Mockingbird

by Kathryn Erskine
NPMS paperback 235 pages
genre: realistic fiction

Oh my! Initially, I started reading this to be ready as a sub with some sixth graders. I wasn't thrilled with the pov - Caitlin, a fifth grader with Aspberger's. As I read, though, I wanted to know how it turned out. I finished it before the end of the day and had tears rolling down my face before the end!

Page 8 - Caitlin's "My Manners" chart and stickers . . . stress until she remembers to say "You're Welcome" in response to someone's "Thank You." Success! This manners chart and her references to it and her conversation with Michael all made the story richer.

Page 42 - "That's why emotions are evil and I hate them! Especially crying. I don't Get It." The portrayal of someone who struggles to understand people's emotions was very realistically portrayed. Empathy was a huge theme of this book.

Page 163 - closure. the chest. Dad. Oh my! "Maybe we can make something good and strong and beautiful come out of this." This was one of the parts where I cried. Too powerful.

Page 180 - "'Class!' Mr. Mason shouts. He always shouts. It's just what PE teachers do." This made me smile and think of Gaz for some reason . . .

Page 183 - "I try to remind her but Emma's voice takes up all the room. When she grows up she should be one of those TV interviewers on Fox Five News who doesn't let anyone else talk even if they try." This also made me laugh, but not in a nice way.

One of my favorite scenes was on the playground with Caitlin, Josh, and Michael when she thinks Josh is bullying Michael. Powerful!

The Author's Note was very interesting. I'd like to read more of her work.

Eagle Scout / TKaM - Jem and Scout (and Atticus) / school shooting / bullying / empathy / . . . so much woven into this quick read. I loved it!

Not sure where I heard these . . .

I wrote down fragments of quotations, presumably while listening to an audiobook. But I don't know which one! It would have been in the last month or two. I want to get rid of  this scrap of paper, so I guess I'll play detective later.

The first one I thought was Tolstoy, but when I looked it up, it was apparently said by Arthur Schopenhauer. "Wealth is like sea-water; the more we drink, the thirstier we become; and the same is true of fame." I also had the words a bit different . . . ugh! I hate inaccuracies. Research forthcoming . . .

I also made a note to read Leo Tolstoy's The Confession. As I looked that one up, I see that it is called "A Confession." My notes say "search for meaning, purpose." Wikipedia says "a brief autobiographical story of the author's struggle with a mid-life existential crisis. It describes his search for the answer to the ultimate philosophical question: "If God does not exist, since death is inevitable, what is the meaning of life?." Without the answer to this, for him, life had become "impossible"." I'm intrigued, but not adding it to my list right now.

“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer.” - Jim Carrey. This one struck me because so many people think that rich and famous people "have it all" and don't understand how they can give up on life. There's a different answer, people! Jesus is the answer.

"You can have everything in the world and still be the loneliest man. And that is the most bitter type of loneliness, success has brought me world idolisation and millions of pounds. But it's prevented me from having the one thing we all need: A loving, ongoing relationship." Freddie Mercury. So very sad.

I want to move on with my day, and now I can get rid of this scrap of paper. Looking at this entry, I want to take more time to read and ponder poetry, philosophy, Scripture, life. I'm in a slo-mo mood today (the day after I started this entry!) and yet I need to go-go-go. 

Red's Planet

by Eddie Pittman
Hennepin County Library hardcover 192 pages
genre: YA fantasy graphic novel

I got this for some young friends (one of whom already read it) and gave it a look-see. "Red" (who has red hair but hates being called that) wants to get out of her newest foster home. While sitting in a vintage police car, she is beamed up by aliens. Quirky interesting story. I almost want to get volume 2 . . . the little blue frog-like things were pretty entertaining.

Cut the Clutter: A Simple Organization Plan for a Clean and Tidy Home

by Cynthia Townley Ewer
Hennepin County Library paperback 231 pages plus resources
genre: non-fiction, organization

This DK book is very appealing to look at, but I found it less helpful than Simply Clean. It ended up being a skim-read for sections not relevant to me. It also seemed repetitive.

The pages on "clutter personality" were interesting . . . but mostly in terms of other people I know.

• The hoarder - "This might come in handy someday."
• The deferrer - "I'll think about that tomorrow."
• The rebel - "I don't wanna and you can't make me!"
• The perfectionist - "Next week, I'll organize everything . . . perfectly."
• The sentimentalist - "Oh, the little darling!"

Her next pages on psychology were also interesting. After that, though, it didn't really offer me any suggestions that I wanted to latch onto. Back to the library!

The Bright Unknown

by Elizabeth Byler Younts
Hennepin County Library paperback 351 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction

This is our February book club title. I was trying to read it quickly so I could share it with someone else. I finished it fairly quickly, but have had an overbooked schedule.

Set in the past (1923-1941) and the more recent past (1990), this book follows the life story of Brighton / Nell Friedrich. She was born in an insane asylum to a mother who was never really able to mother her. Young nurse Joann ("Nursey") stepped in to give her as normal a childhood as possible.

The time jumps were confusing to me at first, but at least they were all told from Brighton's point of view. If she's 67 in 1990, then she was born in 1923. Then we go to 1937 and she's 14. Then we're in 1928 with five-year-old Brighton. My brain was a little slow to catch on. The author did a fine job setting up the story. There were some "guesses" I was wrong about and some I just knew. Discussing this will be fun.

Page 1 - "Recently I heard a girl say the words old school, so I guess that's the new way to say what I am. There's something funny about having a new way to say old-fashioned."
This just tickled my funny bone. Yes, it is funny to have a new way to say old-fashioned!

Page 37 - "'Only through death, chica,' and then she crossed herself. It made me wonder why we cried when somebody died and they got to go to heaven. Shouldn't we cry because we have to stay?"
This was the 1933 section, and I love how that capture's a child's innocent thinking. Grief and eternal life are tough concepts for many adults! A child's thinking is often more straightforward.

Page 95 - "I stayed in bed the next morning. I couldn't get up. My body wasn't stronger than my mind."
This made me think of our last book which dealt with depression. I'm so glad that I don't struggle with it, but I want to be compassionate toward those who do struggle.

Page 147 - "Words are veils and masks, and there's always something more on the other side of them than we want to believe."
This is just after she's written about words like mentally ill, mad, insane . . . words can be used to deceive as well as to elucidate. I love words and looking at how they convey meaning!

Page 151 - "It takes gumption to live, you know, and all the grit you can muster, though there were times in the earlier days I nearly gave up."
Again, this language resonated for me even though I've not struggled with depression. Giving up is sometimes seen as the best (or only) option and that makes me sad.

I really enjoyed this story. Brighton, Angel, Grace . . . these characters as well as the photography, the societal changes, and other elements will make it a delight to discuss on Monday.

Tyrannosaurus Ralph

by Nate Evans and Vince Evans
Hennepin County Library paperback 178 pages
genre: YA graphic novel fantasy

I really enjoyed this! Ralph is afraid of the local bully, but then gets zapped into a T-Rex body to fight for planet Earth. Goofy, action-packed, fun. I got this for a boy at our church, but read it myself first!

Where the Crawdads Sing

by Delia Owens
Scott County Library hardcover 368 pages
genre: realistic fiction

Oh. My. Word. Two different people highly recommended this book to me (Brooke and Mary V). I was on the library waiting list for a while. I see why it's so popular!

I want to be careful not to write any spoilers, so I will just say that I made some guesses and was wrong. It was a page-turner! I finished it shortly after starting it. I will certainly read it again. (And this is the author's first fiction book! She has written some non-fiction.)

***Spoiler Alert! After blogging, I realized that some of the things I commented on might ruin the story for another reader. Please just read this book! It's really well-written.***

Page 111 - First place I saw the title reference. "'Well, we better hide way out there where the crawdads sing. I pity any foster parents who take you on.' Tate's whole face smiled. 'What d'ya mean, where the crawdads sing? Ma used to say that.' . . . 'Just means far in the bush where critters are wild, still behaving like critters.'"

Page 222 - This may be the first time I cried. Kya went to Jumpin's and gave him a copy of her book. "She kept on buying gas and supplies from him but never accepted a handout from them again. And each time she came to his wharf, she saw her book propped up in the tiny window for all to see. As a father would have shown it."

Page 240 - "Her mind invented pictures to go with the stories. Family scraps and shreds Kya never thought she'd have." Oh! This author crafted her story so beautifully! The two time periods / storylines are woven so well. The heartache for the little girl is leavened with some loving individuals.

Page 276 - I marked this page because after many references to the poetry of Amanda Hamilton, I thought, "I need to get a book of her poetry!" Read the book . . . just read the book!

Page 289 - Animals can be absolutely amazing! I loved the jail house cat, Sunday Justice. "Finally, he settled as though he had nested here every night of his life. He looked at her. Gently she touched his head, then scratched his neck. A loud purr erupted like a current. She closed her eyes at such easy acceptance. A deep pause in a lifetime of longing."

Page 355 - "Yesterday the cemetery moved with villagers, like constant ants, including all the fishermen and shopkeepers, who had come to bury Scupper." I went from happily relieved to incredibly sad for Tate. What a moving book!

Page 361 - By the end of the book, I was just sobbing. "Standing on the porch, Mabel rushed to Kya. They hugged, rocking back and forth, crying. 'Lawd, he loved ya like his own dawder,' Mabel said. 'I know,' Kya said, 'and he was my pa.'"

I read through this book so quickly. I'm on another waiting list for the audiobook, and I am sure I will hear and notice even more beauty on a second time through. What a fantastic book! The NYT book review says in part: "Painfully beautiful . . . At once a murder mystery, a coming-of-age narrative, and a celebration of nature." Amen!

The Murder of King Tut

by James Patterson and Martin Dugard
Scott County Library audiobook 5 CDs
read by Joe Barrett
genre: historical fiction

Ugh. This book both bugged and fascinated me. Patterson writes it as though it is a highly researched representation of how King Tut actually died, but it reads much more like fiction with some basis in history. He divides the story into present day (him as author), the 1920s and Howard Carter's work, and Ancient Egypt when Tut lived and died.

I had forgotten that Patterson is notorious for many, many very short chapters. As a middle school media specialist, I appreciated that the short chapters helped some reluctant readers to stay more focused. Listening to this, I was appalled that a few paragraphs constituted an entire chapter, especially when the next chapter had the exact same setting, time period, and characters. Just irritating.

The vocal work by Barrett was decent, but accents were not consistent. Howard Carter sometimes sounded British, sometimes American, sometimes exactly the same as the narrator voice.

It was especially irritating when Ancient Egyptians were given modern day sensibilities. Tut was so in love with his half-sister wife that he didn't want to upset her by bedding a different woman. Really?! Does that seem at all realistic, given his culture and station in life? What an incredibly kind and sensitive Pharaoh he was.

I most enjoyed the Howard Carter thread of the story. In fact, I got a children's book on Tut's tomb and read it. That author had some different information from Patterson's book. (For example, according to this book, the autopsy was very poorly done, damaging Tut's mummy. The children's book said it was very carefully handled.)

The modern day part included how much Patterson enjoys golfing at Trump's course in Palm Beach, Florida. Yuk. Why do we need this perspective?

I was disappointed, but find Ancient Egypt to be fascinating. His ruminations on how (and who) killed Tut are interesting, but I don't know that I am confident of his research and conclusions.

The Other Queen

by Philippa Gregory
Delavon's loan, hardcover 433 pages
historical fiction

Generally, I enjoy historical fiction. My sister-in-law had loaned this to one of my daughters-in-law, who encouraged me to read it. I was struggling to force myself for several months to tackle it, but was definitely not enjoying it. Then I pushed through halfway, determined to get it done! At a family gathering, I chatted with my s-i-l who owned the book. She said she didn't finish the book! Ugh. I'm such a pain, I forced myself to finish it.

Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots make for a fascinating story . . . except in this case. Told from the POV of Mary, her jailer/protector George Talbot, and his wife Bess, the story drones on and on through the first three years of Mary's time in England after being ousted in Scotland by rebels. Then the last few chapters wrap up the next decade or so . . .

This was torturous to read. I don't remember what I thought of this author's The Other Boleyn Girl . . . or perhaps I only thought I read that one. In any case, I'm done and moving on.

Page 368 - George finally takes off the rose-colored glasses in regards to Mary and her actions. I kind of felt sorry for him, being the only honorable person in the book.

Page 394 - Seriously?! "'No,' I say as his weight comes down on me. It is what I always say to him. It is the word which means desire to me, to us. It is the word which means yes: 'No.'" What?!?!? How did the author include that? Did Mary's letters to her lover Bothwell actually include that concept? Or does the author think it's sexy when a man insults a woman and then ignores her "no" and forces himself upon her? Dude!

Page 405 - Chillingly reflected in our current political times . . . "But it is a different world now. We will use the laws against our enemies, we will find evidence against our enemies, and if there is neither law nor evidence, then we will make it fresh, specially for them."  Sadler talking to Bess.