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.

Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally

2 stars

Sometimes I feel that the movie makers have access to my to-reads list and decide those are the books that they need to turn into movies. While I enjoy book adapted movies I do not like it when I read the book while the movie is out. I feel like people who see me read the book think I am jumping on the book/movie bandwagon even though the title may have been on my list for a year or so.

Now I know in reality people aren't judging me. I know that the majority of people out there don't care what I am reading. But, it is hard to get the thought out of my brain.

This year there have been a lot of books like this. What I have tried to do is read them before the movie is released so at least I am a bit ahead of the curve. It also means I will not have to read a copy with the movie poster as the cover. Shudder. Seriously is there nothing worse than that? I guess this is my book snobbishness coming out but if one doesn't have some sort of standards one doesn't have anything.

Synopsis

Oskar Schindler helps save Jews from Cracow from extermination.

My Thoughts

I usually like the book better than the movie, but this is one case where the opposite is true. Save yourself the time and trouble and just watch the movie.

This is a book that just didn't know what it wanted to be. Was it a historical fiction, as it was touted to be, was it a biography or memoir, was it a straight history text? I just couldn't figure it out.

There were some sections that read as a beautiful narrative. There were other sections that almost seemed like an outline waiting to be fleshed out. And then there were other sections that were written as a section from a history textbook. The different writing styles mad the story overall really disjointed.

There were a lot of names that made the narrative confusing. This was especially so as some people were mentioned and then not mentioned again until a hundred pages later. There was no closure with lots of the characters. We never knew if some got out or were killed. Why mention them at all? Along with this the timeline jumped around adding to confusion.

The one thing that was good about this book was that it showed what people were up against and showed the complex system in place to control the Jewish population. It showed why many Jews didn't fight back. It showed how unbelievable the treatment of Jews really were.

The story of Oskar Schindler is important to know, but, learn about it through the movie adaptation.

That Lonely Section of Hell: The Bothched Investigation of a Serial Who Almost Got Away by Lori Shenher

from goodreads

4 stars

Well, school is in full swing and that means illness. First my husband, then Miss P and then Mr S. And now it finally got to me. Lucky! What is with school time and illness. All our kids were healthy before school and then they get sick after the first week. Are illness causing germs on summer vacay too and then they think to themselves "schools on, let's get back to work boys". Or maybe their thinking "that mom looks like she is getting her life a little too organized, better bring her down a notch, ha ha ha."

Whatever the reason whenever the kids are sick I just keep my book close at hand for when I need to snuggle with a sick child and then when I get sick I hope I feel good enough to read. Might as well enjoy the downtime.

Synopsis
Lori Shenher was working on the case of missing women in Vancouver. This is her story about the pains of trying to solve the mystery and the tolls it took on her life both personally and professionally. We learn how easy it was for serial killer Robert Pickton to get away with murder.

My Thoughts

To sum this book up in one word I would use heartbreaking. This was such a heartbreaking read. Here you have a police officer trying to do her best by these women who don't have a lot of advocates and getting stonewalled by so many factors.

This is a tale that shows a broken policing system that still operates in a chauvinistic "atta boy" type culture. The disturbing apathy towards the addicts and prostitutes and other street people that was shown was so sad. The assumption that these people weren't worth the effort to look into their disappearances was sad and rather disgusting. We all have problems, some are more apparent than others. But no matter what our problems are we should be treated with dignity and respect. We should be helped not shoved aside.

The lack of co-operation between police forces was also disturbing. Who cares who gets credit. Why can't people just work together. It also is frustrating how a lot of this investigation came down to no money available, and because of that a murderer was going free.

It was rather ridiculous how long it took to get onto Robert Pickton's farm, especially after he had stabbed a woman and she got away. What did he have on government officials or cops that made them not want to go forward into looking into him. This book really shows how some people are more interested in keeping the status quo of their own life than to do the right thing even if it might affect them.

I really liked how she showed how this affected her. She was stressed and traumatised She showed how hard cases, like this, can lead to burn out and paranoia. It shows the need of mental support for these police officers. Mental illness is not a sign of weakness. Sometimes we don't see the personal sacrifices police officers go through because of their jobs. This gives us an appreciation for some of the hard things they do. To a lot of cops it is not just a job. It is personal.

As with any memoir or autobiography you need to take it with a grain of salt. This is one person's thoughts on what happened. But, even if there are some biases, this book is excellent at showing flaws in the legal system and allows us to question what ineptness we think is acceptable.

Open Heart, Open Mind by Clara Hughes

from goodreads

4 stars

Well yesterday there was a minor Christmas miracle. I actually started feeling a tiny bit Christmassy and got out some of our decorations. So we finally have a nativity scene out (it is a Veggie Tales one, I feel sort of sacrilegious) and our stockings.

The kids kept wanting to put more and more out but I squashed those ambitions. Usually we have decorations in our bay window. But our tree is in front of the window and is so big that you really can't get to the shelf part or see it. We'll save those for next year, when hopefully, we will get a smaller tree!

Synopsis

One of Canada's best known athletes, most decorated olympian in both summer and winter olympics, opens up about the demons of her past, the demons she still faces, how sport helped her but also hindered her as well.

My Thoughts

This was a great, fast read about a Canadian celebrity.

It is amazing, the success she has found, considering she didn't find sport until late, by most standards. As well, it is amazing the early success she had considering the booze and drugged filled life she had as a teenager.

I think she did a great job of balancing her life stories and her sport stories. The balance helped maintain interest. For me nothing is worse than a book purely about just sports things, the games they played and training they did. While an important element, I like learning about the actual person, how they think, and feel. I felt that I actually got to know Clara the person, instead of learning about all her stats and awards.

I like how she doesn't always try to show herself in a positive light. She shows us times when she didn't act well, when things didn't go the way she planned. It was interesting how she had her on stigma against mental illness (she refused to believe she had depression when first asked about it) and now she is the spokeswoman for mental illness awareness and is working hard to remove the stigma.

I appreciated how she showed her relationship with her husband in a real light. She shows their highs and their lows. They seem really cool and suit each other and that is awesome. By the way, their wedding, totally awesome. It should be an inspiration to all those getting married.

While not a deep memoir, it still shed light on her life, dark times, good times, self-discovery and how sport literally saved her life. This memoir definitely helped make Clara a whole person and not just a memorable smile.

Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

from goodreads

4 stars

I got distracted and forgot to post yesterday! Gak. My husband's company Christmas party is tomorrow and I had to find an outfit. We usually don't go to the Christmas party, but Matt reached a milestone year with the company so its our time to go. I am definitely more a relaxed, comfortable clothes wearing type. Having to find something that was a bit more formal was a bit daunting.

I think I picked an outfit that stayed true to me though so that's good. Thank you Reitman's! What would I do with out you.

Synopsis

The next installment of Mindy Kaling's musings on her life in Hollywood and Show Business.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. Sometimes you need a little light hearted fluff to get you through more serious literary pursuits. This was the perfect blend of dishing about Hollywood, self-deprecating humour and sage advice.

She has a great writing style. While reading it I felt like I was getting letters from a great friend, or at least a long distance pen pal you just can't give up.

I like how she keeps it real. We see the long hours and sacrifice it takes to be successful. It is not all frilly dresses and parties. I think sometimes we might want fame, or at least the money that can go along with it. But what we don't usually see in the tabloids or entertainment shows are the hard work, sacrifices, and ungodly waking hours that are involved. Seriously 6 a.m. does not exist in my world let alone 5. How do they do it?

I also liked her essay to the girl who asked her where she got her confidence. Sometimes the best answers are ones that take a while to figure out and can't be said right on the spot. I hope that girl is able to read her answer.

There were some essays that I have to admit I glossed over. The alter-ego email essay... it just wasn't for me. Kudos to you who did read it.

Overall this was a light, fun, informative and just nice read.

They Left Us Everything by Plum Johnson

from goodreads

4 stars

While I am fairly youngish, 32, my parents are rather elderly. I was born late in their life as the youngest of six children. While my parents probably have quite a while to live, as some of my grandparents lived to be quite old, their mortality is still present in my mind.

While they are still doing well for their age they are definitely starting to slow down, be more cautious and need more help. Their memory is slowly going and they just aren't as with it as they once were, which I am not as patient about as I should be.

When they finally move from their house, or when they pass on, I am not looking forward to going through their stuff. My mom, more than my dad, is a collector of things. They aren't even particularly nice things or collectible things. It is just stuff. Walking into her house is sort of like walking into a community yard sale. And you know what, if that makes her happy I'm all for it. Unfortunately going through the stuff will be quite another thing. While most things will be donated or discarded we will still need to sift through everything as it is all sort of jumbled together. Really, who knows what kind of treasures we will find.

At least I have the comfort in knowing that when that time comes I won't be tackling it myself. I have other siblings who are as capable of moving stuff around as I am. It can be a team effort and not a solo expedition.

Synopsis

Plum Johnson has been looking after her parents for years. When her mother passes away she is filled with a sense of relief and yet has guilt as well. She decides to tackle clearing out her parents house and while doing so confronts her own conflicted feelings.

My Thoughts

This is a book that everyone caught in the sandwich generation should read. It is a mix of family history meets antiques meets therapy. She is fairly candid about her feelings, about her struggles with her parents, especially her mother, and her desires for her children. She shows the process of going through what parents leave behind and dealing with the estate.

I like how she touches on the subject of not really knowing someone, in this case a parent, until they are gone. As she read her mothers diaries she discovered her mothers fears, hopes and ambitions. I think it is this late discovery of how her mother truly felt about her that made the author long for more time with her parents, even though when her mother was still living it was hard too. The only people we really know are ourselves. When we see the outward shell of those around us it is hard to know if it is an act or them. We don't know what they are thinking or what makes them tick. Her mothers diaries and letters helped this author know more about her parents and in turn her own life.

It was also interesting to see how the actual things were dealt with. Somethings were heirlooms, or antiques or something not intrinsically valuable, yet it seems those less valuable items were what held the most sentimentality.

There were times when the story line of her time emptying her parents house got a bit lost and a bit overshadowed. She would often start talking about the life her parents lived, which, while interesting, isn't why I wanted to read the book. I was more interested in what Plum was going through than the history of her parents.

Over all it was an enjoyable read, one that I can definitely identify with.

I'm Proud of You: My Friendship with Fred Rogers by Tim Madigan

from goodreads

3.5 stars

I have been really blessed in this life. I have parents who supported anything I wanted to do. They weren't in my face and all up in my life, but if I wanted to do something, like spend a month in Quebec doing a program, they would drive me out there and let me do that. Even though it might not have been said often I knew my parents loved me and I knew that I had support and a soft place to land if I needed it. While I didn't do anything too world altering I knew that my possibilities really were endless.

Not everyone is that lucky. It wasn't until reading this book that I fully understood the roles of shows like Mr. Rogers or Mr. Dressup. These were where children could go and have a friend who thought they were pretty special for 20 minutes in their life. They really were like surrogate parents for children whose home life and school life might not have been the best. I'm not sure if there is anything like it on t.v. now and t.v. is the poorer for it if there isn't. We need more kids feeling they are great and can do anything and shows like Mr. Rogers helped accomplish that.

Synopsis

Tim Madigan, a journalist from Texas, has a chance interview with Fred Rogers, known better as Mr. Rogers, and that interview changed both of their lives. Tim gained a friend he could lean on and share things with when he felt he had no where else to go. Fred also gained that type of friendship. This is a book where you learn there are truly love filled people in this world with no cynicism attached.

My Thoughts

Growing up in Canada, and having only three channels, I did not grow up watching PBS or Mr. Rogers. I knew of him from spoofs and I finally watched a show when I was like 17 and it was kind of crazy. But there was something about this book that intrigued me, so I read it. After reading it, oh how I wish I could have watched his shows. Knowing what I know now, I think I will have to watch them on youtube or something. He seems really great.

What comes across in this memoir more than anything is Fred's unconditional love. He did not judge he just loved. He was so genuine. He was a rare commodity in this world where people are afraid of real emotions. They are almost afraid to love and truly open themselves up.

It helped me think about friendships I have. Am I as loving and genuine with my friendships?

In the beginning of this book I kept thinking, man all this guy does is take and take. how can Fred truly value this friendship? But then later you saw a more give and take relationship emerge and that was great.

I am glad that the author touched on what he called the furies and how now he is so happy with his life, a life he almost destroyed. It shows how important it is to surround yourself with great people and hope when you go through times like that.

While the authors trials, heartaches, and breakthroughs are worth reading, they are not what held my interest. I liked learning about how Fred was kind, compassionate and loving, and learning how I can incorporate that better in my life.

Don't read this is you are looking for a biography on Fred Rogers. This is not it. Instead read it if you would like one more role model in your life, one more person who would be proud of you.

The Autistic Brain: Thinking Across the Spectrum by Temple Grandin and Richard Panek

from goodreads

4 stars

I think in today's society autism has touched everyone. Whether you personally know someone or your favourite celebrity is talking about it.

The first book I read about someone who was on the spectrum was Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet. It was a mind opening experience for me. You get a first person glance into how his brain works and processes things. While I am definitely not an expert on savants or autism now, it helped me have a greater understanding, respect and empathy for those on the spectrum who are trying to make sense of our crazy world.

While I don't have daily interactions with people on the spectrum I know a few people who do. I can't even begin to understand their love, frustration, and other range of emotions that they go through everyday. I am grateful for books like this and others that help shed more light and knowledge on the autism spectrum. Hopefully with more knowledge out there a greater understanding, patience and kindness will occur.

Synopsis

Temple Grandin, a high functioning autistic adult, looks at the brain make up of people with autism and examines how advances in brain research shed new light onto the complexities of autism.

My Thoughts

This was a really fascinating read. While at times it could get quite technical with some of the science, it was interesting to see some of the comparisons between the autistic brain and the "standard" brain.

Austism is very complex. Often it manifests itself different ways. Quite often no two brain scans of people with autism look alike making it hard to have a blanket treatment. The possibilites of advancing brain scans have in enabling a more personalized treatment is very exciting.

It was interesting how she explores and shows that autism is not a manifestation of something "deficient" or "wrong" in the mind but how it really has to do with how the brain is working. It really is about the brain. She is so optimistic and excited about learning more about the brain and then finding out what strengths come from this difference in wiring of the brain.

I love how she doesn't focus on the label, but more on what the person enjoys and is capable of. We are all capable of something great no matter our "labels". I think we are a little to eager to label people and use that label as a crux of why we or they can't do something, or why we can't live and explore. Yes, labels are helpful if we are using them to figure out different techniques to help an individual navigate the world to be successful. They are not helpful it they are used to segregate or allow people not to experience the world.

This really is a must read.

A Thousand Farewells by Nahlah Ayed

from goodreads

3 stars

The Middle East has always fascinated me. I am in no way a dedicated student of its history but, whenever there is a tidbit of information about the Middle East my ears prick up and I want to learn more.

It is definitely a region that my heart goes out to. There are beautiful histories and beautiful people there, yet horredeous things happen that makes me shake my head and go why? European colonial powers didn't really help the situation at all, instead it has made it into a bit of a powder keg.

How things play out will be interesting and hopefully the innocent and beautiful cultures will be safe and be able to thrive again.

Synopsis

Journalist and CBC reporter Nahlah Ayed talks about her life as a Palestinian-Canadian, her time in a Jordanian refugee camp, and her time back in the Middle East covering events post 9-11.

My Thoughts

This is a book that is really hard to review. Some parts were flowing and engaging and compelling to read. Other parts were confusing and full of people's names that I had to try and place and seemed more like a boring history text. But, I am glad that I read it, I didn't feel like I wasted my time, so it is definitely a solid 3 stars.

The beginning sections when she was talking about her family and her time in Winnipeg and in Jordan were great. They were interesting and allowed you to glimpse who Nahlah the person was. It was very nice to see.

The rest of the sections that dealt with her on the job as a journalist. It was written in a more journalistic style, and you lost a bit of Nahlah the person in the writing and instead it was Nahlah the journalist. The writing became a lot more concise and in a way clipped.

It was interesting to learn how foreign journalists have to navigate the region, with drivers and fixers and finding people who are willing to put it all on the line to help them capture a story for a 3 minute newsbit back home. I definitely have a new found respect for those journalists. They are amazing.

I liked the background that she gave to the region. It helped me learn a bit more about the region and why certain groups don't like others. Man, some grudges last centuries and that is pretty crazy. I almost want to say "enough already let's all play nice and just chillax".

So if you want to learn more about life in the Middle East, refugees and their struggles and all that this is definitely a worthwhile read. If you are looking more for an engaging memoir, this isn't your best bet, but you still might like it.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo

from goodreads

4.5 stars

My house is full of junk. I will admit it. I am slowly (more slowly than I would like) starting to pare down and get rid of things. Unfortunately since I live with my husband and daughters I have to take their wishes into account too. But, I am slowly winning them over to my side, the lets get rid of it side, and that feels pretty good.

I'm not sure why I, or my husband feel the need to hang onto some of the things we do. These things are just inanimate objects. So why is it so hard. Whenever I feel that way I think of the ikea lamp commercial. It helps me get my head on straight.

Synopsis

Marie Kondo goes through her method of decluttering and she claims that if you do it her way, you will not have a relapse. Instead of focusing on a room she focuses on categories.


My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. I really liked her insights and suggestions. It was interesting how she came to develop this system. It was through trial and error and through her own insights and frustrations that she discovered her own method of organizing her things.

I love her use of categories. I have started doing that too and have found a difference. If you clean by location then you end up moving things from room to room without really dealing with things and then you get exhausted. With the categories you can really focus on one thing, or you find duplicates that can be eliminated. It is fantastic.

She gives you step by step instructions on how to break down each category and she even tells you how to fold your clothes, which I actually found rather interesting.

I did find the book repetitive. We get it, you loved organizing and tidying ever since you were a child and read all the magazines about it. Got it. But despite that it is still a good read with some really interesting lessons.

My biggest take away from this book was "It's served its purpose". Sometimes I get caught in the justifying dilemma where you have a shirt, you don't really wear it but it still has plenty of wear in it. Well using the KonMari method you just figure out if it has served it's purpose. It brought you joy when you bought it and the few times you wore it. That was its purpose for you and it has filled that purpose so it is okay to pass it on. That has helped me so much. If in doubt I can just ask myself "has it served its purpose?" and nine times out of ten it has.

After reading this book I have gotten rid of 3 garbage bags of clothes to goodwill and have a closet full of things for a yard sale in June. I can't wait to see how much more stuff I can get rid of.

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes and Joe Layden

from goodreads

4 stars

I love The Princess Bride. I first saw the movie when I was 6 or 7. I have seen it many times since. For the longest time I would hide my face when the part of the old woman who booed Buttercup would come on because let's face it, that lady was scary! Now, my kids love watching it. They will even choose it over Frozen (and for any of you who have young daughters you will know what a feat that is).


I'm not sure what it is about The Princess Bride that makes it so memorable and lovable. It has an almost magical quality about it that makes you fall in love with it all over again every time you watch it. There is something for everyone in that movie. Whether you love beautiful princesses, pirates, giants, feats of athleticism, revenge or quirky secondary characters, this movie has it all. So I invite you, if you haven't seen this movie or if you haven't watched it in a while, to watch it. It is the best. Also, if you haven't read the book by William Goldman you should. I found it helped me understand the characters that much better and thus helped me appreciate the movie on a whole new level.

Synopsis

Cary Elwes, who played Westley in The Princess Bride reminisces about his time on set. Interspersed throughout the book are memories from the rest of the cast as well as some of the crew.

My Thoughts

I probably rated this book higher than what others might have. It isn't the best memoir I have ever read. The writing isn't out of this world. I just love Cary Elwes and I love The Princess Bride so I had to give it a high rating.


I love learning about behind the scenes things of movies. I am probably the only person who actually watches those features on every single dvd. I love watching interviews where you get little tidbits. I'm not sure when all this information will come in handy, but you never know. Thus, this book was right up my ally. Not only did you get Elwes' view on things, but you also got Rob Reiner's (the director), Billy Crystal's, Mandy Patinkin's, William Goldman's (screenwriter, also author of the book), Robin Wright's and more.

It was awesome to see how much training and work went into everything. I loved the stories about Andre the Giant. What a gentle soul he seemed. I loved learning about Elwes' injury, not because I am happy he was injured, but more I wondered why he sat so weirdly during one of the scenes, and now I know why.

Some of the stories told weren't new, as I have watched documentaries etc., but it was neat getting a new perspective on them.

The book is somewhat repetative. I'm not sure how many times we had to be told how nice Rob Reiner was or how much everyone just got along... but it was a lot. I'm glad they had such a nice time shooting and things were always so great, but seriously... we get it. Also, Elwes would always mention how happy he was to work with someone because he loved their work. Well I am not a movie buff so for a lot of people I didn't know of their work. I am interested to learn more, but reading it I was like they were in something other than Princess Bride?! Who knew. So, ya. The name dropping and comments on their work felt weird, because I wasn't sure if he was being serious or making it up.

Other than that, any fan of the movie is going to love this book. Seriously, read this book. You will be laughing and thrilled at the same time. You also might never watch the movie in quite the same way again (but you will still love it.)

Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan

from goodreads

3.75 stars

My husband and I are in the middle of deciding whether to grow our family or stay content with the number of children we have. When some hear that we are contemplating a fourth they have this look of horror goes on their face and they say, "are you nuts?!"

It is kind crazy when you think about it, more diapers, more years of devotion, more people to feed and educate, one more voice of complaint! The flip side is that you can to love more, nurture more and have one more person to learn from.

There are lots of things to consider with children, parenthood is one crazy ride. But in the end, you go with your gut, hang on and hope for the best.

Synopsis

Stand-up comedian, Jim Gaffigan, tells his tales of parenting 5 children in a two bedroom apartment in New York City. He will have you laughing and commiserating as he talks about his parenting adventures.

My Thoughts

I really liked this book. I think I would have liked it more if I hadn't seen some of his comedy routines, as much of the book is from his routine. So, when I was reading, it wasn't anything new or exciting.

I like how he keeps it real. I like how even if it seems he is complaining, he lets you know how much he loves his kids while acknowledging that sometimes we just need to vent.

I loved the section where he talked about his wife's birthing experience and giving birth at home. We had home births for our first two children and loved it. But, some people still think we were a bit nuts. I loved some of the things he says about what others say. Classic.

I found that it did get a bit repetitive. It's like, five kids in a two bedroom apartment, we get it already. It seemed to be said all the time. The book also needed to be proofread. While it was well written, there were at least two sentence errors where the words were out of order or a word was missing so it took awhile to figure out the meaning. This was probably not the authors fault at all, but the publisher. While I know the people who work in the book industry are busy and they are publishing lots of books all the time, it would still be considerate to the reader if more care was taken to resolve some of these problems. It seems a shame when they send out so many books with these problems, especially when readers are spending quite a bit of money to purchase the book. Lately I have been noticing a lot of typos or dropped words, so it is not just this book. (End mini-rant.)

This is definitely a book that will be appreciated more by parents. It is light hearted and funny. It definitely gives you something to think about.

You Wouldn't Want to Live in a Medieval Castle!: a home you'd rather not inhabit by Jacqueline Morley Illustrated by David Antram

from goodreads

4 stars

I know I seem to go on and on about the weather, but dang! It's cold. It's not so much the actual temperature. It is the wind chill that get's you. Just like in the summer. It is not so much the temperature, but the humidity. Oh well. Southern Ontario will probably be my home forever so I better stop the griping and just get on with it.

I think that is what we do. We always think the grass is greener somewhere else. If I only lived there, life could be perfect. But then, when you take a closer look at it, things might not be better at all. Example, Hawaii. It looks beautiful, the beaches look great, but, there are giant cockroaches. Eww. Sweden sounds cool, but I don't speak swedish. No place is perfect, so you make due with what you have.

It is the same with time periods. Some people would love to live in some era in the past. Meanwhile I am quite happy to be living here. Women have more rights, their are no rigid social conventions, we have antibiotics and know about the importance of sterilization and sanitation. It is quite nice. To quote Dorothy, there's no place like home.

Synopsis

Ever want to live in medieval times surrounded by knights and in castles. Well you might want to rethink that. This book takes a look at the Rochester Castle, just before and during a siege. It gives great detail to what life was like back then for the ordinary person. I'm glad I don't live there.

My Thoughts

This is one of a series of books that look at different places to live and different historical times. It seems like a great series.

This is a well researched and I would say fairly accurate representation of what life was like back then. Though the pages are full of details and information it does not feel overwhelming. The layout of the page allows you to read as little or as much as you want about castle life.

I liked how the author wrote from the perspective of a young girl. You are better able to grasp what everyday life was like. It was also cool how she based all the information around a real life event. It gave the book just that much more historical context.

This would be a great book/series to look at if your older child has to do a research project. This book would give them enough information to be a launching pad to other books and facts to look up. It is great for background information. This book would be great for ages 8 and up.

On Immunity: An Inoculation by Eula Biss

from goodreads

4 stars

There are few topics that can be so divisive and argumentative than vaccination. When I told one of the moms on the playground about the book I just finished she said, "it seems now a days, religion and politics are safer topics than vaccination". That statement is so true.

A few years ago at a play group we got on the subject of vaccinations. A mom there was just wondering what our views were of them and if there were any that we wouldn't have done. This is around the time of year where we in Canada start thinking about getting the flu shot.

At first no one said much, just general statements. It wasn't until a brave mom said that she vaccinates her kids, that we all said that yes, we vaccinate too. (Though we rarely do the flu shot, no good reason, we just don't. Perhaps it is laziness.) I think we just didn't want to offend or step on someone's ideas of what was right with them. And quite frankly, I just didn't want to open a whole can of worms. I am not an expert immunologist, I have done a bit of research but not much, I just didn't feel like arguing about a topic that is full of myths, half-truths, and sometimes deception. So lucky for us we were able to have a pleasant conversation and there were no sippy cups being thrown.

It is interesting how our thoughts go crazy as soon as we think about vaccination. How black and white we all seem to make a very gray subject.

Synopsis

Eula Biss takes a look at the history of vaccinations and looks at the societal metaphors that surrounds our thoughts on them.

My Thoughts

I am really glad that I read this book. When I first put a hold on it I didn't look at the book length and thought I was going to be getting a 500 page thesis. I was happily surprised when it was only 163 pages of text before the notes. Nice!

This book was a really interesting look at our decision process surrounding vaccination. What makes us want to, what makes us not want to. And while she never comes out and says whether you should or not, she helps navigate the world of vaccinations and gives some suggestions to consider and gives some creditable sources to look at when making your decision.

I found the historical aspects of the book really fascinating. Being leery or questionable about vaccines is not a new thing. Throughout the 19th century many people were as leery about them as many people are now. (For good reason as in the 19th century they still didn't believe in small germs.) Stigmas seems to surround all vaccines and those stigmas whether untrue or not were and are hard to shake.

The whole Dracula aspect was an interesting slant. It tied things together and made things interesting.

I loved the quotes from the author's dad. He seems like a sensible man and I would love to have a book with his ideas and thoughts. He seems so wise.

I felt she did a good job at being fairly unbiased, though, other's may not think so. She does vaccinate, so, those who don't vaccinate might think she has too much of a pro-vaccinate slant. To me it seemed like she presented some facts and in the end leaves you to decide what to do with it.

I found this to be a very pleasant read on such a polarizing topic. It might be short but it is worthwhile to look into. Perhaps the length is its greatest strength.

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

from goodreads

4 stars

I would consider myself to be an introvert. I like being able to have quiet so I can focus on the task at hand. At the end of the day I am glad when the kids are in bed so I know I have my physical space to myself. I can be by myself and be quite content in my own company. Small talk sucks, and I like to observe and analyze before jumping into things. I can be shy on occasion but also outgoing when the occasion calls for it. But, I do value my quiet time.

It can be hard sometimes navigating in a world that likes people who are always bright, bubbly, and almost exhibitionist. I like keeping private things private and don't often need the whole world to see every single detail of my life.

What I think we all are trying to do or at least should be doing, whether we are an introvert or an extrovert is to be striking some sort of balance. We need to find ways to bring the strengths of being an introvert and being an extrovert together in some way. Both personality types have beautiful qualities and it is finding those qualities and using them to reach our full potential that is so important. I think that might take some time, but, it would be worth the effort.

Synopsis

Susan Cain take an in-depth look into the world of the introvert. She looks at how workplace configurations, the extrovert ideal and selling ourselves can affect the introvert. She also quietly suggests that the world may need re-evaluate the way they view those people of a more quiet nature.

My Thoughts

What an interesting read. While she goes a bit more in-depth then what I would about what is an introvert, and people being more sensitive etc. this was really enlightening. The amount of research she did was shown in the details.

What I found interesting was the perception of trust and expertise in the workplace. If you are not loud and overbearing it seems that people aren't going to take your word for it. While it is necessary to present your findings, I find it quite crazy that just because you aren't loud and brazen your thoughts would not be as valued, even though they may be more correct.

I liked how she compared western culture and eastern culture. The different values each culture places on personality. It was quite interesting. I also thought the analysis of open plan work places was interesting. I had never thought about open plan work places and how it might not work for all people before. The more I read, the more I realized I wouldn't like the open plan concept as much, it is nice to have a private place to just knuckle down and get to work.

I love how she doesn't say introversion is the best and extroversion is bad. She shows that both are necessary and that each personality type can learn from each other. I think this book is just the beginning of a very interesting conversation about what we value in our life. I also think this should be a must read for all business school instructors. Perhaps wall street blunders could have been avoided if the introverts (who were trying to warn their bosses) were paid the respect and attention that they warranted (though perhaps that is a bit simplistic).

While some parts of the book were a bit dry and hard to get through, on the whole this book was engaging and very thought provoking. It was a fairly easy read without being overly simplistic. It is a definite must read for introverts and extroverts alike.

The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America by Thomas King

from goodreads

4 stars

It's snowing!!! My middle daughter looked out the window this morning and saw the snow falling down and exclaimed, "It's the first day of winter!" I then proceeded to explain, as I have done on previous occasions, that although the weather outside might depict a certain season, it doesn't mean it is that season. There is often overlap between the weather and the seasons, usually with snow starting in fall and continuing on into spring.

That still did not deter her excitement. She is ready for the snow. I just wished it has stayed warm for two more days, as tonight we have a school function where there are going to be food trucks. It would have been nicer to stand in line without doing the shiver dance. Oh well. I don't have to cook dinner tonight so bring it on.

Synopsis

Thomas King depicts "White" and "Indian" relations in North America. He mainly focuses on Native People's lives from the time the white man settled to now, he does go into pre-colonial histories. He looks at the good and bad in these relationships and gives his hopes for the future.

My Thoughts

This was the winner of the Waterloo Reads competition held in October.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It made me laugh, it made me feel sad, it made me feel like he was just getting started and that there is so much more that could be said. I loved his writing style. He made it easy to read and it did not read like a history text, which it definitely is not. These are his own views mixed with historical research. It is written with a bias, but it is his, it is his story so if course there will be a personal bias and slant to it. This bias does not change the fact that I think this is a must read for everyone, especially those living in Canada and the United States.

There were times where I felt he went on a bit too much. In the second half it seemed like it was one bad thing after another. Surely there must have been something good, but then again, maybe not. I like how he doesn't really put blame on "white" culture as a whole. There are things that are done in the past, in every country around the world, that does not shed the best light on those people, but it does not a bad people or person make.

While this book doesn't give answers to everything it is a great book to get the conversation started on aboriginal people and the dual worlds they live in. Because of this book I am beginning to understand the treaties a bit more, understand their view of land and property/land claims a bit more, and their view of their own sovereignty a bit more.

A few complaints that I have heard from other sources is that he concentrates sole on the massacres that whites inflicted on the Native population. They feel that he should have talked about how the Iroquois decimated the Hurons and other massacres that Natives did on their own people before settlers arrived. I think a mention of these might have been good too, but the whole point of the book was really to look at the relationship between the white government and the Native people and the problems that are arising because of it and need to be resolved in the future. Those past native on native massacres, while fleshing out the narrative, don't explain how the relationships between Natives and whites will be changed and helped for the better.

I highly recommend this book. As with everything read it with a grain of salt. And whether you like or agree with his musings or not, it is a great book to promote discussion and thought.

Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton

from goodreads

4 stars

I am so glad that I do not live in the public eye, constantly under scrutiny and judged over the most trivial thing, like what length your hair is, or what colour of dress you wear. I think that their is enough judgement that comes from your own self that anyone else's efforts are needless repetitions. 

Comparing ourselves to others is the universal way of measuring our success in life, to see how we are doing and if we need to make adjustments. Comparison, in itself is not bad, when we use it to buoy ourselves up, push ourselves to go farther and to become our best selves. But when we use it to put ourselves and others down, it is not a good thing. We need to help each other reach our greatest potential. We do not need to be pulling others down to make ourselves feel good. It is a lesson I am trying to instill in my girls. Hopefully it is working. They are kind to others which is good, but they do still keep on asking for an ipod so they can be like their friends. Hmm... I think we still have a ways to go.

Synopsis

This book was written shortly after the Clinton's left the White House. It begins with her early childhood in the suburbs of Chicago and covers her courtship with Bill, their time in Arkansas, the presidential run and the eight years in office. It ends with her senatorial campaign. It gives a behind the scenes look at government and family life. You also get to understand Hillary and her passions and interests.

My Thoughts

To start with, I love the title. It is simple, yet clever, and perfectly describes their life in the White House. 

I read this for my book club. Going into it I didn't know much about Hillary at all, other than she was a former first lady, senator and Secretary of State. I didn't know much about her personally. Whenever I thought of her I guess I saw her as a strong feminist who thought that if women weren't in the workforce and were at home instead they would be a failure to the female part of the species. 

After reading this I realize that is not true, yes she is a feminist, but not in the crazy must be like a man in every way type of feminism, but in a way that shows we are capable and that we can make choices about our lives and not have it dictated. That women are of important value in societies no matter what role they decide to play. She seems a lot more mellow and grounded, then what I might have previously thought.

I loved how she talked about her struggle to figure out what her role was going to be as first lady. I loved hearing about the international meetings she had in promoting women's and human's rights. I was surprised to learn about her strong faith. I didn't realize how important it was to her and it was interesting to learn about that. I also thought it was interesting that she was a republican until the end of university.

I found her writing to be easy to read and approachable. Being Canadian it was interesting to see how the political system in the States work, how big money can skew what is really best for people (insurance companies and health care) and how much scandal there seems to be about everything. In Canada it might not be much better, but it doesn't seem to be as negative but maybe that's just me.

One part of the book I did not find interesting, so I always glossed over it, was when she was writing about the white water scandal. I don't even know all the ins and out about it but it seems pretty stupid and a waste of money and in turn a waste of paper in the book. I guess she felt the need to tell her side of the story about it, but, it was boring and may have made others not want to read the other interesting and enlightening details in the book.

Whatever your political views, this is a great book to read. It sheds light on important issues such as healthcare, women's rights, and a welfare system that encourages entry into the workforce. It gives food for thought, as some really neat pictures, and lets you peek inside an interesting time when the Clinton's were living history.

The Massey Murder: A Maid, Her Master and the Trial that Shocked a Country by Charlotte Gray

from goodreads

4 stars

Every year a committee chooses a book for my region to be the "one book, one community" read. It has been going on for the past 12 years. I just started participating in reading the selection four years ago.

There are some books on the list that I definitely want to read at some point. My to-read list never seems to get any shorter! Of the books on the list I have read, some have been great. Others, very-painful-to-read-I-can't-believe-they-chose-this! It must be hard for the committee to decide which book to choose. They have lots of selection, they need to make sure it is something that will appeal to the masses and not just the literary elite, yet make it test our limits. They need to make sure it will be a good conversation starter and something that will cause more and more people to participate. Man, that is daunting.

To find out more about the Waterloo Region's One Book One Community click here.

Synopsis

The Massey Murder gives us a look into the society of Toronto in 1915. Canada is in the middle of a war, society is changing and a member of one of the most prominent and influential families in Toronto, and of Canada, is shot down at his house by his maid, and 18 year old girl from Britain.

My Thoughts

This was a really interesting read. I liked that all the information was well researched and historically accurate, yet it read like a novel. It wasn't just dates and names. It was a true narrative. This made this non-fiction, history book an easy and entertaining read.

Gray did not focus solely on the murder trial. She looked at it through the greater context of what was happening with Canadians in Europe on the front lines of WWI. She looked at what was happening in Toronto, with women having more employment choices than just being in service. She also looked at the changes that were going on in the perception of rape, and who was at fault. While I thought this greater context was interesting, those who do not find history as interesting might not. I like seeing how things fit together in the broader context. If you just want to know about a murder and trial you need to skip through some pages.

I liked reading about the evolution of Toronto itself. It was fun to read about streets I have walked on and buildings I have walked by. You sometimes forget that the Toronto that exists today was not the Toronto back then.

Sometimes Canadian history, and society for that matter, has the reputation of being dull or boring. Unsensational. This book proves that Canadians and their history can be just as sensational as the rest of the world. I definitely want to read more of this author's books and learn more about post-confederation history.

Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat? by Peter Walsh

from goodreads

3 stars

This year I have two personal goals. The first is to get my body back into any kind of shape that does not resemble a blob. Hopefully by doing this I will have more of an inclination to run around the yard being a pirate looking for buried treasure. (Right now I am the cook on the pirate ship so I just have to sit and stir a pot.)

The second is to get rid of my junk once and for all. My husband and I have been married for nine years, well as of the end of May, and we never have really had a thorough declutter. What with the university text books and notes, the baby stuff, the stuff that our parents have thrust upon us from their house and just random things that seem to have found their way in to the house, our house is bursting at the seams and I am bursting at my sanity. Dealing with the junk is cutting into my reading time, which, is so not cool.

Do you have any goals that you are striving towards this year? How are they going? Do you have any tips for staying the course?

Synopsis

Decluttering guru Peter Walsh puts his decluttering tips to weight loss. It is all about picturing the life you want to live and then making the changes to get you there.

My Thoughts

Well to start off with I must get this off my chest. I love Peter Walsh. When I used to watch the show Clean Sweep he was my favourite professional. The other lady was kind of mean and focused on just the volume of the stuff, thinking it should be easy just to get rid of the junk. Peter realized that it was more than just the stuff. He got behind the emotions of the people and in a kind loving way helped them realized how much better there life would be if the stuff was gone. Peter, if you are reading, you rock!

So, considering my two goals for the year this seemed like a no brainer. I had to read it. It was interesting how ways to declutter your junk and ways to declutter your fat are so similar. For Peter it is all about deciding what type of life you want to live and then make your decisions in keeping with that dream. For example, if you want to have a healthy body, each time you put something to your mouth you are to ask yourself, "is this going to help me towards the healthy body I want or not?" If it doesn't you don't eat it. He gives you tips about organizing your kitchen so you are ready to make meals at home and how to organize your time so that you feel like you have the time to be cooking real food at home. There were some good tips in there.

If you are looking for a book that tells gives you a meticulous diet, this is not it. But it does give you some food for thought about our habits and how we need to declutter our time and priorities so that  so that we can make better food choices.

If you are looking for a book that gives you detailed decluttering advice, this is not for you. But, he has written another book called It's All too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff, which is really good and gives you a step by step for each type of room in your house and is very motivating. I read it a few years ago and I have started to slowly put his tips into practice (that's the thing with decluttering, unless you have everyone in your house on board and helping, you can only do so much).

So, it was a good read, there were some interesting tips but it's not the most useful book I have ever read. Definitely borrow this one from the library. You don't want to be adding more to your junk!

Still Foolin' Em: Where I've Been, Where I'm Going and Where the Hell Are My Keys? by Billy Crystal

from goodreads

4.5 stars

I like funny things, I like to laugh an not feels so serious about everything.During movies I laugh, out loud, for everyone to hear. If my kids do something funny I laugh, out loud, so they know what they did was funny. When reading something funny I rarely laugh out loud. I will think something is funny and laugh, but usually the most sound I make is a kinda "hmm" type sound. I don't know if that is because reading is a more internal stimuli type of thing and thus any emotional output remains inside. Perhaps I am just a strange duck, which could very well be. When reading something funny do you laugh out loud?

Synopsis

Billy Crystal tells of memories throughout his life and gives us tips of what he has learned along they way. You will laugh, you will cry, you will be in awe of this funny man.


My Thoughts

I loved this book. In fact... I even laughed out loud while reading it. Now I wasn't going completely nuts but a small chortle did escape my lips. Enough that my husband looked up from his baseball game to ask me about it. I'm not sure which is the greater miracle. When I tried to read a passage aloud I had to stop because tears were streaming down my face I was finding it so funny.

I love Billy Crystal. Ever since seeing him play Miracle Max in The Princess Bride when I was seven, I was hooked. He has a distinctive kind of cadence and voice. While reading this book it felt as if Billy Crystal was narrating it to me. I think that was what made it even funnier, knowing exactly how he would be phrasing the ridiculous scenarios he was telling us. In fact, I am tempted to listen to the audio version because Billy Crystal narrates it. It would be a great summer listen.

This book really showed different sides of Billy Crystal. We see is strong devotion to his family. His marvelous and meaningful friendships. You see him at times of insecurities and at times of feeling on top of his game. He comes across very humble and he feels so blessed to be able to do what he loves. This is not just a slapstick comedy book. It is a book of varied emotions and he brings you through the highs and lows of his life and career.

Though he is writing to the "zoomer" generation, I was able to glean much wisdom from his words. He left me looking forward to the next steps I have waiting for me in life and he left me feeling grateful for the time I am living now with my husband and children. I love that he and his wife have married for over forty years. In this day and age that is amazing.

There were times in the book where I felt it to be a bit crass and at times surprisingly sweary. I don't mind swearing or crassness if it adds to a character or what is being said. But, when it is just thrown in for no reason, I don't really see the point.

If you are not a Billy Crystal fan (oh! the horror) or not really into comedic reading I would still recommend this book. There are great life lessons that he teaches and some of his accomplishments are quite interesting. This is definitely a book to be on your reading list.