by Eric Tyson
Dakota County audioCDs
genre: self-help, finance
This would be better in book form. Listening was just so-so. As with other "Dummies" books, I enjoy the author's straight-talk style. So much of this is common sense, but I'm not very good with my money. The first section was most helpful. I need to pay off my consumer debt and live within my means. Investing and the rest doesn't mean much if I charge more than I can pay.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Astrid & Veronika
by Linda Olsson
Hennepin County Library, paperback 150 pages
genre: relationships
I don't remember where I read the review of this book, but it intrigued me. I waited from July to December to get a copy from the library and then was too insanely busy to read it! I finished it yesterday on vacation (and now owe money for the three days it's overdue). Beautiful, haunting, touching.
Astrid is old and lonely. Veronika moves in next door to write and work through her grief. The two women are unlikely friends, but become confidantes of their deepest secrets. From New Zealand to Sweden and through the course of a year, we get to know these women and their lives' stories.
Now I need to find and listen to Brahms' sonata for violin and piano, no. 3 in D minor, especially the second movement. Oh, and eat some wild strawberries. This would be a great discussion book. I'm sad for Johan, wonder about the dynamic between Astrid and her daughter, and would love to hear other women's opinions.
*** The above was written 12/29/2010. I added the below on 11/4/2019.***
I wish I had re-read this in time for the Jordan Library book club in September, but I have finally finished my re-read now. I marked some passages.
Page 138 - "January was hot and sunny and we spent most weekends on the beach. But it never got any easier. The sea became my enemy. We were fighting over the same man." Veronika, talking about her time with James. The author has such a way of expressing things and creating word pictures!
Page 153 - When Astrid shares what happened to her daughter, she says, "Perhaps it wasn't that my love wasn't strong enough. Perhaps it was that my hatred was too strong." Her love for her daughter and her hatred of her husband (and her dad) . . . what tragic sadness! Later, she says, "I think that if we can find the words, and if we can find someone to tell them to, then perhaps we can see things differently. But I had no words, and I had nobody."
Page 156 - "Here, it was as if summer and winter were intertwined: there was summer in the midst of winter, winter in the midst of summer. And there was no autumn, no spring, no time for anticipation, no time for remembrance. Only the present." Not sure why I marked this . . . Veronika is talking about her time in New Zealand. I think it made me think of how much I love living in Minnesota and having four distinct seasons. Each one has its own character and charm.
Sensory! taste, sounds, smell, sight - so evocative!
*** Spoilers below***
Page 170 - "When I think about it now, I wish there had been more time. I feel that grief has its own organic processing time, which cannot be compressed without consequences. Given time to take its course, perhaps the healing is more complete." Did anyone even know she was pregnant with James' child? How awful to deal with the double grief of losing him and then miscarrying the baby!
Page 189 - "Parents have such formidable power. They can protect you from all the pain in the world. Or inflict the hardest pain of all. And as children we accept what we get. Perhaps we believe that anything is better than that which we all fear the most." Astrid, talking about her father. Such intense conversations these two women have!
Page 218 - "And it is my favourite season, autumn. Some see it as the end of the year. Death. But to me, it has always felt like the beginning. Pure and clean, with a lack of distractions. Time to set your house in order and prepare for winter." Astrid, philosophizing to Veronika. It's a conversation of catharsis.
Page 229 - Their goodbye is sad and beautiful and fits them well.
Page 240 - Astrid's letter to Veronika at the end is lovely. "You have known me as no other person has. And I like to think that I have known you a little. . . . To some, my life may seem tragic. Wasted. That is not how it appears to me. You have given me a new perspective. You pulled me out into the bright life again, opened my eyes. Made the ice thaw. And I am so very grateful."
There's a paragraph about love on page 241 that I was going to scan and include, but I'm almost falling asleep so I'll head to bed now and perhaps re-read the book again in nine years!
Here's the list of study guide questions:
Hennepin County Library, paperback 150 pages
genre: relationships
I don't remember where I read the review of this book, but it intrigued me. I waited from July to December to get a copy from the library and then was too insanely busy to read it! I finished it yesterday on vacation (and now owe money for the three days it's overdue). Beautiful, haunting, touching.
Astrid is old and lonely. Veronika moves in next door to write and work through her grief. The two women are unlikely friends, but become confidantes of their deepest secrets. From New Zealand to Sweden and through the course of a year, we get to know these women and their lives' stories.
Now I need to find and listen to Brahms' sonata for violin and piano, no. 3 in D minor, especially the second movement. Oh, and eat some wild strawberries. This would be a great discussion book. I'm sad for Johan, wonder about the dynamic between Astrid and her daughter, and would love to hear other women's opinions.
*** The above was written 12/29/2010. I added the below on 11/4/2019.***
I wish I had re-read this in time for the Jordan Library book club in September, but I have finally finished my re-read now. I marked some passages.
Page 138 - "January was hot and sunny and we spent most weekends on the beach. But it never got any easier. The sea became my enemy. We were fighting over the same man." Veronika, talking about her time with James. The author has such a way of expressing things and creating word pictures!
Page 153 - When Astrid shares what happened to her daughter, she says, "Perhaps it wasn't that my love wasn't strong enough. Perhaps it was that my hatred was too strong." Her love for her daughter and her hatred of her husband (and her dad) . . . what tragic sadness! Later, she says, "I think that if we can find the words, and if we can find someone to tell them to, then perhaps we can see things differently. But I had no words, and I had nobody."
Page 156 - "Here, it was as if summer and winter were intertwined: there was summer in the midst of winter, winter in the midst of summer. And there was no autumn, no spring, no time for anticipation, no time for remembrance. Only the present." Not sure why I marked this . . . Veronika is talking about her time in New Zealand. I think it made me think of how much I love living in Minnesota and having four distinct seasons. Each one has its own character and charm.
Sensory! taste, sounds, smell, sight - so evocative!
*** Spoilers below***
Page 170 - "When I think about it now, I wish there had been more time. I feel that grief has its own organic processing time, which cannot be compressed without consequences. Given time to take its course, perhaps the healing is more complete." Did anyone even know she was pregnant with James' child? How awful to deal with the double grief of losing him and then miscarrying the baby!
Page 189 - "Parents have such formidable power. They can protect you from all the pain in the world. Or inflict the hardest pain of all. And as children we accept what we get. Perhaps we believe that anything is better than that which we all fear the most." Astrid, talking about her father. Such intense conversations these two women have!
Page 218 - "And it is my favourite season, autumn. Some see it as the end of the year. Death. But to me, it has always felt like the beginning. Pure and clean, with a lack of distractions. Time to set your house in order and prepare for winter." Astrid, philosophizing to Veronika. It's a conversation of catharsis.
Page 229 - Their goodbye is sad and beautiful and fits them well.
Page 240 - Astrid's letter to Veronika at the end is lovely. "You have known me as no other person has. And I like to think that I have known you a little. . . . To some, my life may seem tragic. Wasted. That is not how it appears to me. You have given me a new perspective. You pulled me out into the bright life again, opened my eyes. Made the ice thaw. And I am so very grateful."
There's a paragraph about love on page 241 that I was going to scan and include, but I'm almost falling asleep so I'll head to bed now and perhaps re-read the book again in nine years!
Here's the list of study guide questions:
Friday, December 24, 2010
Love Me When I'm Most Unlovable
by Robert Ricken
PRMS professional collection, paperback, 44 pages
These glimpses of middle school psyches really ring true. I got this at MMSA. I'll share it with my staff. One of my favorites:
When I was in 7th grade
my dad passed away.
My mom and I had a really
hard time for awhile
Mr. Clark, my history teacher
came to the wake in a snow storm.
He's the only one I believe
when he says if I need anything, he'll be there.
The author uses different fonts, bold, color, etc. to emphasize the intent of the language. Interesting, funny, diverse - just like middle school kids. This slim book is a great reminder of why we do what we do. Because we matter in kids' lives.
PRMS professional collection, paperback, 44 pages
These glimpses of middle school psyches really ring true. I got this at MMSA. I'll share it with my staff. One of my favorites:
When I was in 7th grade
my dad passed away.
My mom and I had a really
hard time for awhile
Mr. Clark, my history teacher
came to the wake in a snow storm.
He's the only one I believe
when he says if I need anything, he'll be there.
The author uses different fonts, bold, color, etc. to emphasize the intent of the language. Interesting, funny, diverse - just like middle school kids. This slim book is a great reminder of why we do what we do. Because we matter in kids' lives.
Beautiful Beds: 14 Warm and Wonderful Quilts
by Rosemary Wilkinson
Hennepin County Library, paperback 109 pages
genre: quilting!
This is gorgeous to look at! I can't possibly think of starting any new projects right now, but I love to look at beautiful quilts. This book is one that I would seriously consider getting again (or buying). The photos and instructions are quite good. Each design is shown with multiple color combos - very helpful, since fabric choices change the "feel" of the quilt.
Hennepin County Library, paperback 109 pages
genre: quilting!
This is gorgeous to look at! I can't possibly think of starting any new projects right now, but I love to look at beautiful quilts. This book is one that I would seriously consider getting again (or buying). The photos and instructions are quite good. Each design is shown with multiple color combos - very helpful, since fabric choices change the "feel" of the quilt.
Stolen in the Night
by Patricia MacDonald
long story . . .
genre: murder mystery
I had checked out the audiobook of this for my dad a year ago. The last disk was so badly scratched that he didn't find out who the killer was. I had checked out a print edition and started reading it into an audio format on my laptop while he was in Florida last winter. I finally had to return it to the library, so I just bought a copy off Amazon. Earlier this week, I finally finished reading it aloud to him.
Tess is at the center of this story. When she was a child, her sister was abducted from the tent they were sleeping in. The man that Tess identified has died via death penalty, but new DNA evidence has exonerated him. Tess and her quest for truth lead her through many suspicions and discoveries. Not my type of story . . . but my dad seemed to enjoy it, especially finally knowing the ending!
long story . . .
genre: murder mystery
I had checked out the audiobook of this for my dad a year ago. The last disk was so badly scratched that he didn't find out who the killer was. I had checked out a print edition and started reading it into an audio format on my laptop while he was in Florida last winter. I finally had to return it to the library, so I just bought a copy off Amazon. Earlier this week, I finally finished reading it aloud to him.
Tess is at the center of this story. When she was a child, her sister was abducted from the tent they were sleeping in. The man that Tess identified has died via death penalty, but new DNA evidence has exonerated him. Tess and her quest for truth lead her through many suspicions and discoveries. Not my type of story . . . but my dad seemed to enjoy it, especially finally knowing the ending!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Full Service
by Will Weaver
Carver County Library, paperback, ? pages
genre: YA coming-of-age
This was our December PRMS book club title. It was a re-read for me. Will Weaver is one of my favorite Minnesota authors. In this story, a 16-year-old boy is encouraged by his mother to get a job in town (rather than staying on the farm) for the summer. When he starts working at a gas station, he "meets the public" as his mother intended. My favorite parts are the ones with the gangster. I like this main character and his growth as a young man. The book club enjoyed it.
Carver County Library, paperback, ? pages
genre: YA coming-of-age
This was our December PRMS book club title. It was a re-read for me. Will Weaver is one of my favorite Minnesota authors. In this story, a 16-year-old boy is encouraged by his mother to get a job in town (rather than staying on the farm) for the summer. When he starts working at a gas station, he "meets the public" as his mother intended. My favorite parts are the ones with the gangster. I like this main character and his growth as a young man. The book club enjoyed it.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Hattie Big Sky
by Kirby Larson
Scott County Library audioCDs 8.5 hours
read by Kirsten Potter
genre: YA historical fiction
For the most part, I enjoyed this story. Potter was an excellent narrator. It was especially enjoyable to "read" a story of a homesteader in the early 1900s so soon after having read My Antonia. The ending, though, was a disappointment. After all Hattie went through to earn the homestead, and after all the letter writing between her and Charlie, it just seemed to flop at the end. What a letdown. Beautiful story for the most part.
Scott County Library audioCDs 8.5 hours
read by Kirsten Potter
genre: YA historical fiction
For the most part, I enjoyed this story. Potter was an excellent narrator. It was especially enjoyable to "read" a story of a homesteader in the early 1900s so soon after having read My Antonia. The ending, though, was a disappointment. After all Hattie went through to earn the homestead, and after all the letter writing between her and Charlie, it just seemed to flop at the end. What a letdown. Beautiful story for the most part.
Various Titles
by Doctor Seuss
mine, Mary Verbick's
various lengths
The 8th grade book club brought up the topic of Doctor Seuss last week. Mary read the Sneetches to me the next day and loaned me a book that had "The Green Pants Man" in it (not the real title, but there's an empty pair of green pants that scares the main character in it). Then I brought in two of my favorites to share with her - My Many Colored Days and Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! Then she loaned me "The King's Stilts" and "Horton Hatches an Egg." I had never heard of the stilts book, but knew Horton's story (mostly from the Jordan play with Matt Timmons as Horton). Fun stuff. Seuss was never one of my faves when the boys were little, but this has been fun to share titles with another reader.
mine, Mary Verbick's
various lengths
The 8th grade book club brought up the topic of Doctor Seuss last week. Mary read the Sneetches to me the next day and loaned me a book that had "The Green Pants Man" in it (not the real title, but there's an empty pair of green pants that scares the main character in it). Then I brought in two of my favorites to share with her - My Many Colored Days and Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! Then she loaned me "The King's Stilts" and "Horton Hatches an Egg." I had never heard of the stilts book, but knew Horton's story (mostly from the Jordan play with Matt Timmons as Horton). Fun stuff. Seuss was never one of my faves when the boys were little, but this has been fun to share titles with another reader.
It's Our World, Too! Young People Who Are Making a Difference
Phillip Hoose
East Union m.c. paperback 166 pages
genre: service learning
The 14 young people whose stories make up the first part of the book are inspiring. What extraordinary kids to achieve so much! Their point is that they're just ordinary kids who are making a difference the best way they know how. Very cool.
The second half of the book is a "how-to" for kids. Interesting, but not as much as the personal stories. I think I'll buy a copy for my collection, though the pictures and examples are getting pretty old (1980s). It would be great to see kids inspired to make a difference in their own community!
East Union m.c. paperback 166 pages
genre: service learning
The 14 young people whose stories make up the first part of the book are inspiring. What extraordinary kids to achieve so much! Their point is that they're just ordinary kids who are making a difference the best way they know how. Very cool.
The second half of the book is a "how-to" for kids. Interesting, but not as much as the personal stories. I think I'll buy a copy for my collection, though the pictures and examples are getting pretty old (1980s). It would be great to see kids inspired to make a difference in their own community!
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Lily's Crossing
by Patricia Reilly Giff
PRMS hardcover 180 pages
genre: YA historical fiction, coming of age
I just now realized that I'm not sure what the title is about . . . good thing we're discussing it at 7th grade book club tomorrow. Lily goes to Rockaway for the summer and is dismayed to learn that her best friend's family is moving to another state and her father is joining the war effort. She does not get along well with her grandmother. What looks to be a miserable summer is transformed by Albert, a cat, and some revelations about telling the truth.
This book felt very, very young to me. It was good, but seemed geared to upper elementary kids.
PRMS hardcover 180 pages
genre: YA historical fiction, coming of age
I just now realized that I'm not sure what the title is about . . . good thing we're discussing it at 7th grade book club tomorrow. Lily goes to Rockaway for the summer and is dismayed to learn that her best friend's family is moving to another state and her father is joining the war effort. She does not get along well with her grandmother. What looks to be a miserable summer is transformed by Albert, a cat, and some revelations about telling the truth.
This book felt very, very young to me. It was good, but seemed geared to upper elementary kids.
Sammy Keyes and the Dead Giveaway
by Wendelin Van Draanen
Scott County Library audioCDs 7:06
read by Tara Sands
genre: YA mystery
Seventh grader Sammy Keyes has a best friend Marisa and a nemesis in Heather. I've heard some kids rave about these books, so thought I'd better read one. I will need to actually read a print book, though, because Sands definitely affected the way I experienced this book. She did a fine job, but her voice work kind of grated on me. The story was interesting enough - I'll continue to booktalk it to sixth graders. The crux of the intertwining story lines is that honesty is the best policy.
Scott County Library audioCDs 7:06
read by Tara Sands
genre: YA mystery
Seventh grader Sammy Keyes has a best friend Marisa and a nemesis in Heather. I've heard some kids rave about these books, so thought I'd better read one. I will need to actually read a print book, though, because Sands definitely affected the way I experienced this book. She did a fine job, but her voice work kind of grated on me. The story was interesting enough - I'll continue to booktalk it to sixth graders. The crux of the intertwining story lines is that honesty is the best policy.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
While We’re Far Apart
By Lynn Austin
Dakota County Library, paperback, 408 pages
Genre: Christian and Jewish relationships, family, and some mystery
Set during WWII, this book covers a lot of ground for its main characters. Young Esther and Peter don’t want their father to join the military (and their mom died a year earlier when hit by a car). Penny offers to watch the children because she’s really in love with Eddie, their father, and hopes to get into his good graces. Mr. Mendel hasn’t prayed or been to synagogue since his wife was killed alongside Eddie’s wife. Throw in the anti-Jewish sentiment, Penny’s elderly and overprotective parents, and a half-dozen other threads, and this is a very good story. I especially liked Mr. Mendel’s relationship with the children and with God. His bitterness and anger turns soft – toward redemption and renewal. Beautiful.
Dakota County Library, paperback, 408 pages
Genre: Christian and Jewish relationships, family, and some mystery
Set during WWII, this book covers a lot of ground for its main characters. Young Esther and Peter don’t want their father to join the military (and their mom died a year earlier when hit by a car). Penny offers to watch the children because she’s really in love with Eddie, their father, and hopes to get into his good graces. Mr. Mendel hasn’t prayed or been to synagogue since his wife was killed alongside Eddie’s wife. Throw in the anti-Jewish sentiment, Penny’s elderly and overprotective parents, and a half-dozen other threads, and this is a very good story. I especially liked Mr. Mendel’s relationship with the children and with God. His bitterness and anger turns soft – toward redemption and renewal. Beautiful.
Mrs. Pollifax and the Second Thief
By Dorothy Gilman
Scott County Library audioCDs 6.25 hours
Read by Barbara Rosenblatt
This isn’t one of my favorite Pollifax books, but I enjoyed it. Emily gets called in to help Farrell in Sicily. I like her innocent resourcefulness and the adventure. This is one of the few books that doesn’t have a follow-up scene with Carstairs and Bishop, which is one of my favorite aspects of the stories. Kate Rossiter and Farrell fall madly in love (someone has to) and Kate’s aunt finally decides to get married. Forged art, a poor but developing village, and the re-appearance of Aristotle are the scenery here.
Scott County Library audioCDs 6.25 hours
Read by Barbara Rosenblatt
This isn’t one of my favorite Pollifax books, but I enjoyed it. Emily gets called in to help Farrell in Sicily. I like her innocent resourcefulness and the adventure. This is one of the few books that doesn’t have a follow-up scene with Carstairs and Bishop, which is one of my favorite aspects of the stories. Kate Rossiter and Farrell fall madly in love (someone has to) and Kate’s aunt finally decides to get married. Forged art, a poor but developing village, and the re-appearance of Aristotle are the scenery here.
All Rivers Flow to the Sea
By Alison McGhee
Chanhassen HS hardcover 168 pages
Genre: YA coming of age, dealing with loss & grief
Long story short: I picked this title for 8th grade book club because I got it as a book club kit from Carver County libraries. As soon as I handed them out, I had only a half-hour wait until an eighth grader came back and showed me page 13 . . . sex. Not terribly graphic, but shocking to some kids. Ugh. I recalled the copies (though five are still out) and gave them Hope Was Here. Then I took this one home to read. It’s actually a very haunting book about a sixteen-year-old girl who’s in a car accident with her older sister. Her sister lies in a bed in a care facility, comatose. Rose struggles with memories of the night of the crash, her mother’s response, and her own numbness. My favorite characters are William T and Tom Miller. I like how William tries so hard to help Rose, scrambling eggs for her and driving her to see Ivy - “Younger and Elder” he calls the girls. Tom is a young man who sees and feels differently than his teenage peers. What a gem.
Chanhassen HS hardcover 168 pages
Genre: YA coming of age, dealing with loss & grief
Long story short: I picked this title for 8th grade book club because I got it as a book club kit from Carver County libraries. As soon as I handed them out, I had only a half-hour wait until an eighth grader came back and showed me page 13 . . . sex. Not terribly graphic, but shocking to some kids. Ugh. I recalled the copies (though five are still out) and gave them Hope Was Here. Then I took this one home to read. It’s actually a very haunting book about a sixteen-year-old girl who’s in a car accident with her older sister. Her sister lies in a bed in a care facility, comatose. Rose struggles with memories of the night of the crash, her mother’s response, and her own numbness. My favorite characters are William T and Tom Miller. I like how William tries so hard to help Rose, scrambling eggs for her and driving her to see Ivy - “Younger and Elder” he calls the girls. Tom is a young man who sees and feels differently than his teenage peers. What a gem.
Charlie Bone and the Shadow
By Jenny Nimmo
Genre: YA fantasy, mys tery
PRMS hardcover 427 pages
Charlie goes into a picture that his grandma brings home and is sucked into Badlock. The usual bad stuff ensues, though most of this story does NOT take place at Bloor Academy. Quite frankly, this series doesn’t really hold my interest anymore. It feels repetitive and pointless. I don’t think I’ll bother to read the one after this. And there were references in this one to events that had happened previously that I just don’t remember . . . but I’m confident I read all the books up to this one. If my mind wanders while I’m reading, I need to read something else.
Genre: YA fantasy, mys tery
PRMS hardcover 427 pages
Charlie goes into a picture that his grandma brings home and is sucked into Badlock. The usual bad stuff ensues, though most of this story does NOT take place at Bloor Academy. Quite frankly, this series doesn’t really hold my interest anymore. It feels repetitive and pointless. I don’t think I’ll bother to read the one after this. And there were references in this one to events that had happened previously that I just don’t remember . . . but I’m confident I read all the books up to this one. If my mind wanders while I’m reading, I need to read something else.
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