Frogged by Vivian Vande Velde

from goodreads

3.5 stars

I am sure you already know this by now, but I love books. I love to read and I am willing to read just about anything. I love seeing books lined neatly on the shelf. They are there waiting for me to discover their hidden secrets. I love beautiful covers. I love being part of a greater reading community. Books truly open up new ways of thinking, new ways of feeling and new ways of being. One day you could be a voyeur of a loveless marriage, the next you could be solving a mystery, the next you could be battling an ogre and the next you could be learning how to fix your leaky pipes.

One thing that I have not been liking about books of late is the lack of editing that some have. Sentences don't make sense. Sequences are out of order. And words are misspelled. Things that could and should have been easily caught. I dislike books of little substance that they are publishing just as a gimmick or because it is based on a popular show or movie. Books shouldn't be published just for publishing sake. They should have substance and a real purpose. They should leave us with a sense of wonder or profound thought. We should feel something after reading, something other than feeling nauseous.

So here here to good books and good editing. Here here to books that help build a fulfilling life.

Synopsis

Princess Imogene is not the perfect princess her mother wants her to be. When she meets a frog who claims to be a prince her world changes... literally.

My Thoughts

This book was really cute. It was a fun and unique take on the princess and the frog. I read this book out loud to my kids and they enjoyed it.

I felt some parts dragged on and could have been condensed somewhat.

I appreciated the fact that we see what the family when they find out something is going on with the princess. Sometimes books focus so much on the main character that you are left wondering "what does their family think happened?" Now we get a glimpse.

This was a nice read but it was not a super memorable story. It is the perfect book to read when you aren't sure what else you should read.

The Mystery of the Jewelled Moth by Katherine Woodfine

from goodreads

4 stars

Man, Have I been busy! The past two weeks have just been a whirl and my list of books to blog about is getting looooong!

What have I been doing? Well nothing super interesting but very productive. I have been going through the kids toys. We have been bursting at the seams and I decided that enough is enough. I took all the toys from the play room and we went through them all and decided what to keep and what not to keep. We threw out broken toys, got rid of dvds they don't watch anymore. Now when I go down to the play room it is actually pleasant. We are going through the rest of the house now looking for missing pieces or other toys that they are done with. What has been really nice is the kids have willingly parted with things. I did not give them an ultimatum or quota. I just said we have too much, just keep what you absolutely love to play with.

I invited my friends/acquaintances to do the same thing and they are going to drop off toys at my house this week and Saturday we are going to have a toy swap. I am setting my house up like a toy store and they can come and take whatever they like. The stuff left over is going to the thrift store. It's kind of exciting.

I also took a few days out last week and went up to my parents house and helped go through the rest of their stuff. My parents are in a retirement home now, due to health reasons. They still had some stuff left in their basement (we are renting their house to a friend of the family's). So my sister, who lives close by, and I tackled what was left over, the majority having already been gone through. Two van loads and a trailer later and the stuff is gone. That was nice to see!

Now I am not saying I am minimalist, but I will say that there is such a thing as too much stuff. Why spend your time and energy on the mountains of stuff you have when you could spend it on yourself, your family and other things you enjoy. That is my mission this year, to really get rid of the things that don't bring us joy and to simplify. Just think of how much time I will have to read then! All of it guilt free too.

Synopsis

This is the second of a series of mystery novels. Sophie and Lil are on the case as they hunt down a missing jewel that has a mysterious and ominous past. Their search brings them close to the ominous Baron.

My Thoughts

This was a great sequel to an awesome debut novel. This book had everything, suspense, murder, intrigue, misdirection and fun.

There were two separate story lines for a lot of the book and I loved how the author brought them together in a natural way that did not seem contrived or stretching at all.

Once again this book allowed us a glimpse into history and society of a bygone era but did so in a way that was engaging. History is fun to learn when it is part of a great narrative.

This book some more mature themes. It talked about arranged marriages, marriages of girls to much older men, the use of murder to quiet people. So for that I would say it would be a book that would be better suited for 12 and up.

I am looking forward to the next book in the series. This is definitely a series that will so be worth the read.

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.

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.

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

from goodreads

3.5 stars

I have always been a reader. I always had a book on the go. Long car trip, no problem, because I had a book. Long bus ride to school, no problem, because I could read. Some of the books I read during my pre-university years have really stuck with me. The Giver is one such book. The idea that you could have a world that made you not see colour, or that didn't remember anything that would cause pain or emotional distress, was so foreign to me that it left me with a sense of incredulous awe. I also loved reading more upbeat books like Gordan Korman's MacDonald Hall series.

It is funny the books that stick with you through the years, the ones that you could read over and over again. Some of them are like old friends helping you know that you are not alone, that others get you. Others are just there to give you an escape and give you dreams. Thank goodness for books.

Synopsis

Jackson's life is in turmoil. His parents are selling all their possessions but won't be completely honest with him about why. Then a giant cat shows up.

My Thoughts

This book is not going to become my favourite, I found it a bit dry, but the story is worthwhile. This is a great book to introduce children to the struggles that families face. This is a great book to help children who are going through tough times, no food, sleeping in cars, feeling helpless. This is a great book that shows that feelings of uncertainty or being scared are okay to have.

The author does a great job at showing how illness can lead to poverty. And that illness and poverty really affects all family members. She also does a great job at showing how we need to educate ourselves and develop many different skills so that we can always be employable. Jackson's parents were free living people, but kids made them become more settled. Their dreams were about playing music all the time. And while it is important to try to live your dreams sometimes those dreams need to be shelved so that necessities can be taken care of and then those dreams can come out again. Reading this book as a parent helped me remember that plans are necessary and that the family's needs need to come first, and my dreams can happen just maybe in a different way or a bit different timing.

I also like how this book shows us how we don't always have to do things on our own. That there are times when self-righteous pride needs to be set aside. Jackson's father refused to go to a shelter or to the food bank. He said others needed it more than they did, even though they were living in their car and were sometimes going hungry. He shows us that sometimes we need to accept that we are at the bottom and need a helping hand up. And it is okay. It doesn't mean you are trying to get something for nothing or taking advantage of people. It just means that you need help, and when you are back on your feet you will pay it forward.

This book shows us how we all need someone in our corner, some friend or parent or even a 6' cat named Crenshaw.

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.

Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley

from goodreads

5 stars

I am not a big art person. Like, I like looking at nice pieces but I wouldn't say, " I get it". I don't look at it and analyse it. It is just a picture. What I do find amazing is how much a picture conveys. Without words you can get a sense of what is happening in a certain time frame or in a job. You can get a glimpse to what matters to the artist, what landscapes they enjoy or perhaps what their favourite colour is.

I guess that is the nice thing about art. You don't have to be an analyser, you don't have to collect it or try to be deep about it. You can just enjoy art because it is there. You can enjoy art just for you. You can let the pictures speak to you or be whatever you need it to be for you at a particular time. That's awesome.

Synopsis

This is a graphic novel that revolves around a woman named Kate. She is opening up her own restaurant while still living above the one where she used to work. When a worker gets injured the "house spirit" shows Kate a way to change things to help the injured worker, but now Kate wants to try and fix everything.

My Thoughts

I haven't read a lot of graphic novels but this is an art form I am going to have to explore a lot more. I love how you don't get bogged down with detailed descriptions. You can just get on with the story and you see what is happening instead of trying to imagine it. The story was pure and was not shrouded in adjectives and adverbs. I think that is the great thing about this genre, it is more dialogue driven, but you know exactly what is happening and you know exactly what the character is like.

I loved the idea that this book explored, the idea of trying to fix things. We often feel we need to fix things when really we just need to let it be. Sometimes the more we try to make things perfect the worse it can sometimes be. And the people we are trying to make happy won't become so. In this story it shows how one change which seems small has ripple effects that could make other things change, and the more you try to change things the more things get changed.

I loved how flawed Kate was. She wasn't trying to put on airs, she wasn't trying to be likeable. She had her own sense of right and wrong, her own sense of self. I love the other characters too. Everyone has something about them that makes them intriguing, even if they are only a minor player.

This would be a great book to try the graphic novel genre. I plowed through it in less than a day. The story is out there but not too out there and it does give you a lot to reflect on. I really enjoyed it!