tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61373654459487461152024-03-04T20:34:37.869-08:00Like Me TooI love to read and this is where I write about the books I've read.Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-91756430783803606342013-09-01T23:49:00.001-07:002013-09-02T01:05:01.100-07:00Ireland by Frank Delaney<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z_4J4iEbzt_HwaQKppJFIJbKLXhEhD_fvJCQZI2U8hUJY92ZIlXBvZlYXhAyJba34UUG4A94P6DauOAWa-VfvuT02rrmoS1V0YphFmeJ3UOVFhAKdUo-h2QbeJTiAfi9lkhPsM3aMuJ4/s1600/Ireland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6z_4J4iEbzt_HwaQKppJFIJbKLXhEhD_fvJCQZI2U8hUJY92ZIlXBvZlYXhAyJba34UUG4A94P6DauOAWa-VfvuT02rrmoS1V0YphFmeJ3UOVFhAKdUo-h2QbeJTiAfi9lkhPsM3aMuJ4/s320/Ireland.jpg" width="217" /></a>I love listening to a good story, and I think telling one is an art. This is one of the ideas that is at the heart of <em><span style="color: #990000;">Ireland</span></em>. A captivating and mysterious travelling storyteller comes to Ronan's house when he is 9 and it changes the course of his life forever. Why? Because he is so drawn by the stories and the man that tells them, that he spends his life searching him out. The dismissals, near misses and goodbyes are heartbreaking! But thankfully, after going through so many different moods and emotions, this book ends on a happier note!<br />
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The chapters alternate between Ronan's life as he grows up, and stories, most of them about the history of Ireland. But it's not a history book. The stories are magical. Many involve folklore, and have obviously evolved with each retelling. This concept alone is fascinating to me. Not everyone can tell a good story. Knowing what to include, what to leave out, what to embellish, is a talent, and the chapters that include stories from The Storyteller, really stand out as excellent examples. That is not to say that sometimes I wasn't so anxious to find out what was going to happen next in Ronan's life that I was tempted to skim over a story. But don't do it! They are worth reading.<br />
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There are so many bits of wisdom woven into the stories. Here are a few I jotted down:<br />
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<em><span style="color: #990000;">"Anytime a great man tries to do a wonderful thing, lesser men will try to stop him. That is one of the laws of life."</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: #990000;">"There's nothing braver than a man who knows fear and conquers it."</span></em><br />
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And because this is the first day of September and that makes me a little sad<em><span style="color: #990000;">..."I welcomed August more than any month in the calendar, especially those last ten days when the gold is seeping into everywhere ."</span></em><br />
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I loved The Storyteller, and so was eager with Ronan as he sought him out and gathered information. This search brings magical moments of discovery that actually made me gasp as I was reading. Later in the book, Ronan experiences the death of a loved one, and his emotions are illustrated so well. I could feel his pain, and loved how those around him recognized and verbalized the sadness this event brought.<br />
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I enjoyed reading this book so much. The stories of Ireland, the art of storytelling, and the mystery that Ronan is trying to solve. All three elements work together without competing and blended perfectly for me! I couldn't put it down, but was so sad to finish it off. The ending is well-<br />
written and satisfying. I am intrigued to read more of Mr. Delaney's books!Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-50334505501359754242013-08-19T17:58:00.003-07:002013-08-19T17:58:56.724-07:00The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXV-gfL7f-1njgjh0oa6ebSX6yfgEF9FbC61WKASm1ZPEWPHr8UEoA3j9RIem8ba9wl0kD9JwBvMo-09DeGD5pi-1scJnxQH7nP6xfEvFCdjuZjz73Mj0adVZLsCDBuhb88AS-SAiQa2F2/s1600/The-House-on-Mango-Street-picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXV-gfL7f-1njgjh0oa6ebSX6yfgEF9FbC61WKASm1ZPEWPHr8UEoA3j9RIem8ba9wl0kD9JwBvMo-09DeGD5pi-1scJnxQH7nP6xfEvFCdjuZjz73Mj0adVZLsCDBuhb88AS-SAiQa2F2/s320/The-House-on-Mango-Street-picture.jpg" width="202" /></a>This is the kind of book I would like to write. Each short-short is powerful, pretty and just the right length. I love to read slice of life, coming of age type books, and Cisneros creates this kind of style in a unique way. These little stories involve many of the same characters, and the events and emotions overlap. They weave together to tell us about Esparanza and her life on Mango Street.<br />
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I also enjoyed reading Cisneros introduction. Don't skip it. I found it really insightful into her life, and therefore her writing.<br />
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Here are some samples of her writing: <br />
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<em><span style="color: #990000;">"They are the only ones who understand me. I am the only one who understand them;. Four skinny trees with skinny necks and pointy elbows like mine. Four who do not belong here but are here..."</span></em><br />
<br />
Or<br />
<br />
<em><span style="color: #990000;">"In English my name means hope. In Spanish it means too many letters. It means sadness, it means waiting. It is like the number nine. A muddy color..."</span></em><br />
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I love the way the words tumble out and create the mood they intend. I think Sanda Cisneros is brilliant and very good at what she does.Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-9569533638066721472013-07-30T01:27:00.001-07:002013-07-30T01:30:54.922-07:00The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnrJOL0fdEyS3OM0c-LjR748lrkvotRmZYVHuiwBJk21tlOSh5f6eWhI8SBrUSIkJBCtXYIwHfCjdz8JqoIk7DlTVhI_ZQ1OI5Jg_JnpQbmzlmJ5ml9hD1DvvNtGSNf_Ux3Vjc2YKjgjH/s1600/the_night_circus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnrJOL0fdEyS3OM0c-LjR748lrkvotRmZYVHuiwBJk21tlOSh5f6eWhI8SBrUSIkJBCtXYIwHfCjdz8JqoIk7DlTVhI_ZQ1OI5Jg_JnpQbmzlmJ5ml9hD1DvvNtGSNf_Ux3Vjc2YKjgjH/s320/the_night_circus.jpg" width="207" /></a>This book is magical! I was drawn in so quickly and read it every chance I got! It kept my attention, and even though the ending let me down a bit, I recommend it.<br />
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The very first chapter of the story describes the Night Circus. These descriptive second person point of view chapters are interspersed through out the book and give you the overall affect of the circus. <em><span style="color: #cc0000;">"Your curiosity got the better of you, as curiosity is wont to do."</span></em> The other chapters alternate--randomly--between the lives of a few main players. Marco, Celia, Herr Thiessen, Bailey, and a few more I'm forgetting. They are told in third person, but each provides a rich story in itself, and it only gets better as they weave into one another. The chapters are dated, and toward the middle I found myself remembering to look at these, and they help piece the story together. At one point you are switching back and forth between two stories exactly a year apart. Thrilling!<br />
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The book itself felt like a magical night circus. Some parts followed as you thought they would, but others were unpredictable. <span style="color: #cc0000;"> <em>"Aspects settle temporarily and then vanish into distorted shadows once more, never remaining steady for more than a moment."</em></span> You are unsure who is really magic, and who is playing along. The characters are eccentric, but important. Heroes, victims, and sometimes they surprise you! I'm usually the first to be annoyed with description, but the pictures are painted so well in this book! I felt myself imagining details that I usually don't bother with when I read. Just like every element works together to make the circus,"<em><span style="color: #cc0000;">each part melding seamlessly into a whole,"</span></em> so do the parts of the book. The dreamy, poetic writing, the elegant, quirky characters, and the secretive, illusive chapters all work together to make the book feel magical and mystical.<br />
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Sadly, when the book begins its ending, it loses some of its charm. I felt like I didn't believe or understand how the circus was dependent on Celia and Marco, I never really understood why Marco couldn't leave London to travel with the circus, and even though I loved Bailey--his story was a little muddled. Maybe I wanted the book to be longer because I was enjoying reading the story so much. For me it ended too quickly. While I liked the resolution, it seemed almost sudden and without enough explanation. I felt like I had to read between the lines too much.<br />
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I still think you should read The Night Circus, and I'd love to hear what you thought!Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-77150786335178367742013-07-18T18:06:00.000-07:002013-07-30T01:28:00.636-07:00The 100-year-old Man who Climbed out the WIndow and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXipmCM9o-VmPJSxhg1_GRCunxt8FixxJHH0_ufRiYmSHVCU6mhLssdL4Go4sAuuCB1QCwvvCAoZqF1g8faObinLpeAhhpcB1W7gnKFjBgfc1JW-yC_p_0s6rLENBD1yMrx34riyg7Xao/s1600/100+year+old+man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXipmCM9o-VmPJSxhg1_GRCunxt8FixxJHH0_ufRiYmSHVCU6mhLssdL4Go4sAuuCB1QCwvvCAoZqF1g8faObinLpeAhhpcB1W7gnKFjBgfc1JW-yC_p_0s6rLENBD1yMrx34riyg7Xao/s320/100+year+old+man.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
This was a fun book to read! I thought the story was hilarious, and it is reminiscent of books like <em>Candide</em>, or <em>The Alchemist</em> in the way that the main character is taking a life-changing journey. BUT it doesn't take itself to seriously, and the story borders on ridiculous. <br />
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The chapters rotate between Allan (the 100 year old man who climbed out his window), the chief inspector that is following him, a couple other men who are trying to find him on both sides of the law, and then chapters that are flashbacks.<br />
<br />
I enjoyed the stories of Allan's past lives and adventures the most. These parts are why people compare this book to <em>Forrest Gump</em>, but I really think it transcends. Through quirky coincidences and choices, Allan has crossed the path of many famous people and had influenced history all over the world! I thought these episodes were creative and fun to read. And really well thought out.<br />
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It took me awhile to get thorough this book, but not because it was boring. I was busy, and it is the kind of book that you can put down and come back to.<br />
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I recommend it!Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-47947725829045835072013-07-09T00:15:00.001-07:002013-07-09T00:15:15.730-07:00Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQOPz-KQ43JefdvZifq_qmMVc1ffTOiK1PruSYlmykz3i0FYTnf6UIlMXR8y_ChHz2HSVJFLVu3YfQ0dgKLtJY4F13rU5_qh1Ij9kUD6qyGnBPxdh4x96Sxe8GEalY0LFOvsoMTEtZoCh/s1600/Stalin's+Nose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQOPz-KQ43JefdvZifq_qmMVc1ffTOiK1PruSYlmykz3i0FYTnf6UIlMXR8y_ChHz2HSVJFLVu3YfQ0dgKLtJY4F13rU5_qh1Ij9kUD6qyGnBPxdh4x96Sxe8GEalY0LFOvsoMTEtZoCh/s320/Stalin's+Nose.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>
This book came highly recommended to me by my friend Sara. It is really good. It is really sad. I think it would be great to read in a classroom with middle school-ish aged kids because it could lead to so many different discussions.<br />
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Sasha is 10 years old and in love with the security Stalin's communism provides for he and his father. He is strongly loyal and very excited to join the Young Pioneers. Suddenly everything he knows and believes in is turned upside down. It is sad and frightening as you realize there is no winning or happy ending possible. If you aren't turning in others, you are guilty. Its a theme we've read before, but so powerful when you read it through the eyes of a child.<br />
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This was also my first experience listening to a book on CD with a couple other people. I listened to it with my son and my mom. We were all mesmerized. I was stressed the whole time about what horrible thing was going to happened next. BUT the character is OK. The ending is promising.<br />
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I really prefer reading to listening, so I'll be tracking down a hard copy of this.Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-30773771842879073702013-05-26T21:42:00.001-07:002013-05-26T21:53:22.843-07:00The Age of Miracles<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_o9Gu35CA4nJ3Vhs8LG1ZKvqqF4B-JlL4TzV1lPzr9W2V-pIODgWE6WVywZf27O8LIdAx0bLltgfhQix3YnfHacbtAfeOC8lbmI9TXty30h4KE608EIp0wSfi6abhg5HpdtaR8XyQ5fm/s1600/The-Age-of-Miracles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_o9Gu35CA4nJ3Vhs8LG1ZKvqqF4B-JlL4TzV1lPzr9W2V-pIODgWE6WVywZf27O8LIdAx0bLltgfhQix3YnfHacbtAfeOC8lbmI9TXty30h4KE608EIp0wSfi6abhg5HpdtaR8XyQ5fm/s320/The-Age-of-Miracles.jpg" width="214" /></a>This story begins with the announcement that the Earth is turning more slowly. Instead of 24 hours, a day is now 25 and a half hours long, and gaining. So the conflict and setting are definitely science fiction, but the story is more of a coming of age. Julia tells the story and the majority takes place when she is in 6th grade.<br />
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I loved this book. It's hard sometimes for me to determine if the book is really that great or if it is just the exact sort of thing I like to read. I liked Julia. I could relate to her. I loved the poignant moments that just seem so true and universal and sad. <br />
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Julia tells the story with maturity, she uses a wide vocabulary, she uses similes, she makes comparisons, but for me it works. I did keep imagining she was a couple years older, but her age is important to preserve some of her innocence. She's writing from the future, and sometimes makes comments alluding to the big picture of her life. For example, <em><span style="color: #0b5394;">"Maybe everything that happened to me and to my family had nothing at all to do with the slowing. It's possible. I guess. But I doubt it. I doubt it very much."</span></em><br />
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Karen Thompson Walker uses this scientific phenomenon to illustrate how people interact with each other. Especially how we respond to change, differing views and having faith. I enjoyed thinking about how these things would play out, but didn't feel like she was forcing sociological theory on her reader. <em><span style="color: #0b5394;">"I guess every bygone era takes on a shade of myth."</span></em> and <em><span style="color: #0b5394;">"This is just to say that as strange as the new days seemed to us at first, the old days would come to feel very quickly the stranger."</span></em><br />
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I loved the characters, I loved the slow, thoughtful pace of the writing, and I loved Julia's story. Here a couple more reasons why.<br />
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<em><span style="color: #0b5394;">"My most recent school picture, in which my eyes were half closed, on the verge of a blink, rendering moot all the time I had spent selecting the cream-colored mohair sweater I wore on picture day."</span></em> So relatable! When I was in 8th grade I had PE before pictures, and we had to run the mile. I had probably spend 30 minutes curling my hair that morning, for nothing. School pictures are so horrible.<br />
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<em><span style="color: #0b5394;">"This was the first of the white nights. We would later learn to shield ourselves, to carve out small patches of darkness amid the light, but that first clock night was radiant......my ceiling stars were invisible that night anyway, just like the real ones were, every one of them washed out by our nearest, dearest star."</span></em> I love the poetic almost sing-song narration.<br />
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I really liked this story. It has a few swear words in it, but I would still recommend it to young adult girls. I was hoping to recommend it to my sons, but because there are scenes where Julia buys her first bra (<em>so good</em>), and many moments where she is trying to understand boys, I think it's more suited for a female audience.<br />
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I read this after reading this <a href="http://www.kacyfaulconer.com/2013/05/book-report-age-of-miracles.html#comment-form" target="_blank">review</a> (warning: it contains spoilers).Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-68104233951512376272013-04-29T12:44:00.001-07:002013-04-29T12:44:18.502-07:00The Spellmans Strike Again Lisa Lutz<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWO_wEBxZ-g-uT1Zy4pw2F0N0pIQEcJ8k_eyUzjMa-rapoyhjQllx1YY8H57mNIh5DPt8fyl37A5G7apZgyWsL1OFnAxw53X7jFqstqxvUiYUkU_JwQDaSXCeNEpK6Lx2EGhO8bNmrk8xC/s1600/spellmans+strike+again.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWO_wEBxZ-g-uT1Zy4pw2F0N0pIQEcJ8k_eyUzjMa-rapoyhjQllx1YY8H57mNIh5DPt8fyl37A5G7apZgyWsL1OFnAxw53X7jFqstqxvUiYUkU_JwQDaSXCeNEpK6Lx2EGhO8bNmrk8xC/s1600/spellmans+strike+again.jpg" /></a>So I looked through my archives and figured out that it was WAY back in 2009 that I read the first three books in Lisa Lutz's Spellman family series. I really enjoyed them at the time because they were so different that other stuff I was reading.<br />
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This weekend I read #4, there are still two more in the series, and I enjoyed it just as much. That being said, it kind of felt like a TV series to me. The characters kind of do the same stuff and say the same things. The mysteries are new, and I can never quite figure them out, so that's good, but there isn't a lot of change. Actually in this book, Izzy and Rae both make some choices and appear to mature a bit. But for me, this was just sideline stuff, and almost felt forced. I realize I'm not really selling it. I like the Spellmans, the characters and their stories.<br />
<br />
SO the bottom line is, this is a fun, light read. If you've read the other Spellmans, this will follow suit. If you haven't, I recommend you pick up The Spellman Files. I think you'll like it. Just beware of a few F-words that come out of left field.Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-50987511670001056782013-04-07T19:26:00.000-07:002013-08-08T20:01:35.191-07:00Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMBgXPlcE0XSfO3cpntOlajtyf3VREGQf5mV6fL0YfAQCsVOGMMHfttQh2kIlCtDGXxtoVovOalTa-4EML_ie7_taJVemVc4b8jNSsA4iA4Y_krKPjhroI1pacNlzcXb4WK9Eqcqpv6sf/s1600/BECOMINGLEON.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMBgXPlcE0XSfO3cpntOlajtyf3VREGQf5mV6fL0YfAQCsVOGMMHfttQh2kIlCtDGXxtoVovOalTa-4EML_ie7_taJVemVc4b8jNSsA4iA4Y_krKPjhroI1pacNlzcXb4WK9Eqcqpv6sf/s320/BECOMINGLEON.jpg" width="222" /></a>My 6th grade son read this book for Battle of the Books at school. I was intrigued that he enjoyed a book with not only a girl's name in the title, but a picture of her on the cover! He told me I had to read it, and I loved it!<br />
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Naomi lives with her brother and Great-grandma. They live in a trailer park, Gram makes all her clothes, and her brother has some physical challenges. So you can imagine Naomi struggles a bit to fit in. Luckily, she is surrounded by people who love her: her teacher, the librarian, and the neighbor lady, make up for the friends and parents she is missing. Life is going OK until her mom comes back into town. <br />
<br />
Naomi explains, <em><span style="color: #274e13;">"One of her (Gram's) favorite sayings was that the good and the bad of any situation were sometimes the same. When I was little I had trouble holding my brain on that thought, but now it was starting to make sense."</span></em> Their mother has plans for the future that are scary and lead to Naomi, Owen and the grandma taking a road trip to Mexico. I liked how the situations have enough conflict to feel real, but they are kept age appropriate, and nothing too horrible happens.<br />
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Naomi keeps a notebook full of lists. I loved this habit of her character. On the back cover of my copy of the book, it says: "Things I am Good At: 1) S<br />
oap carving 2) Worrying 3) Making Lists.<br />
<br />
I love the writing style and the way the words are pretty, but feel natural. <span style="color: #274e13;"><em>"Her fingers were nimble and gentle. It felt as though she was playing the piano on my head." or "Gram said Fabiola's mission in life was to feed the world with a smile." </em></span>This book has won a few awards, and I think they are well deserved! <br />
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I loved the story, the characters and the writing style! I recommend it.Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-62534507862139123842013-03-10T23:21:00.000-07:002013-03-13T00:44:12.186-07:00Where'd You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02IKRUJKHLpj_cSIb66slF-Og_h2Yflr1_8r_df_teqCkEyBBln0VoeZsjS_E3aU2lmMO6TpYbjbnqZKojgXR7aoUMay0HWAxrfL56k-bZew75nY-ggQleEnlZnNUbu8Fsuygt4a27Az5/s1600/whered-you-go-bernadette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh02IKRUJKHLpj_cSIb66slF-Og_h2Yflr1_8r_df_teqCkEyBBln0VoeZsjS_E3aU2lmMO6TpYbjbnqZKojgXR7aoUMay0HWAxrfL56k-bZew75nY-ggQleEnlZnNUbu8Fsuygt4a27Az5/s320/whered-you-go-bernadette.jpg" width="206" /></a>My sister gave me this book for my birthday, and I LOVED it! I recommend it for sure.<br />
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The story is told through a series of documents: e-mails, receipts, bills, letters, interspersed between first person accounts written by Bee. Bee is an eighth grader at a prestigious middle school whose father works at Microsoft and whose mother has become kind of a recluse in their big crumbling home on Queen Anne. If you're from this area, you'll love the Seattle references, if you're a mother who has ever been involved with PTA, volunteering, or over anxious moms, you will crack up knowingly. <br />
<br />
Here's an example of Bee's mom, Bernadette. She's describing how her heart starts racing when she lays down to go to sleep. <br />
<em><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">"It sucks in any benign thoughts that might be scrolling across my brain and attaches visceral panic to them. For instance, during the day I might have mused, Hey, I should pack more fresh fruit in Bee's lunch. That night....it becomes, I'VE GOT TO PACK MORE FRESH FRUIT IN BEE'S LUNCH!!! I can feel the irrationality and anxiety draining my store of energy."</span></em> Funny, right? And sort of relate able? Thats what I loved about this book.<br />
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And a quote from Bee, <em><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">"We'd pass icebergs floating in the middle of the ocean. They were gigantic, with strange formations carved into them. They were so haunting and majestic you could feel your heart break, but really they're just chunks of ice and mean nothing." </span></em><br />
She's thoughtful, quirky and someone you want to be friends with.<br />
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As you read, you get to know both of these women, and the documents do a good job of piecing the story together. You get to see both their perspectives, their Dad/husband's, and a nosy neighbor's. It is written cleverly and I don't think the story is too predictable. Some parts maybe, but she manages to develop even stereotypical characters into something more.<br />
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This is a story of a family who has been distracted and lost touch a bit with each other. Through some funny and some tragic events they come back together. I really enjoyed Maria Semple's writing style and the characters she created. I laughed, I cried, I hope you'll like it too.Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-62053177753674235572013-02-21T14:32:00.004-08:002013-02-21T14:35:30.733-08:00The Paris Wife by Paula McLain<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQYMI7-XIxmMmTLbgCIny4zStz2iU-Ob99qTx5P9kDWZb8yfJTJafQyrnxSP8RWJ0FSlzLt3Rj_U3cYzqQkUp1HmP-eArtTrGnpKxuKjuqtM1V1N4jv383p3lCCIBDBDI6v77vG0J-LTV/s1600/the-paris-wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQYMI7-XIxmMmTLbgCIny4zStz2iU-Ob99qTx5P9kDWZb8yfJTJafQyrnxSP8RWJ0FSlzLt3Rj_U3cYzqQkUp1HmP-eArtTrGnpKxuKjuqtM1V1N4jv383p3lCCIBDBDI6v77vG0J-LTV/s320/the-paris-wife.jpg" width="207" /></a>I really liked this book! I don't know much about Ernest Hemingway and I knew nothing about Hadley, his first wife.. If you're an expert, you might not enjoy reading this fictional account of their romance and life together. But, I believe Paula McLain really did the research, and sought to portray an accurate but fresh perspective.<br />
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The story is great. Hadley meet Ernest on a trip to Chicago and there is magic. She was living a dull life, and suddenly she has this connection and as they develop their relationship, I think she becomes the woman she wanted to be. Or at least starts on that journey. I liked her from the beginning and found her so relate able. I like that she was an ordinary woman, and while she points out flashier girls in her circle, she isn't self-deprecating. She has confidence and feels worthy of her surprise romance. I hate reading stories of girls who constantly comment that they can't believe their boyfriend/lover/husband would fall in love with them. Gag. Hadley isn't that way at all. She loves her husband and commits herself from the start.<br />
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I also like seeing and learning about people before they came into their own. Hemingway was nothing, he was broke, he was struggling to make friends and get published. I like seeing that more vulnerable side of someone you know is going to become so successful. <br />
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This is the first book I've read by Paula McLain, and I really like her writing style. I'm curious if this is how she always writes, or because it is written in first person, if this is the voice she gave Hadley. Either way, it was great. For example, <em><span style="color: #cc0000;">"The nest of fish was crisp under a coarse snow of salt and smelled so simple and good I thought it might save my life. Just a little. Just for that moment."</span></em> Beautiful!<br />
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Or this conversation when Hadley was feeling a little lonely for Ernest and maybe sad. <br />
<span style="color: red;"><em> I sighed. "I think it's going to rain all day."</em></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><em> "Don't kid yourself. It's going to rain for a month."</em></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><em> "Maybe it won't after all."</em></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><em> </em></span><span style="color: red;"><em> He smiled at me. "All right, Tiny. Maybe it won't."</em></span><br />
<em><span style="color: red;"></span></em><br />
<span style="color: black;">It must be hard when telling a story that many of your readers have a pretty good idea of the ending, not to painfully foreshadow. McLain is careful in her writing, so when she does, it's successful. This is a good example. </span><span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>"It was the end of Ernest's struggle with apprenticeship, and an end to other things as well. He would never again be unknown. We would never again be this happy."</em></span><br />
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In this story, Hadley does a lot of thinking and reflecting on their marriage. I found the underlying thoughts (not the circumstances) very familiar, and thought provoking. They meet up with one of Ernest's friends and she comments that he <em><span style="color: red;">"saw and understood what was good in us."</span></em> Just like those people who you feel the most yourself around, it's great to have friends that make you feel that way about your marriage. There are a lot of thoughts she has and soul searching she does toward the end that I thought was really good. But I can't discuss it without giving too much away. I'll just tell you that I think she does a lot of things right.<br />
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Another thing I found really relate able was Hadley's need to feel connected and to feel successful. I wish so bad she had worked or had something to fill up her days with when they first go to Paris. Later she makes time to go out with friends even if she's not in the mood. I think that is so important! Simple get togethers and events have saved me so many times.When her friend suggests that she give a piano concert, she thinks <em><span style="color: #cc0000;">"It would take so much more time and effort..."</span></em> but then <span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>"I began to wonder if a concert might be good for me after all."</em></span> And <em><span style="color: #cc0000;">"My playing wouldn't change anything about his habits--I wasn't naive enough to think that--but I thought it might give me my own focus and outlet, beyond the details of Bumby's feeding schedule and exercise regimen."</span></em> AMEN. I would give this advice to any woman who stays at home with her kids, find something apart from them to work on and feel successful doing.<br />
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Right after they get married, Ernest who had been gravely injured in WWI, tells her:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwlTzk6hbrh8AFE3eC3ggh3N58Xw89TEvJaZIYxofQmcLQI4OMjhrgECa41v665WPIW0OpbvvGLHtEnc5LLz15IjiiMYcy3qLGUhjweaktwnSm3QzuEgjj3OlVhIlh8ryUQvdmxtvhMeI/s1600/Hadley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwlTzk6hbrh8AFE3eC3ggh3N58Xw89TEvJaZIYxofQmcLQI4OMjhrgECa41v665WPIW0OpbvvGLHtEnc5LLz15IjiiMYcy3qLGUhjweaktwnSm3QzuEgjj3OlVhIlh8ryUQvdmxtvhMeI/s320/Hadley.jpg" width="180" /></a><em> <span style="color: #cc0000;"> "After I was shot, when my head was still in pretty bad shape, a very wise Italian officer told me the only thing to really do for that kind of fear was to get married."</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #cc0000;"> "So your wife would take care of you? That's an interesting way to think about marriage."</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #cc0000;"> "I actually took it to mean that if I could take care of her--you, that is--I'd worry less about myself. But maybe it works both ways."</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #cc0000;"> "I'm counting on that," I said.</span></em><br />
Maybe this is why things didn't last? Ernest stopped trying to take care of Hadley and was consumed with taking care of himself.<br />
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Read this book. Really, I think you'll like it. It's the best thing I've read in a while and has put me back in the mood to devour some books!<br />
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P.S. When you're reading you'll probably want to look up photos of Hadley and Hemingway. Here's a pretty one from her wedding day I found.Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-69769170396319663022013-02-16T00:08:00.001-08:002013-02-21T14:33:28.379-08:00One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7ppA2hwg7AmsYJBw7RRmvLRqbHrG-GJw_rycj81cMCqCu2HNy8vw-SzS1kqaDLXgZsrwHp5fKm2j6jt1mRXMXqtuTfvHYnHrCLB3wv-qlqmEyenqrfxVK7JVhtSk_06KCXJ-oHj1F1Tb/s1600/One-Thousand-White-Women-9780312199432-198x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo7ppA2hwg7AmsYJBw7RRmvLRqbHrG-GJw_rycj81cMCqCu2HNy8vw-SzS1kqaDLXgZsrwHp5fKm2j6jt1mRXMXqtuTfvHYnHrCLB3wv-qlqmEyenqrfxVK7JVhtSk_06KCXJ-oHj1F1Tb/s1600/One-Thousand-White-Women-9780312199432-198x300.jpg" /></a>Every Christmas my husband picks out a book for me. I love the tradition, and he often picks books that are perfect for me! I really enjoyed this one, but only recommend it hesitantly.<br />
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<em><strong>One Thousand White Women</strong></em> is historical fiction, developed from an actual event that took place in 1854. A Northern Cheyenne chief asked a U.S. authority for 1,000 white women to marry 1,000 men in his tribe. His thought was that the children of these marriages would help his people assimilate into the white culture. He wasn't taken seriously, and it wasn't long before all his people were either slaughtered or forced onto reservations. BUT this story imagines what it might be like if the request had been granted. What kind of women would have gone? What would their experiences have been? Would it have helped relations?<br />
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I like the idea. I think it's interesting to look back at a moment in time and how different circumstances may have affected it. The story is told through journals and letter of the fictional May Dodd. She is a likeable character, and she is well-written. Toward the beginning as the women are travelling west on a train, a less-experienced friend asks May for marriage advice. She tells her <em><span style="color: #990000;">"it is my limited experience that the best way to make them happy--if that is your true goal--is to wait on them hand and foot..." </span></em> I think this is a good example of the writing style. While it is sometimes funny, I almost feel like it is too forced. I'm not sure if I've felt this way before, but it bothered me that the author, a man, spoke so intimately of how it felt to be a woman: childbirth, marriage, motherhood. It just wasn't believable.<br />
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But I did like May. One great quote from her is, <em><span style="color: #990000;">"I have found that the best, and certainly simplest defense of one's faith, or lack thereof, is the truth."</span></em> I've thought about this a lot. I tend to sugar-coat things I'm afraid others don't agree with. It is usually better to just stick with the facts. There's another part where May is describing the dancing around a fire. She's poetic with phrases like <em><span style="color: #990000;">"frenzy of color,"</span></em> and<em><span style="color: #990000;"> "rhythmic heartbeat of the earth."</span></em> I love her summation of the event, <em><span style="color: #990000;">"How the gods watching must have enjoyed their creation."</span></em> Beautiful isn't it?<br />
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The story sometimes feel a little cliche, but I do think the author is able to acurately address the enormous cultural gap between the Native Americans and the white settlers during the late 1800's. For the white women, I think some of the happiness they discover living among the Native Americans seems realistic. Working hard and not having time to sit around and worry about trivial things. They intimacy of family and how the women help each other out. But for me it just doesn't quite hit the mark for me. I finished it, but I didn't think it was amazing.<br />
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Also, there is some horrible violence. I skimmed it, but it is awful. I also felt like the wedding night scenes would have been just as effetive if they had been edited way down. Do you know what I mean? You can create the scene without having to describe everything, seriously.Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-31480696457127023122012-11-18T02:03:00.002-08:002013-02-21T14:33:44.419-08:00Smuggler's Island<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-34VaXNy6wheN4jJKrTbr6sTuqoZ8y-_luzJ8c3mIDZiOU5srAzp7IJlGGmhErKMpCjrzLGr3Z8F6ANzwicgOQ0H1aOW0ylBZQip87Gf0ASash3blH4c_yXBSLR2Oa2r2WIbGMr_Ig8jP/s1600/Smugglers+Island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-34VaXNy6wheN4jJKrTbr6sTuqoZ8y-_luzJ8c3mIDZiOU5srAzp7IJlGGmhErKMpCjrzLGr3Z8F6ANzwicgOQ0H1aOW0ylBZQip87Gf0ASash3blH4c_yXBSLR2Oa2r2WIbGMr_Ig8jP/s320/Smugglers+Island.jpg" width="221" /></a>I think this is the first book I've read by Avi, but I've always been interested in checking him out because he has recieved so many awards, and turned out so many successful books. My 11-year-old son told me several times that I had to read this book, "it is really, really good." He doesn't often get excited about books, so I was curious to see why he liked it. He explained that it is "non-stop action."<br />
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And I agree, there is no waiting around for things to start. This book takes place on a tiny island during prohibition. Shadrach decides to solve the mysteries of the men smuggling alcohol on to their island. He is fueled by the control the head bad guy has over his parents and the other adults of the island. From the start, he is daring and finds himself in dangerous situations. They were a little too much for me, but apparantly that's what kept my son interested and reading. I realize it's fiction, and that it's good for young people to stand up for what is right, but again, as a mom, I don't want kids to put themselves in these horrible situations!<br />
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Also, there's this awful scene where his dad is going to follow through with a punishment, and the whole thing is really uncomfortable for me to read. He doesn't do anything, but then his son is more motivated to catch the bad guys because he knows his dad has given up.<br />
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I think the story is clever, and has enough twists and turns to be an exciting book. I didn't love it, but because my son did, you or your kids might.Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-90947648990501397102012-09-08T20:02:00.001-07:002012-09-08T20:54:10.600-07:00mennonite in a little black dress by Rhoda Janzen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYrEWOAzF3HJJsjblzP-jCOPo2lqoikqnePWzkQptFIQcv4a92NVNW_R206aKvG7V9Q-ecWjtm7tj_E3UIJ6ipfrFZDYg_aRarUPGvATIAEfAmAv4mwo2H3xN5aNVVOrhxO0rlnRNazkx/s1600/Mennonite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYrEWOAzF3HJJsjblzP-jCOPo2lqoikqnePWzkQptFIQcv4a92NVNW_R206aKvG7V9Q-ecWjtm7tj_E3UIJ6ipfrFZDYg_aRarUPGvATIAEfAmAv4mwo2H3xN5aNVVOrhxO0rlnRNazkx/s320/Mennonite.jpg" width="214" /></a>The subtitle of this book is "A Memoir of Going Home." Rhoda Janzen is an accomplished, smart, funny woman. This memoir mostly takes place during a sabbatical she takes in her early forties when she has gone through a divorce and then is seriously injured in a car accident. She has a dry sense of humor and has a unique story to tell. Because she has chosen her parents' home for her sabbatical, she delves into several aspects of her childhood. I think reading stories about growing up in different sub-cultures of the US is interesting and I think her background growing up as a Mennonite qualifies. <br />
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Janzen fits in a lot of funny stories from her childhood. One part that was hilarious to me is when she lists <em><span style="color: #6aa84f;">"In order of least to most embarrassing, the top five Shame-Based Foods for Mennonite youth lunches."</span></em> What follows is a list and detailed description of leftovers and portable food that her mom would pack for her lunch. This reminded me of Melissa in <a href="http://www.kammysbooks.blogspot.com/2012/07/this-life-is-in-your-hands-by-melissa.html" target="_blank">This Life is in Your Hands</a> describing how her mom would pack her homemade yogurt in a glass jar for her dessert, while her peers were eating Twinkies. I like things that are widely universal, and I think wanting the foods other moms packed for your classmates is one of those things everyone relates too.<br />
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Because her marriage has ended, and it was rocky throughout, Janzen has found herself dating again. I thought her commentary on this phenomenon was funny. Her husband was brilliant, but mentally abusive. I think her "sexiness" criterias might just as easily be "rules for attraction." She says, <em><span style="color: #6aa84f;">"In my opinon, sexiness comes down to three things: chemistry, sense of humor, and treatment of waitstaff at restaurants. If the sparks don't fly from the beginning, they never will. If he doesn't get your sense of humor from the first conversation, you'll always secretly be looking for someone who does. And if a guy can't see restaurant servers as real people, with needs and dreams and crappy jobs, then I don't want to be with him, even if he just won the Pulitzer Prize."</span></em><br />
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There are some great ideas as she reflects on her family's religion which she has moved away from. She quotes her mother saying, <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><em>"When you're young, faith is often a matter of rules. What you should do and shouldn't do, that kind of thing. But as you get older, you realize that faith is really a matter of relationship--with God, with people around you, with the members of your community."</em></span><br />
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I also liked Janzen's realizations about virtue. She says, <em><span style="color: #6aa84f;">"I have come to believe that virtue isn't a condition of character. It's an elected action. It's a choice we keep making, over and over, hoping that someday we'll create a habit so strong it will carry us through our bouts of pettiness and meanness."</span></em> I love that. We choose daily what we are going to do. And we hope that by making good choices over and over, we will be come more resilient to making bad choices. I can see this in so many areas of my life. Gossiping, exercising, cleaning...when I choose the better way over and over, it becomes more of a habit. Even if it doesn't get easier, I do believe that good habits prevent us from entertaining bad ones.<br />
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The main thing that bothered me about this book was that many times the funny, quirky even annoying stories felt forced. I feel like maybe Janzen made a list of all the entertaining and interesting stories from her life, for example her sister-in-law, bad dates over the years, random weirdos from college, and then orchestrated how to fit them in to the time frame of this memoir. Sometimes it was in the form of a conversation she had with someone during her sabbatical, and I wanted to say, really? Did this happen or is it an easy way to squeeze in a story you know will be entertaining? When she went back in time to explain different elements of her marriage and relationship with her ex-husband, I could follow along and understand the relevance. But many other times I felt like it was too far of a digression, and the only reason for including the anecdote was to get a laugh. While her philosophical discoveries were sometimes spot on, other times they felt more like a tirade, and kind of forced. I know I can be critical, but for me it seems like she was trying to prove how funny she was. I wanted her to quit trying so hard because I think her intended story was enough.<br />
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I enjoyed many parts of this story, but over all too many parts irritated me to give it a glowing recommendation.Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-74466498570889342332012-08-19T19:34:00.001-07:002012-08-19T19:34:50.657-07:00The Fault in Our Stars by John Green<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCU8nQDY0tla74hMEJg0mqbW8TOsL9ttnjzA4w293ge0mUGV-c6kQ-egOlKY2ws1n5DiLp6amtJ0LaA6F6eHhrT1jFOdU4aH7KsEhF-xe4fjOa3b-nX5AcLJ2dm8jEL0vT0X_IyfuZkMj/s1600/The+Fault+in+Our+Stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCU8nQDY0tla74hMEJg0mqbW8TOsL9ttnjzA4w293ge0mUGV-c6kQ-egOlKY2ws1n5DiLp6amtJ0LaA6F6eHhrT1jFOdU4aH7KsEhF-xe4fjOa3b-nX5AcLJ2dm8jEL0vT0X_IyfuZkMj/s320/The+Fault+in+Our+Stars.jpg" width="218" /></a>When I started this book, I thought it would be a fluffy teenage romance. Although it's a bit cheesy, I could see that a younger me would have enjoyed the playful banter and the excitement the main character feels when she meets a boy that is interested in her. As the book goes on, I thought it dealt with several layers of emotion that are realistic for teenagers. I think the main characters are clever and interesting and I actually really enjoyed reading this book.<br />
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The two main characters are Hazel and Augustus. They both have cancer. Hazel was given a terminal diagnosis, but responded miraculously to one of her treatments. So now she lives with her oxygen tank, her worried and caring parents, and attends community college. Gus is in remission, and is immediately interested in Hazel when they meet.<br />
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The reason I think this story works is that it explores how having cancer has changed these kids' perspective on life and living. They have some great insight to life, but are also burdened with forboding of the future. I think it works. Gus wants to be a hero, he wants the mark he leaves on the world to be important. Hazel is worried about how many people she is going to hurt when she dies. They bond over a book they've read that seems honest and insightful about living with cancer. I liked them both. <br />
There are times when I laughed and times when I cried, that's usually a good sign for a book, right?<br />
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<em>My one complaint, which forces me to add a caveat is that *Spoiler* they have sex about 200 pages in. It doesn't add anything to the story, it doesn't change their relationship, it isn't addressed at any point later in the book. I can't figure out why John Green included this scene in his story unless he thought that it's what teenagers wanted to read. I think it is lame.</em><br />
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Since finishing this book, I keep seeing John Green books pop up on lists. Apparently he's really popular right now. This is the first book of his I've read, and I'm interested to see if I like his other ones.<br />
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<br />Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-21123265394801342192012-08-12T12:39:00.001-07:002012-08-12T12:39:37.577-07:00small as an elephant by Jennifer Jacobson<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic56Sr7Secv6qlbifRldrhxG5SPcCBJ6FMypV6LLC_-EXUzCatlXL3Zi6GPoSKwsC-WWFxGwe4u4l-MqnERvaImTFRcMXNV5pE-V5NDhSKiVhkasR5WWHcLJw9dzrtd0HlSfcgXDQr5eM-/s1600/Small_as_an_Elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic56Sr7Secv6qlbifRldrhxG5SPcCBJ6FMypV6LLC_-EXUzCatlXL3Zi6GPoSKwsC-WWFxGwe4u4l-MqnERvaImTFRcMXNV5pE-V5NDhSKiVhkasR5WWHcLJw9dzrtd0HlSfcgXDQr5eM-/s320/Small_as_an_Elephant.jpg" width="213" /></a>I thought this was a well-written story, but I have struggled to review it. I liked the writing style and I think young readers will enjoy all the excitement. Jack is a logical protagonist who tries his best to help himself in difficult situations.<br />
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The premise of the story is that Jack's mom is bipolar, and she leaves him alone at their campsite a few states away from their home. Jack is 11. He knows that if the authorities find out what she has done, that there will be dire consequences. He is fiercely loyal to his mom and understands that she is not herself when she is "spinning." I think that Jack is a perceptive boy, and that his choices are age appropriate. He is well-developed and interesting.<br />
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My struggle with the story is that he is ABANDONED, LEFT ALL ALONE! As a mother this is terrifying to read and I just want him to trust the level-headed adults that he meets on his quest to find his mom and return home. Also, I am concerned about young readers reading this and thinking that they too could survive in such circumstances. Jack doesn't have it easy, but let's face it, in real life HORRIFIC things could have happened to him.<br />
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The title is clever and Jack has a poignant memory of touching an elephant at the circus as a young boy. I liked how elephants brought him comfort and the powerful moment of enlightenment involving an elephant at the end. The chapters begin with elephant quotes or facts, which string the story together well.<br />
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I gave it to my 13-year-old to read and he really liked it. He read it in one night and we had some good discussion about it.Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-41222417335711356822012-07-31T17:10:00.003-07:002012-08-12T12:39:54.985-07:00Sudden Flash Youth: 65 Short-Short StoriesEdited by: Christine Perkins-Hazuka, Tom Hazuka and Mark Budman<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4tcimarwsFY8N09SZxkgiLF07pP3jrhExUBWNG1blY73zHItiqGNU7wOFV765YRM2amMO3EQ0N0dd8DTvaEMHT-kfXwZqVhlYWHo0UM8AEiNnsMk1ot3CnhWviW2pxnUF6sfvg6RgV5n/s1600/Sudden+flash+youth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4tcimarwsFY8N09SZxkgiLF07pP3jrhExUBWNG1blY73zHItiqGNU7wOFV765YRM2amMO3EQ0N0dd8DTvaEMHT-kfXwZqVhlYWHo0UM8AEiNnsMk1ot3CnhWviW2pxnUF6sfvg6RgV5n/s320/Sudden+flash+youth.jpg" width="208" /></a>I really liked this collection. In college I was introduced to the concept of "short-shorts" and I think they are a fantastic literary form! For the sake of this collection, submissons were limited to 1000 words, and had <em><span style="color: #cc0000;">"an exclusive focus on childhood and adolescent situations."</span></em> So of course I thought it was great.<br />
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With 65 stories, I obviously would rate some better than others. There are a few that deal with dark subjects, but I can only think of two off the top of my head. And they are short, and you can not finish one and still enjoy the rest of the book.<br />
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One of my favorites is <span style="color: #cc0000;">"The Quinceanera Text,"</span> which of course deals with generational cultural differences and values. But it is sweet and the young girl realizes the importance of her gift.<em> <span style="color: #cc0000;">"Will you teach me some of Juanita's recipes? She smiled,her black eyes disappearinginto the wrinkles lining her face. "I teach you everything I know."</span></em> Love.<br />
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Another one I really liked was "<span style="color: #cc0000;">The Burden of Agatha"</span> which deals with an all too familiar adolescent emotion of guilt. It is sad, but so relateable. <span style="color: #cc0000;">"Chalk"</span> has a similiar theme.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">"Friday Night"</span> is good. <em><span style="color: #cc0000;">"Kaddish is a prayer that says how great and exalted God is. You're supposed to recite it when someone dies, even thought that's probably when you don't believe in God the most....you think: eithert God doesn't care or He can't do anything about it."</span></em> I realize that adults are writing these adolescent thoughts, but they are powerful anyway.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">"Dodgeball"</span> totally captures what it feels like to think your actions can change what others think of you when really, it's still up to them. I loved "<span style="color: #cc0000;">History</span><span style="color: #cc0000;">,"</span> when the girl recalls her teacher telling them, <em><span style="color: #cc0000;">"we believe things are true because we've seen pictures, but then he said, someone had to make those pictures. Someone had to decide which details were important enough to write down."</span></em> Which reminded me of a conversation I had years and years ago with my uncle who is a photojournalist.<br />
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Reading all these well-written concise stories really made me want to teach. The conversations and writing assignments that could spring from them seems endless! I loved that I could read one or two in the 5 minutes I gave my kids to brush their teeth and use the bathroom. <br />
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They are inspiring and thought-provoking and for the most part very, very good. <br />
Check it out!Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-54119622119289823132012-07-21T18:25:00.000-07:002012-07-31T17:11:29.303-07:00Out Stealing Horses by Per PettersonI really liked this book! It has kind of a dreamy feel, and very little dialouge. The narration is told in present tense, <em><span style="color: #444444;">"all of my life I have longed to be alone in a place like this.....to be in a place where there was only silence."</span></em> Trond is 67 and has just moved to a remote cottage in the woods in Norway. He has been successful in life, but is grieving the loss of his wife and sister. The story switches back and forth between present day, and the summer of 1948 when he lived with his dad in another remote cottage. It is kind of like a conversation with your grandpa where he tells you what he's doing now, but then shares poigniant moments from his childhood. <em><span style="color: #444444;"> "The feeling of pleasure slips into the feeling that time has passed, that it is very long ago, and the sudden feeling of being old."</span></em> I love the way he says that! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3gJZSBlOHwxAB_0u-ZLteDMSqbtGnS_eOcFmQTdqCRxao7tEfbr2kUhyphenhyphenJQmJ393tMZ31fH9v-od-bHFwfMe7whsvxp3UsH686_xxsvTQZu4piNDjoP7ht2DLo6_W5mWZo6E5Vw1myuSP/s1600/Out+stealing+horses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3gJZSBlOHwxAB_0u-ZLteDMSqbtGnS_eOcFmQTdqCRxao7tEfbr2kUhyphenhyphenJQmJ393tMZ31fH9v-od-bHFwfMe7whsvxp3UsH686_xxsvTQZu4piNDjoP7ht2DLo6_W5mWZo6E5Vw1myuSP/s320/Out+stealing+horses.jpg" width="211" /></a><br />
One story I liked was a memory he has of his father. Trond was afraid to cut back some stinging nettles because he thought it would hurt. His dad pulled them up with his bare hands, and then said, <em><span style="color: #444444;">"You decide for yourself when it will hurt."</span></em> This becomes kind of a theme. When Trond is physically hurt or exhausted, he remembers those words and pushes on. I think it works on another level too. He is mourning his losses, but he is still in control. He can choose when it will hurt. <br />
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I really liked his explanation of how the people in town knew him. He hasn't lived there long, but he has been friendly and made contacts. That isn't the same as making friends. <em><span style="color: #444444;">"People like it when you tell them things, in suitable portions, in a modest, intimate tone, and they think they know you, but they do not, they know about you, for what they are let in on are facts, not feelings, not what your opinion is about anything at all, not how what has happened to you and how all the decision you have made have turned you into who you are." </span></em> And he goes on.<br />
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This is a bit of a spoiler, but he doesn't have a lot of years with his dad. In one of the present day chapters, he explains, <em><span style="color: #444444;">"I close my eyes every time I have to do something practical apart from the daily chores everyone has, and then I picture how my father would have done it or how he actually did do it while I was watching him, and then I copy that until I fall into the proper rhythm, and the task reveals itself and grows visible, and that's what I have done for long as I can remember..."</span></em><br />
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There are significant moments and memories, but if you are looking for an action packed story, or even tidy resolutions, this is not your book. I noticed a real contrast between the last book I read, which also switched back to memories of the past, but followed a more traditional story line including conflict, rising action, climax, denoument, etc. <em>Out Stealing Horses</em> doesn't follow that pattern at all.<br />
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There are questions left unanswered and characters you never really understand. But for me, it totally works as a novel. I liked how one summer has affected his whole life, or at least how he feels about his life. As he dreams or remembers different moments and details of that summer, you can see the significance. I thought about moments or conversations that proceeded to deeply affect the rest of my life.<br />
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<em>Out Stealing Horses</em> is poetic, in fact the final chapter begins with a paragraph that is repeated word for word a couple pages later. Petterson's writing is so pretty, thoughtful and dreamy that I forget it was written in Norwegian. So I am also impressed with Anne Born who translated it.Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-72611562887169749062012-07-17T15:03:00.004-07:002012-07-17T15:04:07.541-07:00By Bread Alone by Sarah-Kate Lynch<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteKaPOTbVEYlPnIU5nxdjkf6CL3GCBqvnQa-LJ-sKGlRSWFLOSn7i9_kRlK03uOZrgsXvtd_JWTt6KpBtyfrL3KjzmyzRp_Cif-49zMZ-rAnEi1jXe0qNZWXAlu_b4Uxjb_CP2IjRfySf/s1600/By+bread+alone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteKaPOTbVEYlPnIU5nxdjkf6CL3GCBqvnQa-LJ-sKGlRSWFLOSn7i9_kRlK03uOZrgsXvtd_JWTt6KpBtyfrL3KjzmyzRp_Cif-49zMZ-rAnEi1jXe0qNZWXAlu_b4Uxjb_CP2IjRfySf/s320/By+bread+alone.jpg" width="210" /></a>This book surprised me with it's substance. It took me a while to read the first couple of chapters, and I judged it incorrectly. When I finally dove in, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story. I don't like when authors' hold a key plot line over your head for chapter after chapter the way the family tragedy was kept a secret in this book. But I will say that the way it is revealed felt perfect and realistic.<br />
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The home that Esme is living in now is a tower. Each bedroom is on a different floor, and it is called the "House in the Clouds." I think this is also symbolic of the different layers of the story. Esme bakes bread every morning, and it makes her happy. When the book begins, she has stopped baking it and her family is worried. Her family is fun and quirky, an almost too good to be true husband, a 4 1/2 year old son, her grandma that raised her, her father-in-law and a dog. Of course they all add something unique to the book. The current story is speckled with Esme's flashbacks of the summer she fell in love and learned to bake <em>pain au levian</em>. <br />
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I'll warn you that the flash-back-bread-making (love-making) scenes are more risque than I like to read. They are few and brief, so I finished this up, but I don't want to shock anyone.<br />
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The descriptions of the bread, however, are mouthwatering, and I am interesting in seeking out other books by Sara-Kate Lynch. There are also hilarious moments, like getting gum stuck in her hair, a quince bouncing down the stairs, or the blinding of the goat. I could see thisstory adapted into a successful movie.<br />
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I liked the way the book unfolds and ultimately the insight that Esme gains.<br />
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I recommend this hesitantly, because of the reason I mentioned above and some conversations she has with an old friend that are a little crude.Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-11142141504526500162012-07-09T13:00:00.000-07:002012-07-09T13:00:01.629-07:00This Life is in Your Hands by Melissa Coleman<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImKLwiUNVrpjO0fxZW2_TYnRCxAjSQEJ6Kt7jxaFobbX9toz9ysjuAGzg_j9Paf4xuTrrBeZ_ANF9jgXSRRHpdQwd9r3iSXSuDF1iD-Zaq3_HA8YdL8IIbhSAp1056XJEbLBj7wSIGLuM/s1600/this+life+is+in+your+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImKLwiUNVrpjO0fxZW2_TYnRCxAjSQEJ6Kt7jxaFobbX9toz9ysjuAGzg_j9Paf4xuTrrBeZ_ANF9jgXSRRHpdQwd9r3iSXSuDF1iD-Zaq3_HA8YdL8IIbhSAp1056XJEbLBj7wSIGLuM/s320/this+life+is+in+your+hands.jpg" width="212" /></a>In 1968 Melissa Coleman's parents purchased property in Maine with the dream to live off the land. They build their home, they planted and cultivated crops, and raised their children in a simple, value-driven environment. They were organic and back to the land before it was popular. Their story is fascinating. Melissa does a great job of helping the reader catch the vision of what her parents believed in and worked hard to create.<br />
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This is a memoir, but it ends when Melissa is 9 or 10, so the first half or so isn't really from her memories. I mean, obviously there are memories sprinkled in, but she has heavily researched what was going on with her family during that time. There are excerpts from her mom's diary, quotes from visitors and apprentices, and facts from books and news articles. She pulls them together very well, but it was a little much for me. It seemed a little too documentary, for example, <em><span style="color: #cc0000;">"Cold pinched the inside of Papa's nose as the first rays of sun bloomed behind the darkened points of fir and spruce surrounding the snow-covered clearing."</span></em> This is when she is one, so I guess she's trying to paint a picture, but for me it was distracting and felt too forced.<br />
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Aside from the sometimes dreamy over descriptions, I enjoyed this story. You want to cheer for Eliot and Sue who are working so hard to live the principles they believe in. Melissa has fond memories and I believe includes every moment that she clearly remembers from her childhood. There's a great memory of being at the public library. Growing up on a remote homestead, you can imagine that she is lonely. <em><span style="color: #cc0000;"> "The books surrounded us like wrapped presents. It was only by opening them that you could find out if they held anything special...In a good story, the characters were telling a secret that you knew was true because you remembered it from somewhere deep inside."</span></em> I love that, and I think it shows what a good writer Melissa Coleman is.<br />
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From the beginning of the book you know there is going to be a tragic ending. It's mentioned on the cover, and even hinted at through out the story. This kind of bothered me because there is a sense of foreboding and I kept thinking...is it going to happen now...<br />
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Ultimately this is a well-told story about a family. Starting with the parents and their passion and dreams. I think because their story is unique, it's really interesting to read. I recommend this book, but I didn't LOVE it.<br />
<br />Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-31582999290857043862012-07-06T23:25:00.004-07:002012-07-09T21:05:11.173-07:00because of mr. terupt by Rob Buyea<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjc6a-L7sradu4CeXrwgLUTT0WPF03_GbsiBkXpZHW7GNQDRwIjkDA9r0sZYdl_fEf2nxUmIp0F0r_RdOzXv6e1XDvHn59jZcncNl6wfCt7tjdwehdi9K9ySGoUctTILYY1FnLJ9Xiyf55/s1600/because+of+mr.+terupt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjc6a-L7sradu4CeXrwgLUTT0WPF03_GbsiBkXpZHW7GNQDRwIjkDA9r0sZYdl_fEf2nxUmIp0F0r_RdOzXv6e1XDvHn59jZcncNl6wfCt7tjdwehdi9K9ySGoUctTILYY1FnLJ9Xiyf55/s320/because+of+mr.+terupt.jpg" width="211" /></a>This is a charming story of an inspiring 5th grade teacher. It is told through 7 narrators, all students in the same class. While they are sometimes cheesy, and maybe stereotypical, I thought their individual stories and perspectives were great. I really enjoyed this book!<br />
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<em><span style="color: #674ea7;">Because of mr. terupt</span></em> deals with some grown-up issues like divorce, teen pregnancy, special needs students, guilt and death. But they are all treated and discussed very age appropriately for the characters and the audience. I passed this on to both my 13 year old and 11 year old sons and they both thought it was a really good book. I think male and female readers in their age range will like it. <br />
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It's a quick read that deals with sadness and frustration, but is ultimately uplifting and happy!Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-21762236180847271202012-06-17T14:44:00.000-07:002012-06-17T14:51:56.727-07:00Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaf6ZQsMaa1NSrWZJWcK8BZa67zkRxT4VXNZbXVYoCjw2CZBxtVsOKvBtq-sQWhPsIDOWgn_CR5qu6MCFHEC21KEB3khZUhESvAmixwX4LmN8QkNE5a2XHFrM0vmSp3obkxQh6Bwwj63fp/s1600/saving+ceecee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaf6ZQsMaa1NSrWZJWcK8BZa67zkRxT4VXNZbXVYoCjw2CZBxtVsOKvBtq-sQWhPsIDOWgn_CR5qu6MCFHEC21KEB3khZUhESvAmixwX4LmN8QkNE5a2XHFrM0vmSp3obkxQh6Bwwj63fp/s320/saving+ceecee.jpg" width="211" /></a>This is another book that I've seen around a lot and always with positive reviews. When "I am Sam" recommended it on another post, I put it back on my hold list at the library. (I missed it once already!) And it came in on my Kindle which I love!<br />
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I really liked this story, but I couldn't help compare it with books that I've already read. When the story begins, CeeCee's mother is slipping further into mental illness and her father is slipping further away from their family. Poor CeeCee is left to deal with tragic and embarrassing circumstances and has no friends at school to support her. Luckily she has a sweet old lady neighbor who fills in a couple gaps and helps CeeCee survive. Similarly to <em>The Secret Life of Bees</em>, CeeCee ends up moving to the Savannah, Georgia and forming strong motherly bonds with some great women. I enjoyed CeeCee's perspective and insights. I would categorize this as a coming of age book.<br />
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When CeeCee is thinking about how much she would like a friend she says, <span style="color: #741b47;"><em>"Every day I ached to hear my footsteps walk in rhythm with those of another girl."</em></span> I love that, and the clever way that Beth Hoffman illustrated her point.<br />
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There are really no positive men characters living in this book. However, CeeCee's great uncle is spoken about fondly. <em><span style="color: #741b47;">"He was a powerful man and a kind, kind soul. Usually them two things don't go together."</span></em><br />
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I loved this conversation CeeCee has with her aunt Tootie, <em><span style="color: #741b47;">"One day you'll do something, see something, or get an idea that seems to pop up from nowhere. And you'll feel a kind of stirring--like a warm flicker inside your chest. When that happens, whatever you do, don't ignore it. Open your mind and expore the idea. Fan your flame. And when you do, you'll have found it."</span></em> I think about that a lot as a parent. I want my kids to find things they are passionate about. I think as adults we recongnize what we really like to do more easily. But I guess we don't always have the freedom to pursue those things. But when we do, I believe we are much happier and that carries over to all the other things we have to do with our time.<br />
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I enjoyed reading this book, and I would recommend it. I've been trying to put my finger on why I didn't love it. Simply put, it's just not as good as a lot of other books that follow a similar story line. I thought it was weird that the women in the south who seemed to know everyone, never introduced her to any children. That seems like the most obvious thing they would have done. It happens by accident toward the end and it adds a really sweet element.<br />
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I also think that CeeCee didn't feel as real to me as other young heroines. I think the writing just needed to be developed a little more. The author created a great character, but she doesn't entirely come alive. For example, she loves to read, but we aren't given a lot of insight into which characters or books mean something to her. I loved when she read Nancy Drew to Oletta, but we only get Oletta's comments. I wish that we knew what inspired or comforted CeeCee in what she was reading. I think it would have helped us understand her.<br />
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I love that nothing SUPER horrible happens after the initial tragedies. There were some moments where I was worried. In fact several incidents were written with un-realistically happy endings. But I rarely mind that!<br />
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I also really liked all the crazy ladies she meets in Savannah. The neighbors are almost cartooney in their eccentricities. The homes and the parties are well-described and lovely.<br />
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<br />Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-77488366082354344262012-06-07T22:56:00.002-07:002012-07-06T23:25:49.124-07:00The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This was a fun children's mystery. I think it would be great for 4th-6th graders, but maybe even better if read as a class. It definely feels old fashioned. I can imagine really great discussions and enrichment exercises to go along.<br />
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The book begins with a wide variety of people being selected to live in an apartment building, and then ultimately chosen to solve a mysterious death with the reward of a huge inheritance. Mr. Westing has put them in pairs and given them clues.<br />
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Of course each team is made up of two individuals who greatly benefit from their new friendship. Most of the characters learn something and change for the better by playing the game.<br />
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The writing style is cook, the mystery is clever and I recommend this book for a quick fun read.Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-76052504124806718732012-05-19T08:33:00.002-07:002012-05-25T07:21:50.367-07:00Bookshop Talk<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMjQZZ2jJE_xnLRw_bQZ_WXHHQlyEDKlx-AxxnTkdNxHJxtgBoTfgXdGDw7w3JRYxr4Lv3RRwQ9UlIliGaI6SYaHptd0zOK051pP6BGsTT8NQzW_jY1fJ-Fb6UebNEA_rS0bkUTWFbffI/s1600/bookshoptalkbutton.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMjQZZ2jJE_xnLRw_bQZ_WXHHQlyEDKlx-AxxnTkdNxHJxtgBoTfgXdGDw7w3JRYxr4Lv3RRwQ9UlIliGaI6SYaHptd0zOK051pP6BGsTT8NQzW_jY1fJ-Fb6UebNEA_rS0bkUTWFbffI/s1600/bookshoptalkbutton.bmp" /></a><a href="http://www.bookshoptalk.com/2012/05/falling-together-by-marisa-de-los.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Bookshop Talk</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> has humored me again and posted one of my reviews. It's pretty much the same as I posted on here, but check it out if you feel like it. It kind of makes me feel famous!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">They also posted my review of <a href="http://www.bookshoptalk.com/2012/05/cold-sassy-tree-by-olive-ann-burns-1983.html" target="_blank">Cold Sassy Tree</a>!</span>Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-68233406002507998762012-05-17T11:02:00.002-07:002012-05-17T11:03:35.547-07:00Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcFRjkAQMRz3O3Jda_2ap8XCUq5ogMySTjAF5fnJZbgJW-BHgZFDpfeJ_eZNd24LH02MLuPamwK1_xoEGN7KioaPk7Ox0TfiWKsLyyd4ZuL9VUB2qGsgzecKbSlpVpvpkvd_m3qxfhDNO/s1600/Hollis+Woods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcFRjkAQMRz3O3Jda_2ap8XCUq5ogMySTjAF5fnJZbgJW-BHgZFDpfeJ_eZNd24LH02MLuPamwK1_xoEGN7KioaPk7Ox0TfiWKsLyyd4ZuL9VUB2qGsgzecKbSlpVpvpkvd_m3qxfhDNO/s320/Hollis+Woods.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
This is a short little story about 12 year old Hollis Woods who has been moved around through several foster homes. She has been misunderstood and under-appreciated. She has been told she is trouble so many times that she believes it. She is an amazing artist, and she skips school.<br />
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I liked her character. I think the story is well-written and interesting. I enjoyed the style of writing, and how the chapters alternate between present day, and pictures Hollis has drawn.<br />
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I did get super annoyed that the big event that happened last summer that destroyed her first chance at a happy family is kind of held hostage until the very end. I understand why authors do this, but I wish they wouldn't. The good news is that the book is short, 166 pages. If you read it in an afternoon or evening, you might not have been as annoyed as I was. I spread it out to long, and had to resist flipping to the end to read the details when they were finally revealed.<br />
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The ending is sweet and happy. This is worth a read, and I would guess that girls in 4th or 5th grade would really like it.<br />
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PS. There was a TV movie made in 2007, with Sissy Spacek, I've got to track it down!Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6137365445948746115.post-43156172192545641122012-05-08T10:02:00.002-07:002012-05-08T17:26:43.648-07:00The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkAEWQXQ4e9-2DUfsjpM53uV6Shy7ft2_yso_P7T5XLmtNcNb4PH9fVI0WPsgeqqJ22Fh_tb1yGlx6aV3NaMC22_ZN1qAFMSclSafr0nxJ50jYIbjABBhA9RiTPVWdsL2Sokqq8pd1Z_V/s1600/Happiness+project.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipkAEWQXQ4e9-2DUfsjpM53uV6Shy7ft2_yso_P7T5XLmtNcNb4PH9fVI0WPsgeqqJ22Fh_tb1yGlx6aV3NaMC22_ZN1qAFMSclSafr0nxJ50jYIbjABBhA9RiTPVWdsL2Sokqq8pd1Z_V/s320/Happiness+project.jpg" width="209" /></a>Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany on the subway that she had a great life, but she wasn't as happy as she could or should be. This lead her to research what seems like anything ever written or said about finding happiness, and ultimately set specific goals for herself to try and be happier. I think the concept is genius and the book entertaining to read. I enjoyed both the research she presents and her personal experiences. It is honest, inspiring, and really interesting. I recommend it.<br />
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I have an ongoing discussion in my head and with other people about whether or not you can really, truly change. I've probably engaged you in a conversation about it. Gretchen's assumption that she could consciously make decisions, or a whole series of them actually, and change her level of happiness totally sparked my interest.<br />
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Gretchen sets up a birthday tracker online to remind her to send birthday messages to her friends and family, she cleans out her closet and other cluttered areas of her house, she works hard to stop nagging her family members and she starts a collection. Each month she has a theme like, "Be Serious about Play" or "Remember Love" and then sets a few specific goals to focus on in that category. She diligently keeps a chart for herself and gives herself a star when she is successful. This reminded me of Ben Franklin's attempts to rid himself of his vices and reach perfection. She's a bit more realistic. Some of her goals were things I think I might try, while others were not appealing to me. I love that she tries to push herself to try new things, but then realizes that they aren't working or are making her less happy, and abandons them. <br />
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She decides to keep a one sentence a day journal. I struggle to successfully journal, and I love that no pressure attempt. She also realizes that if she really wants to nag less, she's going to have to work more. Do the little annoying tasks around the house that are bothering her, instead of nagging someone else to do it. I can relate to this and I've been TRYING to do the same. I also liked the reference she made to studies about friendships. (She references many different studies, books and experts--but I didn't find it annoying.) She says, <em><span style="color: #3d85c6;">"Studies show that if you have five or more friends with whom to discuss an important matter, you are far more likely to describe yourself as "very happy."</span></em> I like this. I rarely have a huge crowd of friends, but the few close ones I have are great for me, and definitely contribute to my happiness.<br />
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She also says, <em><span style="color: #3d85c6;">"One reason that challenge brings happiness is that it allows you to expand your self-definition. You become larger...Research shows that the more elements make up your identity, the less threatening it is when any one element is threatened. Losing your job might be a blow to your self-esteem, but the fact that you lead your local alumni association give you a comforting source of self-respect."</span></em> Amen. I think about this all the time with my kids. They've got to have more than one thing that makes them feel good about themselves.<br />
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I also like that she takes on being happier as something you can accomplish by make deliberate choices and expending effort. <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><em>"Some people are unhappy because they won't take the trouble to be happy. Happiness takes energy and discipline."</em></span> It really is easier to criticize, find fault and complain than it is to have enthusiasm, support others and work hard to improve things. <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><em>"Being critical has its advantages, and what's more, it's much</em> easier <em>to be</em> hard <em>to please. Although enthusiasm seems easy and undiscriminating, in fact, it's much harder to embrace something than to disdain it. It's riskier."</em> </span> This was a good reminder of me. I used to think of myself as a very positive person, but if I'm honest, I know that I'm much more cynical and critical than I was 20 years ago.<br />
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Of course there are parts of this book that kind of bugged me. Her over-use of the mantra "Be Gretchen," got on my nerves. It seemed trite and not very helpful. But obviously it was helpful for her. There were also several things she works on that were surprising to me because I couldn't relate to them. <br />
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Another really true issue she addresses is how our need for perfection or fear of failure cripples us and prevents us from improving ourselves. I know this is a theme addressed often, but it always rings true with me. She quotes Voltaire, <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><em>"Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good."</em></span> I love that.<br />
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And ultimately I would agree with a statement that Gretchen Rubin makes on the first page of this book. <em><span style="color: #3d85c6;">"I often learn more from one person's highly idiosyncratic experiences than I do from sources that detail universal principles or cite up-to-date studies. I find greater value in what specific individuals tell me worked for them than in any other kind of argument--and that's true even when we seem to have nothing in common." </span></em> That is why I liked reading this book and why I believe it has been so successful. In the same way we testify in church, ask our friends for advice on facebook or value stranger's product reviews, we like to hear what others think. We like to share experiences and learn from each other. It makes us happy!Kammy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17074359219339426626noreply@blogger.com5