Margaret Sanger: A Life of Passion by Jean H. Baker

from goodreads

2 stars

Christmas is coming soon! Every year that I am a parent I feel less excited and geared up for Christmas. It's not that I don't like Christmas, I do. I think it is the fact that I am doing everything now. My parents gave me a lovely Christmas experience every year. My mom would bake, we would have delicious food with all the trimmings. We had nice gifts. Not overly extravagant or plentiful, but nice. We would all sing Christmas Carols together as mom played the piano. We would go tobogganing. It would be a fun time of love, friendship and memories.

Flash forward to now and I am the person who is supposed to be presenting this Christmas magic and honestly I don't have the inclination. I don't feel like baking for hours on end. I don't feel like making a turkey with all the trimmings. I don't feel like getting anyone any presents (though I am not heartless and I do). And I don't prioritise practice time so I am not as good as my mom so their is rarely Carol singing. Tobaganning is fun but it sucks when you have to drive to a snow hill instead of having it right outside your front door (like my childhood home.) But, I guess this is when I can think, what is my energy level and what little bit of magic can I sprinkle into my kids experiences.

Hopefully in a few years when I don't have a crazy baby that constantly puts things in his mouth and when I feel like I am more put together I will feel more excited for the Christmas season and put more effort into making it super special for my family. Until then, well, at least we have a tree!

Synopsis

This is a biography on the woman who was the face of the early birth control movement in the United States.

My Thoughts

This book was weird. I loved it, I loathed it, I became apathetic to it.

The first few chapters that dealt with Sanger's early life I found really interesting. I liked learning about the events that caused her to pick up the crusade of birth control. I am profoundly grateful for the women who did. I am definitely a woman who has taken advantage of the ability to choose when to have children and how many. It is such a foreign concept to me, living now, that birth control could ever been seen as something not normal. But the obstacles men put up against birth control was crazy. Their arguments didn't even make sense! It was heartbreaking hearing about the women who were told by their doctors not to have any more children but where denied the tools and knowledge on how to prevent further pregnancies.

This book did a good job and delving into these contrary policies and showing how commonsense birth control was and how birth control was really a class thing.

If Baker had just left the book at this, the beginnings of the birth control movement, this would have been a fantastic read. Unfortunately she continued into the rest of Sanger's life. The writing was good. The subject I found boring. Perhaps if I was more inline with some of Sanger's other views such as open marriage and eugenics I would have found more interest. But since both those practices are abhorrent to me I just kept flicking the pages waiting for the book to end. I just didn't care about her private life. I think she was egocentric and catty. So perhaps the rating I gave should be higher, because you can't fault the author on the life of their subject. I just didn't care for it and the book just dragged on and on and on. Like I never thought it was going to end.

While it lost the passion it had at the beginning this was a quasi worth while read. If you are going to read it just read the first few chapters. They are full of interest and vitality. Otherwise it might be worth getting a different title if you want to learn about the birth control movement as a whole.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

from goodreads

2.5 stars

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

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

Synopsis

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Seriously I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres

from goodreads

2 stars

This past weekend was Thanksgiving here in Canada. It is a nice time to reflect on the good things in life. No matter how awful you think your life is, there is always something to be thankful for, even if it is smelling air that doesn't stink or having knees that bend.

This Thanksgiving it was a bit harder for me to think of what to be thankful for because I had the biggest cold ever. Nose stuffed, head stuffed and just feeling in general very ick. Luckily I wasn't hosting anyone otherwise our dinner would have consisted of whatever my husband could scrounge together. Instead we went to over to our wonderful friends house (I kept a healthy distance from all) and had a nice relaxing afternoon. My friends are going to be moving soon. They will be living over an hour away. I am sad I won't get to see them super often, but I am excited to visit them at their new property. From the pictures I've seen it looks beautiful and I am so happy that they have found a place to call their own.

Now that the sickness fog has ended I can acknowledge a lot of things I have to be thankful for. A family who is a bit nutty at times but in the end are keepers. Technology that helps me budget, learn things, and connect with others around the world. The beautiful part of the planet I live in. Right now the trees are beautiful with bright oranges and reds. I think autumn is one of my favourite seasons. Though I do like the smell of mud in spring. I am also thankful for people's imaginations and stories. I get to experience so much through their words and for that I will always be thankful.

Synopsis

Comedienne Ellen DeGeneres allows us to look through the world through her eyes.

My Thoughts

I was so looking forward to this book. It has been on my to read list for years. I love Ellen's talk show, I love how generous and humble she is about everything. She is great. Unfortunately I did not find this book to be as great as she is. It was disappointing.

At first I tried to listen to the book. I had it on my ipod so I could listen to it while at the hospital after having Mr. S. It was quiet so I put it on and I could not listen to it. It is voiced by Ellen and while that is normally a good thing, I don't think that was the case with this. To me it felt like she was speed reading it with little change in inflection. I think I listened to a couple of chapters and that was enough.

So, I decided instead to read it. I got it out this summer and read it. It reads nicely. I read it with her voice in my head, one that changes and is not speed reading, and that part was great. There were some gems and moments when I did actually laugh, but on the whole the humour was just not for me. It was not subtle at all. Everything was a joke and I just didn't care. I think I was expecting a bit more of a witty, not so obvious, type of humour and this was not it. Now perhaps it was the time of life I was reading it. Perhaps because of my anticipation for reading it I had set the bar too high and so no matter what was written I would have been disappointed. I don't know. It just didn't do it for me when I read it.

So while her book was a bit of a disappointment for me, I still love her and her positivity. The joy she brings into the world is amazing. So with that I think I will stick to her talk show, and not worry about her books.

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.

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard

from goodreads

2 stars

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

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

Synopsis

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

The Wicked Girls by Alex Marwood

from goodreads

1 star

Today is the perfect day to curl up and read. While I love being at home all day with Miss P, this is a time when I wish she was already in school or in day care and I could just curl up on the couch and read. It looks like a winter wonderland outside, the perfect backdrop for reading a great book!

When do you like to read? Cold frosty days? Hot days lazing on the beach or in a hammock? On the commute?

Synopsis

I am taking this from goodreads as I didn't finish the book.

One fateful summer morning in 1986, two 11-year-old girls meet for the first time and by the end of the day they are charged with murder.

Twenty-five years later, journalist Kirsty Lindsay is reporting on a series of attacks on young female tourists in a seaside town when her investigation leads her to interview funfair cleaner Amber Gordon. For Kirsty and Amber, it's the first time they've seen each other since that dark day when they were just children. But with new lives - and families - to protect, will they really be able to keep their secret hidden?

My Thoughts

This was one of the book club picks for this year. Usually with book club books I will keep at it no matter what. This one I just couldn't.

While the premise sounds intriguing and promising, the execution of it was not so excellent. There were quite a lot of different story lines going on. And the characters were not engaging and I didn't really care about them. As I was reading I kept thinking, I don't care, I don't care, I don't care. So, I gave up.

Tonight when I go to my book club meeting I will find out what happened because I know the others finished it. But, I really don't care if I find out what happened.

I have never felt so apathetic about a book before. I guess there's a first time for everything.

Don't Say that Word! by Alan Katz Illustrated by David Catrow

from goodreads

2 stars

Being a parent can be stressful at times. You are the moral authority. You are the person who needs to teach kids what is appropriate to do and say. That is a lot of responsibility. Also, there are so many options, there is no right way to behave really. Yes, there is the standard, be nice, don't hit etc. But you also have to teach them to stand up for themselves, and that might not always seem like the nice thing to do.

I find the hardest thing about all this is figuring out what words are bad or not. I have some friends who have told their kids that the word "stupid" is a swear word. Now while I totally believe that that is a word that should not be said all the time to belittle others, but sometimes, if the shoe fits you got to say it. So does it make me a bad moral authority if I don't tell my kids it is a swear word too? Others have the same rule with the term "shut up". While in general I do try to avoid saying it... again, once I am at the end of my rope it is going to slip out. (For example, when I am in the middle of cooking dinner and all three kids are trying to get my attention or are running around like a pack of hyenas in the kitchen).

I guess this is when discussions around words are important. Instead of hard fast rules, perhaps explanations and help to navigate the linguistic challenges are called for.

As with anything in life, and parenting, we just have to try and do the best we can. We can't make comparisons. We can be inspired and wish to make positive changes from what we see from others. But we should never feel dejected about ourselves because of these comparisons. And if my kids seem uncouth compared to others because they use words like butt, or fart, or stupid, well so be it. I guess we will be uncouth.

Synopsis

Michael is trying to tell his mom about the day he had at school. Just when he gets to the best parts his mom yells out, DON'T SAY THAT WORD!

My Thoughts

Ugh! I did not like this book at all. I guess kids might think its funny, but I just don't get it.

I always try to find something positive... so I guess the rhymes were pretty clever. And perhaps there are truly parents out there who don't like the word "toilet" or "burp", but like really.

The words in the book that were supposedly "bad" were words that normal people use and I don't want my kids to begin thinking they are bad. Bodily functions seem so taboo now and causes embarrassment. That is probably why there are so many digestive issues, people are embarrassed about farting and even saying that word. That passes on embarrassment to the kids who end up holding stuff in causing pain and discomfort that should not happen. Seriously people, we need to liberate these words!

So ya, this book is definitely not a favourite. And it is not because I am super prudey or anything. I initially picked it up because I was excited to see what naughty words were going to be said. But, this just left me feeling frustrated by the censorship this shows for words that are just normal.

Read it if you would like to, but I do not recommend it.

Jack: The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk by Liesl Shurtliff

from goodreads

2.75 stars

Have you ever had a week where you look at the planner and there is nothing penciled in and you think, great! What a relaxing week this will be! Then within a day it seems to get all full? That is what my week has turned into. Sunday I looked at the calendar and nothing was written in. Then by Monday morning I had some pretty jammed packed days!

Now, I like having things to do and things to get done. It is good to have a purpose for your day. It is just crazy how quickly you can fill your days when you have "nothing" to do. Appointments that spring up, service to do, meetings to attend. No rest for the wicked I guess. And that is okay by me.

Synopsis

Jack is a trouble maker. He always seems to be getting into mischief. When he sees a pair of giants destroying fields and stealing people, including his father, his neighbours don't believe him. He realizes it is up to him to to save them.

My Thoughts

Well, to be honest, I was kind of disappointed. I loved Shurtliff's first book Rump. It was so inventive and clever. Jack on the other hand seemed to be just another retelling of the story without anything really new or inventive. Because of this... well I found it kind of boring.

I did like how she was able to join the story of Rump and the story of Jack together. You do not need to read Rump. But if you do, you get a sort of insiders view to a few things.

All in all it was a nice retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk. Just don't expect great ingenuity. Hopefully her rendition of Red Riding Hood, which comes out this year, will be back to the same awesomeness level as Rump.

When We Go Walking by Cari Best Illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker

from goodreads

3 stars

I know I have sung the praises or the library before, but I have to do it again. I love the library and the best part is my kids love it too.

The programs that they have at the library are so great. Miss P and I go to two programs a week. There are stories, singing, dancing, crafts and games. She always looks forward to going. When I tell her it is library time she gets a big smile on her face. When we drive by the library or are walking by it she yells out "Library!" and then promptly asks to go in and see her favourite library worker, Sam.

The older two don't go to the public library as much. We get busy after school. But during the summer we try to go as often as we can and they participate in the summer reading club. This fall I did sign them up for one program that is through the library and frontier college. It is called reading buddies. There are two children per adult and they go into the library and read books for the first half hour and then play games for the last half hour. Miss V and Miss G have had such a fun time going. They want me to sign them up for another session, if the library is hosting one.

It is so nice to have a whole community gathered around your children helping them with their love of reading. Reading truly opens doors to new worlds and ideas. Yay for reading and yay for libraries!!

Synopsis

Wendy and her family walk down rambling road. They each see different things and Wendy likes to collect things too.

My Thoughts

I was kind of disappointed with this book. The cover looked so promising, but I found the story kind of flat. It's cool that the girl is creative and all but seriously, something should be done about her hoarding tendancies. That just seemed to bug me.

I did like how the family members all looked for things to see and each person saw a different thing. I also liked how it went through the different seasons and how different things could be found at different times. I liked how the book kind of encouraged us to get out there and walk. Physical activity, especially when done together with the family, is the best! It was also neat to see Wendy use her imagination and make her own "Rambling Road". But, once again, all the junk she brought home irked me. So It was sort of a bitter sweet moment.

The artwork in the book is fantastic. I love the differing textures used. You can tell it is a collage of different items and textures but it doesn't feel jumbled or disjointed. They items work seamlessly to create really great pictures.

So this book was ultimately a jumble of feelings, some good some not so good. In the end I just felt it a bit too lackluster and it just wasn't for me.

Sandrine's Case by Thomas H. Cook

from goodreads

2 stars

Reading is ultimate adventure. You really don't know what you are going to get. When you crack the cover you could be on the cusp of discovering a new favourite or a bitter disappointment.  I guess it can be a bit like russian roulette.

There are so many other factors that go into whether a book is a hit or not. A lot depends on you as the reader. The timing of books is so important. If you have just finished a favourite and the next book isn't as great it could be a greater disappointment then it would have been if it had been read after a different one. Sometimes it could be the mood you are in, the weather outside, how much reading time you have in your schedule and more.

This reading year is starting to wind down. So far, it has been a pretty good year for reading. I have read more than I thought I would. I have a had a pretty good mix of books. And there haven't been too many books that have been complete duds and that makes me happy. How has your reading year been?

Synopsis

Samuel Madison is on trial for the murder of his wife Sandrine, though he maintains it was suicide. During the trial Samuel lets his mind wander and he reflects on his life with his wife.

My Thoughts

This was not a favourite. I only finished it because it was a book club read.

I found the book boring and repetitive. I couldn't stand any of the characters and really didn't care what happened to any of them. And honestly what was the point of Albi. It kept coming up but it really wasn't this big revelation everything made sense kind of explanation. The ending was a let down. I figured there would have been some kind of twist or something but no.

I think I have a problem with stories like this because of the unhealthy promotion of relationships. I feel like I am the only person that seems to understand that long term relationships are not going to be hot and steamy the whole time. There will be disappointments with ourselves and our spouse. But we get on with it and move on. Relationships are about putting others needs before our own out of love and concern. It is about building up those around us. I know this is an ideal and not always easy, but I think a lot of the problems with the characters in this book, and others, could have been rectified if the characters had an honest and frank discussion with each other and weren't so wrapped up in themselves and their convoluted ways of doing things. Why can't we ever see a nice normal relationship? (sorry for the rant)

I did like how the story was told, through reflections. I did like the bit of redemption that Samuel went through to change his life for the better. But that was about it.

This was the first book that I have read from this author. I might give others a try. He is obviously successful as he has written a lot over many genres. But this book has definitely not made me want to rush out and read everything he has written.

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

from goodreads

2 stars

I know that you can't judge a book by its cover. Though, it would make choosing books a lot easier. The prettier the cover the better the book and vice versa. Nothing is worse than getting a book that you think will be awesome and then having it totally tank. While I don't use the covers as my sole means of choosing my books I will say that sometimes they do play a substantial role. There have been quite a few books that I hadn't planned on reading this year but I picked up or put on hold purely because of the cover. For the most part I haven't been disappointed.

Covers play such an important role in the seduction of reading. The people who design covers truly are artists. Some covers are so beautiful and intricate it can truly take your breath away. Others not really. I guess as long as they engage the part of your brain that thinks "hey, I wonder what that book is about?" then it has done its job.

Synopsis

Nella comes to Amsterdam, the young bride of Johannes Brandt, a man quite a few years her senior and a very successful merchant trader. While the house looks like a typical wealthy household it is anything but and Nella has to piece its secrets together with the help of the mysterious miniaturist.

My Thoughts

This book had so much potential. The elements were all there. Yet, it managed to fall flat and I was left wondering why I bothered to read it. I probably wouldn't have kept going if it wasn't a book club pick.

I found some of the prose to be repetitive. Because of this repetition it really hindered the story from progressing. And I found that the story pace was slooow. The characters never really developed into full people. This made it hard to really like any of them, or feel sorry for them or find compassion for them. I did like that near the end Nella finally seemed to get a backbone and took charge of her life, but by that point it really didn't matter.

I really don't know what the point of the character of the miniaturist was. And it was never explained whether the miniaturist was really a seer or the other people were just crazy and seeing things. And what was the point of the bird? I don't know.

I found the atmosphere of the story to be cold and grey. There is nothing wrong with that type of atmosphere, but I found it rather distracting and that is bad. The book took place in the winter and the author describes how cold and icy the house could get. It seemed weird to me, and I found myself getting distracted trying to figure out how these people didn't get frostbite or loose some toes, especially if it really was as cold as the author seemed to be describing. Like was it really cold, like Canadian cold, or was it more European cold that is usually around the freezing mark? There is a difference.

For a first book it wasn't too bad, and I would probably give the author another chance. This was just not my favourite.

The Alphabet House by Jussi Adler-Olsen

from goodreads

2 stars

There are a few authors I know if a new book of theirs comes out I will be reading it. Most of them are Nordic crime writers. I love their series, but there are a few others.

Sometimes these authors branch out and do a stand alone book or a book in a different series or even a completely different genre. I am always excited to read those because really its a crap shoot. You never know what you are going to get.

Sometimes it is interesting to see a different thought or side of that author. You are so used to them writing one way that you marvel at their brilliance when they write a different way. Or the flipside happens and you think to yourself, stick to what your good at, which is not this.

I must be difficult for writers, especially those with a huge following to branch out and take a chance. I think they have the furthest to fall and the harshest critics. No wonder J.K. Rowling used a nom de plume for some of her books. Or perhaps, once someone is so well established, they don't worry about it and write for the writing's sake. All I know is, I will keep reading.

Synopsis

Two british pilots are shot down over Germany while on a reconnaissance mission. To evade capture they jump a train. This train happens to be full of wounded SS officiers, some wounds more in the head then anything.

They have to pretend to be sick and a bit crazy at the hospital, but are they the only ones?

My Thoughts

I do love Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q series. I did not like this book as much. The idea was quite interesting. What toll would happen to you if you weren't crazy but were living in an insane assylum. Would you eventually go crazy? Also, you would have to try to figure out if others crazy or are they acting too.

The execution of this story was good, but the pace was slow. Nothing much happened except lying in bed, or trying to figure out how to escape, or steeling yourself up to pretend.

When the story went thirty years in the future it was interesting but weird, and by that point I didn't care what happened. I kept reading anyway. It was sort of weird that James' character didn't do more to try to get out, he seemed more the leader in the beginning and then that died.

Anyway this book was okay, but I probably shouldn't have spent as much time reading it as I did. I will continue to read Adler-Olsen's books, but this one was definitely not my favourite.

Sadie the Ballerina by Joan Betty Stuchner Illustrated by Bruno St-Aubin

from amazon.com

3 stars

Seriously what is it about little girls and ballerina's. It seems every time we go to the library we always end up with a Ballerina book in our bag. Maybe the ballerina books on the shelf can sniff out little girls who love to dance and some how zoom into their hands. Sort of like magnets. The kids can only see are the spines of the book yet they are able to sifter and sniff out books that deal with dancing or princesses or have glitter on the cover. It must be a gift, or some inner radar. I am definitely puzzled.

I guess there is nothing wrong with ballerina books. I should just be glad that they got something. But seriously, I don't care if the little girl wants point shoes or a tutu. And seriously, how many of them can really ever be the sugar plum fairy? Is there no other ballet that they can discuss? Maybe I should write a ballerina story, I could discuss a more obscure ballet and maybe the girl does not want to be a ballerina but a monster truck driver. That would jazz things up a bit.

What I do know is that I need to branch out the book selection. I don't think I can handle another ballet story for quite a while.

Synopsis

Sadie wants to be a ballerina and wants to go to ballet school. Her mother responds with the dreaded words, "We'll see."

My Thoughts

This was an okay read. Kind of your typical little girl wants to be a beautiful, graceful ballerina, but sometimes is clumsy. Nothing too new or inventive.

What irked me was what Sadie did at the ballet. I was like "thanks author for now making every little kid think that they should all sneak on stage and dance with the performers." Like seriously. Sadie didn't even really get reprimanded and in the end her parents agree to let her go to ballet school. If my kid did something like that we would leave as soon as she got back to her seat and we would be talking about proper etiquette while out in public. And they probably wouldn't be going to ballet school. At least not for a while. That kind of behaviour can be dangerous and absurd. Adults who did that would probably get arrested or something. I just could not believe it! It irked me so much.

So if you like ballet and you can handle ill-behaved disobedient children then this is the book for you.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

from goodreads

2.5 stars

Classics are a funny breed of book. It seems when you read them either you love them or you hate them. Very rarely do you fall in between, though it does happen on occasion.

Usually when I look back on the classics I have read I feel a great love and happiness come over me. I love thinking of sweet Jane Eyre and my heart still aches for her sadness but then rejoices at the happiness of her life. I remember the first time I read Great Expectations. I can still remember my exact location when I was reading the final revelations at the end of the book of the connection between the characters. (It was in the back of our car and we were driving back from Owen Sound and we were just passing the turn to Haliburton that is found in the little blip on the map called Tory Hill.)

I don't know what it is about classics that speak to us so much. Is it the wordiness? Is it the fact that they have stood the test of time and these are the books that we still know about in today's day and age? I don't know. Perhaps it is the difference in the language. The need to actually think about what the author was trying to say that makes them so enjoyable, or unenjoyable, to read.

All I know is I haven't read nearly as many classics as I wish to and I am looking forward to reading more.

Synopsis

This book follows the life of Dorian Gray. He is young and impressionable. He has his portrait painted and when he sees the beauty of it he makes a wish. He wishes that he would remain beautiful and young and that the portrait would age. As his life unfolds he begins to realize that that was not just some idle wish.

My Thoughts

I so wanted to like this book more than I did.

The actual story line was great and interesting and some of the social issues of the time that were dealt with were rather intriguing. Yet the execution of the story just wasn't there.

I found the monotonous and contradicting monologues rather tedious. I think you have to be in the right mood for the ridiculous and I was not in the mood when I was reading this. I also found the pages and pages of descriptions of embroidery and jewels almost unbearable. I almost quit reading then and there. During the monologues and descriptions I will admit that my eyes glazed over a bit and I did quite a bit of skimming. I know that you shouldn't skim but it was the only way I could get through it.

If the book was just the story of the painting and Dorian it would have been so great. When there was action happening in the book I loved it and couldn't wait to figure out what was going to happen. If only Mr. Wilde could have stuck to that type of narrative instead of having to put in his "witty" banter and descriptions, because the idea behind the book was quite awesome.

So all in all, I guess I am sort of glad that I read it but I was left unimpressed. It could have been so much more than just a "when is it over" book.

The Heir by Kiera Cass

from goodreads

3 stars

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

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

Synopsis

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner

from goodreads

2.5 stars

I really love goodreads.com. I love the fact that I can see what my friends are reading. I love that I can keep track of books I want to read, even though every time I go on I seem to add a billion! I love their reading challenge. I love being able to see what others think of books and with the ratings it helps to gauge whether the book is worth the time to read or not.

Yet, that rating system can be a bit of a bad thing, especially when it comes to YA books. It seems that most of the people who rate YA books either a) rate it before the book is even out. Like seriously? The book hasn't been published but people are all ready giving it a 5 star rating because of their anticipation??? Crazibus! or b) are so super enthusiastic about it that I believe they give an inflated rating. It seems with YA readers (of a certain age, that age being young) that there is no grey area when it comes to a series. Either they love it full tilt to the end or they don't, and most of them love it! And you know what, there is nothing wrong with readers being super excited about a series or about reading in general. It's great! I just wished they didn't saturate the ratings so I could get a more realistic view of a book. Oh well.

***spoiler alert*** while I will do my very best not to have spoilers I may inadvertantly give something away. If you have not read this series yet and don't want anything revealed you may want to wait to read this review. 

Synopsis

Thomas wakes up in a dark elevator. He doesn't remember anything. Thus starts this sci-fi ride within a maze and then beyond.

My Thoughts

I read this series because of the hype, especially the added hype around the movies. I especially wanted to see what my teenage niece was so excited about. 

While the idea behind the series is really cool and thought provoking, I found myself being utterly bored while reading the books. While I guess there were some exciting bits in them they were surrounded by boring dialogue and characters that I really didn't care for at all. Perhaps if I were more of a brooding teenager I would have appreciated the teen attitude and recklessness. Alas, I am a 32 year old mother and I found the macho vibrato so ridiculous.

In the first book I was definitely disliking the not answering of questions. Thomas just arrived there obviously needing some answers to where the heck he was and all he got was "you don't need to know right now" or "we'll tell you later", yet later never seemed to happen and when would he need to know? And then the people got mad when he explored or tested some boundary he shouldn't have. It's like hello!? maybe answer his questions and then he would not have done that!

I did like the slang that the gladers made up. It definitely helped this rowdy bunch of boys not swear, otherwise swearing would have been littered throughout this series, and I really detest swearing for swearing sake in books.

In the second and third book I did not like Thomas' anger towards Teresa. I felt that the intensity of the anger was really not warranted. It was also weird in the last books how close he was to his two friends from the glade considering he only knew them for like a week or so. How did he become all chummy and leadery with them. Wouldn't of these other people have other friends in the group? It was just weird.

This series I think would be good for teens that usually don't feel like reading. There is not a bunch of flowery mumbo jumbo in it and there are some cool fight scenes. But, if you are looking for a completed, relatively well thought out and understandable world (sort of like the one created in the Hunger Games) you aren't going to find it. There were too many holes and things happening that I just didn't get. I guess I had too many questions that weren't answered.

So all in all, this was a series that just wasn't for me. I only read the second and third book because I held hope it would get better and I wanted to see how the writer was actually going to wrap it all up. (I was satisfied with the ending though I know many weren't). While the concept was good, the execution, for me, was not excellent.

The author does have some other series that look interesting. I may give them a try, but I think I need to wait before I do.

Stuff by Margie Palatini Ilustrated by Noah Z. Jones

from goodreads

3 stars

Today I signed the kids up for the summer reading club at the library. My kids loved doing it last year. They were always excited about what their next prize would be. I liked it because Miss V won a pizza dinner! No cooking for me that night!

And while my kids should want to read with out getting prizes, I will take whatever encentive I can get. Sometimes in the summer our days can be so lazy that it will be the end of the day and I will realize we haven't done any reading or anything. So, if the kids can help remind me, so much the better.

Synopsis

Edward the rabbit loves is stuff. He has so much stuff that it comes between himself and his friends. Then something happens that makes him rethink his hoarding habits.

My Thoughts

To be completely honest I got this book for my husband. We are slooooowly decluttering our space and  I thought this would be a cute book to help as a motivator. Not sure what he thought about it, but he definitely identified with Edward and not wanting to get rid of stuff.

This definitely wasn't a wow book and sometimes didn't make the most sense to me. While it is a children's book it looked at the whole hoarding thing with a rather simplistic approach. People with major hoarding issues can't just get rid of their stuff just like that. They hoard for complex issues and if their friends came and just had them get rid of stuff they would probably harbour resentment.

So, this was an okay book. Definitely nothing to write home about though.

While You Were Napping by Jenny Offill Illustrated by Barry Blitt

from goodreads

2.5 stars

When I was little I had a very vivid imagination. (Sometimes I still do.) I always thought that when my mom sent me to the basement to get the ice cream everyone would turn into wolves, like the talking kind in fairy tales, and then they would turn back into humans as soon as I got back up. I'm not sure where the whole transmorph think came from but it was there. I'm not sure if I am sad that I "missed" them as wolves or relieved but it always made the trip down to the basement kind of exciting.

Now, I don't think people change when I'm not around, but, there are still things that I don't want to miss. I don't want to miss an episode of my favourite show, or I feel an urgency to get through some books so I can move onto some more. I imagine how much better life will be if I only could attain this much more knowledge. Usually everything remains almost the same.

Did you ever have a time in your life when you thought you were missing out on something?

Synopsis

A little boy did not want to go nap. Afterwards his sisters tries to calm his fears about things he might have missed.

My Thoughts

I went into this book thinking this was going to be a great story. But it didn't live up to the expectation. In fact I got a bit perturbed with it.

The sister goes through this big grand story about rocket ships and pirates and dirt throwing parties, not in a fun kind of way but almost in a rubbing it in sort of way. She said "nobody else had to take a nap that day". Way to make your brother feel even more of a baby because he had to. Geez. If I was the kid who had the nap I would have been so mad.

I also felt that the story was a bit disjointed. Things didn't lead well into each other. It just seemed one random thing happening then another.

So don't read this book, especially to a child who still naps. They may never want to nap again.

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

from goodreads

2 stars

What a busy day! I feel like I did so much, even though I didn't really do much at all. And then I realized it was Thursday! Totally thought it was Friday. Hence the later post time.

That seems to happen to me a lot lately. I think it is one day (usually the next day to come) when it is really another. Its weird how that happens. How a day can feel like another. Is it because we secretly long for that day? Is it because we get so busy that we feel we must be ahead or behind? Whatever the reason its always good when I catch myself and realize my mistake. How embarassing would it be if I thought that today was Friday so I didn't get my kids ready for school tomorrow. While a home day would be nice, I have things to do on Friday. Hopefully my brain gets straightened out soon. :-)

Synopsis

Jim Hawkins, a young man of about 12, finds a map that leads to the fabled Treasure Island. With a wide assortment of characters from the honourable to the more nemesising and the unforgettable John Silver, adventure is not too far off.

My Thoughts

For a book about pirates and treasure you would think it would be really exciting. Heck even the muppets did a version of it so it must be great right? Wrong! Oh my goodness this was soooooo boring I almost died. Okay, maybe not that bad but still it was pretty bad. I mean, I have read some classics in my day. In fact I quite enjoy the classics genre, but this was boring and hard to get.

It started off really well. The whole mysterious man at the inn type thing. So I was really looking forward to stuff, but once they got going on their voyage I couldn't remember who was who and it was hard to picture and I really just stopped caring about what was going on.

So if you are thinking about reading this, stop and just watch the movie instead. (I hate saying it but this is definitely a time when the movies are better than the book.)

Community Soup by Alma Fullerton

from goodreads

2.75 stars

Since winter has finally hit and seems reluctant to leave I have been thinking about the nice things you can do in winter. Many of those things revolves around ingesting something warm, whether it is hot chocolate or soup. I try to serve soups at least once a week in the winter. I love soup for its simplicity, its nutrition, and its warmth.

This is this year's book for the Let's Read campaign of Waterloo Region. If you are in Waterloo January 30th, the McCormick Branch is having activities and a free skate. Be sure to check it out. I know I'm looking forward to it.

Synopsis

It is time for the school to make soup. But when Kioni discovers her goats in the vegetable garden who knows what will happen.

My Thoughts

This book was Mary had a little lamb meets a Kenyan school. Instead of a lamb it was goats, and instead of Mary it was Kioni. There is even faint references to that nursery rhyme within the story.

The story wasn't all that great. I did enjoy the pictures but even they were just alright. It just seemed a bit jumbly to me and just jumped from thing to thing.

What I did like was the recipe at the end of the book. It was for a pumpkin vegetable soup. We made it for dinner on the weekend and my daughter has been taking the leftovers for her lunch. So that added a bit of fun.

So, to me this was really a middle of the road type of book. But if you are looking for a yummy soup recipe, check it out.