Mutation: Phoenix Files #3

by Chris Morphew
student's copy paperback 311 pages
genre: YA dystopian

Finally! This third segment is told from Jordan's point of view. She's a kick-butt no-nonsense girl who is liked by both Luke and Peter but maintains friendship with both. The three now have trackers / supressors implanted in their lower backs. This part of the story gets even darker and creepier with Peter's former friends up to something and a mad scientist laboratory out in the bush.

I need to tell my student to stop loaning me his books! I don't have time to read so much.

Contact: Phoenix Files #2

by Chris Morphew
student's copy paperback 309 pages
genre: YA dystopian

This story was told from Peter's point of view. He's my least favorite of the trio of teens trying to figure out what's really going on in Phoenix and how they can stop the end of the world. This one gets even more intense with the creepy factor and an innocent character's death. These stories are addicting . . .

How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free

by Ernie J. Zelinski
Hennepin County Library - paperback and audiobook
229 pages, 8 discs
read by J. Charles
genre: non-fiction, self-help

Random notes (as I was at stoplights, etc.):

Brainstormed list of things I'd like to "do" in retirement:
prayer and Bible study
ministry
travel
walks
quilting
volunteer (Meals on Wheels, DARTS, Habitat for Humanity, Respite / Foster care, tutoring)
grandchildren?
swimming

This was in response to his stressing having a "purpose" in retirement. This part is easy for me! I love to help others and serve. I have lots of interests and little time to pursue them. The word BLESSING kept coming to mind.

The first part of the book energized me! I'd heard somewhere that you should plan to live until 90. He says plan to live to 120 and live each day as though it's your last (or something along those lines). Financially, I don't know what that "should" look like. I really appreciate the fact that his focus isn't on money; it's on life choices. He does point out that you can earn more or spend less. He also talks about working part-time to help finance retirement. He ends the book by saying "spend it all!" Hard to do when you don't know how long your life will last . . . and it's kind of cool to leave money to others who can be blessed by it.

Be a "connoisseur" of life. I like that! It got really, really old when he was warning about boredom in retirement. I cannot fathom getting bored. Life has so much to offer!

The section on not spending retirement watching TV was beaten to death . . . seriously? Do people do that? Sit and watch television for hours and hours each day? Not worried about that. Yet he brought it up in almost every chapter! Ad nauseum . . .

Ironically, he talks about having structure to your days AND being spontaneous. Whatever. Some of his life philosophy stuff was too trite to even reference with specifics.

Every time he talked about using the internet for doing research and read out the entire address "double-you, double-you, double-you dot trivago dot com" . . . made me wish I was reading the print version so I could just jump down to the next chunk of text.

Another problem with the audio version (and the print, for that matter) was the author's extensive use of lists. I fast-forwarded over ten-plus minutes of him listing activities you can do in retirement. Really. I think every chapter had lists in it. You could rename the book "Retirement for people who can't think for themselves."

Okay, enough slamming. I kept with the book for the entire experience for a reason!
1. I loved the positive "you can do this" message. I told Louie about some of the things I got from this book. He's still focused on the financial aspects of retiring and I'm really bad about that. We're going to crunch numbers this summer.
2. I liked the chapter on travel! One of the things I'm definitely looking forward to even before we retire.
3. I really liked people's personal testimonies about what a difference retirement made in their lives. A lot of these folks retired before "traditional" ages of 62, 65, etc. Very encouraging!

Besides the ability to skip over sections (like lists, or being single), the other thing I liked about the print version is the inclusion of comics! I listened to the audiobook in my car, then checked the book for the comics I'd missed after I got home. I'm not sure how much of my irritation with this title was the writing and how much was the reader's voice. In any case, it was worth experiencing this title. It's definitely different from anything else I've read and got me thinking even more about my future.

I also made a note to talk to Betsy Lasch and Judy Shallow about retirement . . . I really want to follow through on this!

Something True

by Kieran Scott
YAC book PRMS hardcover 279 pages
genre: YA romance

This is book three in a trilogy, but that's not what made it "not work" for me. True Olympia is actually Eros, but she's been banished to earth to be a normal mortal teenager until she can join three couples ("love matches") and return to Olympus. Her beloved, Orion, has had his memory wiped by Zeus, and he is dating Darla who is pathetically attached to Veronica Vine, an absolutely shallow and selfish girl.

Misunderstandings and love triangles ensue. Artemis and Apollo get Hera's permission to head to earth to confront Eros. Yada yada.

My favorite parts were when Orion had flashes of memory of his previous life. I liked Hephastus as Heath, too. I'll donate this rather than spend money buying books 1 and 2 to have a complete set.

Walking: the Ultimate Exercise for Optimum Health

by Dr. Andrew Weil and Mark Fenton
Hennepin County Library audiobook 2 discs
read by the authors
genre: non-fiction, wellness

Short and to the point. I listened in my car, but disc one is really about WHY you should walk (easy, inexpensive, lifelong, etc.) and disc two is really for you to use to stretch out, move, walk faster for greater benefits, and cool down.

I made a note - copy disc 2, put it on mp3 player, and WALK! I really think I mostly just need to be motivated to do what I already know is good to do. I spend too much time on my butt!

The four tips for faster walking technique are:
1. Stand Tall (posture!)
2. Focus on quicker, not longer steps
3. Bend your arms (90 degrees, arc from along waistband in back to chest high in front)
4. Push off of your toes (show someone behind you the bottom of your shoe)

Warm-ups:
1. Ankle circles - R to R side in slo-mo, L to L side - 5-6 each side
2. Leg swings - swing from the hip like a pendulum - slow, controlled - each leg 5-6 times
3. Pelvic loops - hands on hips, soft knees, feet and shoulders stationary - to the L and the R
4. Change light bulbs - reaches overhead - both hands up, reach further up with one, twist, change sides
5. Arm circles - hold arms out like a T, make small circles forward and back, then bigger circles, etc.
6. Torso twists - hands on shoulders, slowly twist L and R

I'm already tired of this and I don't want to grab images from the booklet. I'll either get it from the library again when I'm actually ready to use it (or buy it on Amazon).

Taming the Dragon Within: How to Be the Mother-in-law You've Always Wanted

by Leanne Braddock, Ileene Huffard, & Zannette Uriell
personal paperback 280 plus appendixes
genre: non-fiction relationships

Ginee Scott gave this to me before Alex and Stacie got married and I've finally read it! (The last three years have been quite full of life events.) I didn't find it to be super helpful, but perhaps I need to ask Stacie about the things I say or do that bug her. I definitely marked the chapter about grandparenting . . . that will be new turf for me and I want to be a blessing to both generations!

Page 44 - the sit-down talk caught my attention. I am glad that Morgan and I are able to talk with one another pretty easily. I want to have a conversation with him about his relationship with Angela's family. I sometimes am oblivious to others' perspectives and I know he can be, too.

Page 63 - I love the section on "leaving and cleaving" and especially the directions given to the Israelites. It's so important for a young couple to spend time getting to know one another better and forging their new relationship.

 

Chapter 5 on Communication . . . I could highlight the entire chapter! Chapter 6 on Conflict Resolution is also helpful.

Page 128 - The section on cut-offs (and the impact on several generations) was concerning. I know of far too many people who have had relationships severed and it is heart-breaking to me. It's hard work to deal with conflict, hurt, and forgiveness, but it is so important.

Page 158 - I love the section on humor! I often say, "I'd rather laugh than cry." The reasons humor is important?
1. The funny line and the bottom line intersect! (employers appreciate humor)
2. Jest for the health of it! ("laughter enhances respiration and circulation, oxygenates teh glood, suppresses the stress-related hormones in the brain, and activates the immune system")
3. Humor as an antidote to stress
4. "A smile is the shortest distance between two people."
5. The HAHA-AHA connection (between humor and creativity)
6. The laughing-learning link
7. Your resilience quotient
8. Humor as a saving (and amusing) grace for the planet (build bridges)

Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander

by Phil Robertson
Hennepin County Library audiobook 5 discs
read by the author (introduction) and his son Al Robertson
genre: Non-fiction memoir

I didn't like this nearly as well as the book by his son Willie and daughter-in-law Korie. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised that a self-professed "redneck" would say things that bug me so much. His comments on food and cooking would have been fine - mom's homemade dill pickles and no junk food around - but his disdainfulness toward "yuppies" who live in suburbs and eat in restaurants because they "don't know how to cook." . . . whatever.

Cold. Not sure what my note refers to (and I shouldn't try writing while I'm driving) but I remember him talking about how cold their house was and how they slept close to their siblings to keep warm.

"Man can't live on fruits and vegetables alone. At least, real men can't." Apparently vegetarian men aren't real.

I agree with his point about the importance about kids playing outdoors and getting exercise, but his way of communicating this is so incredibly condescending!

There were a lot of the same stories as in his son's book. This was neither good nor bad, but I definitely liked Duck Commander Family better.

I am SO not into hunting and killing animals, so those parts didn't resonate for me AT ALL.

His rules for being Happy, Happy, Happy:
Rule 1: Simplify Your Life (Throw away your cell phones and computer, yuppies)
Rule 2: Don’t let your grandkids grow up to be nerds
Rule 3: Learn to cook
Rule 4: Don’t try to figure out women (they’re strange creatures)
Rule 5: Always wear shoes (Your feet will feel better)
Rule 6: Put the bottle down (You’ll thank me in the morning)
Rule 7: Buy a house near water (It’s a lot more fun)
Rule 8: Never sell yourself short (You never know, you might become a millionaire)
Rule 9: It’s cheaper to hire your relatives (Unless you don’t like ‘em)
Rule 10: If you’re going to do something, do it right (instead of doing it again)
Rule 11: Suck the head of a crawfish
Rule 12: Learn to forgive (Life’s a lot easier that way)
Rule 13: Share God’s word (It’s what he asked of you)
Rule 14: Read the Bible (We can still save this once great country – it’s not too late)

I thought about adding my notes on these, but it's enough. Moving on to the next book . . . 

Mamba Point

By Kurtis Scaletta

PRMS hardcover 271

Historical fiction? 1982, VHS tapes, Atari Pac-Mac . . .

Realistic fiction?

(I talked with some students about it and they said realistic fic . . . I love my genrefied collection!)

 

12 year old Linus and older brother Larry (“Law”) move with mom and dad to Liberia where dad will work with the U.S. embassy. Linus has been a scaredy-cat and wants to create a new reality . . . but they see a black mamba snake (actually grey . . . very dangerous, very fast) as soon as they get off the airplane. Then Linus starts seeing one whenever he goes outside.

He gets to know a “Charlie” (a street seller of masks, etc.)named Sekou who tells him about a kaseng – a connection with an animal that is almost supernatural.

Matt is the kid downstairs who likes to stay indoors and play games. He’s kind of antisocial. There are lots of characters, details, etc. that are with me now but will likely get lost with time. Ah well. I wouldn’t mind re-reading it with a group of kids if the opportunity arises.

This started slowly for me, but I got more and more engaged in the story as it went along. I liked how Linus changed, but kept some of his sweet qualities (like caring about the two kids – Gambeh and Tokie – who are clearly poor and hungry).

I wondered if Linus was imagining the snake, then I wanted people to know about his connection to it, then . . . yep, I cared about this kid and his deadly “pet.”

Spoiler (sort of)  Toward the end of the book, when he is saying goodbye to his mamba, he thinks “So you can be whoever you want” and “It poked its head up, as if it wanted me to pay close attention to its next point: So can you, it said.”

I’ve met the author at a signing event. I loved this book and his note at the end about his experience as a kid in Liberia. I look forward to reading more of his work.

 

Say You're One of Them

by Uwem Akpan
PRMS hardcover 358 pages
genre: short stories, realistic

Likes:

• This is unlike anything I've ever read before. 
• Although the stories make me sad, I think it's important to be aware of others' realities. Storytelling is a powerful way to share.
• Themes of Christian faith in the midst of the despair . . . 

Dislikes:

• So incredibly depressing! A 12-year-old girl prostituting herself so her family has food to eat, families sniffing strong glue to stave off hunger pains, children being sold into slavery by family members to have a higher standard of living, corruption, . . . ugh.
• Language. Thankfully, I know French and am pretty good at figuring out meanings from context. Sentences like this were off-putting all the same: "N'do na dio face se, military face. Den una no go know again wheder I dey vex o, wheder I dey sad o, wheder I dey lie o . . . I mean, even now, who tell una say I dey happy wid una?" It kind of hurt my brain to "translate" this into understandable language as I was reading.
• I've already decided I'll delete it from the collection. I can't see this as a book middle schoolers would choose and it doesn't really fit the curriculum (8th grade social studies . . . but not in a convenient way).

My dilemma - can I actually stop after only two stories?  I read Ex-mas Feast and Fattening for Gabon, but do not really want to make myself read What Language Is That?, Luxurious Hearses, and My Parents' Bedroom. Or perhaps I will . . . the stories are gripping and important in a sense. But really, really depressing.

Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back

by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent
Hennepin County Library audiobook 4 CDs
read by Dean Gallagher
genre: non-fiction memoir

Colton Burpo was a normal four-year-old with a tummyache that wouldn't go away. By the time he was operated on for a burst appendix, his situation was grave. This story is more about his dad and mom and what they experienced, but Colton's extraordinary encounter with Jesus in Heaven is why the book exists. I really enjoyed listening and believe the reality of Colton's experience. Gallagher's vocal work was excellent and I'm glad this story has been shared.