Everything is Fine. by Ann Dee Ellis

This is a nice young adult novel. Short and fast, I picked it up from the library around 3 and had it finished by 8, without neglecting any of my motherly and wifely duties. So it might take 1-2 hours to read.

Mazzy is the main character (yes, I do take issues with her name.) I think she's 12. Maybe younger. She is at home during the summer with her mom who is basically catatonic in bed, depressed. Sound exciting?

The story is sad, but not hopeless. I think what I liked best was the writing style. Simple pages, too short to be called chapters. It reads like a girl's diary, kind of poetic, but not forced. I didn't love the way every 10 pages or so another hint comes out to explain the tragic event that lead up to the crisis the family is in. I felt like it was a game to withhold it until the very end. BUT, I liked the ending, even if it was a little quick. Just a couple more pages would have helped. But it is on the happy side.

I recommend it, but probably only give it 3 out of 5 stars. If you're a sucker for Young Adult fiction like I am, it's worth picking up. Plus, Ann Dee Ellis is a Mormon mom, and this is a way better book than so many I've read. So support her!

Gourmet Rhapsody by Muriel Barbery

I'll just say it up front. If you liked The Elegance of the Hedgehog, you'll probably like this book. If you didn't, I wouldn't bother. Of the two I like Hedgehog better, but it is longer and more difficult to get through. I liked this book, but I did not love it.

The main character of this book is a world famous food critic, but not a very likable guy. He's arrogant, he goes on about how he never liked his children, he is unfaithful, and rude. So why read a story about him? I know. But the story is that he is dying, and he is thinking of a flavor that he can't quite recall. I think it's an interesting set up.

The chapters alternate between Arthen's description of a food he has eaten in the past (like tomatoes in his aunt's garden), and a person from his life describing their feelings and interactions with him.

In my opinion the food chapters are very interesting and fun to read. The writing is so intricate and descriptive without being overwhelming. I would guess that the translator deserves quite a bit of the credit. I think it is written so well, but I have to remember that it was written in French.

The food chapters also made me very hungry. The descriptions are so vivid you can almost taste the food!

Unfortunately I didn't copy down any great descriptions. I had to return my book because it was blocking my library card, but here are a few excerpts I liked:

In reference to dessert being eaten after a meal, and not when we are hungry, "not destined to fill some primary need, but to coat our palate with all the benevolence of the world." I love that.

A portion of a garden is described as "a cathedral of light splattered greenery."

"People think that children don't know anything. It's enough to make you wonder if grown-ups were ever children once upon a time."

I enjoyed reading the character's description of the foods' textures, flavors and merits. I liked the emotional connection that each of the flavors he was recalling had for him in his life. Some of them are very intimate and sensual. I just wish he was more likable.

This is a short book. It was translated and published after The Elegance of the Hedgehog, but it was Muriel Barbery's first novel. It was written 5 or 6 years earlier. It is set in the same building as Hedgehog.

I haven't talked to anyone else who has read it, and you know, that was the reason I started this blog. SO I'd love to hear what you thought!

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

My son read this at school, then did an at home project on it. I was so curious by his board game that I borrowed his class copy and read it myself.

I thought it was a fun book. The title was really familiar to me, but I don't think I've ever read it. The main character's name is Milo, and he's described as a pretty boring little boy. Then one day his adventures begin.

The journey that he takes is filled with puns and literal interpretations. I think this is such a perfect match for my 10-year-old because he is full of both of those! But I didn't feel like it was too cheesy or too much. I've recommended it for book club, so I hope I'm not the only one.

I think Norman Jester is very clever, and here are a few examples.

"People who don't pay attention often get stuck in the doldrums."
(The doldrums of course being an actual place.)

In reference to words: "Remember while it is wrong to use too few, it is often far worse to use too many."
"Be very quiet because it goes without saying."(If you don't talk, then the vehicle will move forward.)

"If you only do the easy and useless jobs, you'll never have to worry about the important ones which are so difficult."

"Rhyme and Reason, without whom wisdom withered." (Just rolls off your tongue, right? Rhyme and Reason are, of course, princesses that Milo must save.)

"So many things are possible just as long as you don't know they're impossible."

This is a nice quick children's book. I thought it was a fun read and so different. I'd love to hear what you think!

Schooled by Gordan Korman

My 10-year-old son is a big Gordan Korman fan. I would guess he's read at least 20 of his books. According to my book jacket, he has written at least 50. This was my first time reading one of his books, and I was impressed. He writes very honestly, and I think deals with some intense topics, but keeps it appropriate for younger readers.

The characters in this book don't stray too far from their stereotypes, aside from the main character Cap Anderson. Cap and his grandma are the last two remaining residents of a commune founded in the 1960's. He has lead a sheltered life, and when his grandma is convalescing in the hospital, he is shoved into a modern day middle school.

This book reminded me of Stargirl. The stories are similar. While I liked Stargirl better, Schooled has a much happier, tidier ending. Each chapter is written in the first person by one of the characters. I think the technique works well, and provides good insight into the thoughts and motivations of each character. I still think Korman could have been a little more creative with his characters. They were so stereotypical, popular football player, outcast--on the chess team, no less, sidekick, popular girl, etc. But they were well developed.

The most insightful part comes when the popular boy (Zach) has now been outcast and is having a conversation with the boy (Hugh) he has tormented for years.

"My whole life, it's always been obvious what sports to play, what bands to listen to, what people to hang out with. It's as if I was born with a natural guidance systerm inside my head, showing mme how to be cool."....Instead of gloating, he actually seemed to understand. For Hugh Winkleman, the whole planet didn't come with a book of instructions.

Doesn't is seem like from a young age those kids who will be popular and cool seem to stand out? It's hard to explain, but I think Korman said it well.

I'm looking forward to reading more of Gordan Korman's books. Apparently I'll have plenty of choices!

The Frog Princess by E.D.Baker

My four-year-old found out about the new Disney princess movie from their website. She was thrilled and told me all about it. When I heard it was based on this book (I'm not sure if it really is....), I had to look into it. Then my friend at book club told me she had read all the books in the series and really liked them.

And, I really liked this book. I didn't love it, but I think it is really fun. The characters are cute, the story is interesting and creative. It's not as predictable as I feared.

I liked the characters, but some of the development was a little confusing. Like the author had little details about them she wanted to make sure to include, and they were just awkwardly interjected. When Emma decides on the swamp fairy plan, it felt weird to me, and out of character.

It almost felt like a Disney animated movie. Cute characters, good storyline, but with a few painfully cheesy lines. Like when Emma mentions that her grandmother lived "through the woods," and "even my horse knows the way."

I also liked that Emma didn't do what I expected her to do. She wouldn't kiss the frog a second time because she knew better. She didn't want to make things worse. She makes her own decisions, but still learns from other characters. I think she's a fun heroine. I will read more of the series.

I just realized my same four-year-old was looking through my library copy this morning and now my little notes are lost. I was so determined to write a more thought out review this time. Sorry.

So I recommend it! From the little research that I did, the movie seems to be inspired by the book, but I don't think it follows very closely. Which is too bad, hopefully it will be a fun movie anyway.

The Magician's Elephant By, Kate DiCamillo

I really like Kate DiCamillo's books. If you do too, I recommend this book. Her stories and characters are quirky and a bit strange. This one reminded me more of Edward Tulane and Desperaux than Winn Dixie. It seemed to me like a book I would assume had been written in a different country.

I love the poetic way she writes. Here's the opening sentence,
"At the end of the century before last, in the market square of the city of Baltese, there stood a boy with a hat on his head and a coin in his hand."
Isn't that pretty?

I do love the mis-match characters and how they recognize the good in each other and help each other. DiCamillo describes one of the characters as having "the soul of a poet." I like that.

Another great quote from a kind nun, "All of God's creatures have names, every last one of them. Of that I am sure; of that I have no doubt at all."

And, stay with me here, the elephant, while in captivity, "was saying her name to herself." Why? Because, "It was the name that her mother had given to her and that she had spoken to her often and with love."

There is a dark sadness in the book, but the end is happy. My favorite kind of ending. The characters take leaps of faith. The faith is in the magic, but I'm OK with that because it is such a sweet magical story.

I read this one early because I was the recipient of a generous Barnes and Noble gift card. If you live around here you can borrow my copy.

Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Theif

If this series had been around when I was 9 or 10, it very well may have been my favorite.

Sammy is a girl and she solves a mystery. The story is quick, not too scary, and the characters are likable. Of course as a grown-up, there are lots of things I would have liked to have seen developed more, but I guess that's why there is a whole series.

I hope I can convince my boys to at least give this one a shot. There's a good chance I'll check out more of these when I need a little break. (Like after reading Dickens!)

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

I've been struggling to figure out how to review this book. We haven't had book club yet, so maybe I'll form some more opinions. I went back and forth so many times reading this. It is SO LONG. Small type, complicated wording, and it takes people forever to get their point across. I know, I'm a total baby. I've been spoiled by reading clever, concise, modern novels lately I guess.

Sixty pages in I decided I was done. This poor boy's childhood. I can't handle cruelty toward children, even in 150 year old fiction. So.

But I came back to it, and at about 500 pages, I couldn't put it down. So YES, I recommend it, but just know what you're getting into. Decide if you can commit. I can never read books over a long period of time, it's just not something I can handle. So this took me a lot of squeezed in moments, almost all of Murphy's naps, and lots of late nights. I think I finished it in about 10 days.

There were a lot of things that I thought about while reading it. Like why some themes appear so much in literature. How sad it is that this book was probably accurate in having almost all orphans or single parent households. And why I didn't like the book for awhile. In fact, so many bad things kept happening, that I became suspicious of every new character that was introduced. BUT of course the story gets better, and of course I love a *relatively* happy ending.

It was hard for me to understand parts of this book. Like David's profession. A lot of the legal and business discussion was hard for me to figure out.

In the end, I like David's character, I loved his aunt, I loved Mr. Peggotty, and Peggotty, and of course Agnes (such a terrible name). I think Dickens had a sense of humor when he named his characters, and they were right on! (Except Agnes.)

This is my rambling review, I went through so many opinions and emotions while reading it that my review is equally scattered!

Step-Ball-Change by Jeanne Ray

It's impossible not to compare this book to Eat Cake, by the same author. And I think I'd still recommend Eat Cake as the better story. Both begin with a group of people thrown together in the midst of tragedies, who help each other out, and for the most part become better people and solve each other's problems.

That being said, I liked this book. It has a happy, tidy ending. The characters have a good sense of humor about themselves. The family relationships are great. There is a lot of discussion about marriage, and I think much of what is said is insightful.

It was hard for me to imagine Caroline as 62. But I love that she was. She has two sons, a daughter, then a son just like me. I love to think that my kids would be stopping by and sharing their problems with me 28 years in the future.

I love when she talked about dancing, and how that had been her love in life.

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Reading this book again felt similiar to reading Harriet the Spy to my kids earlier this summer. Both books are great. Both are interesting stories, told well. But this time reading, I just felt like they were old-fashioned. They felt out of date, and I noticed more of a disconnect. It's hard to put into words, but I just wonder if I was reading either of these books for the first time as a child in 2009 if they would be as enjoyable.

(By the way, if Claudia mentions putting on a "petticoat" then the girl pictured on the cover of the book should not be wearing striped tights or Sketchers like my copy.)

Some good quotes:

"She was convinced she would develop a medium-serious skin disease within five minutes after she got off the bus."

"The silence seeped from their heads to their soles and into their souls."

Claudia's explanation:
"When you hug someone, you learn something else about them. An important something else."

I do believe literature is timeless, I do. I think so much of this book is amazing. But somehow childrens' literature just seems to feel more dated to me than other books.