The Girl in the Glass

by Susan Meissner
Hennepin County Library paperback 325 pages
genre: Christian fiction, relationships

Basic story: young woman named Meg (Marguerite) has always wanted to go to Florence, Italy. Grandma promised to take her for high school graduation, but died when Meg was only 12. Dad promises to take her, but keeps flaking out. Meg called off an engagement when she realized she didn't love him as much as he loved her. She works at a publishing house and dates Gabe . . . on and off. Intermingled story line is the manuscript sent to her by Sophia, a native of Florence who lives across from a brother and sister team of photographer and author. Sophia's story is part memoir, part travelog for the beauties of Florence. Intertwined with these two stories is a narrative from Nora, a Medici who lived in the early Renaissance.

It was enjoyable, but not gripping. Meg's attraction to Devon (mom's younger boyfriend) was the most interesting part to me. I wish I could go to Italy. I'm a bit surprised at who Meg ends up with at the end of the book. The stuff with her dad was a bit much.

Her Last Death: a memoir

by Susanna Sonnenberg
Hennepin County Library audio 7 CDs
read by the author
genre: memoir, dysfunctional families

This was disturbing (as in, why did I listen all the way to the end?) but well-written. Sonnenberg is a gifted writer, but this story is either more fiction than fact, or she grew up in one of the most dysfunctional families I've ever read about. Her mother told her about orgasms when she was eight years old, offered her cocaine when she was twelve, and encouraged her to lose her virginity when she turned sixteen. Really?

Yet I was compelled by her story and her love-hate relationship with her mother. There were parts of her story that actually resonated for me with my own childhood! She is a very gifted writer, but her choice to use pseudonyms for everyone other than herself made me curious. So of course, I went online and did a little research.

Mom (Daphne in book) is Wendy Adler
Maternal Grandma (Patsy) is Eileen Walser, model
Maternal Grandpa (?) was Larry Adler, famous harmonica player
Eileen Walser's second marriage was to Arnold Maremont
Dad (Nat) is Ben Sonnenberg,editor / publisher of literary magazine
Stepmom (Isabelle) is Susan de Verges Snodgrass (marriage #2)
Dorothy Gallagher is Ben's wife #3

Paternal Grandpa is Benjamin Sonnenberg (?-1978), Russian immigrant
Sister (Penelope) is Emma Sonnenberg-Snowden-Jones

Half-sister (?) is Saidee Brown Sonnenberg
Stepbrother (Joe) is Stephen Verges

Husband (Christopher)
Sons (Daniel & Jack)

For a truly awesome review, read this: http://headbutler.com/books/memoir/her-last-death
Wow.

Her dad's autobiography is title Lost Property: Memoirs and Confessions of a Bad Boy

Odd Interlude

by Dean Koontz
Hennepin County Library paperback 253 pages
genre: paranormal mystery

This shorter novel takes place between Odd Hours and Odd Apocalypse (Magic Beach & Roseland). Odd and Annamaria have just left Magic Beach and are driving along the California coast when they are drawn to Harmony Corner. There is "something" in this place that demands their presence . . . and off we go into mystery and mayhem as only Odd can do it. Wonderful little story. I'm hooked on this character! Can hardly wait until Deeply Odd is available! (I'm #232 on Hennepin County's waiting list for it; it's "on order" in their system.)

Everybody Sees the Ants

by A.S. King
Hennepin County Library hardcover 280 pages
genre: Teen realistic fiction

Lucky Linderman is a 15-year-old who has been terrorized by bully Nader McMiillan most of his life. His parents don't deal with problems directly and Lucky dreams himself into Vietnam where he tries to rescue his grandpa (MIA/POW).

Complex, harsh, beautiful, awful. This book is amazing. Some of my middle schoolers could definitely handle it, but it should absolutely be in high school collections.

Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit

by Francis Chan
Hennepin County Library paperback 166 pages
genre: non-fiction Christian faith

I love this book! But I'm torn about buying a copy to keep (when I'm trying to be frugal and decrease my possessions) or just re-checking it out from the library. Chan raises some important questions about faith and living for God versus self.

I want to take time to reflect on these passages:

I was vacillating between just getting out of this book whatever I could (and getting it back to the library since someone else was waiting for it) and wanting to own a copy. I'm trying to own fewer things, yet after paying $2.10 in overdues fees, I think I just want to own a copy. It would make a great devotional, in a way. He keeps writing that you should put the book down and pray about what he has brought up. I love how he keeps putting the focus onto God and God's Word. Phenomenal book.

Saturday Night Dirt

by Will Weaver
PRMS paperback 163 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction

This is for 8th grade book club. I didn't especially enjoy it (especially compared to other Weaver novels). There were waaay too many characters for a short book like this: Trace, Mel, Johnny, Patrick, Beau, Amber, Tudy, Sonny, Leonard, Cal, Larry, Richie, . . . .it was a challenge to keep them all straight! Car racing. Okay.

Perfect Chemistry

by Simone Elkeles
Hennepin County library audiobook 8 CDs
genre: teen romance
readers: Roxanne Hernandez & Blas Kisic

Intriguing. I'd say it's a bit too mature for my students, but I already know of one girl who has read it (a copy she borrowed from another of my students). Brittany is the "perfect" blond cheerleader who doesn't let anyone know her real story. Alex (Alejandro) is the tough but gorgeous gang member who's not really as bad as everyone thinks. Naturally, they fall for one another after being assigned as chemistry partners. There was some nice layering in this story and enough conflict to keep it really interesting. I definitely liked Alex's story better than Brittany's. Neither reader had an overwhelmingly wonderful quality, but they weren't total turnoffs, either. Brittany was a bit too whiny for me. Not sure yet if I'll read the other books in the series, but if I do, it will be the print versions!

One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd

by Jim Fergus
Carver County Library paperback 302 pages
genre: historical fiction

Amazing book. Powerful and painful. I have notes, but I'm too tired to check them now. I didn't have the book read before we discussed it, but I'm so glad I've finished it. I had to put it down at times, because I knew it would come to bad parts. Will write more later.

I'm always amazed when a male author so successfully writes from a woman's perspective.

(added 4/5/13 from notes)
 pages 30/31 - letter "from" her father giving permission for May to participate in the Indian bride program . . . interesting how well she knew her father and how to write this deceptive letter

page 54 - Narcissa White is supposed to be an evangelical Christian, but she's just an awful, judgmental woman. I was so thankful for the character of Brother Anthony to counteract her!

pages 58/59 - the buffalo kill, just for the sport of it. Horrible.

pages 74/75 . . . not sure about this note. Perhaps marking my page from when I had to return the book to the library??? I went back and forth between the print & audio versions.

(added 4/27/13 from other notes . . . I have a lot of clutter in my life right now.)

Captain Bourke
Euphemia
Martha
Susan & Meggie Kelly
Chief Little Wolf
Horse Boy
Reverend Hare
Father Anthony

page 163 - Gertie and May talking about what a person needs - safety . . . security . . . love, perhaps.
 Love - that's the easy part. Don't appreciate what you've got until you don't have it.

Page 255 - white vs. Indian philosophy - ". . . the only true hope for the advancement of the savage is to teach him that he must give up this allegiance to the tribe and look toward his own individual welfare." Great paragraph! The irony of what the "civilizing" of the Indians would mean, in becoming more like the whites and less like their own culture is both painful and amazing.

page 273 - Father Anthony - "The People recognize a holy man by his own actions, and the monk's simple faith and self-denial, his fasts and penances are something the Cheyennes well understand . . . "

Page 293 - Father Anthony's codicil - God is not vengeful - "God is full of Grace, Light, and infinite Mercy."

 

<Above posted 3.22.2013. Below added 10.07.2024.> 

Someone whose judgment I trust recommended this book. I got the audiobook via Libby, but when I opened it the message was that I was 100% done. Hmmm. I started to listen to it from the beginning and recalled the story in part. As I continued listening, I realized that I probably blocked the book from my mind because it horrifies me so much. 

Over and over again, the Cheyennes are described as "savages" and "heathens" while the whites are "civilized" and have so much to teach the Indians. Sadly, over and over again, the whites are barbaric in how they treat the Indians. I know it's a work of fiction, but historically white people HAVE violated treaties and been evil toward natives. This book is well written, but just makes me so sad.

May Dodd is our protagonist and the chronicler of her life's experience. She was a wealthy girl who fell in love with a working man (Harry Ames). She and Harry had two children, William and Hortense. Her father (Harry's former employer) had her committed to an asylum for promiscuity and took her children. Her "out" from the asylum (which was like jail's solitary confinement) was to become a "Brides for Indians" participant.

It's interesting to try to search for info on if such a program ever really existed. What mostly shows up are results about Jim Fergus' books. (He has a sequel to this called The Vengeance of Mothers which is told from the Kelly twins' point of view.) One blurb said that these books were based on "what IF" such a program existed? In any case, it's fascinating and horrifying.

Characters and comments:

• Hortense - May's sister / early letters were written to her / namesake for daughter?
• Euphemia - "Phemie" black former slave determined to become the master of her own life /warrior
• Daisy Lovelace - Southerner with little dog Fern Louise / painfully racist, but changed over the book 
• Helen Flight - British birder, talented artist
• Narcissa White
• Captain John G. Bourke
• Martha - sweet little thing / dependent on May
• Gretchen - Swiss, powerful
• Sarah - young, sweet, truly fell in love with her husband
• Kelly sisters - Susie and Meggie
   

 

Once again, I was saddened by the senselessness of the men on the train shooting the gentle grazing buffalo. They didn't want the meat or the hides; they just wanted the "sport" of killing.

Later in the story, I smiled at the observation that the Cheyennes and whites had something in common - the men sit around and talk while the women do all the work!

Jules Seminole was such an awful skunk! I was disgusted by him throughout the entire book and especially at the end when he falsely told the soldiers that Little Wolf's camp was the camp of warlike Sioux. What an awful human being.

 

When Gretchen was arm wrestling and winning, I didn't remember the outcome of her match with Jules and was so scared she'd be abused by him. I loved that she won! I was sad for her that she was disappointed by her husband's choosing whiskey over her. The whiskey was so incredibly destructive and horrible for the tribe.

 

I didn't like the swearing and using the Lord's name in vain. I especially didn't like characters being evil to other humans. I didn't like the Cheyenne being called "Injuns" and worse. 

 

I liked "Dirty Gertie" (alias Jimmy the driver). She was a fascinating character with a unique perspective.

 

The scene where the Crow horse thieves kidnapped a group of the women was so awful! I'm glad Sarah was able to pull a knife on the man who raped her, but sad that she was killed. It was noble of May to protect Pretty Girl.

 

May married Little Wolf, the chief of that tribe. He also had his wife Quiet One and her daughter Pretty Girl, his second wife Feather on Head and her baby, an old crone (his mother?), and Horse Boy living in his tent. Sounds crowded!

 

I'm a little curious to read Fergus' sequel, but I'm also cautious.  While listening to this, I didn't remember how it ended. As it got to the ending, I think I must have blocked it from my mind because it made me so sad.

Narrators were Laura Hicks and Erik Steele.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach their Kids about Money that the Poor and Middle Class Do Not

by Robert Kiyosaki
Hennepin County Library paperback 183 pages
genre: non-fiction financial literacy

I wish I had kept track of the review I read that recommended this book. I wanted to read it as an educator - what is it that kids in less affluent families need to know? But as I read it, I thought about my own life and financial knowledge (or lack thereof). I still would rather follow Jesus, be poor, bless others, and store up my treasures in heaven. But here are some notes I made (before I return this to the library!) and things I'm still pondering:

page 55 - "Because students leave school without financial skills, millions of educated people pursue their profession successfully, but later find themselves struggling financially. They work harder but don't get ahead. What is missing from their education is not how to make money, but how to manage money. It's called financial aptitude - what you do with the money once you make it, how to keep people from taking it from you, how to keep it longer, and how to make that money work hard for you. Most people don't understand cash flow. A person can be highly educated, professionally successful, and financially illiterate. These people often work harder than they need to because they learned how to work hard, but not how to have their money work hard for them."

page 70 - he says that people like me (and most people) are 1. - working for the company, 2 - working for the government (taxes), and 3 - working for the bank (paying mortgage & interest)

page 112 - "Most people never win because they are afraid of losing. That is why I found school so silly. In school we learn that mistakes are bad, and we are punished for making them. yet if you look at the way humans are designed to learn, we learn by making mistakes. We learn to walk by falling down. If we never fell down, we would never walk. The same is true for learning to ride a bike. I still have scars on my knees, but today I can ride a bike without thinking. The same is true for getting rich." I agree with him on making mistakes - too often, we're looking for students to "get it right" rather than to actually learn . . .

page 134 (back to theme of willingness to lose) "I've said that falling off my bike was part of learning to ride. I remember falling off only made me more determined to learn to ride, not less. I also said that I have never met a golfer who has never lost a ball. For top professional golfers, losing a ball or a tournament provides the inspiration to be better, to practice harder, to study more. That's what makes them better. For winners, losing inspires them. For losers, losing defeats them."

Lots to think about and consider. He readily admits that most taxes are paid in by the poor and middle class . . . for me it brings up thoughts of Leona Helmsley - "taxes are for the little people" or whatever she said. Interesting and sad. But he also says that giving is very important and that he and his wife give a lot of money away. But he basically advocates for making money off investments (real estate, stocks) and not paying taxes to the government.

No Easy Day: the Autobiography of a Navy SEAL

by Mark Owen, with Kevin Maurer
Dakota County Library hardcover 299 pages
genre: memoir

This was our book for school book club. It was apparently very controversial because SEALs are supposed to keep everything they do very hush-hush. The author said he got tired of listening to the president and lots of other people who weren't present at the raid on bin Laden's compound talking about the event (and the media for misreporting lots of info). So he wrote his own book talking about the SEALs and their missions, especially the mission to take out bin Laden.

I didn't enjoy this book. It was somewhat interesting, but I do not get excited about prose that is mostly full of military acronyms and "we got these weapons and got on this chopper and took out this target" language. It's just not the kind of language that an author like Cleave uses. And the whole "take out the target" mentality . . . you're murdering people. And whether or not those murders are justified, it's still murder. And think of the little kids who saw these men come into their home and gun down their father. Do you think they're going to grow up to have any willingness to work with Americans? I'm not just referring to the raid on bin Laden's compound - there were lots and lots of other "missions" with "targets" in Afghanistan, Iran, and other places. I can't wrap my head around the mentality that we (Americans) are doing this all around the globe and justifying it as fighting terrorists. I think many people in other countries see us as the terrorists.

My opinions did NOT go over well at book club  . . . . guess I'm in the minority here.

Gold

by Chris Cleave
Hennepin County Library audiobook, 10 CDs
read by Emilia Fox
genre: realistic fiction

Chris Cleave is an amazing author! Although I like Little Bee more than this story, his writing is powerful and gripping. This tale of personal demons and Olympic glories entranced me. I couldn't completely dislike Zoe as she and Kate battled for supremacy in track cycling. Kate's story broke my heart with her love for Jack, daughter Sophie, and even her love for Zoe as a friend. Even though this was due back at the library three days ago, I *had* to finish it!!! I'll gladly pay the fine.

Fox's vocal work was impeccable! She got Tom's Aussie accent, Jack's Scottish brogue, and the women's lovely accents as well. Fantastic all the way around.

Wonder

by R.J. Palacio
PRMS hardcover 315 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction

I read this more than a week ago . . . and truly enjoyed it. I didn't cry as much as I expected to (based on other people's reviews), but it was definitely moving. August (Auggie) has a seriously deformed face but will be starting fifth grade at Beecher Prep school. His sister is also starting a new school and her life's story is intertwined with that of her little brother. Touching, sad, funny . . . this book is a worthwhile read for people of many ages!

All Things New

by Lynn Austin
Hennepin County Library hardcover 412 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction

Josephine Weatherly (Jo, Missy Jo, Missy, . . . )

I just can't blog right now. Here's the back of the book: "Josephine Weatherly struggles to pick up the pieces of her life when her family returns to their Virginia plantation. But the realities of life after the war cannot be denied; her home and land are but a shell of their previous grandeur; death has claimed her father and brother; and her remaining brother Daniel, has returned home bitter and broken. Her life of privilege, a long-ago dream. Josephine soon realizes that life is now a matter of daily survival - and recognizes that Lizzie, as one of the few remaining servants, is the one she must rely on to teach her all she needs to know. Josephine's mother, too, vows to rebuild White Oak . . . but a bitter hatred fuels her. Can hope - and a battered faith in God - survive amid the devastation?"

We discussed it on Monday. Good story. 

Playground

by 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson III) and Laura Moser
personal paperback 314 pages
genre: realistic fiction

Leslie Geissler gave this to me as a gift! I already had it in my collection, but had not read it yet. Butterball resents his mother for making him live in a town where he doesn't have his old friends or the entertainment of the city where his dad still lives. This is sure to resonate with kids who feel out-of-place and a bit angry with parents or other authority figures. My favorite part of the story is when he sticks up for his little neighbor kid. I disliked the stupid things he did in his anger.

The Looking Glass Wars

by Frank Beddor
PRMS hardcover 358 pages
genre: fantasy adventure

So many people have raved about this book, but it has taken me the longest time to actually read it! What a strange book - what if Alice in Wonderland were a real person? In this book, Alyss Heart is heir to the throne of Wonderland until her Aunt Redd kills Alyss' parents and seizes control. Filled with imagination, adventure, and lots of vivid characters, this story is only book one in a series. Of course, I like the developing romance between Alyss and new captain of the guard, Dodge Anders.

Clockwork Angel

Infernal Devices - book one
by Cassandra Clare
PRMS paperback 478 pages
genre: paranormal romance, steampunk

This was for eighth grade book club. I had to force myself to read it. Yuk. I really do not like this author's work. Other than the romantic tension between Tessa and Will, there wasn't much for me to like about it. Only one of my eighth graders read the whole thing! She truly enjoyed the story. A few of the girls who usually like this genre said they just couldn't get in to it . . . and some didn't expect to like it and didn't get past chapter one.

Tessa has come to England after the death of her aunt in New York. All she has left is her brother Nate. But there are two sisters who greet her at the docks, saying they were sent by her brother. Soon Tessa is locked up and being "taught" / forced to use her special powers to change into other people.
The Nephilim are angel warriors from Heaven (but with all the attributes of human attitude - these angels have nothing to do with glorifying God) and of them all, Will is stunningly gorgeous and a powerful fighter with a reckless attitude. Jem (James) is his best friend and the only one to whom Will shows gentleness.

One thing I liked were all the references to literature and reading. On page 94, Will says, "I've never seen anyone get so excited over books before. You'd think they were diamonds." It's a nice scene (though their reading tastes are somewhat different from one another's).

One thing that makes me crazy - why point out that vampires have no hearts, no lungs, no need to breathe, and then have the battle scene be full of vampires being cut and bleeding all over! Or they explode or spurt or burst with blood . . . what? That's just a strange mixing of ideas.

Pretty Little Liars

by Sara Shepard
Hennepin County Library hardcover 286 pages
genre: realistic (?) fiction (what I call "mean girls")

What I liked: . . . good question. I really tried to keep an open mind. I think Aria was my favorite character.

What I disliked:  the meanness of the girls' "friendship" - based on lies, coercion, threats, and taunting; the fact that "The Jenna Thing" was never explained; the ugly behaviors (drinking, smoking pot, shoplifting, sleeping around, bulimia, drunk driving, . . . and NO apparent negative repercussions for negative behavior other than the censure of their peers); the shallow and materialistic focus on shopping, name-brands, etc.; . . .

Why I read it at all:  for a few years, I've just said "no" when kids have asked about this series. This year, I've had more requests than ever and lots of disappointment when I said "no." Then I thought perhaps I was being unfairly biased. I'd never actually read one of the books or watched the tv show . . . I ought to at least try. So I got this and was ready to stop at chapter five. What garbage! Then I pondered WHY I hated it so much. After all, I have other books in this collection that include teenage drinking and promiscuity. I have other books I don't "like." So I decided to read through to the end. Yuk. What an awful book! I'm not sure why it's so popular.

A Stolen Life

by Jaycee Lee Dugard
Hennepin County Library audioCDs 6 discs
read by the author
genre: memoir

This was SO hard to listen to! I give her kudos for sharing her story and not letting Garrido off the hook for what he did. It just makes me so incredibly sad that ANY child has ever had to endure such terror, loss, and confusion. She tells her story in a childlike voice and with fairly simple, straightforward writing style. I found myself actually hoping that Phillip Garrido has received treatment from fellow inmates in prison that would help him understand a little bit of what he did to an eleven-year-old girl . . . . but I know that I shouldn't think that way.

I also hated that he would read the Bible and put his own sick twist on it. Hearing from "demon angels" and blaming his evil acts on them . . . again, it makes me so angry. I suppose I should have more compassion and forgiveness for someone who is truly messed up. But one cannot overlook the evil he (and his wife Nancy!) inflicted on this courageous young woman.

Science Verse

by Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith
Hennepin County hardcover picture book w/ CD
genre: snappy science poetry

These two are so creative and smart! I love their work, but I'm glad I read this from the library before buying it for school. It's an odd mix of too simple & yet too-over-kids'-heads. But I may not be giving my students enough credit. I love the literary allusions. Very clever!

Every Soul a Star

by Wendy Mass
PRMS paperback 322 pages
genre: realistic fiction, relationships, coming of age

Eighth grade book club will discuss this today; glad I finished it last night! I liked the three perspectives - Ally, Bree, and Jack - though I didn't find the girls' scenarios to be very realistic. The author did an amazing job of weaving the astronomy and wonder of science throughout the book. I think our earth science teachers might enjoy this book . . .

Ryan - has changed from Ally's reliable friend to a workout-focused guy looking for "hotties"
Melanie - Bree's positive, energetic little sister who's unconcerned with peer pressure, societal norms, etc.
Kenny - Ally's brainiac little brother who loves bugs
Stella - the little old lady who befriends Jack, then Bree; knits a red scarf

The Unusuals - interesting, yet also a little too New Age-y for me . . .