by Ronan Farrow
Scott County Library hardcover 419 pages
genre: investigative reporting
Wow. How interesting that I'm finishing this book just as Matt Lauer spoke out in a "scathing op-ed" to say that Farrow did not do an accurate job of reporting (May 21, 2020). I had started this book earlier in the winter but did not read quickly enough and had to return it to the library. To me, it seems Farrow did an incredibly thorough job vetting his sources. His documentation covers several pages at the end of the book. The patterns of sexual predation by Harvey Weinstein and the money / power to hush up wrongdoing are so saddening.
Page 167 - "Canosa wasn't sure what to do. She had signed a nondisclosure agreement as a condition of her employment with Weinstein. She was still trying to make it as a producer, and was terrified of retaliation. Weinstein could render her unemployable. And then there were the hesitations of any survivor of sexual violence. She'd allowed her wounds to calcify and learned to carry on. She hadn't told her father, or her boyfriend. 'I don't want to suffer more. You know?' she told me. Once, as she'd worked up the nerve to raise the matter with a therapist, 'I saw her at a premier for a Weinstein movie,' Canosa told me. 'I found out she was a producer on one of Harvey's movies.'"
I cannot begin to imagine the shame, pain, anger, and fear that this woman and so many others experienced. For all the amazing movies he has had a hand in making, he absolutely destroyed human beings for his own personal power trip. Over and over again, the reports of his behavior disgusted and horrified me. What an awful man.
Page 240 - "Sorvino decided she'd help and, over the course of several calls, went fully on the record. But the fear in her voice never left. 'When people go up against power brokers there is punishment,' she said. I realized her anxieties went beyond career considerations. She asked if I had security, if I'd thought about the risk of disappearing, of an 'accident' befalling me. I said I was fine, that I was taking precautions, then wondered what precautions I was actually taking, other than glancing over my shoulder a lot."
The whole surveillance / spying angle also blew me away. If you're doing so many awful things that you need to pay out money for lawyers, detectives, fake operatives to mine information from victims, payments to victims to keep them quiet, etc. . . . perhaps you should think about changing your own behavior! Trump almost looks like a nice man in comparison to Weinstein! The fact that our president has also paid out money to keep women quiet for his sexual liaisons just makes me sad.
Page 241 - "Weinstein told her that she was making a huge mistake by rejecting him, and named an actress and a model who he claimed had given in to his sexual overtures and whose careers he said he had advanced as a result. Arquette said she responded, 'I'll never be that girl,' and left. Arquette's story was important because of how closely it hewed to others I'd heard: professional pretext, meeting moved upstairs, hotel room, request for massage, bathrobe."
Gross. What a disgusting, awful man. I'm so sorry this story didn't break fifteen years earlier with the reporting that Ken Auletta had done on Weinstein. I'm sorry that some media power brokers are okay with the idea of "catch and kill" - paying top dollar for a story to make sure they have exclusive rights and then never publishing it. I'm sorry that evil is so prevalent in our world.
Page 254 - "Other industry veterans I spoke with sounded a different note. Weinstein's predation was an open secret, they said, and if they hadn't seen it, they'd heard about at least some of it. Susan Sarandon, the kind of ethical futurist who had stubbornly refused to work with accused predators for years, gamely brainstormed leads. She let out a cackle when I told her what I was up to. 'Oh, Ronan,' she said, going into a teasing, singsong delivery. Not mocking, just delighting at the impending drama about to befall me. 'You're gonna be in trouble.'"
The fact that so many people knew Weinstein was preying on these young women and yet stayed silent . . . makes me think of Edmund Burke. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Page 414 - "'You know, the press is as much part of our democracy as Congress or the executive branch or the judicial branch. It has to keep things in check. And when the powerful control the press, or make the press useless, if the people can't trust the press, the people lose. And the powerful can do what they want."
Igor Ostrovskiy was one of the people who was hired to tail Ronan Farrow as he was investigating this story. As he realized what was going on, he decided to meet privately with Farrow to share information. He ended up starting his own private investigation business after Black Cube stopped sending him work. As an immigrant with a new baby (born in America), his perspective was seasoned by his earlier life in Ukraine. "Coming from a society where the news was controlled by those in power, I never, ever want to allow this to happen to the country that gave me and my wife and my son a chance." Powerful words.
This book is a powerful and worthwhile read.
Monday, June 01, 2020
Saturday, May 30, 2020
Mrs. McGinty's Dead
by Agatha Christie
Scott County Library audiobook 2 CDs
"Full Cast Dramatization"
genre: murder mystery, M. Poirot, detective
This was a quick little story that had Poirot trying to save the dead woman's lodger from hanging for a crime he didn't commit. In trying to find out who *had* killed Mrs. McGinty, Poirot uses his interviewing skills, powers of observations, and his "little gray cells" to find the real killer.
The vocal cast was decent, but I actually disliked John Moffatt as the "great Belgian detective" . . . which is ironic, since his name is featured.
I prefer unabridged versions of stories. And I prefer reading them in a book. But audiobooks help pass the time as I drive!
Scott County Library audiobook 2 CDs
"Full Cast Dramatization"
genre: murder mystery, M. Poirot, detective
This was a quick little story that had Poirot trying to save the dead woman's lodger from hanging for a crime he didn't commit. In trying to find out who *had* killed Mrs. McGinty, Poirot uses his interviewing skills, powers of observations, and his "little gray cells" to find the real killer.
The vocal cast was decent, but I actually disliked John Moffatt as the "great Belgian detective" . . . which is ironic, since his name is featured.
I prefer unabridged versions of stories. And I prefer reading them in a book. But audiobooks help pass the time as I drive!
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Murder on the Orient Express
by Agatha Christie
Scott County Library audiobook 6 CDs
read by Dan Stevens
genre: Detective Mystery (Hercule Poirot)
Although I've read this book before (and seen the 1974 film), I like having an audiobook in my car and this one fit my mood. I love Agatha Christie, though I prefer Miss Marple to Hercule Poirot.
I had forgotten the details about the murdered man - Samuel Ratchett - but I remembered the conclusion. Still, it was fun to listen as the story unwound and the clues cropped up.
I've requested the "old" movie from the library. After I've watched it, I'll get the "new" one. I've not seen it yet and the cast looks pretty incredible.
Stevens vocal work was quite good.
Oh! I wanted to make note of this: The Daisy Armstrong kidnapping and murder, though fictional, made me think of the Lindbergh baby. I had to check. Charles Lindbergh, Jr. was kidnapped and murdered in 1932. Agatha Christie wrote this book in 1933 (published in January 1934 . . . ). It seems too coincidental, but I'm not going to research if she is on record as crediting that awful real-life tragedy for the storyline in this book.
<Above published on 5.19.20. Below added 3.27.24.>
I listened to a 2010 BBC full cast version. It was okay. The Poirot guy didn't sound like him to my ears! It was only two hours long and was the dramatized version, complete with train whistles, etc. A much abbreviated version, but kept the key points. I prefer an unabridged version, though.
<Below added 4.21.25.>
I listened again, this time to the unabridged story as read by Kenneth Branagh. (So a third audio version!) I enjoyed it and made a "cheat sheet" of the people on the train, their job / alias, and their connection to the Armstrong family. But I don't feel like including it here. It was also interesting to note their different nationalities. I liked Poirot's comment that you would see such an assemblage of different people in America. (But perhaps not in the future. I fear our current POTUS will do more to keep people away from our country than anything or anyone in our history.)
I've enjoyed listening to this story and seeing how Hercule puts "two" possible solutions before everyone. I also loved the doctor's amazement at how he figured things out.
Monday, May 18, 2020
Smoke Screen
by Terri Blackstock
Scott County Library paperback 333 pages
genre: contemporary Christian action romance
Nate Beckett is a firefighter who left town as an 18-year-old whose dad had just been arrested for murder. Brenna is a single mom fighting for custody of her kids.
There is plenty of action in the book and a sweet touch of romance. There was enough mystery to keep it interesting. We'll discuss it tonight at book club.
Page 36 - "'I was naive then, Nate,' I said. 'Nothing bad had ever happened to me at that point. I had the perfect life. It was easy to be spiritual.'" This isn't especially profound, but it made me think of how God uses the tough times in life to build us (if we let him) into people of stronger faith.
Page 48 - "Don't ever say that, Nate. I chose him for my husband, and right or wrong, blessed or cursed, I've chosen to live with that decision. You don't break vows just because things don't turn out like you want." I wish more people felt that way about their vows! Not just marriage vows, but let your yes be yes and your no mean no!
Page 73 - "Boxing my arms on the sales counter, I dropped my head on them and prayed with all my heart to the God I still believed in, the one I'd strayed from but not forgotten, to protect my children while they were away from me." Crying out to God is the *best* thing to do when you feel lost. He is faithful!
Page 151 - I'm not going to type it all here, but Brenna talks about Nate's mom's deep faith. She ends with "I wish I had that kind of faith." I love that Nate's mom was so consistently relying on the Lord. Brenna wasn't the only one who noticed.
Every time Brenna chose alcohol over better ways to handle her emotions, I was disappointed. It seems to be a very realistic portrayal of how people can become addicted, but it just wasn't fun to read. "No!" I'd think, "Don't do it!"
Page 274 - "I would breathe all the way home, I thought, and I would breathe through the night. And Tuesday I would breathe throughout court." I liked this idea of simply focusing on breathing and making it through one thing at a time.
Page 280 - I liked when Nate's dad shared that he had said Jeremiah 29:11 every single day of the fourteen years he was in prison. If you dwell in God's word, you will be fed!
Page 285 - "In my own heart, I pled for forgiveness for my attitude toward him." That's a prayer I've had to pray! Sometimes when I'm really upset with someone, I realize that the problem is in my own heart and attitude. It makes me think of the song, "It's not my sister, not my brother, but it's me Oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer . . . "
Page 331 - It was so sweet when Nate finally got his dad's approval. It's interesting how sometimes we can be like small children, wanting to get that approval. It can be heartbreaking when it doesn't come.
Page 336 (Her acknowledgements) - "And finally, I'm overflowing with thanks for my husband, Ken Blackstock, who has been my rock in helping me raise our grandson and has given me so much acceptance, grace, and support that it moves me to tears. He models God's love to me every day and is a great example to me. He's the answer to prayers I prayed many years ago." That's a wonderful way to feel about your spouse!
Scott County Library paperback 333 pages
genre: contemporary Christian action romance
Nate Beckett is a firefighter who left town as an 18-year-old whose dad had just been arrested for murder. Brenna is a single mom fighting for custody of her kids.
There is plenty of action in the book and a sweet touch of romance. There was enough mystery to keep it interesting. We'll discuss it tonight at book club.
Page 36 - "'I was naive then, Nate,' I said. 'Nothing bad had ever happened to me at that point. I had the perfect life. It was easy to be spiritual.'" This isn't especially profound, but it made me think of how God uses the tough times in life to build us (if we let him) into people of stronger faith.
Page 48 - "Don't ever say that, Nate. I chose him for my husband, and right or wrong, blessed or cursed, I've chosen to live with that decision. You don't break vows just because things don't turn out like you want." I wish more people felt that way about their vows! Not just marriage vows, but let your yes be yes and your no mean no!
Page 73 - "Boxing my arms on the sales counter, I dropped my head on them and prayed with all my heart to the God I still believed in, the one I'd strayed from but not forgotten, to protect my children while they were away from me." Crying out to God is the *best* thing to do when you feel lost. He is faithful!
Page 151 - I'm not going to type it all here, but Brenna talks about Nate's mom's deep faith. She ends with "I wish I had that kind of faith." I love that Nate's mom was so consistently relying on the Lord. Brenna wasn't the only one who noticed.
Every time Brenna chose alcohol over better ways to handle her emotions, I was disappointed. It seems to be a very realistic portrayal of how people can become addicted, but it just wasn't fun to read. "No!" I'd think, "Don't do it!"
Page 274 - "I would breathe all the way home, I thought, and I would breathe through the night. And Tuesday I would breathe throughout court." I liked this idea of simply focusing on breathing and making it through one thing at a time.
Page 280 - I liked when Nate's dad shared that he had said Jeremiah 29:11 every single day of the fourteen years he was in prison. If you dwell in God's word, you will be fed!
Page 285 - "In my own heart, I pled for forgiveness for my attitude toward him." That's a prayer I've had to pray! Sometimes when I'm really upset with someone, I realize that the problem is in my own heart and attitude. It makes me think of the song, "It's not my sister, not my brother, but it's me Oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer . . . "
Page 331 - It was so sweet when Nate finally got his dad's approval. It's interesting how sometimes we can be like small children, wanting to get that approval. It can be heartbreaking when it doesn't come.
Page 336 (Her acknowledgements) - "And finally, I'm overflowing with thanks for my husband, Ken Blackstock, who has been my rock in helping me raise our grandson and has given me so much acceptance, grace, and support that it moves me to tears. He models God's love to me every day and is a great example to me. He's the answer to prayers I prayed many years ago." That's a wonderful way to feel about your spouse!
Sunday, May 17, 2020
Rebecca
Scott County Library audiobook
read by
genre
Warning: This is very stream-of-consciousness style . . . with the added disruptions of chunks of time. Due to Covid-19, I'm in my car less often. After I drive and listen, I make notes and blog. Choppy, but it's an experiment. We'll see how it turns out . . .
It's so odd! I've heard references to this book for much of my life and now that I'm finally reading it, it's not at all like I thought it would be.
The narrator is a young woman, but not Rebecca. Rebecca is dead. She was Max deWinter's first wife. Manderly, the family estate, is like a character. Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, is sinister.
Mrs. Van Hopper is painfully rude and insensitive.In a way, she was comic relief. But she's out of the story after the first handful of chapters.
I have a scrap of paper that says, "The education of an indifferent pupil taught at a second rate school." I'm not sure if Mrs. Van Hopper said that about our narrator or if the narrator referenced herself that way in comparing her hand writing to Rebecca's.
Our narrator is young and clumsy. She spends a lot of time daydreaming and imagining different scenarios. She needs to get out of her head and live her life! Her insecurity makes it too easy for Mrs. Danvers to intimidate her.
Symbolism abounds! The bitter tangerine. Rebecca's handwriting, especially the oversize R that dwarfs the other letters. When the narrator cuts out the page from the poetry book (Max, from Rebecca), then tears it up into little pieces, then burns it . . . but it is still imprinted on her memory. Wow!
Words to describe parts of this book: ominous, foreboding, mysterious, danger . . .
Rebecca's presence - the oversize R, the morning room, people's attitude toward her . . . palpable. What really happened?
The second time our narrator encounters the dim-witted Ben at the cottage . . . she is so clueless! Of course he's referring to Rebecca! Who else? The mystery grows more deep.
Our narrator is too much in her own head! She overthinks things and imagines what others are thinking. I almost laughed when she imagined what Max was thinking and then when she asked him point blank, he replied he was thinking about sports teams. It made me think of a story I read once about a woman tormenting herself about her husband's silence . . . and he's actually just thinking about his motorcycle.Meanwhile, our narrator is certain he's thinking of the china Cupid that was given as a wedding gift to him and Rebecca.
The more I hear about Rebecca and the kind of person she really was, the more I dislike her. Mrs. Danvers is absolute poison! I cannot believe that our narrator actually listens to her!
The blackface / monkey comment (in preparation for the masked ball) really startled me. Rebecca was written in 1938, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. But it was jarring to hear it.
Commentary on men's minds and women's thoughts . . . again, from a different era. Yet aren't we having some of those same issues and conversations now? I believe men and women do think differently.
She actually took Mrs. Danver's advice about the white dress. . . how could she possibly not suspect her of having cruel motives? Even before the dress ball, I was shouting at her. "Don't trust Mrs. Danvers!" This book is crazy-making.
"Nothing to do with me." "Not my affair." She's getting tedious! Get over yourself and your insecurities! Stand up for yourself! BE stronger! Just do it!
Maxim's confession. Oh! I'm glad he finally shared his truth. Rebecca "made" Manderly. A lot happened in 24 hours. She (our narrator) can be so useless! She's so bad about conversations. What a dud! Then she has a real conversation with Frith . . . Comfort your husband! Punch Favel. Kick him out! He is so rude and so awful. They just take it!
Comparisons of characters to dogs and being petted on the head. Weird.
Newspapers / sensationalism / skewed perspective / Bea and Giles.
Suspense . . . I want to know what happens!
Dr. Baker visit. I was expecting pregnancy! (Max's baby or Favel's?) But it was an inoperable tumor. Rebecca had a malformed uterus and no chance of pregnancy. That was unexpected! I was sure she'd either had an abortion or Max had killed his heir along with his wife. Favel asking if cancer is contagious. What an idiot!
"The End." What?!?!?! Manderly is on fire. Did the other servants get out? Does Mrs. Danvers get caught? What the heck kind of an ending is this for a book?!
At least now I'll have a better understanding when I hear allusions to Rebecca. I'm not a fan.
They Both Die at the End
by Adam Silvera
Scott County Library hardcover 368 pages
genre: YA dystopian
I saw a student at NPMS reading this and made note of it. I don't read as much YA (Young Adolescent) lit as I used to . . . but this one was distressing. The premise is that an entity (DeathCast) knows what day people will die and they receive a call informing them of their death day. There's an entire industry that caters to the "Deckers" who have less than 24 hours to live.
Though this premise is never really explained, the focus on one's last day and how to spend it was really sad to me. Obviously, they conclude that relationships are more important than the things we spend most of our lives doing and thinking about. But I still thought the characters' journey made this a depressing and empty book.
The jacket blurb calls it "Uplifting and devastating, charming and haunting," but I think it's bleak and awful. I don't think I could recommend it to any teen readers I know and care about. I may need to go back and read my review of Daniel Ehrenhaft's 10 Things to Do Before I Die . . . because it had a similar premise (without the omnipotent entity that actually told you your death day) and I have a more positive memory of that book.
Scott County Library hardcover 368 pages
genre: YA dystopian
I saw a student at NPMS reading this and made note of it. I don't read as much YA (Young Adolescent) lit as I used to . . . but this one was distressing. The premise is that an entity (DeathCast) knows what day people will die and they receive a call informing them of their death day. There's an entire industry that caters to the "Deckers" who have less than 24 hours to live.
Though this premise is never really explained, the focus on one's last day and how to spend it was really sad to me. Obviously, they conclude that relationships are more important than the things we spend most of our lives doing and thinking about. But I still thought the characters' journey made this a depressing and empty book.
The jacket blurb calls it "Uplifting and devastating, charming and haunting," but I think it's bleak and awful. I don't think I could recommend it to any teen readers I know and care about. I may need to go back and read my review of Daniel Ehrenhaft's 10 Things to Do Before I Die . . . because it had a similar premise (without the omnipotent entity that actually told you your death day) and I have a more positive memory of that book.
One More River to Cross
by Jane Kirkpatrick
Scott County Library paperback 330 pages, plus author's notes
genre: Christian historical fiction
Kirkpatrick does an amazing job of researching an historical event and writing a fascinating story around its players. In this one, a group of California-bound pioneers try crossing the Sierra Nevada and encounter difficulties galore. This group made the attempt the year before the doomed Donner Party. (In fact, some of the Donners used a cabin built by the Stephens-Murphy-Townsend company.)
I hadn't read the book before book club, so didn't have much to add to the conversation. Below are the plethora of pages I tagged with some thoughts and observations. Overall, this was a very engaging read. There are a LOT of different characters. Right when I started it and saw the listing of names, relationships, etc. I realized it would be a challenge to keep everyone straight. She did an excellent job of differentiating, but I generally prefer stories where I identify strongly with characters and don't have to work as hard to remember who's who! The text below may contain *SPOILERS* and / or be boring to those who've not read the book. :-)
Flyleaf - She has this quote from Mary Anne Radmacher: "Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is that little voice that at the end of the day says 'I'll try again tomorrow.'"I love this!
Page 35 - "It was at the evening camp and Capt took out his journal from his saddlebages. He always reread what he'd written." This isn't especially profound, but I am a huge fan of journaling! I don't write as often as I used to, but it is wonderful to read the thoughts and feelings one experienced in a different point in life. Some of the most amazing "stories" throughout history have been recorded by someone and now we can appreciate them. This made me wonder if we would get to read some of Capt's journal later in the story.
Page 49 - "'I'm the mother of five. Fun isn't necessarily in my basket of essentials.'" - This reply by Ailbe to the comment that "She needs a little fun" made me laugh! Mothers can be so very down-to-earth.
Page 63 - "We should have joined them. She shook her head. What's done is done. Sometimes she thought of her life as a thin, scratchy book held between the bookends of fear and regret and fear. She needed to rewrite that book, make it sturdier. And find new bookends for sure." Mary Sullivan is a strong and determined young woman. The language in this description of her life (or her perception of her life) doesn't match with how I imagined her, but I liked it just the same.
Page 79 - "She hated it that he only seemed to pay attention to what she was feeling when she lost control and cried. Crying made her weak in his eyes so he could 'lift her up' rather than speak to her as another adult to come to some grown-up resolution." Sarah did get on my nerves at times, but her newlywed husband Allen was a total jerk.
Page 89 - "'Something haunts your brother,' Beth said. 'He carries anger, swallows it, licks his lips without knowing he is eating himself. He is in need of laughter. He doesn't know what wealth lies within it. Be patient with him.'" Beth is one of the most lovely and loving characters. The relationship between Ellen and her brother Daniel is one that develops throughout the story. I appreciate it!
Page 92 -"She nodded, acceptance settling like a threadbare cloak over her shoulders: it offered comfort but without the warmth. The real treasure was this moment when she felt loved and cared for more than she had since the day they'd married. She guessed it would be her anniversary gift." I really liked that first sentence. Again, Allen is not a very impressive husband. Poor Sarah!
Page 98 - I love when Mary grabs the ox and just goes! Capt wants her brother John to lead, but she's ready to GO. I can relate. I see a lot of myself in Mary.
Page 116 - When the women are sharing their stories, Mary has a new perspective. "Maybe carrying on despite grief was a hidden gift." Sometimes our perception of "gifts" misses some things out of the ordinary.
Page 139 - "It was the least she could do to honor the being that gave them nourishment." This made me think of Mari's mom Rita and her prayers over meals.
Page 140 - "Don't tell me what I've done or not correctly." This made me laugh! Husbands should handle pregnant wives with kid gloves! I was as contrary as can be when I was pregnant.
Page 165 - "He'd gotten crankier on this journey, while Mr. Hitchcock - in his late sixties - had gotten more jovial. Maybe it didn't matter how many years you had but how well you carried them." Such truth in this! When my dad was so negative and complained about everything, I made myself think about the choices I was making in terms of my attitude and communication. I want to carry my years well . . .
Page 172 - "If not, I trust God is with us whatever choice we make. . . . . Truth is, I'd rather be happy than right." I love Ailbe! She has a good attitude and recognizes that God is in control.
Page 181 - When Ellen talks to Daniel about how the fire in the mercantile got started, I was a bit taken aback . . . She saw cowardice in herself; I see complicity.
Page 192-3 - I love how Daniel and Ellen come to understand one another better and develop a much stronger and healthier brother / sister relationship. This was one of my favorite aspects of the story. The "Horseback Party" was a smaller group and had a more engaging storyline.
Page 205 - When Capt sweet talks Dr. Townsend into pushing on . . . pure genius. It does highlight Townsend's ego,t hough.
Page 218 - "Land is free in Oregon. We just take it from the Indians." Ugh. It's a fictionalized version of a real person saying this (Allen talking to his wife Sarah.) . . . but knowing that it represents some people's true opinions AND actions historically . . . just makes me mad / sad.
Page 220 - "We're having to remake ourselves." Sarah says this to Mary as they talk about taking apart a wool sweater to re-knit it and how it's like they are remaking themselves due to the hardships they're experiencing. It's wonderful that we can transform and don't have to get into a rut.
Page 241 - "It must be made American, taken for Americans, held by Americans." Sutter is trying to convince the men to ride to war instead of going back to rescue the rest of their party. Historically, there were battles to "hold" the West . . . but this reminded me of current-day "America First" rhetoric. I prefer to look at humanity more globally.
Page 260 - "Guess when you find success in something, all the pain getting there gets washed away." This is often true. Hardship mellows (if not goes away completely) when you've achieved your goal.
Page 290 - "Com once meant 'the exchange of burdens.' And union means 'together.' I guess when we are joined together in a gathering, we share our troubles. Or should." I love that definition for communion! And Sarah and Mary also talk about it in terms of marriage. The exchange of burdens together.
Page 296 - "Why was it that the food of goodness was often seasoned with guilt?" It's an interesting metaphor. I like words that make me think.
Page 332 - In the author's notes, she included this line that surprised me. "The decision by the men to become conscripted before sending rescue continues to baffle historians and others, including me. I'm hopeful that my explanation rings true." It was one of those odd moments while reading the book - why on earth would the men be persuaded to ride to war instead of rescuing their wives and children??? But as an author, she was being true to the history! That's what they did.
Page 337 - Also author notes - "A room in the Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum in Sunnyvale, California, is devoted to the Murphy family." Cool! I need to visit museums more. I love this stuff!
Page 339 - "Their feats are overshadowed by the Donner Party disaster. It's my hope that this story might celebrate the honor of self-sacrifice, the wisdom of working together, and the power of persevering through community and faith." This is one of the big reasons I appreciate Jean Kirkpatrick. I've heard of the Donner party and their cannibalism. I'd never before heard of this group that made the same trip successfully the year before them.
Scott County Library paperback 330 pages, plus author's notes
genre: Christian historical fiction
Kirkpatrick does an amazing job of researching an historical event and writing a fascinating story around its players. In this one, a group of California-bound pioneers try crossing the Sierra Nevada and encounter difficulties galore. This group made the attempt the year before the doomed Donner Party. (In fact, some of the Donners used a cabin built by the Stephens-Murphy-Townsend company.)
I hadn't read the book before book club, so didn't have much to add to the conversation. Below are the plethora of pages I tagged with some thoughts and observations. Overall, this was a very engaging read. There are a LOT of different characters. Right when I started it and saw the listing of names, relationships, etc. I realized it would be a challenge to keep everyone straight. She did an excellent job of differentiating, but I generally prefer stories where I identify strongly with characters and don't have to work as hard to remember who's who! The text below may contain *SPOILERS* and / or be boring to those who've not read the book. :-)
Flyleaf - She has this quote from Mary Anne Radmacher: "Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is that little voice that at the end of the day says 'I'll try again tomorrow.'"I love this!
Page 35 - "It was at the evening camp and Capt took out his journal from his saddlebages. He always reread what he'd written." This isn't especially profound, but I am a huge fan of journaling! I don't write as often as I used to, but it is wonderful to read the thoughts and feelings one experienced in a different point in life. Some of the most amazing "stories" throughout history have been recorded by someone and now we can appreciate them. This made me wonder if we would get to read some of Capt's journal later in the story.
Page 49 - "'I'm the mother of five. Fun isn't necessarily in my basket of essentials.'" - This reply by Ailbe to the comment that "She needs a little fun" made me laugh! Mothers can be so very down-to-earth.
Page 63 - "We should have joined them. She shook her head. What's done is done. Sometimes she thought of her life as a thin, scratchy book held between the bookends of fear and regret and fear. She needed to rewrite that book, make it sturdier. And find new bookends for sure." Mary Sullivan is a strong and determined young woman. The language in this description of her life (or her perception of her life) doesn't match with how I imagined her, but I liked it just the same.
Page 79 - "She hated it that he only seemed to pay attention to what she was feeling when she lost control and cried. Crying made her weak in his eyes so he could 'lift her up' rather than speak to her as another adult to come to some grown-up resolution." Sarah did get on my nerves at times, but her newlywed husband Allen was a total jerk.
Page 89 - "'Something haunts your brother,' Beth said. 'He carries anger, swallows it, licks his lips without knowing he is eating himself. He is in need of laughter. He doesn't know what wealth lies within it. Be patient with him.'" Beth is one of the most lovely and loving characters. The relationship between Ellen and her brother Daniel is one that develops throughout the story. I appreciate it!
Page 92 -"She nodded, acceptance settling like a threadbare cloak over her shoulders: it offered comfort but without the warmth. The real treasure was this moment when she felt loved and cared for more than she had since the day they'd married. She guessed it would be her anniversary gift." I really liked that first sentence. Again, Allen is not a very impressive husband. Poor Sarah!
Page 98 - I love when Mary grabs the ox and just goes! Capt wants her brother John to lead, but she's ready to GO. I can relate. I see a lot of myself in Mary.
Page 116 - When the women are sharing their stories, Mary has a new perspective. "Maybe carrying on despite grief was a hidden gift." Sometimes our perception of "gifts" misses some things out of the ordinary.
Page 139 - "It was the least she could do to honor the being that gave them nourishment." This made me think of Mari's mom Rita and her prayers over meals.
Page 140 - "Don't tell me what I've done or not correctly." This made me laugh! Husbands should handle pregnant wives with kid gloves! I was as contrary as can be when I was pregnant.
Page 165 - "He'd gotten crankier on this journey, while Mr. Hitchcock - in his late sixties - had gotten more jovial. Maybe it didn't matter how many years you had but how well you carried them." Such truth in this! When my dad was so negative and complained about everything, I made myself think about the choices I was making in terms of my attitude and communication. I want to carry my years well . . .
Page 172 - "If not, I trust God is with us whatever choice we make. . . . . Truth is, I'd rather be happy than right." I love Ailbe! She has a good attitude and recognizes that God is in control.
Page 181 - When Ellen talks to Daniel about how the fire in the mercantile got started, I was a bit taken aback . . . She saw cowardice in herself; I see complicity.
Page 192-3 - I love how Daniel and Ellen come to understand one another better and develop a much stronger and healthier brother / sister relationship. This was one of my favorite aspects of the story. The "Horseback Party" was a smaller group and had a more engaging storyline.
Page 205 - When Capt sweet talks Dr. Townsend into pushing on . . . pure genius. It does highlight Townsend's ego,t hough.
Page 218 - "Land is free in Oregon. We just take it from the Indians." Ugh. It's a fictionalized version of a real person saying this (Allen talking to his wife Sarah.) . . . but knowing that it represents some people's true opinions AND actions historically . . . just makes me mad / sad.
Page 220 - "We're having to remake ourselves." Sarah says this to Mary as they talk about taking apart a wool sweater to re-knit it and how it's like they are remaking themselves due to the hardships they're experiencing. It's wonderful that we can transform and don't have to get into a rut.
Page 241 - "It must be made American, taken for Americans, held by Americans." Sutter is trying to convince the men to ride to war instead of going back to rescue the rest of their party. Historically, there were battles to "hold" the West . . . but this reminded me of current-day "America First" rhetoric. I prefer to look at humanity more globally.
Page 260 - "Guess when you find success in something, all the pain getting there gets washed away." This is often true. Hardship mellows (if not goes away completely) when you've achieved your goal.
Page 290 - "Com once meant 'the exchange of burdens.' And union means 'together.' I guess when we are joined together in a gathering, we share our troubles. Or should." I love that definition for communion! And Sarah and Mary also talk about it in terms of marriage. The exchange of burdens together.
Page 296 - "Why was it that the food of goodness was often seasoned with guilt?" It's an interesting metaphor. I like words that make me think.
Page 332 - In the author's notes, she included this line that surprised me. "The decision by the men to become conscripted before sending rescue continues to baffle historians and others, including me. I'm hopeful that my explanation rings true." It was one of those odd moments while reading the book - why on earth would the men be persuaded to ride to war instead of rescuing their wives and children??? But as an author, she was being true to the history! That's what they did.
Page 337 - Also author notes - "A room in the Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum in Sunnyvale, California, is devoted to the Murphy family." Cool! I need to visit museums more. I love this stuff!
Page 339 - "Their feats are overshadowed by the Donner Party disaster. It's my hope that this story might celebrate the honor of self-sacrifice, the wisdom of working together, and the power of persevering through community and faith." This is one of the big reasons I appreciate Jean Kirkpatrick. I've heard of the Donner party and their cannibalism. I'd never before heard of this group that made the same trip successfully the year before them.
Friday, May 01, 2020
The Toll
by Neal Shusterman
Hennepin County Library hardcover 625 pages
genre: YA dystopian
(Book 3 of the Scythe series)
I should have blogged this promptly after reading it . . . but life is strange right now.
Shusterman crafts incredible stories and this is no exception. I had to wait a while to get it and really wanted to know what happened after Endura sank. I found out!
One interesting aspect of this story was the inclusion of a gender fluid character. On page 28 the character explains:
"I feel like a woman beneath the sun and the stars. I feel like a man under the cover of clouds," Jericho had explained to the crew when assuming command. "A simple glance at the skies will let you know how to address me at any given time."
On page 286, Anastasia is talking with Jeri about her identity.
"I've often wondered what it would have been like to have been born in the Madagascan region . . . Not that I'm really interested in being a man - but I wonder what it would have been like to explore both sides when I was too young to know the difference."
There was quite a bit more exposition about this topic and it came up several more times in the book.
I wonder why this was so important to Shusterman to include and emphasize. It almost seems . . . like a cause.
I'm not sure why I put a post-it note in this spot, but perhaps because it also seems to be a sign of our times:
Page 301 - "Anastasia supposed it was because there was very little private about Tenkamenin. He lived his life like he were in a window display."
A lot of people do seem to live their lives very, very publicly nowadays.
This book also had a lot of religious overtones, mostly to do with the Toll.
On page 361, "As for Astrid, she had her work cut out for her keeping them all on the proper spiritual path. She stayed with the Toll because deep down, she believed that Greyson Tolliver was the real thing. That he was divinely moved by the Tone, and that his humility about it was understandable. A humble nature was, after all, the hallmark of a true holy man. It made perfect sense that he would refuse to believe he was part of the Holy Triad, but just because he didn't believe it himself, didn't make it any less true."
And at the end of a chapter on page 417 - "Because, as it would turn out, he'd need to lead them into darkness before he could lead them into light."
There was also a lot about forgiveness, awe, reverence, godlike qualities, etc.
There were definite twists and turns in the story! I was almost yelling when the harbormaster used the tracking beacon and contacted Goddard.
On page 587, I was surprised to find sympathy for Sykora who had been such a detestable character to me . . . "Allow me to be useful, Loriana. Please." His humility was surprising and timely. (But I was a tiny bit suspicious, too . . . I was honestly not sure how this would end.)
Overall, I enjoyed this entire series. It's pretty violent, though, and has some complex themes. I would have loved doing this with my eighth grade book club! (Back when I HAD a student book club.)
Hennepin County Library hardcover 625 pages
genre: YA dystopian
(Book 3 of the Scythe series)
I should have blogged this promptly after reading it . . . but life is strange right now.
Shusterman crafts incredible stories and this is no exception. I had to wait a while to get it and really wanted to know what happened after Endura sank. I found out!
One interesting aspect of this story was the inclusion of a gender fluid character. On page 28 the character explains:
"I feel like a woman beneath the sun and the stars. I feel like a man under the cover of clouds," Jericho had explained to the crew when assuming command. "A simple glance at the skies will let you know how to address me at any given time."
On page 286, Anastasia is talking with Jeri about her identity.
"I've often wondered what it would have been like to have been born in the Madagascan region . . . Not that I'm really interested in being a man - but I wonder what it would have been like to explore both sides when I was too young to know the difference."
There was quite a bit more exposition about this topic and it came up several more times in the book.
I wonder why this was so important to Shusterman to include and emphasize. It almost seems . . . like a cause.
I'm not sure why I put a post-it note in this spot, but perhaps because it also seems to be a sign of our times:
Page 301 - "Anastasia supposed it was because there was very little private about Tenkamenin. He lived his life like he were in a window display."
A lot of people do seem to live their lives very, very publicly nowadays.
This book also had a lot of religious overtones, mostly to do with the Toll.
On page 361, "As for Astrid, she had her work cut out for her keeping them all on the proper spiritual path. She stayed with the Toll because deep down, she believed that Greyson Tolliver was the real thing. That he was divinely moved by the Tone, and that his humility about it was understandable. A humble nature was, after all, the hallmark of a true holy man. It made perfect sense that he would refuse to believe he was part of the Holy Triad, but just because he didn't believe it himself, didn't make it any less true."
And at the end of a chapter on page 417 - "Because, as it would turn out, he'd need to lead them into darkness before he could lead them into light."
There was also a lot about forgiveness, awe, reverence, godlike qualities, etc.
There were definite twists and turns in the story! I was almost yelling when the harbormaster used the tracking beacon and contacted Goddard.
On page 587, I was surprised to find sympathy for Sykora who had been such a detestable character to me . . . "Allow me to be useful, Loriana. Please." His humility was surprising and timely. (But I was a tiny bit suspicious, too . . . I was honestly not sure how this would end.)
Overall, I enjoyed this entire series. It's pretty violent, though, and has some complex themes. I would have loved doing this with my eighth grade book club! (Back when I HAD a student book club.)
Sunday, March 22, 2020
If Walls Could Talk
by Juliet Blackwell
Hennepin County Library audiobook 6 CDs
read by Xe Sands
genre: paranormal murder mystery
Overall, this was an interesting murder mystery. Mel(anie) Turner runs her father's construction business for rich people in the San Francisco bay area. She gets drawn into investigating who killed Kenneth C (and how it was done).
The occult, seance, ouija boards, etc. bothered me more than the actual ghost(s) who communicated with Mel. I'm not a big fan of messing with paranormal phenomenon . . . unless you're talking about God's moving things miraculously!
There were a lot of characters - Mel, her dad, Stan (family friend in wheelchair), Caleb (Mel's ex's son), Dylan (Caleb's friend, Matt's son), Matt Addix (faded rock star, house flipper wannabe), Grahame (former beau of Mel's, now an OSHA dude), Kenneth (the victim), Jason (the architect), Rory (restauranteur), Bryce (investigator), . . .
Since libraries are closed because of Covid-19, I think I'll give this to my sister Louise. She'll probably enjoy it more than I did!
Hennepin County Library audiobook 6 CDs
read by Xe Sands
genre: paranormal murder mystery
Overall, this was an interesting murder mystery. Mel(anie) Turner runs her father's construction business for rich people in the San Francisco bay area. She gets drawn into investigating who killed Kenneth C (and how it was done).
The occult, seance, ouija boards, etc. bothered me more than the actual ghost(s) who communicated with Mel. I'm not a big fan of messing with paranormal phenomenon . . . unless you're talking about God's moving things miraculously!
There were a lot of characters - Mel, her dad, Stan (family friend in wheelchair), Caleb (Mel's ex's son), Dylan (Caleb's friend, Matt's son), Matt Addix (faded rock star, house flipper wannabe), Grahame (former beau of Mel's, now an OSHA dude), Kenneth (the victim), Jason (the architect), Rory (restauranteur), Bryce (investigator), . . .
Since libraries are closed because of Covid-19, I think I'll give this to my sister Louise. She'll probably enjoy it more than I did!
Almost Home
by Valerie Fraser Luesse
Hennepin County Library paperback 318 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
This is our March book club title. I really enjoyed it a lot! The characters were wonderfully written, though there were a lot of them and I didn't remember them all.
Book blurb: "With America's entrance into World War II, the town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, has exploded virtually overnight. Workers from all over are coming south for jobs in Uncle Sam's munitions plants - and they're bringing their pasts with them, right into Dolly Chandler's grand but fading family home turned boardinghouse."
Page 41 - "Nobody knows. Presbyterians keep things close to the vest. They're not like us Baptists. If we know it, we've told it." This made me laugh! I don't know a lot about the different denominations, but I would be a Baptist if this were the only criteria! Actually, I can keep quiet about things; it just takes effort.
Page 47 - "She would much rather have one close friend than twenty casual acquaintances, and she tended to move slowly in forging those bonds." Said about Anna, it makes a lot of sense that some people are more deliberate and prefer a smaller, tighter circle of people around them. I'm not that way in general.
Page 57 - "Leaves are at the mercy of the current, Anna, but you and Jesse are not. You can choose whether to float wherever it takes you or swim against it. And you can choose whether to travel together or let the rocks divide you. That's a decision you must make together. Otherwise you could land on opposite sides of the river." I love Lillian's gentle, loving way of prodding people's minds and hearts.
Page 66 - "Tell him you're done with this nonsense. You're his wife and you mean to have a husband again. Just give it to him straight. Men can't decipher hints and moods, so you gotta put what you're feelin' in a cast-iron skillet and hit 'em over the head with it." Amen, Daisy! These two women were so good for one another. Daisy's advice to Anna was what she needed to hear. Men definitely are not fabulous (in general) about picking up on subtle hints.
Page 157 - "He had not lost his faith, but he had lost the ability to cope with the powerful emotions it stirred. Church seemed to demand that he contain but not extinguish the fires it stoked. Reed just wasn't up to it." I loved the story of Reed's journey through this book.
Page 261 - "We've been throwin' time away, Reed. And time's a gift. We oughta be usin' every minute we've got." Yes, Daisy! You're absolutely right. Time is an incredible gift.
This book was fairly predictable but definitely interesting enough to keep my interest. I want to read more by this author! I enjoyed this and look forward to the book club discussion.
Dolly and Si
Anna and Jesse
Daisy
Reed
Miss Lillian
Catherine and Andre
Hennepin County Library paperback 318 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
This is our March book club title. I really enjoyed it a lot! The characters were wonderfully written, though there were a lot of them and I didn't remember them all.
Book blurb: "With America's entrance into World War II, the town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, has exploded virtually overnight. Workers from all over are coming south for jobs in Uncle Sam's munitions plants - and they're bringing their pasts with them, right into Dolly Chandler's grand but fading family home turned boardinghouse."
Page 41 - "Nobody knows. Presbyterians keep things close to the vest. They're not like us Baptists. If we know it, we've told it." This made me laugh! I don't know a lot about the different denominations, but I would be a Baptist if this were the only criteria! Actually, I can keep quiet about things; it just takes effort.
Page 47 - "She would much rather have one close friend than twenty casual acquaintances, and she tended to move slowly in forging those bonds." Said about Anna, it makes a lot of sense that some people are more deliberate and prefer a smaller, tighter circle of people around them. I'm not that way in general.
Page 57 - "Leaves are at the mercy of the current, Anna, but you and Jesse are not. You can choose whether to float wherever it takes you or swim against it. And you can choose whether to travel together or let the rocks divide you. That's a decision you must make together. Otherwise you could land on opposite sides of the river." I love Lillian's gentle, loving way of prodding people's minds and hearts.
Page 66 - "Tell him you're done with this nonsense. You're his wife and you mean to have a husband again. Just give it to him straight. Men can't decipher hints and moods, so you gotta put what you're feelin' in a cast-iron skillet and hit 'em over the head with it." Amen, Daisy! These two women were so good for one another. Daisy's advice to Anna was what she needed to hear. Men definitely are not fabulous (in general) about picking up on subtle hints.
Page 157 - "He had not lost his faith, but he had lost the ability to cope with the powerful emotions it stirred. Church seemed to demand that he contain but not extinguish the fires it stoked. Reed just wasn't up to it." I loved the story of Reed's journey through this book.
Page 261 - "We've been throwin' time away, Reed. And time's a gift. We oughta be usin' every minute we've got." Yes, Daisy! You're absolutely right. Time is an incredible gift.
This book was fairly predictable but definitely interesting enough to keep my interest. I want to read more by this author! I enjoyed this and look forward to the book club discussion.
Dolly and Si
Anna and Jesse
Daisy
Reed
Miss Lillian
Catherine and Andre
R My Name Is Rachel
by Patricia Reilly Giff
Scott County Library audiobook 3 CDs
read by Cynthia Holloway
genre: YA historical fiction
I mostly enjoyed this book set during the Great Depression. Rachel and her two younger siblings lost their mom when the youngest child was born. Now their dad has lost his job and they're moving to a small town in the country so he can find new work.
Rachel is 12 and loves to read. Joey is 11 and very good-natured. Cassie is 10 and likes things neat.
Two things that bugged me that I kept hoping the author would rectify: Rachel and Miss Mitzi love to write letters. Toward the start of the book, they were writing to Admiral Byrd to ask about the South Pole and the polar bears there. What?! I kept waiting for Miss Mitzi to point out the error to Rachel. Did people not know in the 1930s that polar bears live at the North Pole and penguins at the South Pole? The other irritation was my error - Rachel tries to think of the mice as friendly, like Mickey and Minnie. I didn't think the characters were known at that time. But I just checked and both were featured in films in the very late 1920s and the 1930s. My mistake!
Some of the situations got on my nerves, like Rachel capitulating to Cassie about the money their dad left. I loved Rachel's love of books and reading. I loved the artist and the drawings. Miss Mitzi was a hero.
Scott County Library audiobook 3 CDs
read by Cynthia Holloway
genre: YA historical fiction
I mostly enjoyed this book set during the Great Depression. Rachel and her two younger siblings lost their mom when the youngest child was born. Now their dad has lost his job and they're moving to a small town in the country so he can find new work.
Rachel is 12 and loves to read. Joey is 11 and very good-natured. Cassie is 10 and likes things neat.
Two things that bugged me that I kept hoping the author would rectify: Rachel and Miss Mitzi love to write letters. Toward the start of the book, they were writing to Admiral Byrd to ask about the South Pole and the polar bears there. What?! I kept waiting for Miss Mitzi to point out the error to Rachel. Did people not know in the 1930s that polar bears live at the North Pole and penguins at the South Pole? The other irritation was my error - Rachel tries to think of the mice as friendly, like Mickey and Minnie. I didn't think the characters were known at that time. But I just checked and both were featured in films in the very late 1920s and the 1930s. My mistake!
Some of the situations got on my nerves, like Rachel capitulating to Cassie about the money their dad left. I loved Rachel's love of books and reading. I loved the artist and the drawings. Miss Mitzi was a hero.
Thursday, March 12, 2020
A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership
by James Comey
Scott County Library audiobook 8 CDs
read by the author
genre: politics
I'm glad I listened to this because I have a better understanding of some of the events of the past five or so years. It was a bit disconcerting, though, because I don't have a lot of confidence in Comey. He says that integrity and truth are important to him, but he also comes across as someone who lacks spine.
Even in the story about his teen years when they had the intruder in their home, I thought he was such a wimp. I would love to hear his brother's version of what happened that night!
Comey really emphasized his dogged focus on truth and that lying should be punished severely. He seemed a bit myopic. I made a note that he stressed that people SHOULD FEAR - God, jail, . . . since he read his own book, his emphasis was strong.
He had some really nice storytelling. I especially liked the personal stories about his childhood and his family. Patrice (his wife) added so much more dimension to Comey's identity. The conversations he relayed helped make him seem more personable.
Some parts of the book were just boring. It reminded me of the Joe Biden book I read. Those of us who aren't necessarily fascinated by politics don't care as much about the nitty gritty or the who's who.
Comey seemed like a coward at times, wanting to say he stood up for truth, the FBI, whatever . . . but it seemed like some hindsight perspective altering . . . when he related the part about Dick Cheney and the Abu Ghraib torturing, it sounded as though he was trying to make himself the hero, but he seemed to just be a bit pathetic.
When he talked about leadership and how a mix of confidence and humility are necessary for a good sense of humor, I liked that he added the part about his family teasing him about "Seacresting" a news briefing. It seems to have more than a kernel of truth, though. His ambition seems to get the best of his intent to be modest. Ego can be challenging.
I found myself really wanting to hear about events from other people's perspectives - Robert Mueller, Anthony Wiener, Mrs. Comey, Hillary Clinton, Obama, FBI staffers, . . . . I'll just have to keep reading books by different people.
Overall, I don't have a really high impression of Comey, but I do believe he sees himself as a person of high integrity. I believe he was genuinely trying to do the right thing in the investigation of Clinton's emails and in communicating with Donald Trump. I am horrified at our current commander in chief and his wheeling and dealing attitude toward the Oval Office and our country.
Comey says he's a spotlight denier, yet his ego seems to give him plenty of opportunities to be front and center. Someone accused him of being proud of his own righteousness . . . I wonder how much truth is actually in that.
Hindsight . . . he says he wouldn't have done anything differently. With Clinton's emails. With the Steele dossier. In communicating with Trump.
His mafia and honor comparisons were fascinating. He's painting a picture for us in hindsight . . . it makes me wonder what really happened. Trump asking him for loyalty - yuk. The way Trump fired him - appalling.
His wife Patrice saying, "It's not about you, dear." I love that woman!
Scott County Library audiobook 8 CDs
read by the author
genre: politics
I'm glad I listened to this because I have a better understanding of some of the events of the past five or so years. It was a bit disconcerting, though, because I don't have a lot of confidence in Comey. He says that integrity and truth are important to him, but he also comes across as someone who lacks spine.
Even in the story about his teen years when they had the intruder in their home, I thought he was such a wimp. I would love to hear his brother's version of what happened that night!
Comey really emphasized his dogged focus on truth and that lying should be punished severely. He seemed a bit myopic. I made a note that he stressed that people SHOULD FEAR - God, jail, . . . since he read his own book, his emphasis was strong.
He had some really nice storytelling. I especially liked the personal stories about his childhood and his family. Patrice (his wife) added so much more dimension to Comey's identity. The conversations he relayed helped make him seem more personable.
Some parts of the book were just boring. It reminded me of the Joe Biden book I read. Those of us who aren't necessarily fascinated by politics don't care as much about the nitty gritty or the who's who.
Comey seemed like a coward at times, wanting to say he stood up for truth, the FBI, whatever . . . but it seemed like some hindsight perspective altering . . . when he related the part about Dick Cheney and the Abu Ghraib torturing, it sounded as though he was trying to make himself the hero, but he seemed to just be a bit pathetic.
When he talked about leadership and how a mix of confidence and humility are necessary for a good sense of humor, I liked that he added the part about his family teasing him about "Seacresting" a news briefing. It seems to have more than a kernel of truth, though. His ambition seems to get the best of his intent to be modest. Ego can be challenging.
I found myself really wanting to hear about events from other people's perspectives - Robert Mueller, Anthony Wiener, Mrs. Comey, Hillary Clinton, Obama, FBI staffers, . . . . I'll just have to keep reading books by different people.
Overall, I don't have a really high impression of Comey, but I do believe he sees himself as a person of high integrity. I believe he was genuinely trying to do the right thing in the investigation of Clinton's emails and in communicating with Donald Trump. I am horrified at our current commander in chief and his wheeling and dealing attitude toward the Oval Office and our country.
Comey says he's a spotlight denier, yet his ego seems to give him plenty of opportunities to be front and center. Someone accused him of being proud of his own righteousness . . . I wonder how much truth is actually in that.
Hindsight . . . he says he wouldn't have done anything differently. With Clinton's emails. With the Steele dossier. In communicating with Trump.
His mafia and honor comparisons were fascinating. He's painting a picture for us in hindsight . . . it makes me wonder what really happened. Trump asking him for loyalty - yuk. The way Trump fired him - appalling.
His wife Patrice saying, "It's not about you, dear." I love that woman!
Saturday, March 07, 2020
Gift from the Sea: An answer to the conflicts in our lives
by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
my mother's copy, hardcover, 128 pages
genre: philosophy? personal essay?
I was so excited to see this as I helped my sister with clearing out some of our mother's books. Ever since reading The Aviator's Wife, I've been curious about reading some of her work. Perfect!
I don't want to write about this the way I usually do, but rather in impressions.
Parts of it read like poetry, a gorgeous love of words and how they can evoke places, ideas, and feelings. I could savor, re-read, and contemplate the text.
I wish I could talk with my mom about what this book meant to her. There is something innately lonely and companionable about motherhood and its demands on a person.
At times, I thought it was overwrought and dramatic (more reflective of my mood at the moment than Lindbergh's writing?).
Page 42 - "Now instead of planting our solitude with our own dream blossoms, we choke the space with continuous music, chatter, and companionship to which we do not even listen. It is simply there to fill the vacuum. When the noise stops there is no inner music to take its place. We must re-learn to be alone."
Imagine what she would think of modern day smart phones and instant access to nearly anything!
Page 49 - "By and large, mothers and housewives are the only workers who do not have regular time off. They are the great vacationless class."
Amen, sister! I'm not in that stage of life anymore, but there were days I just wanted to be all by myself. I remember telling my mom that if I were locked up in solitary confinement, that would be so relaxing . . . and she just laughed at me.
Page 50 - "What a commentary on our civilization, when being alone is considered suspect; when one has to apologize for it, make excuses, hide the fact that one practices it - like a secret vice!"
Page 100 - "We run bare-legged to the beach, which lies smooth, flat, and glistening with fresh wet shells after the night's tides. the morning swim has the nature of a blessing to me, a baptism, a rebirth to the beauty and wonder of the world."
She and her sister have this wonderful beach retreat. Lovely!
Page 124 - "The inter-relatedness of the world links us constantly with more people than our hearts can hold. Or rather - for I believe the heart is infinite - modern communication loads us with more problems than the human frame can carry. It is good, I think, for our hearts, our minds, our imaginations to be stretched; but body, nerve, endurance, and life are not as elastic."
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed about all the people and issues to care about and pray about. I'm glad that God is infinite and infinitely able!
my mother's copy, hardcover, 128 pages
genre: philosophy? personal essay?
I was so excited to see this as I helped my sister with clearing out some of our mother's books. Ever since reading The Aviator's Wife, I've been curious about reading some of her work. Perfect!
I don't want to write about this the way I usually do, but rather in impressions.
Parts of it read like poetry, a gorgeous love of words and how they can evoke places, ideas, and feelings. I could savor, re-read, and contemplate the text.
I wish I could talk with my mom about what this book meant to her. There is something innately lonely and companionable about motherhood and its demands on a person.
At times, I thought it was overwrought and dramatic (more reflective of my mood at the moment than Lindbergh's writing?).
Page 42 - "Now instead of planting our solitude with our own dream blossoms, we choke the space with continuous music, chatter, and companionship to which we do not even listen. It is simply there to fill the vacuum. When the noise stops there is no inner music to take its place. We must re-learn to be alone."
Imagine what she would think of modern day smart phones and instant access to nearly anything!
Page 49 - "By and large, mothers and housewives are the only workers who do not have regular time off. They are the great vacationless class."
Amen, sister! I'm not in that stage of life anymore, but there were days I just wanted to be all by myself. I remember telling my mom that if I were locked up in solitary confinement, that would be so relaxing . . . and she just laughed at me.
Page 50 - "What a commentary on our civilization, when being alone is considered suspect; when one has to apologize for it, make excuses, hide the fact that one practices it - like a secret vice!"
Page 100 - "We run bare-legged to the beach, which lies smooth, flat, and glistening with fresh wet shells after the night's tides. the morning swim has the nature of a blessing to me, a baptism, a rebirth to the beauty and wonder of the world."
She and her sister have this wonderful beach retreat. Lovely!
Page 124 - "The inter-relatedness of the world links us constantly with more people than our hearts can hold. Or rather - for I believe the heart is infinite - modern communication loads us with more problems than the human frame can carry. It is good, I think, for our hearts, our minds, our imaginations to be stretched; but body, nerve, endurance, and life are not as elastic."
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed about all the people and issues to care about and pray about. I'm glad that God is infinite and infinitely able!
Red's Planet: Friends and Foes
book two in the series
by Eddie Pittman
County Library hardcover
Genre: YA graphic novel
I read this and then loaned it to some young friends, so I don't have all the details at my fingertips.
Red remains stranded on an alien planet with a variety of life forms. She is egged on to compete with Goose (a tiger-type macho man) for leadership on the planet.
A quick read, some good adventure, I'm already looking forward to book 3 which should be out in a few months.
by Eddie Pittman
County Library hardcover
Genre: YA graphic novel
I read this and then loaned it to some young friends, so I don't have all the details at my fingertips.
Red remains stranded on an alien planet with a variety of life forms. She is egged on to compete with Goose (a tiger-type macho man) for leadership on the planet.
A quick read, some good adventure, I'm already looking forward to book 3 which should be out in a few months.
Friday, February 28, 2020
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!
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!
Thursday, February 20, 2020
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.
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.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
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.
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.
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!"
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.
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.
Saturday, February 15, 2020
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!
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!
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!
Thursday, February 13, 2020
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.
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.
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
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.
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.
Monday, January 27, 2020
When I Close My Eyes
by Elizabeth Musser
Carver County Library paperback 338 pages
genre: Christian fiction
Not sure I feel like typing up all the pages I put post-its on . . . but I am excited for book club tonight and the chance to talk about this book. A hired assassin shoots Christian author Josephine Bourdillon in the head. But because someone called her name at the moment and she turned, the bullet wounds her gravely instead of killing her instantly. Lying in a coma, she has "flashbacks" of her childhood as her family rushes to her side to sit vigil and encourage her to pull through. The would-be killer is struggling with his own demons and comes to the hospital to finish what he started.
I read the first forty pages and then put it aside. Saturday evening, I finished the entire book! Musser is a wonderful storyteller who brings the threads of the story together as we hear from the different perspectives.
I've always kind of wondered about / struggled with the idea of a born-again Christian having problems with depression. This book helped make sense of it for me. This was a book about depression without being depressing to read. I loved Paige and her edginess. I also loved the observations about her acting a lot like Jesus even though she claimed not to believe in Him. . . .
Page 30-1: "Miss Josy, you listen to me, and you listen good. There's a whole lot of evil in this world. And you got a heart that feels it more than others. But don't you go tryin' to carry it - you give it to the good Lord, you hear me? Can't be carryin' it on your mighty thin shoulders. The Lord, now He's got big shoulders. You tell Him about it, and then you go on out and drink your ginger ale. Ain't up to you to fix the world's problems." Terrence was such a fantastic character! I loved his wisdom!
Page 69-70: "Josephine, I'm no expert on much, but I know one thing. When I start feeling overwhelmed or angry or discouraged, I try to read what God has to say about it in the Bible. And I keep a list of Bible verses that talk about whatever is bothering me. Sometimes I even memorize those verses." Fred O., her youth pastor, showed her how to use a concordance and find Scriptures that helped her with what she most struggled with! Yes! Excellent strategy!
Page 107: "Their weekly meetings were a gift, a great gift, and gradually Marcia helped her understand how to let go of the burdens, helped her redirect her spiraling thoughts, pointed her more fully to Christ, encouraged her to meditate on Scripture, to let God's Word tape over the cruel voices that played like a cassette in her mind. The voices didn't go away completely, but she learned to recognize them sooner, to prepare herself for the mental fight. And she learned that she could not fix her family." Marcia was another person who really helped Josie when she was younger.
Page 138 - her miscarriages . . . so incredibly sad. I can't imagine that pain.
Page 152 - Henry is being changed as he reads Josie's books and opens his heart to the possibility of forgiveness. Talking to Jase, he says, "These hard times are gonna be used for good. Make you stronger, son. Make you better inside and out. They're changin' your heart."
Page 193: "When she spoke to women's groups, Josephine never shied away from the truth - her need for antidepressants to regulate her moods, her need for counseling, her need for complete rest, her need for Scripture and people. She told it all in living color, always ending with, 'God's Word brought me back from the edge of despair . . . from insanity.'" God's Word has power!
Page 240: I love the whole page because Henry is musing on how "Christians" often act instead of how Jesus says they should act - in love. "I wondered how many religious folks nowadays acted like those Pharisees. And then I wondered long and hard how Jesus would feel about them."
Page 308: "Faith and mental instability aren't mutually exclusive." When Drake says this, Paige has to repeat it and think about it. Interesting how a perspective shift can do that.
Page 328-30: When her family reads her letter, it summarizes beautifully her whole journey. This part really struck me: 'Back in 2007, I tried to take my life. Despite having a wonderful, loving family and community and a deep faith in Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I had slipped into a terrible spiral of hopelessness. By God's grace, my attempt failed. My road back to mental and physical health came from my support group as well as mental health professionals and medication." She goes on to talk about getting help.
Carver County Library paperback 338 pages
genre: Christian fiction
Not sure I feel like typing up all the pages I put post-its on . . . but I am excited for book club tonight and the chance to talk about this book. A hired assassin shoots Christian author Josephine Bourdillon in the head. But because someone called her name at the moment and she turned, the bullet wounds her gravely instead of killing her instantly. Lying in a coma, she has "flashbacks" of her childhood as her family rushes to her side to sit vigil and encourage her to pull through. The would-be killer is struggling with his own demons and comes to the hospital to finish what he started.
I read the first forty pages and then put it aside. Saturday evening, I finished the entire book! Musser is a wonderful storyteller who brings the threads of the story together as we hear from the different perspectives.
I've always kind of wondered about / struggled with the idea of a born-again Christian having problems with depression. This book helped make sense of it for me. This was a book about depression without being depressing to read. I loved Paige and her edginess. I also loved the observations about her acting a lot like Jesus even though she claimed not to believe in Him. . . .
Page 30-1: "Miss Josy, you listen to me, and you listen good. There's a whole lot of evil in this world. And you got a heart that feels it more than others. But don't you go tryin' to carry it - you give it to the good Lord, you hear me? Can't be carryin' it on your mighty thin shoulders. The Lord, now He's got big shoulders. You tell Him about it, and then you go on out and drink your ginger ale. Ain't up to you to fix the world's problems." Terrence was such a fantastic character! I loved his wisdom!
Page 69-70: "Josephine, I'm no expert on much, but I know one thing. When I start feeling overwhelmed or angry or discouraged, I try to read what God has to say about it in the Bible. And I keep a list of Bible verses that talk about whatever is bothering me. Sometimes I even memorize those verses." Fred O., her youth pastor, showed her how to use a concordance and find Scriptures that helped her with what she most struggled with! Yes! Excellent strategy!
Page 107: "Their weekly meetings were a gift, a great gift, and gradually Marcia helped her understand how to let go of the burdens, helped her redirect her spiraling thoughts, pointed her more fully to Christ, encouraged her to meditate on Scripture, to let God's Word tape over the cruel voices that played like a cassette in her mind. The voices didn't go away completely, but she learned to recognize them sooner, to prepare herself for the mental fight. And she learned that she could not fix her family." Marcia was another person who really helped Josie when she was younger.
Page 138 - her miscarriages . . . so incredibly sad. I can't imagine that pain.
Page 152 - Henry is being changed as he reads Josie's books and opens his heart to the possibility of forgiveness. Talking to Jase, he says, "These hard times are gonna be used for good. Make you stronger, son. Make you better inside and out. They're changin' your heart."
Page 193: "When she spoke to women's groups, Josephine never shied away from the truth - her need for antidepressants to regulate her moods, her need for counseling, her need for complete rest, her need for Scripture and people. She told it all in living color, always ending with, 'God's Word brought me back from the edge of despair . . . from insanity.'" God's Word has power!
Page 240: I love the whole page because Henry is musing on how "Christians" often act instead of how Jesus says they should act - in love. "I wondered how many religious folks nowadays acted like those Pharisees. And then I wondered long and hard how Jesus would feel about them."
Page 308: "Faith and mental instability aren't mutually exclusive." When Drake says this, Paige has to repeat it and think about it. Interesting how a perspective shift can do that.
Page 328-30: When her family reads her letter, it summarizes beautifully her whole journey. This part really struck me: 'Back in 2007, I tried to take my life. Despite having a wonderful, loving family and community and a deep faith in Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I had slipped into a terrible spiral of hopelessness. By God's grace, my attempt failed. My road back to mental and physical health came from my support group as well as mental health professionals and medication." She goes on to talk about getting help.
We Never Asked for Wings
by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Scott County Library audiobook 10 CDs
read by Emma Bering and Robbie Daymond
genre: realistic fiction
I grabbed this book when I saw who the author was. The Language of Flowers absolutely blew me away. I may need to re-read it . . . Because I confess that this book underwhelmed me. This "review" probably has lots of spoilers, so please don't let me ruin your experience with the book! (It isn't a very well-written review anyhow.)
She is an amazing writer, but there were a few things that I really struggled with. First of all, the consequences of the kids' actions was draconian. I find it hard to believe that any school would handle this by immediately turning two kids (with no previous issues) over to the police, and that the police in juvey would treat them so harshly. No lawyers, no parents . . . just doesn't ring true for me. Second of all is the lame ending. It's as though the story just stops. Not at all satisfying.
Here are my random notes from while I was listening:
I love what she did with the birds and feathers. I love the relationship between Enrique and his grandson. I love how Wes and Rick stepped up as great guys. I even loved the mixology lessons. But overall, this was just not as excellent as her first book.
Scott County Library audiobook 10 CDs
read by Emma Bering and Robbie Daymond
genre: realistic fiction
I grabbed this book when I saw who the author was. The Language of Flowers absolutely blew me away. I may need to re-read it . . . Because I confess that this book underwhelmed me. This "review" probably has lots of spoilers, so please don't let me ruin your experience with the book! (It isn't a very well-written review anyhow.)
She is an amazing writer, but there were a few things that I really struggled with. First of all, the consequences of the kids' actions was draconian. I find it hard to believe that any school would handle this by immediately turning two kids (with no previous issues) over to the police, and that the police in juvey would treat them so harshly. No lawyers, no parents . . . just doesn't ring true for me. Second of all is the lame ending. It's as though the story just stops. Not at all satisfying.
Here are my random notes from while I was listening:
- geography south of San Fran? I need to look at a map! marshy area by airport?
- feather mosaics . . . I tried googling this, but I got mosaics OF feathers instead of ones made FROM feathers. I'm super curious and must look more!
- I had a hard time deciding if I was more frustrated with Letty being a pathetic non-mom or Maria Elena for enabling her all these years. And Luna was such a brat! What horrible behavior for a six year old! Alex was my favorite character from the get-go.
- They learned about the Icarus myth in sixth grade? I love it!
- mass spectrometer, feathers/wings, climate change. I loved the nerdy science stuff and the way Alex and Wes clicked.
- Loved the men! Rick, Wed, Alex, Enrique, Mr. Everett (the science teacher) - these guys were fantastic!
- No! I couldn't believe that Alex compounded the wrong he'd already done by throwing Mr. E's keys into the bay. I also couldn't believe that Yesenia told him to do it.
- Carmen's 14 year old self and experience with pregnancy vs. Letty's 18 year old experience . . . such different choices, weaknesses, and strengths in these women!
- lots of remarks on "Juvie lockup" and "really?!" and "a guard hit Alex and left a scrape on his forehead?" and "I don't think so." Letty should have been fighting that system big-time!
I love what she did with the birds and feathers. I love the relationship between Enrique and his grandson. I love how Wes and Rick stepped up as great guys. I even loved the mixology lessons. But overall, this was just not as excellent as her first book.
Friday, January 10, 2020
Skink No Surrender
by Carl Hiaasen
Hennepin County Library audiobook 7 CDs
read by Kirby Heyborne
genre: YA realistic fiction
I like Hiaasen's books, but this one may have bugged me more than I enjoyed it . . . I feel as though I'm on a teeter-totter of opinion.
I liked:
Ultimately, I think Flush remains my favorite of his YA books. I was a bit shocked at the difference between Hiaasen's style for teens and for adults. Duh, right? He's a talented writer.
I just had to go back and fix three previous entries where I had labeled the author as "Hiassen" instead of "Hiaasen." Wow. Sometimes I'm efficient and sometimes I'm in too much of a hurry to pay attention.
Hennepin County Library audiobook 7 CDs
read by Kirby Heyborne
genre: YA realistic fiction
I like Hiaasen's books, but this one may have bugged me more than I enjoyed it . . . I feel as though I'm on a teeter-totter of opinion.
I liked:
- Skink - his personality, his backstory, his attitude. I loved him as a character!
- Nickel, Dime, and Penny for sibling character names
- environmental concerns and the plug for Rachel Carson's Silent Spring (which I've not read and is now on my reading list . . . I've been aware of it for four decades . . . )
- info on the ivory billed woodpecker, the "Lord God bird" . . . enough for me to look it up and learn even more!
- Malley. What an awful brat of a kid. 14 years old and just horrid. Not sure why Richard or her parents care about her so much . . . she didn't seem to have many redeeming qualities
- Richard and Malley together doing so many stupid things. Yes, we all do stupid things. We do proportionally more stupid things when we're teenagers. But still . . . argh!
- The bad guy TC - his choices and actions . . . believable? Some of it. Listening, I thought about all the "Florida Man" humor on the internet . . . he's like a bad joke.
- Skink honoring the real Talbot Chalk. Nice touch
Ultimately, I think Flush remains my favorite of his YA books. I was a bit shocked at the difference between Hiaasen's style for teens and for adults. Duh, right? He's a talented writer.
I just had to go back and fix three previous entries where I had labeled the author as "Hiassen" instead of "Hiaasen." Wow. Sometimes I'm efficient and sometimes I'm in too much of a hurry to pay attention.
The Case of the Wandering Scholar
by Kate Saunders
Scott County Library hardcover 360 pages
genre: historical fiction, murder mystery
"A Laetitia Rodd Mystery: A Private Detective of the Utmost Discretion"
This is the second book in what I hope becomes a long series! Set in England in the 1850s, Laetitia is a delightful protagonist. I love seeing how the stories unfold and the pieces of the puzzle connect. This one pulled in more theology than I expected, but also included some of the lovely humor from the first book. I especially like how Laetitia and her more worldly brother interact with one another.
Page 252 - "Mr. Arden makes no distinction between the 'deserving' and the 'undeserving' poor. He says only the Almighty has the right to make such judgements and that the rich have a sacred duty to share their good fortune, because the less fortunate are our brothers and sisters and not another race of beings!"
This rush of an emotional speech was from a young woman in love with Mr. Arden, but I noted it because it can be such a bone of contention . . . helping people but trying to determine if they're worthy of help or if they're just experiencing hardship because of their own mistakes.
In any case, I don't want to leave any spoilers. The body count rose as the story went on, but not to the degree of a good Agatha Christie!
Scott County Library hardcover 360 pages
genre: historical fiction, murder mystery
"A Laetitia Rodd Mystery: A Private Detective of the Utmost Discretion"
This is the second book in what I hope becomes a long series! Set in England in the 1850s, Laetitia is a delightful protagonist. I love seeing how the stories unfold and the pieces of the puzzle connect. This one pulled in more theology than I expected, but also included some of the lovely humor from the first book. I especially like how Laetitia and her more worldly brother interact with one another.
Page 252 - "Mr. Arden makes no distinction between the 'deserving' and the 'undeserving' poor. He says only the Almighty has the right to make such judgements and that the rich have a sacred duty to share their good fortune, because the less fortunate are our brothers and sisters and not another race of beings!"
This rush of an emotional speech was from a young woman in love with Mr. Arden, but I noted it because it can be such a bone of contention . . . helping people but trying to determine if they're worthy of help or if they're just experiencing hardship because of their own mistakes.
In any case, I don't want to leave any spoilers. The body count rose as the story went on, but not to the degree of a good Agatha Christie!
Friday, January 03, 2020
More: How to Move from Activity for God to Intimacy with God
by Greg Hawkins
(foreword by Max Lucado)
Hennepin County Library hardcover 203 pages
genre: non-fiction Christian faith
I loved this book! Chris Moe recommended it to me a few years ago and I just got it from the library recently. This is one I would seriously consider buying. His "kingdom" analogy wasn't a 100% fit for me, but I understood what he meant by it.
Page 38 - The church he worked at did a massive study on Christians and their relationship with Jesus. This breakdown fascinates me . . . and leads me to want More.
Page 76 - This was just timely, though it has little to do with what I liked about the book! I read it shortly after my total knee replacement surgery on 12/10.
"I didn't feel much pain because they had given me a spinal block during surgery that stopped all nerve traffic from my waist down. When it wore off later that day, it was like getting hit by a truck. A very large truck that was not braking at all upon impact."
Page 86 - "We have been so conditioned to think God is 'out there' and we have to work really hard to find Him that we've missed the whole point of why He created us in the first place: He wants to have a deep, personal, intimate relationship with you. Nothing in all of creation can separate you from God." I love this reminder that God is close, not far away. We are the ones who need to pay attention to Him; He doesn't lose track of us.
Page 97 - ". . . I don't just need You when I'm having a difficult time. I don't need You only when I have that job interview or when I'm waiting for the results of my medical test. I don't just need You right now. I want You. I want to be with You always." I love this prayer! It's one I could pray daily.
Page 99 - "So when you notice yourself saying or thinking 'I' or 'me,' make a conscious shift and say or think 'we.' The change may feel awkward at first, but it's a habit that will bring you into a strong awareness of God's presence. By changing your words, you can change your thinking, which will change your attitudes, then your feelings, and finally your experiences." This is so true! It makes me think about The Power of Words book that Lois gave me . . . and makes me think of Norman Vincent Peale's Power of Positive Thinking. God's Word has power. We need to claim His promises.
Page 104 - "Another lie the Enemy uses is that if you become fully intimate with God He will make you do things you hate. This is the lie most of us fall for. God's going to send you to Africa or make you wash the feet of homeless men in an urban shelter. He's going to make you a fanatical street preacher warning that the world is coming to an end. That doesn't make any sense at all, but we imagine that will be our assignment and so we hide out in the Kingdom of Me. What I've learned is that God wants you to serve Him with the unique skills and talents He's given you. If you're a lousy public speaker, He won't call you to be a preacher. Or if He does, He'll not only transform you into a polished speaker but also give you a love for preaching. That's just the way God works." Yes! I love how God can do the impossible! I love how His ways are better than our ways. Submitting my will to His is something I'm working on right now . . .
Page 117 - "Now, reason and intellect are wonderful gifts, but focusing on them exclusively can keep us in our heads and prevent us from engaging our hearts. And yet, this is the shift we must make - from our heads to our hearts - if we want to access a life of more. We don't abandon our intellect, but we augment it with a depth of feeling and experience that happen when we engage our hearts."
Page 126 - "When we studied half a million church attendees to find out what kinds of practices they engaged in, the research was very clear: the number one practice that catalyzes movement toward deeper intimacy with God is reading, studying, reflecting upon, and even memorizing truth from the Bible." Yes! God's Word is better than food!
If I owned a copy of this book, there would be much highlighting and underlining . . . I'm still trying to decide if I buy a copy or not. I definitely need to send Kris a thank you note for the recommendation!
(foreword by Max Lucado)
Hennepin County Library hardcover 203 pages
genre: non-fiction Christian faith
I loved this book! Chris Moe recommended it to me a few years ago and I just got it from the library recently. This is one I would seriously consider buying. His "kingdom" analogy wasn't a 100% fit for me, but I understood what he meant by it.
Page 38 - The church he worked at did a massive study on Christians and their relationship with Jesus. This breakdown fascinates me . . . and leads me to want More.
Page 76 - This was just timely, though it has little to do with what I liked about the book! I read it shortly after my total knee replacement surgery on 12/10.
"I didn't feel much pain because they had given me a spinal block during surgery that stopped all nerve traffic from my waist down. When it wore off later that day, it was like getting hit by a truck. A very large truck that was not braking at all upon impact."
Page 86 - "We have been so conditioned to think God is 'out there' and we have to work really hard to find Him that we've missed the whole point of why He created us in the first place: He wants to have a deep, personal, intimate relationship with you. Nothing in all of creation can separate you from God." I love this reminder that God is close, not far away. We are the ones who need to pay attention to Him; He doesn't lose track of us.
Page 97 - ". . . I don't just need You when I'm having a difficult time. I don't need You only when I have that job interview or when I'm waiting for the results of my medical test. I don't just need You right now. I want You. I want to be with You always." I love this prayer! It's one I could pray daily.
Page 99 - "So when you notice yourself saying or thinking 'I' or 'me,' make a conscious shift and say or think 'we.' The change may feel awkward at first, but it's a habit that will bring you into a strong awareness of God's presence. By changing your words, you can change your thinking, which will change your attitudes, then your feelings, and finally your experiences." This is so true! It makes me think about The Power of Words book that Lois gave me . . . and makes me think of Norman Vincent Peale's Power of Positive Thinking. God's Word has power. We need to claim His promises.
Page 104 - "Another lie the Enemy uses is that if you become fully intimate with God He will make you do things you hate. This is the lie most of us fall for. God's going to send you to Africa or make you wash the feet of homeless men in an urban shelter. He's going to make you a fanatical street preacher warning that the world is coming to an end. That doesn't make any sense at all, but we imagine that will be our assignment and so we hide out in the Kingdom of Me. What I've learned is that God wants you to serve Him with the unique skills and talents He's given you. If you're a lousy public speaker, He won't call you to be a preacher. Or if He does, He'll not only transform you into a polished speaker but also give you a love for preaching. That's just the way God works." Yes! I love how God can do the impossible! I love how His ways are better than our ways. Submitting my will to His is something I'm working on right now . . .
Page 117 - "Now, reason and intellect are wonderful gifts, but focusing on them exclusively can keep us in our heads and prevent us from engaging our hearts. And yet, this is the shift we must make - from our heads to our hearts - if we want to access a life of more. We don't abandon our intellect, but we augment it with a depth of feeling and experience that happen when we engage our hearts."
Page 126 - "When we studied half a million church attendees to find out what kinds of practices they engaged in, the research was very clear: the number one practice that catalyzes movement toward deeper intimacy with God is reading, studying, reflecting upon, and even memorizing truth from the Bible." Yes! God's Word is better than food!
If I owned a copy of this book, there would be much highlighting and underlining . . . I'm still trying to decide if I buy a copy or not. I definitely need to send Kris a thank you note for the recommendation!
Friday, December 27, 2019
Yes We Did
by Lawrence Jackson
foreword by Barack Obama
Hennepin County Library hardcover 173 pages
genre: photojournalism
I loved this book, but it also made me sad. Jackson worked for the White House along with Pete Sousa, documenting the Obama administration. The photos are interspersed with commentary and input from others.
My absolute favorite parts included the letter from Bono (December 2015):
"The photo is taken at the center of power. But what this picture says to me about power has nothing to do with its usual instruments: economic, military, cultural might. What this photograph shows - and what President Obama showed us during his years in office - is just how much power there is in restraint, in goodness, in grace, in love. Maybe we understand this more in its absence. Because there's another model of leadership that is finding its way to center stage on both sides of the Atlantic, one that's grabbed the megaphone and is shouting that goodness and grace are signs of weakness, not strength. We are seeing a power that defines itself by demonizing 'the other.'"
On page 77, Jackson writes, "When addressing the staff, President Obama often talked about what 'we are doing.' He was always inclusive, ready to share the successes of his administration but accepting full responsibility for the failures. He inspired a passionate and loyal team committed to helping our country find its best self."
Valerie Jarrett contributed, "What I find striking is that notwithstanding all of his years in the rough-and-tumble world of politics, he still has an optimistic outlook and searches for the good in people." (page 78)
Page 140 - "It's the biggest lesson I've learned from watching them up close: be authentic. Take away the prestige, titles, positions, and money ,and you have your words and actions to define you - an unvarnished truth of who we are as told by what we do and say. Humans relating to other humans without pretense and reminding us that we have more in common than the differences on the surface might suggest." (Jackson)
I miss President Obama and First Lady Michelle. I miss their positive, encouraging selves representing the United States of America. This book was lovely.
foreword by Barack Obama
Hennepin County Library hardcover 173 pages
genre: photojournalism
I loved this book, but it also made me sad. Jackson worked for the White House along with Pete Sousa, documenting the Obama administration. The photos are interspersed with commentary and input from others.
My absolute favorite parts included the letter from Bono (December 2015):
"The photo is taken at the center of power. But what this picture says to me about power has nothing to do with its usual instruments: economic, military, cultural might. What this photograph shows - and what President Obama showed us during his years in office - is just how much power there is in restraint, in goodness, in grace, in love. Maybe we understand this more in its absence. Because there's another model of leadership that is finding its way to center stage on both sides of the Atlantic, one that's grabbed the megaphone and is shouting that goodness and grace are signs of weakness, not strength. We are seeing a power that defines itself by demonizing 'the other.'"
On page 77, Jackson writes, "When addressing the staff, President Obama often talked about what 'we are doing.' He was always inclusive, ready to share the successes of his administration but accepting full responsibility for the failures. He inspired a passionate and loyal team committed to helping our country find its best self."
Valerie Jarrett contributed, "What I find striking is that notwithstanding all of his years in the rough-and-tumble world of politics, he still has an optimistic outlook and searches for the good in people." (page 78)
Page 140 - "It's the biggest lesson I've learned from watching them up close: be authentic. Take away the prestige, titles, positions, and money ,and you have your words and actions to define you - an unvarnished truth of who we are as told by what we do and say. Humans relating to other humans without pretense and reminding us that we have more in common than the differences on the surface might suggest." (Jackson)
I miss President Obama and First Lady Michelle. I miss their positive, encouraging selves representing the United States of America. This book was lovely.
Monday, December 16, 2019
Riot
by Walter Dean Myers
Hennepin County Library audiobook 3 CDs
read by full cast
genre: YA Historical Fiction
Like other books by WDM, this one was challenging in some regards and very accessible in others. I loved the opening montage with different music for different eras (modern, 1954, 1900, 1863), but I'm not exactly sure why the author chose to bring us back in time by starting in the modern day. The book is essentially a Civil War story, but by starting in today's era, perhaps he's trying to "hook" young readers and bring them gently back. It made me wonder what the print version does! The music works very effectively for the audio version. (I made another note later about the music enhancing the story.)
The story is written like a screenplay, which immediately made me think of Monster. It was a bit disjointing, though, to have all the "fade out," "long shot," etc. language. Another difference between experiencing the book in an audio vs. print format.
As with most historical fiction, I wonder about the accuracy. Some of the language surprised me. Did they really refer to single men as "batching" it back then?
The role of the Irish in NYC . . . super interesting. Police, soldiers, poor people, rioters, . . . people shouldn't be pigeonholed, but trends and majorities get noticed.
Myers is an amazing author. I would love to hear how students, especially black students, respond to his work. For a white person in a primarily white community, I'm glad that he broadens my horizons as a reader.
Claire's identity crisis felt a bit overwrought . . . but perhaps that was more the vocal work than the writing. With a black dad and a white Irish mom, I'm sure she would have had identity concerns with her pale skin.
At the end, Walter Dean Myers read the author notes. I was surprised by his voice; I guess I'd never heard it before. It wasn't what I expected at all. I couldn't listen to all of the author interview because the interviewer was awful! He talked AT the author instead of asking good questions and listening. Argh!
I had never heard of the Draft Riots of 1863 before! In all the years I did History Day research with students, this never crossed my awareness. I suppose with all the other Civil War events of 1863, these riots were not the biggest news. Still, I love when reading fiction helps me to learn something new.
I added two more books to my reading list because of this title - one is about Amistad.
I've not gone on to do any research on this topic (lots of other stuff going on right now), but I'd love to learn more about this event and Five Points in NYC.
Hennepin County Library audiobook 3 CDs
read by full cast
genre: YA Historical Fiction
Like other books by WDM, this one was challenging in some regards and very accessible in others. I loved the opening montage with different music for different eras (modern, 1954, 1900, 1863), but I'm not exactly sure why the author chose to bring us back in time by starting in the modern day. The book is essentially a Civil War story, but by starting in today's era, perhaps he's trying to "hook" young readers and bring them gently back. It made me wonder what the print version does! The music works very effectively for the audio version. (I made another note later about the music enhancing the story.)
The story is written like a screenplay, which immediately made me think of Monster. It was a bit disjointing, though, to have all the "fade out," "long shot," etc. language. Another difference between experiencing the book in an audio vs. print format.
As with most historical fiction, I wonder about the accuracy. Some of the language surprised me. Did they really refer to single men as "batching" it back then?
The role of the Irish in NYC . . . super interesting. Police, soldiers, poor people, rioters, . . . people shouldn't be pigeonholed, but trends and majorities get noticed.
Myers is an amazing author. I would love to hear how students, especially black students, respond to his work. For a white person in a primarily white community, I'm glad that he broadens my horizons as a reader.
Claire's identity crisis felt a bit overwrought . . . but perhaps that was more the vocal work than the writing. With a black dad and a white Irish mom, I'm sure she would have had identity concerns with her pale skin.
At the end, Walter Dean Myers read the author notes. I was surprised by his voice; I guess I'd never heard it before. It wasn't what I expected at all. I couldn't listen to all of the author interview because the interviewer was awful! He talked AT the author instead of asking good questions and listening. Argh!
I had never heard of the Draft Riots of 1863 before! In all the years I did History Day research with students, this never crossed my awareness. I suppose with all the other Civil War events of 1863, these riots were not the biggest news. Still, I love when reading fiction helps me to learn something new.
I added two more books to my reading list because of this title - one is about Amistad.
I've not gone on to do any research on this topic (lots of other stuff going on right now), but I'd love to learn more about this event and Five Points in NYC.
Tuesday, December 03, 2019
A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power
by Jimmy Carter
read by the author
Scott County Library audiobook 6 CDs
genre: non-fiction
There are things I really liked about this book for the first two CDs . . . and others I'd love to discuss with other readers. I had to stop listening, however, because as much as I typically like audiobooks read by the author, this one was too difficult to understand. I'm not sure how much of that is due to his age and how much is because of the Southern drawl, but his lack of enunciation meant that I often was not really certain of what he was saying. If I'm not sure if that was a "did" or a "didn't," the meaning is different! I've decided to pass on this book for now.
I do like and admire that Carter unabashedly proclaims Jesus as his Lord and savior. I love that he and his wife Rosalyn have spent their post White House years in service (Habitat for Humanity). I liked the parts where he shared his personal experiences and stories growing up in the South and in the governor's mansion. I just struggled to listen to his voice that much.
I found a scrap of paper with some notes.
- Jimmy Carter's voice - accent and lack of enunciation plus age - hard to understand - had to really focus on it
- like his personal stories better than legislation or U.N. policy info
- basic HUMAN rights, peace
- post WWII "growing acceptance of violence and warfare" . . . I don't remember what he was referring to . . .
read by the author
Scott County Library audiobook 6 CDs
genre: non-fiction
There are things I really liked about this book for the first two CDs . . . and others I'd love to discuss with other readers. I had to stop listening, however, because as much as I typically like audiobooks read by the author, this one was too difficult to understand. I'm not sure how much of that is due to his age and how much is because of the Southern drawl, but his lack of enunciation meant that I often was not really certain of what he was saying. If I'm not sure if that was a "did" or a "didn't," the meaning is different! I've decided to pass on this book for now.
I do like and admire that Carter unabashedly proclaims Jesus as his Lord and savior. I love that he and his wife Rosalyn have spent their post White House years in service (Habitat for Humanity). I liked the parts where he shared his personal experiences and stories growing up in the South and in the governor's mansion. I just struggled to listen to his voice that much.
I found a scrap of paper with some notes.
- Jimmy Carter's voice - accent and lack of enunciation plus age - hard to understand - had to really focus on it
- like his personal stories better than legislation or U.N. policy info
- basic HUMAN rights, peace
- post WWII "growing acceptance of violence and warfare" . . . I don't remember what he was referring to . . .
Out Stealing Horses
by Per Petterson
translated by Anne Born
read by Richard Poe
Scott County Library audiobook 6 CDs
genre: realistic / historical fiction
I am starting to really love literature by authors from Norway and Sweden! There's a different way of looking at life and a depth to their work . . . I am tempted to get a print copy of this to re-read and really spend time thinking about . . . though Poe's vocal work was excellent.
The story moves back and forth between 67 year old Trond, recently widowed, and his 15 year old self in 1948. There was so much going on in this story that I don't even know what to write!
- "Boy with the golden trousers" - I love that his sister, then his wife, referred to his lucky self this way. It made me smile.
- it was so sad that his sister died from cancer and his wife in a car accident the same month . . . three years before his self-imposed isolation as a 67 year old.
- I loved the visit from his daughter and all the complicated emotions in that scene
- what really happened with Yume? (I have no idea how his name is spelled . . . but that's what it sounded like in the story.) I had hoped that he and Lars would have more conversations about the past and their families.
- I have so many other questions about the story and the characters! I may need to get a print copy and read it again to see if I've missed a lot or if the author leaves interpretations open.
- I loved the references to Dickens and especially Sidney Carton at the end of A Tale of Two Cities!
- I loved the different meanings for the boys and the adults as far as the title . . .
Such an amazing book!
translated by Anne Born
read by Richard Poe
Scott County Library audiobook 6 CDs
genre: realistic / historical fiction
I am starting to really love literature by authors from Norway and Sweden! There's a different way of looking at life and a depth to their work . . . I am tempted to get a print copy of this to re-read and really spend time thinking about . . . though Poe's vocal work was excellent.
The story moves back and forth between 67 year old Trond, recently widowed, and his 15 year old self in 1948. There was so much going on in this story that I don't even know what to write!
- "Boy with the golden trousers" - I love that his sister, then his wife, referred to his lucky self this way. It made me smile.
- it was so sad that his sister died from cancer and his wife in a car accident the same month . . . three years before his self-imposed isolation as a 67 year old.
- I loved the visit from his daughter and all the complicated emotions in that scene
- what really happened with Yume? (I have no idea how his name is spelled . . . but that's what it sounded like in the story.) I had hoped that he and Lars would have more conversations about the past and their families.
- I have so many other questions about the story and the characters! I may need to get a print copy and read it again to see if I've missed a lot or if the author leaves interpretations open.
- I loved the references to Dickens and especially Sidney Carton at the end of A Tale of Two Cities!
- I loved the different meanings for the boys and the adults as far as the title . . .
Such an amazing book!
Geography Club
by Brent Hartinger
Hennepin County Library paperback 226 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction, LGBTQ
Russel hasn't told anyone he's gay - not his parents, not his best friends Min and Gunnar, and keeping this secret has been challenging. Then he "meets" someone in an online chat room and decides to meet IRL (in real life). The joys and fears of this teen are lived out on an hourly, daily, weekly basis.
What I liked: a group of "outcasts" creating a club so "boring" no one will want to join (The Geography Club), Min as a character - my favorite!
What I disliked: the general immaturity of Russel and the simplicity of the story line. I just don't see teens making the decisions they did . . . but I think for kiddos struggling with the issues of being gay in a primarily straight world, it might resonate. Having seen active gay-straight alliances in middle schools and high schools for a while now, the community in this book seems a bit different than what I've observed.
Hennepin County Library paperback 226 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction, LGBTQ
Russel hasn't told anyone he's gay - not his parents, not his best friends Min and Gunnar, and keeping this secret has been challenging. Then he "meets" someone in an online chat room and decides to meet IRL (in real life). The joys and fears of this teen are lived out on an hourly, daily, weekly basis.
What I liked: a group of "outcasts" creating a club so "boring" no one will want to join (The Geography Club), Min as a character - my favorite!
What I disliked: the general immaturity of Russel and the simplicity of the story line. I just don't see teens making the decisions they did . . . but I think for kiddos struggling with the issues of being gay in a primarily straight world, it might resonate. Having seen active gay-straight alliances in middle schools and high schools for a while now, the community in this book seems a bit different than what I've observed.
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake
by Amy E. Reichert
Scott County Library paperback 310 pages
genre: romance, cooking
Oddly, I enjoyed the first half of this book more than the second half! I got it after reading a review in the Costco Connection. I'll scan and post the review at the bottom of this page. (My reviews are to help trigger my own memories; sorry if you're looking for high quality reviews from me!)
I liked chef Lou and her friends Sue and Harley. I liked Al's transformation and how he falls in love with Milwaukee (and Lou). I didn't like Devlin and Lou as a couple . . . why was he so determined? And why did she stay with someone so awful for so long?
My favorite parts of the story were centered on the elderly couple Otto and Gertrude. I cried toward the end! I had envisioned a different twist to their involvement in Lou's life. This was an enjoyable book, but nothing spectacular. It was way better than most romance books! In a way, it's more a love letter to Milwaukee than anything else . . . which I think is sweet.
I have no desire to make the coconut cake (recipe included in the book), but I'd love to try a slice of it!!!
Scott County Library paperback 310 pages
genre: romance, cooking
Oddly, I enjoyed the first half of this book more than the second half! I got it after reading a review in the Costco Connection. I'll scan and post the review at the bottom of this page. (My reviews are to help trigger my own memories; sorry if you're looking for high quality reviews from me!)
I liked chef Lou and her friends Sue and Harley. I liked Al's transformation and how he falls in love with Milwaukee (and Lou). I didn't like Devlin and Lou as a couple . . . why was he so determined? And why did she stay with someone so awful for so long?
My favorite parts of the story were centered on the elderly couple Otto and Gertrude. I cried toward the end! I had envisioned a different twist to their involvement in Lou's life. This was an enjoyable book, but nothing spectacular. It was way better than most romance books! In a way, it's more a love letter to Milwaukee than anything else . . . which I think is sweet.
I have no desire to make the coconut cake (recipe included in the book), but I'd love to try a slice of it!!!
Sunday, November 24, 2019
The Words Between Us
by Erin Bartels
Dakota County library paperback 355 pages
genre: Christian realistic fiction
Super excited to go to book club tomorrow night! Erin Bartels is a wonderful storyteller. I really enjoyed this story about Robin Windsor / Dickinson and her journey from a wealthy life to striving to hide her family connections to running a bookstore by herself. The author uses "then" and "now" at the start of each chapter as we alternate between present time and Robin's teenage to young adult days. Beautifully written!
Pg. 46 - "I want to be alone. I'm best alone. But sometimes you do things you don't want to do in order to please your friends. People think that once you're an adult, stuff like that stops. It doesn't. It just changes."
As Robin concedes to Sarah's and Dawt Pi's insistence that she needs to get out of the bookstore, she recognizes that maturity doesn't always bring what one expects of life.
Page 83 - "Beneath it all ran the ragged sound of something else - that thing that all dead things are missing - leaving that dog's body. At the moment of impact, Farley looked me in the eye where I sat on the front lawn, and I could swear it wasn't a dog at all looking at me. It was whatever left that dog. It was there, Then it wasn't."
Throughout the book, the author describes death and life and that intangible essence of life in many different scenes and situations. This one just seemed to capture that moment of transition between life and death particularly well.
Page 141 - "I don't want to tell you what to do, Robin, but most people don't know what kind of time they have left with someone. You might." The "then" Peter was trying to convince Robin to visit her parents in prison, especially her dad before he was executed.
Life is precious! Reconcile differences. Hug the people you care about the most. Spend time with loved ones.
Page 178 - "Most of these books are not alive. They have not stood the passage of time. They do not still burn in the hearts of those who have read them. . . . They are merely inert paper and ink, and I doubt very much they could live again."
Comparing the books that were used to build their giant dinosaur (Dreadnoughtus) with great literature, Robin alludes to the physical life and death she has already talked about.
Page 252 - "Too much time has passed. Too much unspoken grief. All the letters I never wrote. But I can't go home with nothing to show for the miles this time. I can't keep going on this way, swept along by the winds of rumor and regret. Time moves in only one direction. I can't get back the time I've squandered. I can only move forward."
This is probably the absolute best "message" in the book!
Page 297 - "I'm looking for Dawt Pi. Because of all the people I know, she's the only one who has ever made me wonder if perhaps GOd must be real despite everything."
This gave me chills! People recognize when we truly live our lives for the Lord. I want to be like Dawt Pi, faithfully being "real" to the people around me, ready to share my faith.
This is a book I would consider purchasing, re-reading, highlighting, sharing, . . . it is a great book for book lovers.
Dakota County library paperback 355 pages
genre: Christian realistic fiction
Super excited to go to book club tomorrow night! Erin Bartels is a wonderful storyteller. I really enjoyed this story about Robin Windsor / Dickinson and her journey from a wealthy life to striving to hide her family connections to running a bookstore by herself. The author uses "then" and "now" at the start of each chapter as we alternate between present time and Robin's teenage to young adult days. Beautifully written!
Pg. 46 - "I want to be alone. I'm best alone. But sometimes you do things you don't want to do in order to please your friends. People think that once you're an adult, stuff like that stops. It doesn't. It just changes."
As Robin concedes to Sarah's and Dawt Pi's insistence that she needs to get out of the bookstore, she recognizes that maturity doesn't always bring what one expects of life.
Page 83 - "Beneath it all ran the ragged sound of something else - that thing that all dead things are missing - leaving that dog's body. At the moment of impact, Farley looked me in the eye where I sat on the front lawn, and I could swear it wasn't a dog at all looking at me. It was whatever left that dog. It was there, Then it wasn't."
Throughout the book, the author describes death and life and that intangible essence of life in many different scenes and situations. This one just seemed to capture that moment of transition between life and death particularly well.
Page 141 - "I don't want to tell you what to do, Robin, but most people don't know what kind of time they have left with someone. You might." The "then" Peter was trying to convince Robin to visit her parents in prison, especially her dad before he was executed.
Life is precious! Reconcile differences. Hug the people you care about the most. Spend time with loved ones.
Page 178 - "Most of these books are not alive. They have not stood the passage of time. They do not still burn in the hearts of those who have read them. . . . They are merely inert paper and ink, and I doubt very much they could live again."
Comparing the books that were used to build their giant dinosaur (Dreadnoughtus) with great literature, Robin alludes to the physical life and death she has already talked about.
Page 252 - "Too much time has passed. Too much unspoken grief. All the letters I never wrote. But I can't go home with nothing to show for the miles this time. I can't keep going on this way, swept along by the winds of rumor and regret. Time moves in only one direction. I can't get back the time I've squandered. I can only move forward."
This is probably the absolute best "message" in the book!
Page 297 - "I'm looking for Dawt Pi. Because of all the people I know, she's the only one who has ever made me wonder if perhaps GOd must be real despite everything."
This gave me chills! People recognize when we truly live our lives for the Lord. I want to be like Dawt Pi, faithfully being "real" to the people around me, ready to share my faith.
This is a book I would consider purchasing, re-reading, highlighting, sharing, . . . it is a great book for book lovers.
Friday, November 22, 2019
Boom!
by Mark Haddon
Scott County Library audiobook 3 CDs
read by Julian Rhind-Tutt
genre: YA SciFi (initially, I thought it was realistic fiction . . . ha!)
This surprised me in a delightful way! First off, I'm a sucker for a British accent. Rhind-Tutt did a great job with the vocal work. (I had to look up "spanner" in British slang - it's a wrench.) This book had me wondering what was next - there were plenty of surprises. In a lot of ways, it's just silly. But I enjoyed it nonetheless!
Jimbo and his best friend Charlie are mediocre students. Jim's sister Becky is dating Terry (aka "Craterface") and there's no love lost between these siblings. Dad is in an unemployed funk, questioning his worth as a man, flying remote controlled planes and helicopters until they crash.
The two boys plant a walkie-talkie to eavesdrop on their teachers and something they hear starts them on a crazy investigation that gets more and more bizarre. I don't want to spoil the story for other readers, but I do want to include a line that made me laugh out loud. (Stop here if you're averse to spoilers.) "They want to repopulate their planet with SciFi fans? Is that wise?" (I'm paraphrasing, but that was the gist of it. So funny!) The cafeteria scene also made me laugh, thinking of a cliched romance - "Charlie!" "Jimbo!" as they ran toward one another.
I loved Becky by the end of the story. What a hero! I found this book to be surprising, unexpected, amusing, and suspenseful. I may have to see if Haddon has written other YA books.
Scott County Library audiobook 3 CDs
read by Julian Rhind-Tutt
genre: YA SciFi (initially, I thought it was realistic fiction . . . ha!)
This surprised me in a delightful way! First off, I'm a sucker for a British accent. Rhind-Tutt did a great job with the vocal work. (I had to look up "spanner" in British slang - it's a wrench.) This book had me wondering what was next - there were plenty of surprises. In a lot of ways, it's just silly. But I enjoyed it nonetheless!
Jimbo and his best friend Charlie are mediocre students. Jim's sister Becky is dating Terry (aka "Craterface") and there's no love lost between these siblings. Dad is in an unemployed funk, questioning his worth as a man, flying remote controlled planes and helicopters until they crash.
The two boys plant a walkie-talkie to eavesdrop on their teachers and something they hear starts them on a crazy investigation that gets more and more bizarre. I don't want to spoil the story for other readers, but I do want to include a line that made me laugh out loud. (Stop here if you're averse to spoilers.) "They want to repopulate their planet with SciFi fans? Is that wise?" (I'm paraphrasing, but that was the gist of it. So funny!) The cafeteria scene also made me laugh, thinking of a cliched romance - "Charlie!" "Jimbo!" as they ran toward one another.
I loved Becky by the end of the story. What a hero! I found this book to be surprising, unexpected, amusing, and suspenseful. I may have to see if Haddon has written other YA books.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Simply Clean: The Proven Method for Keeping Your Home Organized, Clean, and Beautiful in Just 10 Minutes a Day
by Becky Rapinchuk (founder of Clean Mama)
Hennepin County Library paperback 247 pages
genre: non-fiction, self-help of a sort
I love this book! I'm seriously considering buying it! (and tabbing, highlighting, underlining, etc.)
Positives:
Hennepin County Library paperback 247 pages
genre: non-fiction, self-help of a sort
I love this book! I'm seriously considering buying it! (and tabbing, highlighting, underlining, etc.)
Positives:
- she has a very positive, encouraging tone
- she emphasizes that you need to do what works best for you
- short, regular bursts of cleaning time (use a timer) - this is like my "clean quickly and clean often"
- sort and organize a space (like a closet, drawer, etc.) by emptying it out 100% and then dealing with everything! Yes! This strategy works really well.
- checklists, charts, etc. - very helpful
- like Heloise Helpful Hints, there are some really great tips, recipes for cleaning products, etc.
- I'm too cheap to buy a book on cleaning, especially since I don't like cleaning. I've renewed this from the library the maximum number of times, so it needs to go back. Perhaps I will end up buying it. . . I'm going to scan some of the charts and checklists that I liked so much, but won't post them here. I don't expect to ever actually like cleaning, but I do like having a clean house.
Blindsided
by Priscilla Cummings
Scott County Library hardcover 226 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction
A student loaned me her library copy of this book one day when I was subbing. I got to page 53 before the video (and class) ended, so I returned it to her. I was curious about how it turned out, so I got it from the county library.
Natalie O'Reilly is 14 years old and losing her sight. She has a rare condition that causes her to not have irises, so her eyes are extremely sensitive to light. When her doctor recommends that she go to a school for the blind so she can learn helpful skills "in case" she completely loses her sight, she and her father are both opposed.
Take all the normal issues and anxieties for a teen girl and add the loss of vision. The book surprised me as it went from Natalie's self-focused sadness to a more balanced outlook on her life options. The Bree storyline added a lot. I'm glad I read this book.
Scott County Library hardcover 226 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction
A student loaned me her library copy of this book one day when I was subbing. I got to page 53 before the video (and class) ended, so I returned it to her. I was curious about how it turned out, so I got it from the county library.
Natalie O'Reilly is 14 years old and losing her sight. She has a rare condition that causes her to not have irises, so her eyes are extremely sensitive to light. When her doctor recommends that she go to a school for the blind so she can learn helpful skills "in case" she completely loses her sight, she and her father are both opposed.
Take all the normal issues and anxieties for a teen girl and add the loss of vision. The book surprised me as it went from Natalie's self-focused sadness to a more balanced outlook on her life options. The Bree storyline added a lot. I'm glad I read this book.
O Pioneers!
by Willa Cather
Scott County Library audiobook 5 CDs
read by Betsy Bronson
genre: realistic fiction (Cather lived 1873-1947, so it seems to be Historical Fiction)
I loved this! Cather is amazing. It makes me want to re-read My Antonia. From the back of the case: "Alexandra Bergsons, the daughter of Swedish immigrants, inherits her family's ailing farm in Hanover, Nebraska, upon the death of her father. Over the years, she turns the farm into a successful enterprise. However, success has not brought peace, as passion and love intervene."
Alexandra is an admirable main character. The story opens with her baby brother Emil mournfully trying to get his kitten back. Alexandra, Emil, Carl, Marie, . . . I was drawn into these characters' lives. What a powerful, heartachingly good story.
The reader's voice bothered me. The accents seemed fakey, especially on the deeper male voices. Swedish? Norwegian? Alien? It was hard to tell. It made me wonder if Cather wrote the story in a foreign language and had it translated. . .
When their dad died, Alexandra was the oldest. Her brothers Lew and Oscar were 19 and 17. Emil was much younger. Their mother didn't play an important role in the story.
I loved Evar! He was fascinating, albeit odd. The part about why he went around barefoot made me smile!
Alexandra's wisdom, wise investment, and willingness to try new ideas made me admire and respect her. "Puissant" is the word Cather used. Right now, Blogger is indicating that I've misspelled it. I double-checked. Puissant means "having great power or influence."
The Marie and Frank portion of the story was so frustrating! How could she be so clueless about Emil's true feelings?!?! Then when she opens her eyes, how can she be so stupid and selfish?!
Carl was another favorite character for me. What a wonderful man!
I wasn't sure about "The Divide." Why was the land called this? Did I not listen carefully enough? Probably. One of the hazards of audiobooks.
Scott County Library audiobook 5 CDs
read by Betsy Bronson
genre: realistic fiction (Cather lived 1873-1947, so it seems to be Historical Fiction)
I loved this! Cather is amazing. It makes me want to re-read My Antonia. From the back of the case: "Alexandra Bergsons, the daughter of Swedish immigrants, inherits her family's ailing farm in Hanover, Nebraska, upon the death of her father. Over the years, she turns the farm into a successful enterprise. However, success has not brought peace, as passion and love intervene."
Alexandra is an admirable main character. The story opens with her baby brother Emil mournfully trying to get his kitten back. Alexandra, Emil, Carl, Marie, . . . I was drawn into these characters' lives. What a powerful, heartachingly good story.
The reader's voice bothered me. The accents seemed fakey, especially on the deeper male voices. Swedish? Norwegian? Alien? It was hard to tell. It made me wonder if Cather wrote the story in a foreign language and had it translated. . .
When their dad died, Alexandra was the oldest. Her brothers Lew and Oscar were 19 and 17. Emil was much younger. Their mother didn't play an important role in the story.
I loved Evar! He was fascinating, albeit odd. The part about why he went around barefoot made me smile!
Alexandra's wisdom, wise investment, and willingness to try new ideas made me admire and respect her. "Puissant" is the word Cather used. Right now, Blogger is indicating that I've misspelled it. I double-checked. Puissant means "having great power or influence."
The Marie and Frank portion of the story was so frustrating! How could she be so clueless about Emil's true feelings?!?! Then when she opens her eyes, how can she be so stupid and selfish?!
Carl was another favorite character for me. What a wonderful man!
I wasn't sure about "The Divide." Why was the land called this? Did I not listen carefully enough? Probably. One of the hazards of audiobooks.
Under a Wing: A Memoir
by Reeve Lindbergh
Hennepin County Library hardcover 222 pages
genre: non-fiction, memoir
This wasn't as captivating as The Aviator's Wife, which is frustrating since that was fiction and Lindbergh's book is about her life and memories. I loved the photos and the way the remembrances made me want to write my own stories. I appreciate that she neither tried to demonize nor sugarcoat her parents' lives. This seems very honest and observant.
Page 58 - "I had no interest in my father's flying or his writing career, but I thought that surely my mother did not really want to be shut away for a whole afternoon with a pen and a pad of paper, without seeing my face, hearing my thoughts, inspecting my bruises, or in some other way affirming for both of us the extraordinary importance of my presence in her life."
This made me smile! As the youngest child, I'm sure Reeve (like most small children) really DO think they're the center of the universe.
Page 81 - I made a note of her comment about the movie The Fisher King (with Robin Williams). Apparently there's a scene where they actually make fun of Anne Morrow Lindbergh wondering where her baby is. I've never heard of this movie, and I'm horrified that someone would joke about a personal tragedy this way. Here's what I found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmfGLfWqlzA
Page 117 - The whole scene where she talks about being at her grandma's house and offered malted milk tablets! What a hoot! She expected something nasty. "I made a vow to myself, too, that no matter how terrible the next few seconds might be, I would not choke or vomit. Thus stoically prepared, I selected one of the clay-colored capsules, thrust it quickly back toward my molars, and bit down into one of the great surprises of my life. Malted milk tablets were delicious. The taste that touched my tongue and spread everywhere through my mouth was as rich and deep and delightful as chocolate, which I adored. I was mesmerized, astonished, completely seduced. I chewed, sucked, and drizzled malted milk into the greedy moistness of my inner cheeks while I stared at my father and my grandmother, and I felt an unsuspected melting pleasure of belonging draw itself gently over me."
Page 181 - "She will carefully mark special places in these diaries as she reads, sometimes leaving as many as fifty markers in one book. She will mark her place, or her places, with scraps of paper, envelopes, napkins, pieces of ribbon, whatever comes to hand."
Reeve is referring to her mother, but I loved that image and I also love to "mark" up books . . . usually with Post-it notes.
Page 216 - "She said that it had been his hbvit for so long, growing up so alone, to listen only to himself. He had learned to rely on his own judgment, and this had been critical for him, because his survival often depended upon following his instincts."
This is Anne ML referring to Charles, but it just made me think of Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding . . . "
Hennepin County Library hardcover 222 pages
genre: non-fiction, memoir
This wasn't as captivating as The Aviator's Wife, which is frustrating since that was fiction and Lindbergh's book is about her life and memories. I loved the photos and the way the remembrances made me want to write my own stories. I appreciate that she neither tried to demonize nor sugarcoat her parents' lives. This seems very honest and observant.
Page 58 - "I had no interest in my father's flying or his writing career, but I thought that surely my mother did not really want to be shut away for a whole afternoon with a pen and a pad of paper, without seeing my face, hearing my thoughts, inspecting my bruises, or in some other way affirming for both of us the extraordinary importance of my presence in her life."
This made me smile! As the youngest child, I'm sure Reeve (like most small children) really DO think they're the center of the universe.
Page 81 - I made a note of her comment about the movie The Fisher King (with Robin Williams). Apparently there's a scene where they actually make fun of Anne Morrow Lindbergh wondering where her baby is. I've never heard of this movie, and I'm horrified that someone would joke about a personal tragedy this way. Here's what I found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmfGLfWqlzA
Page 117 - The whole scene where she talks about being at her grandma's house and offered malted milk tablets! What a hoot! She expected something nasty. "I made a vow to myself, too, that no matter how terrible the next few seconds might be, I would not choke or vomit. Thus stoically prepared, I selected one of the clay-colored capsules, thrust it quickly back toward my molars, and bit down into one of the great surprises of my life. Malted milk tablets were delicious. The taste that touched my tongue and spread everywhere through my mouth was as rich and deep and delightful as chocolate, which I adored. I was mesmerized, astonished, completely seduced. I chewed, sucked, and drizzled malted milk into the greedy moistness of my inner cheeks while I stared at my father and my grandmother, and I felt an unsuspected melting pleasure of belonging draw itself gently over me."
Page 181 - "She will carefully mark special places in these diaries as she reads, sometimes leaving as many as fifty markers in one book. She will mark her place, or her places, with scraps of paper, envelopes, napkins, pieces of ribbon, whatever comes to hand."
Reeve is referring to her mother, but I loved that image and I also love to "mark" up books . . . usually with Post-it notes.
Page 216 - "She said that it had been his hbvit for so long, growing up so alone, to listen only to himself. He had learned to rely on his own judgment, and this had been critical for him, because his survival often depended upon following his instincts."
This is Anne ML referring to Charles, but it just made me think of Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding . . . "
Sunday, November 03, 2019
The Lost Mother
by Mary McGarry Morris
Scott County Library audiobook 6CDs
genre: historical fiction
This book was heart breaking! Set during the 1930s, Thomas (age 12) and Margaret (age 8) are living in a tent with their father. Their mother has gone to the big city to try to find work. Poverty and the lack of work, money, and housing plague Henry Talcott as he tries to raise his children alone. His own mom died when he was 15 and crotchety neighbor Mr. Beebow took him in.
As the story went along, I was horrified by the adults who chose to be selfish and cruel instead of extending kindness to these children. Even Mrs. Farley, who lavished food and gifts on them, was cruel in her deceptions. I got really frustrated with the story as these poor children had one difficult scenario after another. The author did an excellent job of crafting this story!
Gladys Beebow was one of the few bright spots, but her duty to her father outweighed her desire to care for Thomas and his sister. Otis extended kindness to Thomas, but ultimately kowtowed to Mr. Farley so he wouldn't lose his job. The sweet, quiet nun who listened to Thomas offered some relief from the troubles he experienced.
This book made me think, care, and cry. It was powerful and sad. The ending surprised me a bit, but I love how it resolved. I'd love to do this book as a club discussion!
Scott County Library audiobook 6CDs
genre: historical fiction
This book was heart breaking! Set during the 1930s, Thomas (age 12) and Margaret (age 8) are living in a tent with their father. Their mother has gone to the big city to try to find work. Poverty and the lack of work, money, and housing plague Henry Talcott as he tries to raise his children alone. His own mom died when he was 15 and crotchety neighbor Mr. Beebow took him in.
As the story went along, I was horrified by the adults who chose to be selfish and cruel instead of extending kindness to these children. Even Mrs. Farley, who lavished food and gifts on them, was cruel in her deceptions. I got really frustrated with the story as these poor children had one difficult scenario after another. The author did an excellent job of crafting this story!
Gladys Beebow was one of the few bright spots, but her duty to her father outweighed her desire to care for Thomas and his sister. Otis extended kindness to Thomas, but ultimately kowtowed to Mr. Farley so he wouldn't lose his job. The sweet, quiet nun who listened to Thomas offered some relief from the troubles he experienced.
This book made me think, care, and cry. It was powerful and sad. The ending surprised me a bit, but I love how it resolved. I'd love to do this book as a club discussion!
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