hate relationship with this book. Currently I am loving it, but that can change. I think the main reason why I am loving it now is that over the Christmas Break we watch a lot of The Cat in the Hat Knows a lot about That. It is a cute show and shows the Cat as a more thoughtful character than what is portrayed in the the book. The show helps flesh him out and he becomes more loveable. (It helps that he his voiced by Martin Short... I adore Martin Short.)

I do like that the book is simplistic. It is a story that not only helps kids learn to read but is interesting too! That combo does not always exist. I also think that this story is very relatable. Who hasn't been bored wondering what to do, or been worried about getting found out by their parents or someone in authority. I also like how the Cat picks up everything. I wish my kids would catch that hint.

I don't like the Cat's total disregard for the discomfort of those around him. I know it is fun to have fun and try new things, but when it is causing massive anxiety for someone else, then perhaps it is time to stop. This lack of caring is something that I do not like.

This book is a classic kids book and will be around for a long time. It has that timeless quality and that sense of fun and adventure that is going to have kids keep coming back to it again and again. The copy we read from I had when I was a little girl, and I'm sure it will be around when my kids have kids. (The binding is exceptionally good.)

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

from goodreads

1 star

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

Have a fun weekend!

Synopsis

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

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

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

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

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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 Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

from goodreads

3 stars

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

Synopsis

(Synopsis from goodreads)

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson

from goodreads

3 stars

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

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

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

Synopsis

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.