I stand up to go, but Ms. Fairchild shakes her head and points back at my chair. "Evelyn, I know your mother cares about you in her own way. But I want to be very clear with you about something." She pauses, recrossing her legs so I can hear it, nylon sliding against nylon. "You have to understand that you're not the same as she is. You've been given a little gift." She points in the place where her hair touches the edge of her glasses. "Right here." She taps twice, and I think of the fairy godmother in Cinderella, tapping pumpkins with her wand exactly two times, causing stars to shoot out, wishes to be granted. She leans forward, her breath smelling of coffee, her teeth straight but yellowed. "People who don't have this gift often don't understand how important it is to nurture it, to help it grow. Do you see what I mean?"... "You have a different future in front of you." She taps the side of her head again. "You've been blessed."
I forget about the buses. It's important, what's happening, the beginning of something. It's the way stories start. Someone is blessed, picked out as special by someone who can tell, their luckiness planted deep inside them, sure as a seed. (pp. 66-67)
In a story about discovery, growth, acceptance, and the understanding of good and bad, The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty follows Evelyn Bucknow from fourth grade to high school graduation. She lives with her mother Tina in Kerrville, Kansas, the center of the United States it seemed to Evelyn when she located it on an atlas. A simple coming of age story, this book has no great twists or turns; it's just the story of Evelyn's adolescence and the people who travelled through her life. Evelyn experiences new life and death, religion and faith, acceptance and rejection, hope and despair. And she endures much as she finds her way through each new turn of events in her life. Memorable moments in the book include the horse that came to dinner, the pebbles and stars at night while on the roof, headphones worn by God, new skills learned by others, and choices that lead to the love of one's self and others. Memorable characters include Travis, Traci, various teachers, and Samuel. Each teach Evelyn more about life than she ever expected.
I very much enjoyed The Center of Everything by Laura Moriarty. I want thank Lori at She Treads Softly where I discovered this wonderful book last February. I highly recommend this book to others who enjoy a simple story about a slice of life from a small community where people unexpectedly grow and learn in ways they least expect.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Love And Centipedes
It looked like the same sort of centipede that Tuesday had begun to see around her house, ones that seemed to come out of the bathroom and cellar drains.
For a moment the centipede stared back. It appeared to be listening to Tuesday's thoughts. Then it turned suddenly and rippled back up the wall. Its path was hyperbolic at first, followed by a series of sharp, dizzying zigzags when it scooted across the ceiling. Eventually, it stopped its journey just above Maureen Willoughby's booth.
Mini-challenge #1 is to read a short story and review. Love And Centipedes by Paul Zindel is the short story of Tuesday Recinski and her encounter with a popular cheerleader named Maureen Willoughby. Tuesday has been assigned to work on a science project with Maureen's boyfriend Kyle. She now has a huge crush on him and recently experienced an intimate moment with Kyle that leaves her dreaming for more. Maureen has found out about that meeting. After a conversation between the two girls at a restaurant, Maureen later arrives at Tuesday's house to enact revenge. But Tuesday has a power of her own, and Maureen soon finds herself surrounded by more than she expected.
Centipedes, she thought, as she stepped over Maureen and started up the stairs. They're like love. The way love had to come for her. Scary. Complicated. A powerful thing creeping from the shadows.
I smiled as I read about Tuesday's ability to communicate with the centipedes, thinking how other teens would appreciate what she could do. Right or wrong, it made for a very good story. Themes of bullying, acceptance, young love, and supernatural powers are woven into this interesting and unusual story. I enjoyed Love and Centipedes by Paul Zindel and recommend it to others.
For a moment the centipede stared back. It appeared to be listening to Tuesday's thoughts. Then it turned suddenly and rippled back up the wall. Its path was hyperbolic at first, followed by a series of sharp, dizzying zigzags when it scooted across the ceiling. Eventually, it stopped its journey just above Maureen Willoughby's booth.
Mini-challenge #1 is to read a short story and review. Love And Centipedes by Paul Zindel is the short story of Tuesday Recinski and her encounter with a popular cheerleader named Maureen Willoughby. Tuesday has been assigned to work on a science project with Maureen's boyfriend Kyle. She now has a huge crush on him and recently experienced an intimate moment with Kyle that leaves her dreaming for more. Maureen has found out about that meeting. After a conversation between the two girls at a restaurant, Maureen later arrives at Tuesday's house to enact revenge. But Tuesday has a power of her own, and Maureen soon finds herself surrounded by more than she expected.
Centipedes, she thought, as she stepped over Maureen and started up the stairs. They're like love. The way love had to come for her. Scary. Complicated. A powerful thing creeping from the shadows.
I smiled as I read about Tuesday's ability to communicate with the centipedes, thinking how other teens would appreciate what she could do. Right or wrong, it made for a very good story. Themes of bullying, acceptance, young love, and supernatural powers are woven into this interesting and unusual story. I enjoyed Love and Centipedes by Paul Zindel and recommend it to others.
Censorship: A Personal View
I recently stumbled upon an interesting volume of short stories entitled Places I Never Meant To Be: Original Stories By Censored Writers edited by Judy Blume. The book drew me to it because of the list of authors, many of which I read as a young adult. Also after participating last year in the Banned Books Challenge and currently in the 2008 Mini-Challenge of which I will be to reading a banned book, I found the need to add Places I Never Meant To Be to my collection.
Mini-Challenge #9 is to read an essay and review it. Censorship: A Personal View by Judy Blume relates the author's view on how censorship has personally affected her and why she is involved in the organization National Coalition Against Censorship. She begins with her childhood when she was first exposed to censorship and continues with her career as an author who has experienced censorship in her writing as well as had many of her books banned from libraries. She includes her views on how censorship affects the materials we read and why groups battle over it. She concludes her essay with information on what readers can do to become involved in the fight against censorship.
What I worry about most is the loss to young people. If no one speaks out for them, if they don't speak out for themselves, all they'll get for required reading will be the most bland books available. And instead of finding the information they need at the library, instead of finding the novels that illuminate life, they will find only those materials to which nobody could possibly object. (pp. 8-9)
In this age of censorship I mourn the loss of books that will never be written, I mourn the voices that will be silenced --- writers' voices, teachers' voices, students' voices --- all because of fear. How many have resorted to self-censorship? (p.10)
I don't know about you but I don't want anyone rating my books or the books my children or grandchildren choose to read. We can make our own decisions, thank you. Be wary of the censors' code words --- family friendly; family values; excellence in education. As if the rest of us don't want excellence in education, as if we don't have our own family values, as if libraries haven't always been family-friendly places! (p.9)
What I appreciated about Blume's views on censorship is that she did not say that there isn't bad stuff out there that should or should not be read. Instead, she states that we should not let fear be our guideline for censorship. She feels that we need to be informed and be complete in our knowledge of what is being read (not taking words or ideas out of context as many censors do). We should use the written information to open discussion on various topics and views with our children and others rather than hide it or ban it. If censorship should be imposed, it should be a personal choice instead of a universal choice made for everyone.
I have censored and continue to censor what me and my children are exposed to through books and movies/tv. It's a personal choice and it often leads to open discussion in my family. I base my censorship on age, maturity, and ability to handle the information. It is not out of fear, distrust, or opposition to my personal views. My censorship is simply a part of responsible parenting. And most often that censorship does not lead to a total ban of the book/movie/tv show, but rather it is lifted when the time is appropriate.
I found the essay Censorship: A Personal View by Judy Blume very enlightening. I recommend it to others who would like a down to earth discussion on the topic.
Mini-Challenge #9 is to read an essay and review it. Censorship: A Personal View by Judy Blume relates the author's view on how censorship has personally affected her and why she is involved in the organization National Coalition Against Censorship. She begins with her childhood when she was first exposed to censorship and continues with her career as an author who has experienced censorship in her writing as well as had many of her books banned from libraries. She includes her views on how censorship affects the materials we read and why groups battle over it. She concludes her essay with information on what readers can do to become involved in the fight against censorship.
What I worry about most is the loss to young people. If no one speaks out for them, if they don't speak out for themselves, all they'll get for required reading will be the most bland books available. And instead of finding the information they need at the library, instead of finding the novels that illuminate life, they will find only those materials to which nobody could possibly object. (pp. 8-9)
In this age of censorship I mourn the loss of books that will never be written, I mourn the voices that will be silenced --- writers' voices, teachers' voices, students' voices --- all because of fear. How many have resorted to self-censorship? (p.10)
I don't know about you but I don't want anyone rating my books or the books my children or grandchildren choose to read. We can make our own decisions, thank you. Be wary of the censors' code words --- family friendly; family values; excellence in education. As if the rest of us don't want excellence in education, as if we don't have our own family values, as if libraries haven't always been family-friendly places! (p.9)
What I appreciated about Blume's views on censorship is that she did not say that there isn't bad stuff out there that should or should not be read. Instead, she states that we should not let fear be our guideline for censorship. She feels that we need to be informed and be complete in our knowledge of what is being read (not taking words or ideas out of context as many censors do). We should use the written information to open discussion on various topics and views with our children and others rather than hide it or ban it. If censorship should be imposed, it should be a personal choice instead of a universal choice made for everyone.
I have censored and continue to censor what me and my children are exposed to through books and movies/tv. It's a personal choice and it often leads to open discussion in my family. I base my censorship on age, maturity, and ability to handle the information. It is not out of fear, distrust, or opposition to my personal views. My censorship is simply a part of responsible parenting. And most often that censorship does not lead to a total ban of the book/movie/tv show, but rather it is lifted when the time is appropriate.
I found the essay Censorship: A Personal View by Judy Blume very enlightening. I recommend it to others who would like a down to earth discussion on the topic.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The Glass Castle
"How many places have we lived?" I asked Lori.
"That depends on what you mean by 'lived,'" she said. "If you spend one night in some town, did you live there? What about two nights? Or a whole week?"
I thought. "If you unpack all your things," I said.
We counted eleven places we had lived, then we lost track. We couldn't remember the names of some of the towns or what the houses we had lived in looked like. Mostly, I remembered the inside of cars.
"What do you think would happen if we weren't always moving around?" I asked.
"We'd get caught," Lori said. (p. 29)
I won't soon forget the accounts of Jeannette Walls' childhood that are shared in her book The Glass Castle. She begins at the age of three when she is accidentally burned by water on the stove while cooking hot dogs and continues through adulthood when she is finally on her own but still coming to terms with the lifestyle that her parents have chosen. Jeannette and her three siblings lived in many places and in very dire conditions. Her parents' behavior and ideas were unusual and often extreme. Living in desert towns, in the Appalachia's, and finally in New York City, their homes, schools, friends, and living conditions changed frequently. And their family's survival was a daily struggle throughout their childhoods. But one thing always remained stable throughout their lives: their father's dream of hitting it big one day as an entrepreneur and building a glass castle for his family.
One day Professor Fuchs asked if homelessness was the result of drug abuse and misguided entitlement programs, as the conservatives claimed, or did it occur, as the liberals argued, because of cuts in social-service programs and the failure to create economic opportunity for the poor? Professor Fuchs call on me.
I hesitated. "Sometimes, I think, it's neither."
"Can you explain yourself?"
"I think that maybe sometimes people get the lives they want."
"Are you saying homeless people want to live on the street?" Professor Fuchs asked. "Are you saying they don't want warm beds and roof over their heads?"
"Not exactly," I said. I was fumbling for words. "They do. But if some of them are willing to work hard and make compromises, they might not have ideal lives, but they could make ends meet."
Professor Fuchs walked around from behind her lectern. "What do you know about the lives of the underprivileged?" she asked. She was practically trembling with agitation. "What do you know about the hardships and obstacles that the underclass faces?"
The other students were staring at me.
"You have a point," I said. (pp. 256-257)
As Jeannette Walls openly admits, she did not discuss her childhood and was ashamed of how she grew up as well as how her parents chose to live. But in her memoir The Glass Castle, she finally shares that story with others. I highly recommend this book.
"That depends on what you mean by 'lived,'" she said. "If you spend one night in some town, did you live there? What about two nights? Or a whole week?"
I thought. "If you unpack all your things," I said.
We counted eleven places we had lived, then we lost track. We couldn't remember the names of some of the towns or what the houses we had lived in looked like. Mostly, I remembered the inside of cars.
"What do you think would happen if we weren't always moving around?" I asked.
"We'd get caught," Lori said. (p. 29)
I won't soon forget the accounts of Jeannette Walls' childhood that are shared in her book The Glass Castle. She begins at the age of three when she is accidentally burned by water on the stove while cooking hot dogs and continues through adulthood when she is finally on her own but still coming to terms with the lifestyle that her parents have chosen. Jeannette and her three siblings lived in many places and in very dire conditions. Her parents' behavior and ideas were unusual and often extreme. Living in desert towns, in the Appalachia's, and finally in New York City, their homes, schools, friends, and living conditions changed frequently. And their family's survival was a daily struggle throughout their childhoods. But one thing always remained stable throughout their lives: their father's dream of hitting it big one day as an entrepreneur and building a glass castle for his family.
One day Professor Fuchs asked if homelessness was the result of drug abuse and misguided entitlement programs, as the conservatives claimed, or did it occur, as the liberals argued, because of cuts in social-service programs and the failure to create economic opportunity for the poor? Professor Fuchs call on me.
I hesitated. "Sometimes, I think, it's neither."
"Can you explain yourself?"
"I think that maybe sometimes people get the lives they want."
"Are you saying homeless people want to live on the street?" Professor Fuchs asked. "Are you saying they don't want warm beds and roof over their heads?"
"Not exactly," I said. I was fumbling for words. "They do. But if some of them are willing to work hard and make compromises, they might not have ideal lives, but they could make ends meet."
Professor Fuchs walked around from behind her lectern. "What do you know about the lives of the underprivileged?" she asked. She was practically trembling with agitation. "What do you know about the hardships and obstacles that the underclass faces?"
The other students were staring at me.
"You have a point," I said. (pp. 256-257)
As Jeannette Walls openly admits, she did not discuss her childhood and was ashamed of how she grew up as well as how her parents chose to live. But in her memoir The Glass Castle, she finally shares that story with others. I highly recommend this book.
Monday, August 18, 2008
The Grey King
Will paused. "First the moon," he said. "Then stars and, if all is well, a comet, and then the dust of the stars. And at the last, the sun."
"What?" said Bran.
Will glanced across without really seeing. Behind his eyes he was looking into his own mind and memory, not at Bran. Here in this place he was an Old One, occupied with the affairs of the Light; nothing else had very much relevance. He said, "It is the order of things, by which the High Magic shall be known. So that none may come within reach of it except by birthright."
Bran said, "I still don't know what you're talking about." Then he shook his head in quick nervous apology. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound ---"
"It doesn't matter," Will said. "Just follow. You'll see." (pp. 64-65)
The Grey King by Susan Cooper is the 1976 Newbery Medal winner that continues the story of The Dark Is Rising Sequence. Will is a young boy convalescing from hepatitis while staying with his aunt and uncle on Clwyd Farm near Tywyn (Wales). He meets Bran, a young boy who looks and acts differently. But Bran has a special connection to the other reason for which Will is in Wales. Will has a special quest, one of finding a golden harp and then playing it to wake up the Sleepers. Will and Bran conquer this quest but not without obstacles, dangers, and new discoveries along the way.
I had a difficult time reading this book. First and foremost, I am not a lover of fantasy. I have always had a tough time getting lost into a fictional fantasy world. So, although this book is an outstanding book in young adult fiction, it didn't do much for me. I really did try my best to enjoy the story, but I can only say that it was just ok. Secondly, I did not read the preceding books in the sequence, so I did not understand the meanings of the characters and their places in the quest. In fact, I didn't understand the quest at all. Finally, I just could not get into the storyline because I could only see the "surface" of the story: Will searched for a harp and played it and these people rode out and a mean farmer kept chasing after the farm dogs. I know there was more to it than that, but (again) I have a hard time with reading fantasy.
I will say this about the book: It was not hard to read. The words are very descriptive and captivating. The setting sounds beautiful and makes you feel right there on the farm and at the shore. The characters are interesting, especially the many farm hands and neighbors that are introduced. And there is plenty of action and suspense to satisfy any reader.
The Grey King would be a great recommendation for young adult and adult readers who enjoy fantasy and series. After finishing this book, I looked up The Dark Is Rising Sequence and found some background information that I wish I had read prior starting the book. I do not regret reading the book and I am glad that I did indeed finish it. However, fantasy fiction continues to be my least favorite genre.
"What?" said Bran.
Will glanced across without really seeing. Behind his eyes he was looking into his own mind and memory, not at Bran. Here in this place he was an Old One, occupied with the affairs of the Light; nothing else had very much relevance. He said, "It is the order of things, by which the High Magic shall be known. So that none may come within reach of it except by birthright."
Bran said, "I still don't know what you're talking about." Then he shook his head in quick nervous apology. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound ---"
"It doesn't matter," Will said. "Just follow. You'll see." (pp. 64-65)
The Grey King by Susan Cooper is the 1976 Newbery Medal winner that continues the story of The Dark Is Rising Sequence. Will is a young boy convalescing from hepatitis while staying with his aunt and uncle on Clwyd Farm near Tywyn (Wales). He meets Bran, a young boy who looks and acts differently. But Bran has a special connection to the other reason for which Will is in Wales. Will has a special quest, one of finding a golden harp and then playing it to wake up the Sleepers. Will and Bran conquer this quest but not without obstacles, dangers, and new discoveries along the way.
I had a difficult time reading this book. First and foremost, I am not a lover of fantasy. I have always had a tough time getting lost into a fictional fantasy world. So, although this book is an outstanding book in young adult fiction, it didn't do much for me. I really did try my best to enjoy the story, but I can only say that it was just ok. Secondly, I did not read the preceding books in the sequence, so I did not understand the meanings of the characters and their places in the quest. In fact, I didn't understand the quest at all. Finally, I just could not get into the storyline because I could only see the "surface" of the story: Will searched for a harp and played it and these people rode out and a mean farmer kept chasing after the farm dogs. I know there was more to it than that, but (again) I have a hard time with reading fantasy.
I will say this about the book: It was not hard to read. The words are very descriptive and captivating. The setting sounds beautiful and makes you feel right there on the farm and at the shore. The characters are interesting, especially the many farm hands and neighbors that are introduced. And there is plenty of action and suspense to satisfy any reader.
The Grey King would be a great recommendation for young adult and adult readers who enjoy fantasy and series. After finishing this book, I looked up The Dark Is Rising Sequence and found some background information that I wish I had read prior starting the book. I do not regret reading the book and I am glad that I did indeed finish it. However, fantasy fiction continues to be my least favorite genre.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Summer, with Twins
Summer, with Twins by Rebecca Curtis tells the story of four waitress who are trying to make their way in life using the circumstances that each has in their individual lives.
At first Dina earned the most money, but soon the twins were each earning double and triple what Dina and I did. Dina didn't seem to notice; she didn't seem to notice much. She was a better waitress than the twins, but the twins had a secret weapon --- their sameness.
The narrator is spending her summer with twins Jean and Jessica. The twins' father is an investment banker and they dream of finishing college and then follow in his footsteps. Dina is a waitress that they meet at the restaurant where they are working for the summer. She is a middle-aged single mother working hard to make ends meet for her two children, one of whom is in the hospital. The narrator finds herself in the middle: not as easy of a life as the rich, spoiled twins yet not as difficult of a life as the struggling mother trying to makes ends meet with her time and money. The twins seem to have whatever they want and need: a nice home, money for college, nice clothes, good looks, and time to relax on the beach or in front of the TV. Dina seems to have very little: no insurance, large hospital bills, old and stained clothes, huge veins on her legs, and little time for her children. Again, the narrator seems to fall in between.
When an opportunity arises to make some easy money, the narrator passes on the offer knowing that it is not the right thing to do. Everyone seems to agree with her decision, but the lesson has her looking at the waitresses in a different light. Why do some people work with so much ease and receive so much more in return without many worries while others work so hard and receive so little in return with worries that never seem to go away?
Summer, with Twins is a story with much to say about the unequal balance of life's circumstances and rewards that is often observed between people. The descriptions are rich and the observations of the narrator are evident and thoughtful. I enjoyed this short story that left two different impressions on me: first, the simple story of one summer when three young, sassy, inexperienced waitresses meet a seasoned, struggling waitress; and second, the layered story of life and its injustices that sometimes seem so hard to understand.
"Summer, with Twins" by Rebecca Curtis (from Harper's Magazine) from The O. Henry Prize Stories 2007 edited by Laura Furman
At first Dina earned the most money, but soon the twins were each earning double and triple what Dina and I did. Dina didn't seem to notice; she didn't seem to notice much. She was a better waitress than the twins, but the twins had a secret weapon --- their sameness.
The narrator is spending her summer with twins Jean and Jessica. The twins' father is an investment banker and they dream of finishing college and then follow in his footsteps. Dina is a waitress that they meet at the restaurant where they are working for the summer. She is a middle-aged single mother working hard to make ends meet for her two children, one of whom is in the hospital. The narrator finds herself in the middle: not as easy of a life as the rich, spoiled twins yet not as difficult of a life as the struggling mother trying to makes ends meet with her time and money. The twins seem to have whatever they want and need: a nice home, money for college, nice clothes, good looks, and time to relax on the beach or in front of the TV. Dina seems to have very little: no insurance, large hospital bills, old and stained clothes, huge veins on her legs, and little time for her children. Again, the narrator seems to fall in between.
When an opportunity arises to make some easy money, the narrator passes on the offer knowing that it is not the right thing to do. Everyone seems to agree with her decision, but the lesson has her looking at the waitresses in a different light. Why do some people work with so much ease and receive so much more in return without many worries while others work so hard and receive so little in return with worries that never seem to go away?
Summer, with Twins is a story with much to say about the unequal balance of life's circumstances and rewards that is often observed between people. The descriptions are rich and the observations of the narrator are evident and thoughtful. I enjoyed this short story that left two different impressions on me: first, the simple story of one summer when three young, sassy, inexperienced waitresses meet a seasoned, struggling waitress; and second, the layered story of life and its injustices that sometimes seem so hard to understand.
"Summer, with Twins" by Rebecca Curtis (from Harper's Magazine) from The O. Henry Prize Stories 2007 edited by Laura Furman
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Emily Ever After
"Oh, Emily . . . " she begins. I take a deep breath. "I didn't mean to imply that you were falling away or a bad person or anything. I really didn't," she says, taking a sip of water. "I'm just worried about you, is all. I care about you so much, and I want what's best for you."
"I appreciate that, Jenna. Seriously. You have to know that I love you for that, and I am glad to have you concerned about me. But," I say, pausing, "how can you know what's best for me? You live three thousand miles away. New York is a different world, and one that I am dealing with adjusting to."
"I know you are, Em. I know you really want to do what's right, and I can see that you're trying to walk the line in a very unforgiving place. But you have to admit you've changed. You care about different things. You spend your time differently. You're making different decisions."
"Jenna, I . . ." What do I want to say? How can I explain to her that of course I've changed, but deep down nothing at all is different? (p. 202)
Emily Hinton has dreamed of living in New York since she was a little girl. She wanted to leave all that her small town and close knit family represented. She wanted to live a better life in Manhattan, one of new adventures, endless fun, and exciting people. But can Emily live happily ever after in New York just as she had always dreamed?
Emily Ever After by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt is a story that presents some of the risks and challenges that a person encounters while trying to make life long dreams come true. Moving to the big city, making new friends, dating new men, living a new social life, and working in a prestigious company are some of the ways that Emily thought she could live out her dreams. But all of these changes challenge her faith in some way, and she has to evaluate whether or not she is truly happy with her new life.
The book is lighthearted in tone but serious in message. Being true to yourself, honest with others, connected with your family, and strong in your faith are very evident themes throughout the story. The dialogue is fun and Emily's side thoughts are hilarious. The dreams are big but the reality is well grounded. Many small events along with a few big ones are scattered throughout the story which lead Emily to her final stand, one that allows her to finally realize what her true dream has always been about.
A fun wholesome read, I highly recommend the book Emily Ever After. This is the first book written by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt and the second book that I have read by the duo. They definitely have me hooked on their books!
"I appreciate that, Jenna. Seriously. You have to know that I love you for that, and I am glad to have you concerned about me. But," I say, pausing, "how can you know what's best for me? You live three thousand miles away. New York is a different world, and one that I am dealing with adjusting to."
"I know you are, Em. I know you really want to do what's right, and I can see that you're trying to walk the line in a very unforgiving place. But you have to admit you've changed. You care about different things. You spend your time differently. You're making different decisions."
"Jenna, I . . ." What do I want to say? How can I explain to her that of course I've changed, but deep down nothing at all is different? (p. 202)
Emily Hinton has dreamed of living in New York since she was a little girl. She wanted to leave all that her small town and close knit family represented. She wanted to live a better life in Manhattan, one of new adventures, endless fun, and exciting people. But can Emily live happily ever after in New York just as she had always dreamed?
Emily Ever After by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt is a story that presents some of the risks and challenges that a person encounters while trying to make life long dreams come true. Moving to the big city, making new friends, dating new men, living a new social life, and working in a prestigious company are some of the ways that Emily thought she could live out her dreams. But all of these changes challenge her faith in some way, and she has to evaluate whether or not she is truly happy with her new life.
The book is lighthearted in tone but serious in message. Being true to yourself, honest with others, connected with your family, and strong in your faith are very evident themes throughout the story. The dialogue is fun and Emily's side thoughts are hilarious. The dreams are big but the reality is well grounded. Many small events along with a few big ones are scattered throughout the story which lead Emily to her final stand, one that allows her to finally realize what her true dream has always been about.
A fun wholesome read, I highly recommend the book Emily Ever After. This is the first book written by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt and the second book that I have read by the duo. They definitely have me hooked on their books!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Sisters
They were four very different young women with a powerful love for each other and deep respect, which had been a gift to them above all from their mother, but from their father as well. (p. 101) It was typical of them, and what she had taught them as they grew up, to love each other, with kindness, generosity, and compassion. They had learned the lesson well. (p. 105)
In celebration of an author's birthday in August, I read Sisters by Danielle Steel. I have read many books by Danielle Steel in the past and this one did not disappoint me at all. A lesson in family, love, and generosity is the central theme in this wonderful story of four sisters who come together after a tragic event changes their lives forever. It was fresh, contemporary, engaging, and one of my favorites by this author.
Candy is a well known super model and travels around the world. She is also young and naive. Annie is an artist living in Florence, Italy. She is happy with her quiet life abroad learning how to improve her painting. Tammy is a TV producer of a popular show. She loves her job in LA most days but knows there is something missing in her life. And Sabrina is a divorce attorney in NYC. She has a wonderful boyfriend but she is too afraid of marriage and children because of what she sees everyday in her occupation. It is tradition that every year the four sisters return to their family home in the Connecticut countryside for three holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the Fourth of July. But this year's Fourth of July will challenge their strengths, ideas, and choices. It will bring them together in a way that they could never have imagined.
Sisters presents a story about an extremely close family and how they come together to face what life throws at them. It deals with death, grieving, love, disabilities, overcoming hardships, taking risks, and starting over. Each sister has her strengths and weaknesses, but these add to the colorful story that has you involved in their recoveries both individual and as a family.
My only dislike about the book was the ending. I felt it was rushed to include a twist of romance. I know that Danielle Steel is well known for her romance novels, but I didn't think it was necessary to take this story of a family and their recovery and change it into a light romance novel in the final few chapters. Yes, the romantic thread was a nice part of the book, but I felt the tone and focus of the story began to change as it reached its conclusion.
I have not had a chance to read many of Danielle Steel's latest releases, but after having read Sisters I would like to catch up on a few more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to others.
In celebration of an author's birthday in August, I read Sisters by Danielle Steel. I have read many books by Danielle Steel in the past and this one did not disappoint me at all. A lesson in family, love, and generosity is the central theme in this wonderful story of four sisters who come together after a tragic event changes their lives forever. It was fresh, contemporary, engaging, and one of my favorites by this author.
Candy is a well known super model and travels around the world. She is also young and naive. Annie is an artist living in Florence, Italy. She is happy with her quiet life abroad learning how to improve her painting. Tammy is a TV producer of a popular show. She loves her job in LA most days but knows there is something missing in her life. And Sabrina is a divorce attorney in NYC. She has a wonderful boyfriend but she is too afraid of marriage and children because of what she sees everyday in her occupation. It is tradition that every year the four sisters return to their family home in the Connecticut countryside for three holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the Fourth of July. But this year's Fourth of July will challenge their strengths, ideas, and choices. It will bring them together in a way that they could never have imagined.
Sisters presents a story about an extremely close family and how they come together to face what life throws at them. It deals with death, grieving, love, disabilities, overcoming hardships, taking risks, and starting over. Each sister has her strengths and weaknesses, but these add to the colorful story that has you involved in their recoveries both individual and as a family.
My only dislike about the book was the ending. I felt it was rushed to include a twist of romance. I know that Danielle Steel is well known for her romance novels, but I didn't think it was necessary to take this story of a family and their recovery and change it into a light romance novel in the final few chapters. Yes, the romantic thread was a nice part of the book, but I felt the tone and focus of the story began to change as it reached its conclusion.
I have not had a chance to read many of Danielle Steel's latest releases, but after having read Sisters I would like to catch up on a few more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to others.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Traveling Mercies
Traveling mercies: love the journey, God is with you, come home safe and sound. (p.106)
I have to admit that when I first started reading Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts On Faith, I had my doubts. I had read Suzi's review about a year ago and I was intrigued enough to get my own copy. But this weekend while reading The Overture: Lily Pads I wasn't sure about the book because of Lamott's rough language, brutal honesty about her past (drugs, alcohol, abortion), and proud declaration of being liberal. Then I found a wise old saying to still be true: Don't judge a book by its cover. I mean this in so many ways when it comes to this book, this author, and this topic (faith).
Once I got past the ramblings of the overture and into the chapters, I just could not put this book down. The background was necessary so that I could understand where Lamott has been and where she was trying to lead me in her journey of discovering faith through people, places, and things. Yes the language remained a bit rough at times, and yes her life has been no picnic, and yes she continues to be liberal, but what she shares is so real and heartfelt that the message is even more important than the packaging that surrounds it.
Each chapter has three or more stories that have a common theme for that chapter. My favorite chapters were two, three, and five. My favorite stories included "Why I Make Sam Go To Church," "Forgiveness," "The Mole," "Thirst," and "Mom." I enjoyed several of her thoughts on faith and life in general. I learned, discovered, felt, and journeyed right along side of Lamott as I read her book.
from: "Why I Make Sam Go To Church":
I watch Mary Williams pray sometimes. She clutches her hands together tightly and closes her eyes most of the way so that she looks blind; because she is so unself-conscious, you get to see someone in a deeply interior pose. You get to see that intimate resting. She looks as if she's holding the whole earth together, or making the biggest wish in the world. Oh, yes, Lord. Uh-huh. (pp. 102-103)
from: "Why I Make Sam Go To Church":
It's funny: I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox, full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools --- friendships, prayer, conscience, honesty --- and said, Do the best you can with these, they will have to do. And mostly, against all odds, they're enough. (p. 103)
from: "Forgiveness":
...[I] noticed a yellowed clipping taped to the refrigerator with "FORGIVENESS" written at the top --- as though God had decided to abandon all efforts at subtlety and just plain noodge. The clipping said forgiveness meant that God is for giving, and that we are here for giving too, and that to withhold love or blessings is to be completely delusional. No one knew who had written it. I copied it down and taped it to my refrigerator. Then an old friend from Texas left a message on my answering machine that said, "Don't forget, God loves us exactly the way we are, and God loves us too much to let us stay like this."
Only, I think she must have misquoted it, because she said, "God loves you too much to let you stay like this." (p. 135)
A book well worth the time reading, Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott is raw, interesting, and thoughtful. Although at times I found the author frustrating and whiny, I just needed to occasionally give myself a reality check to remind me that she was writing from a "been there, done that" point of view and that all her experiences have in some way helped shape her life and her faith. I think that's the best message that can come from a book like this.
I have to admit that when I first started reading Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts On Faith, I had my doubts. I had read Suzi's review about a year ago and I was intrigued enough to get my own copy. But this weekend while reading The Overture: Lily Pads I wasn't sure about the book because of Lamott's rough language, brutal honesty about her past (drugs, alcohol, abortion), and proud declaration of being liberal. Then I found a wise old saying to still be true: Don't judge a book by its cover. I mean this in so many ways when it comes to this book, this author, and this topic (faith).
Once I got past the ramblings of the overture and into the chapters, I just could not put this book down. The background was necessary so that I could understand where Lamott has been and where she was trying to lead me in her journey of discovering faith through people, places, and things. Yes the language remained a bit rough at times, and yes her life has been no picnic, and yes she continues to be liberal, but what she shares is so real and heartfelt that the message is even more important than the packaging that surrounds it.
Each chapter has three or more stories that have a common theme for that chapter. My favorite chapters were two, three, and five. My favorite stories included "Why I Make Sam Go To Church," "Forgiveness," "The Mole," "Thirst," and "Mom." I enjoyed several of her thoughts on faith and life in general. I learned, discovered, felt, and journeyed right along side of Lamott as I read her book.
from: "Why I Make Sam Go To Church":
I watch Mary Williams pray sometimes. She clutches her hands together tightly and closes her eyes most of the way so that she looks blind; because she is so unself-conscious, you get to see someone in a deeply interior pose. You get to see that intimate resting. She looks as if she's holding the whole earth together, or making the biggest wish in the world. Oh, yes, Lord. Uh-huh. (pp. 102-103)
from: "Why I Make Sam Go To Church":
It's funny: I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox, full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools --- friendships, prayer, conscience, honesty --- and said, Do the best you can with these, they will have to do. And mostly, against all odds, they're enough. (p. 103)
from: "Forgiveness":
...[I] noticed a yellowed clipping taped to the refrigerator with "FORGIVENESS" written at the top --- as though God had decided to abandon all efforts at subtlety and just plain noodge. The clipping said forgiveness meant that God is for giving, and that we are here for giving too, and that to withhold love or blessings is to be completely delusional. No one knew who had written it. I copied it down and taped it to my refrigerator. Then an old friend from Texas left a message on my answering machine that said, "Don't forget, God loves us exactly the way we are, and God loves us too much to let us stay like this."
Only, I think she must have misquoted it, because she said, "God loves you too much to let you stay like this." (p. 135)
A book well worth the time reading, Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott is raw, interesting, and thoughtful. Although at times I found the author frustrating and whiny, I just needed to occasionally give myself a reality check to remind me that she was writing from a "been there, done that" point of view and that all her experiences have in some way helped shape her life and her faith. I think that's the best message that can come from a book like this.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Do Something
Yet if asked she will say Jame's death was her 9/11.
"We all have our very own," she'll say. "Don't you agree?"
Kate Walbert's short story Do Something relates the story of Margaret, an older woman who still grieves the death of her son James. Throughout the story she is found wandering off with her camera to the military base in her community. She is often picked up by the soldiers on duty because of the posted laws: no trespassing and no pictures. Each time, her daughter Caroline questions her mother's motives and actions when she has to retrieve Margaret from the base.
"I am just trying to Do Something," Margaret says, though Caroline is busy looking for dinner inspiration, for anything other than pasta. "You don't care to understand. It's like everything. Conversation, for example, is now just approximations of opinions adopted from other opinions that were approximations of opinions, et cetera, et cetera. I'm just trying to be real when everything is an approximation."
But this is not true, exactly. Death is not an approximation. It is completely real; it is unchangeable, forever --- an approximation of nothing. Hadn't she seen it that first time she'd found the base, the barracks, the military galaxy? Where had she been going? She can't remember anymore.
Margaret's character seems to blur from activist to unstable person to protester to grieving mother. There is more to the imagery in this short story than I was able to understand. I did find the Contributor's Notes in the back of the collection to be helpful in this matter. The author used personal experiences in the story. She said, "Writing it felt like shaking my fist at something impossible to name any other way."
You are not responsible, she would say. It is shameful what we've done to you. We should all of us be ashamed.
"You are just like the rest of us," she says. "You are only trying to Do Something."
Does Margaret shout this or whisper? It no longer matters. She is suddenly tired and aware that she should go. She'll return home the way she came, driving back through ye olde et cetera to her rightful place beside Harry: Margaret Morrisey, mother to Caroline and the dead one, James.
Although not one of my favorite stories so far, Do Something was an interesting piece that blended modern day current events with a mother's grief and the need to do something about it.
"Do Something" by Kate Walbert (from Ploughshares) from The Best American Short Stories 2007 edited by Stephen King with Heidi Pitlor
"We all have our very own," she'll say. "Don't you agree?"
Kate Walbert's short story Do Something relates the story of Margaret, an older woman who still grieves the death of her son James. Throughout the story she is found wandering off with her camera to the military base in her community. She is often picked up by the soldiers on duty because of the posted laws: no trespassing and no pictures. Each time, her daughter Caroline questions her mother's motives and actions when she has to retrieve Margaret from the base.
"I am just trying to Do Something," Margaret says, though Caroline is busy looking for dinner inspiration, for anything other than pasta. "You don't care to understand. It's like everything. Conversation, for example, is now just approximations of opinions adopted from other opinions that were approximations of opinions, et cetera, et cetera. I'm just trying to be real when everything is an approximation."
But this is not true, exactly. Death is not an approximation. It is completely real; it is unchangeable, forever --- an approximation of nothing. Hadn't she seen it that first time she'd found the base, the barracks, the military galaxy? Where had she been going? She can't remember anymore.
Margaret's character seems to blur from activist to unstable person to protester to grieving mother. There is more to the imagery in this short story than I was able to understand. I did find the Contributor's Notes in the back of the collection to be helpful in this matter. The author used personal experiences in the story. She said, "Writing it felt like shaking my fist at something impossible to name any other way."
You are not responsible, she would say. It is shameful what we've done to you. We should all of us be ashamed.
"You are just like the rest of us," she says. "You are only trying to Do Something."
Does Margaret shout this or whisper? It no longer matters. She is suddenly tired and aware that she should go. She'll return home the way she came, driving back through ye olde et cetera to her rightful place beside Harry: Margaret Morrisey, mother to Caroline and the dead one, James.
Although not one of my favorite stories so far, Do Something was an interesting piece that blended modern day current events with a mother's grief and the need to do something about it.
"Do Something" by Kate Walbert (from Ploughshares) from The Best American Short Stories 2007 edited by Stephen King with Heidi Pitlor
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