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.

The Siren by Kiera Cass

from goodreads

4 stars

The expression "when it rains it pours" definitely describes my life the past week. It seemed that if one more thing was thrown at me I was going to go crazy. I had to have extra appointments, and those needed to be squeezed in around Miss G's spooky tea birthday party and a day off school. My hip started acting up which meant walking sucked and since walking sucked I didn't get done all I wanted to in Miss G's new room. This week is looking up a bit but I feel so behind and I don't have time to fall behind.

What got me through this? Having some good things to read. Thank goodness for books. They truly are an escape and sunshine on our rainy days. Now it is time to breath easy, get caught up and continue to read.

Synopsis

Kahlen was rescued in a drowning accident and became one of the ocean's sirens. These girls are beautiful but their voice is deadly. They must serve the ocean for a hundred years, luring ships for the ocean to consume. When they aren't doing that they live their lives how they please, but they cannot talk to regular humans.

Kahlen is almost done her time when she falls in love with a mortal. Will she be able to risk it all for love?

My Thoughts
This was a really interesting take on the whole idea of sirens and the ocean, the inter-connectivity of people and the strength of love.

Kahlen was an interesting character in the fact that the deaths that her voice caused on the ocean affected her so much, where as the others were more immune. It is kind of a morbid thought. The ocean needing to feed and the way it does that is through drowning victims. The premise, I grant you, is a bit weird, yet it worked.

I liked the story. I liked how Kahlen made things worked. I liked how the siren's were there for each other. I liked how this wasn't just a sappy romance but showed how people really can feel connections and work around perceived obstacles. I liked how it showed the power that love really can be.

This book is nothing like Cass's Selection series. This has a deeper feel to it and a bit of a darker tone. It is still a great book "fluff" book. One you can read without making your brain work too much. But the characters were more real and relatable, it was not silly, it was just a great story to be a part of.

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch Illustrated by Michael Martchenko

from goodreads

5 stars

One month until Christmas! And I am actually feeling pretty good about it. I have a handle on the presents that I am making myself. I feel confident that my kids aren't going to be sad come Christmas morning, and I won't be sad with more junk. I think it will be good. Now we just need to figure out where we are going to put our tree.

This will be our third Christmas in our house and each year we have had to change where we put the tree. Our first Christmas we only had three chairs in our living room. This meant it was pretty sparse and we cold put our tree wherever we wanted. Then the couches came so we had to move the tree from one corner to another. This year we brought in a piano so now that corner is no good. I am thinking of putting it right in the middle of our front window. I think it will look pretty from the inside and the outside as well. Now we just have to figure out when we are going to cut it down. Since we moved and have no carpet we have been going to a tree farm and cutting our own down. It has been so much fun. My husband was skeptical of the whole real tree thing, but I think we have made a convert out of him.

How is your Christmas looking with a month to go?

Synopsis

Princess Elizabeth has it all; a castle, an awesome wardrobe, and a handsome prince named Ronald. But all that changes when a dragon comes and smashes her castle burns her clothes and carries off Prince Ronald. What's a girl to do?

My Thoughts

This book is a classic. I loved it when I was a kid and I love it now. If you are looking for a strong female role model, Princess Elizabeth is it. She strategizes she is brave, and she can make a paper bag work, fashion-wise.

This book totally shows us that we need to make lemonade out of the lemons in our lives. It also shows us that sometimes we need to take stock of our life and be honest with ourselves. For Elizabeth it took the whole dragon thing for her to see Ronald in his true light. We don't have dragons to do that for us, but sometimes we to figure out how we can do that, even when we might not want to know the truth.

This book is great for kids. It isn't that deep and it isn't beating the kids over the head with morals. It is just fun. Here is the link to listen to the author read the story. Some find him annoying, but as a kid, I loved listening to him tell this story. To be honest, I still do.

The illustrations are awesome. I love Martchenko's work. He captures the the emotions of it so well. Love it.

Some of his books are crazy and not as good, but this book is stellar. If you read only one Munsch book this is the one you have to read. You will love it.

No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

from goodreads

3 stars

Well, it is official! Only one more week and then it is SUUUMMMERRR! No more lunches to make! No more making sure I have nut free options available! No more having to convince my daughter that pyjamas are not the best thing to wear to school. No more having to wake up because of said lunches to make! This is going to be awesome.

Now that summer is super approaching I am trying to figure out what my reading list should be. A few months ago I felt like I would be going through books like a kid with a cold goes through kleenex. But now, after the week I have had, I will be lucky if I get through my book club books. My 15 month old has decided that she is going to be the craziest, sneakiest, most dare-devilest baby ever! Seriously, you stop looking at her for a second and she has run 20 ft. and is climbing something or trying to get to the sharp knives or has climbed onto the table and is eating leftovers. Like seriously! What is up with her. She looks so angelic, and when she smiles it seems she can do no wrong. Then Wham!!! she shows you her true colours, and believe me they are not angelic white.

Oh well. That is the fun thing about being a busy mom. Never a dull moment. Now, if only I could find more time to read. What are your summer selections for either yourself or your family?

Synopsis

Mme Ramotswe has decided to open a detective agency using her inheritance from her father. As her clients slowly trickle in she has to use her wits and gut to solve the mystery. The backdrop of Botswana is a supporting character throughout. This is the first of a series of books.

My Thoughts

Well, I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either. It was rather a quaint, cutesy story. To me it was a mystery for people who can't handle too much intensity. I like a gripping, rough around the edges mystery that keeps me guessing until the end. This was not that. I figured out what the answers were very quickly. All the stories in the book seemed to all get wrapped up in a nice cute little package with a bow on it.

While I was reading it I was also feeling unsettled about the fact that the author was a white, male, Scotsman. Now I understand he spent a lot of time in Botswana as a teacher, and that is great. But does he really know the culture inside and out. Is this really what a woman from Botswana would be thinking? I know that I am probably reading into this too much but, it was just weird for me. It made it hard for me to settle into the story and just try to enjoy it.

I found the book to be choppy as well. It is written more as a series of short stories rather than an over arching story. There was  a little continuation sprinkled throughout but not enough to make a really good story arch.

I did like the picturesque backdrop of Botswana. If it wasn't for the snakes I would probably be there. It made me want to watch the movie The Gods Must be Crazy, which can be seen on youTube! I love that movie, it makes me laugh every time, especially with the doctor has to go pick up the new teacher! Classic.

This is not a series that I am going to continue with anytime soon. Now that the characters are a bit developed perhaps the next books might be better, but I am in no rush. I have other books on my never ending to-read list that I would much rather get to.

It's Like This, Cat by Emily Neville

from goodreads

3 stars

I am a firm believer in holding a book in your hands and manually turning the pages and experiencing the full joy of an actual real book. That being said, having an e-reader has its place. Like, if you are going on vacation, or you travel a lot for work. In order to read this book for my book club I read it online. Project Gutenberg is a site that has over 42 000 books that you can download. You can also just read it online. That is super cool. Libraries can only hold so many volumes and copies so this is a great way to read hard to find books. And it's free! Can it get any better? I also found this book here. Google is truly amazing.

Synopsis

It's the 60s and Dave Mitchell is fourteen and living in Manhattan. He is discovering the changes that occurs in relationships with parents, friends and girls. He meets some pretty interesting people all because of his cat named Cat.

My Thoughts

Even though this is a Newberry Award winner, it is not what you would typically expect from a Newberry Award winner. Usually Newberry's make you think and questions things. It rubs people the wrong way and usually has rich language and storytelling. This book is very straight forward and simple. There are no grand descriptions or life changing revelations. Yet, it seems to work. You truly believe that it is a 14 year old boy narrating.

I found it to be a bit disjoined and found some of the characters were flat. It would have been nice to see a bit more of the actual family dynamics and understand Dave's father more. You sort of get hints and whispers, but nothing concrete. Was his dad decent or not. It is hard to tell.

I don't think it is one of those life altering books, like the Giver. Though, a reader can take comfort in the ordinariness of Dave's life. He lead a ordinary life just like most people. We can identify with misunderstanding parents, hard friendships, how to handle the opposite sex.

I think this a book that would be best appreciated if you were a teen in the 60s. You would understand more about life at that time. It was a more simple time in a lot of ways and this book reflects that.

So to me, It's like This, Cat, was a meh book. There really wasn't that much to get excited about, but it wasn't so bland that you couldn't read it.

Susannah's Garden by Debbie Macomber

from goodreads

3 stars

When I think of Debbie Macomber, I think of a warm summers day lazing on the beach, the sun starting to set. Pure and utter relaxation. You don't have to think much, you can just read the story and know that there is going to be a happy ending. Sometimes it is nice just to have a happy ending story.

Synopsis

Susannah is back in her hometown. Her mother has been moved into a nursing home leaving Susannah to pack up the house. Susannah has also been dreaming about her high school boyfriend and wondering what his life is like. As she goes through her parents things she gets more questions than answers. Susannah has to decide if the risks outweigh the benefits of knowing the all the answers.

My Thoughts

I found this book to be well written and very readable. Macomber seems to understand human emotions and how we all feel at one time or another. I found there was enough detail you understood the situation but was not so detailed you felt bogged down. While reading this book it made me want to visit Washington state. I love the landscape there and would love to hike through the forests.

As for the actual characters themselves, well, I did not find Susannah or her daughter Chrissie all that likeable. I felt that they were both immature and frankly, a bit whinny. I felt that Susannah came across to be younger than what she was. I think she was supposed to be in her late forties early fifties. To me she came across as being more in her thirties. The lack of trust Susannah had in her husband, whom she supposedly loved and thought was the best, was a bit disturbing. If the story teaches you anything it is trust your partner, they are probably more understanding than you give them credit for.

As for her daughter Chrissie, she was self-absorbed and ridiculous. She kept on saying that her parents couldn't tell her what to do because she was an adult now. Well if you are such an adult, get a job, stop thinking your parents are going to pay for everything, be a bit grateful and get over yourself!

I did like some of the secondary characters. They were pretty cool, and Susannah's husband. What a stand up guy, considering all the craziness he has to put up with.

So to me this was a fluff book. I have read a few other Macomber books, main characters were a bit more likeable, and they were all lighthearted and just fine. These are basically books that will make you feel good and makes you think about your relationships a little, but are definitely not intellectually stimulating.