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.

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.

Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Hugette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell Jr.

from goodreads

3 stars

Have you ever looked at houses or buildings and wondered what it's like inside? I have been doing that for as long as I can remember. Growing up I had a few houses that I would pass that I always tried to envision what it would be like inside or what it would be like living there. My neighbour's house went up for sale recently and I waited with bated breath for the listing to be put up on realtor.ca so I could look at the inside. (I thought going to the open house might be a bit too creepy.)

I know I am not the only person with this curiosity of what goes on behind closed doors. Many cities now have an open door day where different businesses or unique houses open their doors for the public to go in and view the inside. This really has been going on for centuries as even the great heroine Elizabeth Bennett went voyeuring around Pemberley. Who knows what our fascination with houses is. I guess it is the whole seeing how the others live thing. It could be our whole comparing nature. All I know it is a societal quirk that will most likely not go away anytime soon.

Synopsis

Hugette Clark is the heiress to a large fortune yet was most mysterious. Many of her employees had never met her. This book looks at her life, her properties and what she did with her wealth.

My Thoughts

I went into this book with no preconceived notions. I had no idea who she was or who her father even was. For being one of the wealthiest men in the U.S.A. and having a county in Nevada named after him, I had no idea he even exsisted. The name Rockerfeller I have heard of but Clark, nope.

Hugette came across as being very generous and kind hearted but very eccentric. She was one who seemed to live with her heart and not so much with her head. She was someone who seemed to like being able to help others out and was one who lived with money just always being available (which in her case it was). It was crazy to hear some of the amounts of money she put towards her dolls. And how exacting all her miniatures had to be. She was definitely some one with a great eye for detail.

Hugette was very reclusive. It would have been interesting to know if this was because of phobias or if she was just content with her own company or if her father instilled a fear of other people and how they would only like her for her money and not her.

I loved the pictures in the book. Hugette's art work was beautiful.

If you are reading this book you will definitely get some helpful advice from it. The first is watch out for taxes, they are going to get you. The amounts she had to pay on property taxes each year alone was insane. But in the U.S.A. there is also a gift tax, so anytime she gave large sums of money to friends or employees as a gift she had to pay tax on that amount and man... that came to a hefty bill too. The second is make sure you have a will, don't wait until you are old and feeble. That will give your crazy family an in to being able to contest it. Her family was a bit nuts. Those people didn't even have a relationship with her yet all of the sudden showed care and concern as she went into her centennial year.

Near the end of the book a lot of focus goes onto her care in the hospital where she lived out the rest of her life (for like 10 years of it). She had a nurse that was there every day for over 12 hrs a day. Yes, that woman should have been well compensated and there was probably genuine love and trust between them. But okey smokes. The amount of money Hugette gave her nurse and the nurse's family. It seems sort of suspicious. Perhaps nothing nefarious was going on but, perception needs to be taken into account and to me, well the jury is still out on it.

All in all this was an interesting book about an eccentric recluse. There were parts that were thoroughly riveting. There were parts that were down right dull. But this was a great view into someone's life. Though she lived differently than most would choose to, especially given her financial status, she was not portrayed as a weirdo or as someone who was not all there. The author portrayed her as simply a woman, who had an interesting upbringing, an interesting time in her adulthood and has someone who lived as she wanted to live. And for that lack of judgement I thank the author.

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

from goodreads

3 stars

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

Synopsis

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

from goodreads

2.5 stars

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

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


Synopsis

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

from goodreads

2 stars

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

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

Synopsis

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

from goodreads

3 stars

Well, March Break is starting to come to an end. There has been much reading, youtube watching, pig making and scrounging up acceptable snacks. I have enjoyed sleeping in a bit, and not worrying about making lunch. Also it has been a great week because I have had no appointments! No bundling up three kids to sit in a cramped waiting room for me. I call that a win.

But this March Break has made me realize how much I need to make sure I have lots of activities and things planned for the summer. Time to get serious on pinterest and become the awesomest mom ever for the summer! ;)

Synopsis

This is the story of Gretchen, a 17 year old girl who in entrenched in the Nazi Party. She looks up to Hitler as a father figure and even calls him Uncle Dolf. Yet, after meeting Daniel Cohen a reporter and a Jew, everything she thought she new as certain is called into question, and she starts to question whether her father's death was really a tragic accident or murder.

My Thoughts

This was a well researched and rather accurate portrayal of Munich in the early 1930s. She wove the mystery in a way that was able to highlight events and philosophies. It was a really good approach.

What I found week was the narrative. Since Blankman was trying to fit so much history into the book (trying to fit the entire Nazi philosophy in one book is very tricky because it encompasses so much) the narrative really suffered.

There were many times where the timeline of the story was not accurate and this caused some confusion and awkwardness. An example of this was when Gretchen was going to a country house with Geli. She tells her brother that they are going to leave the next morning. Then you turn the page and she spends the whole next day helping her mom clean the house and doesn't really leave for the country house for another two days. While it wasn't major and didn't destroy the plot it was still kind of frustrating. There were other times when the timeline just didn't add up.

I also found things to be a bit repetitive, and seriously, how many times did Reinhard have to catch them. Like really?

In the end it was a mediocre story that strung together historical facts. I did not find it that intriguing, the characters that engaging or the romance that sizzling. Perhaps if I hadn't studied this period extensively in university I would have enjoyed discovering this time and the events a bit more and it would have been a bit more interesting. I do appreciate the obvious research that went into it. It is nice when a historical fiction is well researched.

There is a sequel to this book. I am not sure yet if I will bother with it or not. Perhaps once my to read book has been whittled down a bit more.

Fairest of All by Sarah Mylnowski

from goodreads

4 stars

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

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

Synopsis

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

from goodreads

4 stars

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

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

Synopsis

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Daring Ladies of Lowell by Kate Alcott

from goodreads

3.5 stars

Sometimes I finish a book and am left breathless, thinking it is the best thing ever. Then with some time and distance and reflection its flaws come out and make themselves known. This leaves me befuddled. Should I claim I love it like I did when I first finished reading? Or, harp on all the flaws I have found out after the fact? Do you review on your heart or your head?

This is one of those books. It left me breathless and excited, but then with some distance I realized there were many flaws that I over looked and things that really weren't that great. This has left me feeling confused. I guess a book can't be all bad if it leaves you thinking about it after the fact.

Synopsis

This is the story of Alice. She has left her family farm to forge a life for herself as a factory girl in the cotton mills. There she makes a friend in Lovey, a woman who is kind, takes a stand and lives a bit dangerously. She also catches the eye of the mill owners son. This is a book of friendship, love, courage, murder, and standing up for what is right.

My Thoughts

This is a historical fiction that focuses more on the fiction side. If you are a stickler for historical accuracy this is not the book for you.

This is a great story of friendship and being willing to take a stand against injustice. The characters were varied but believable and you would want to be part of their group. The romance was a bit contrived but lovely.

I found the courtroom scenes to be tedious and it took too much time of the story. I wanted to know more about the ladies and the factory work then I cared to know about the courtroom proceedings. I felt it should have been the side story and not the main feature.

There was something about this book that kept me hooked. I read it in a day. It is a fun, heartrending story. And, while I read it in December, I could see this being a great summer read.

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

from goodreads

3 stars

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

Synopsis

(Synopsis from goodreads)

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

My Thoughts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

from goodreads

4 stars

Every year at the end of April I wait with bated breath to find out what will be the One Book One Community read for Waterloo Region. Sometimes the books are excellent. Sometimes they make me wonder what the selection committee was thinking. All in all I know it will be a book that I will read and that will give me something to think about.

I wonder what it is about reading a book that lots of other people are reading. There is a kind of excitement about it. Will they like it the same way you do? Even if you never discuss it with the community at large it still feels unifying knowing that you are participating in something that is larger than just you.

Well this year Station Eleven was the pick, which was great since it was already on my book club list. (That's right my book club is cutting edge ;)

Synopsis

This is a hard book to sum up in my own words so I am taking the first paragraph from the synopsis on goodreads.

"An audacious, darkly glittering novel set in the eerie days of civilization's collapse, Station Eleven tells the spellbinding story of a Hollywood star, his would-be saviour, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity."

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this. It turned out not to be anything like I thought it was going to be. All I knew was that it was sort of a kind of post-apocalyptical tale and so I guess I was expecting more violence and I guess it being sort of zombiesque without the zombies. 

What I got instead was a really interesting tale with interwoven story lines and timelines all with a central character who is really only part of the main tale for the first few pages. 

It was interesting to see how different groups dealt with the decline in population and society. Some people built their own communities and were quite happy with their life. Others took on a more vigil-anti approach and caused terror and fear. The same circumstances but vastly different results. 

I loved the story line of the comic book. I almost hope the author finishes its story and does a graphic novel because it has piqued my interest and I would love to find out what happened.

There was only one thing that bugged me about the book and this is what made me not give it 5 stars. So the population is decimated and there are not enough people to keep different services going like the electrical systems etc. But, you would think that with books still around they would have been able to figure out how to get these things working a little faster. It's like 15 years or so later and they still don't have electricity and they have to scavenge for any goods they get? Wouldn't there be some sort of industry. It just seemed a bit slow for me and just bugged me that no one who was still living had the curiosity and the tenacity to get the lights on again. I know it is a silly thing to get hung up on but it bugged me all the way through. Perhaps she is talking to our dependence on technology and google and that when it goes we may not know what to do. But still, it was irksome.

So if you like multiple story lines and differing timelines this is definitely the book for you. If it's not your cup of tea, you may want to pass but then again, it may be worth the effort.

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

from goodreads

4 stars

Today is the last day of school! YAY!!!!! I have been done with making lunches and for that matter any form of food for the past three weeks. And now the end is here and I am so glad.

It is funny how something as simple as making lunches can really wear on you. But, in today's world it is more than just slapping a few things together, throwing it in a bag and saying here you go. A lot more thought has to go into it.

Lunches have to be peanut free and litter free. As well, they have to have variety, be healthy and be something that the kids will eat. Also at our school they have a balanced day format so that means that the kids eat twice. So then you have to decide what goes in the first break pouch and what goes in the second break one. So for each lunch for each child a lot of thought and care has to go into each one. After a while it gets to you.

So now I am looking forward to my two month respite of having to make prepared lunches. I think PB&J sandwiches will be on the menu for most of the summer because the kids can make those themselves. Maybe I will have them make me my lunch for a change. Now, there's a thought.

Synopsis

Cassie Hobbes has a special talent. She looks at someone and know exactly what type of person they are. It is so second nature she can't help it. She is then contacted by the FBI to be part of a talent development group. This group works on cold cases, but they become much more real.

My Thoughts

This was a really fun and enjoyable read. My book club friend summed it up the best way. She said "it's Criminal Minds meets Nancy Drew with a bit of the Scooby gang thrown in." It is a great blend of the dark side of humanity and the lighter side of being a teen. Some of the romantic feelings seemed a bit contrived or forced. But other than that I enjoyed the characters and found them to be relatively believable.

This book did have a bit of a feel of the "set up" book, where you were getting through the necessary facts so the rest of the series can flow. So this story wasn't as deep as it might have been. But it was still enjoyable and it has set up what I think will be a really neat series.

The main character was a real hard one to figure out. She seemed sort of flat yet interesting. I know those are kind of polar opposites but it's the way it is. I found her hard to picture at times. Perhaps more description would have helped. Yet the dialogue she had was great. She stood up for herself without seeming to pushy or rash. It was nice seeing a young female heroine who didn't feel she had to do everything herself or have a death wish. Strong but a team player, I liked it.

The rest of the characters were rather steerotypical, the physically aware and attractive girl who liked to stir the pot, the quieter nerdy girl who could spout out stats like nobody's business, the quiet and aloof boy, and the boy of many layers. Though they seem like characters that could be in any YA fiction their certain mesh worked and helped carry the story along.

While this is not going to win a pulitzer it was still an engaging, fun, twist and turn mystery ride. I am looking forward to reading the next installment soon. The third book in the series is due out sometime this year.

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 Good Girl by Mary Kubica

from goodreads

4.25 stars


The past few days has been wave of sickness days. I thought we were going to be done with all this coughing and sneezing and throwing up now that spring has actually sprung. But, alas, it seems that is not what the cosmic forces have in store for me. This has been the most sickly winter we have had in a long time. Possibly ever. It all started after we ate at Harvey's so the only conclusion I can come to is that we should eat at Harvey's again and that will bookend the sickness and we will be all done with that. Seems like a win-win to me!

Synopsis

This follows the tale of Mia, a twentysomething from Chicago. She is kidnapped. The tale is told from three different perspectives Mia's mother, the detective in charge of finding her, and her kidnapper. It is quite the psychological masterpiece.

My Thoughts

This was a really good read. I found I kept on wanting to read, which made for a few very late nights.

The characters are very diverse but believable. I love that the story is told from different vantage points. It is neat to get the different perspectives and views of what is really going on. I felt sort of invested in the characters and would love to see what their lives are like now that this part of their story is over. I also liked how the book is a mishmash of before and after. At first it was a bit confusing but, you get used to it and it makes for a brilliant telling of this story.

Books like this make me so happy to be living a relatively normal, simple, happy life where mind games don't abound and we don't feel like we have to fit in or perform to a certain level.

If you are looking for a great psychologically thrilling book I would highly recommend this book. It was great!

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.)