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:

• 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!

Disliked:

• 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! 

Mixed:

• 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!

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!

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.

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.

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 . . . 

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!

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.

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!!!

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. 

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.

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:

• 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.

Negatives:

• 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.

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.

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 . . . "

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!

Memories of Glass

by Melanie Dobson
Carver County Library hardcover 397 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction

Set in Amsterdam during WWII and also in modern day times, this story followed the Kingston family and their connections through the Holocaust and beyond. There were things I really liked about the story (mostly Ava's modern-day journey to help the Kingston Foundation and find out her family history) and things I disliked.

I'll start with disliked: my confusion over all the characters and how they were connected! I understand why the author didn't provide a "who's who" type of list, as that would have spoiled some plotlines. I ought to have made my own, since this proved a challenge for me to follow some aspects of the story line (and judging by our book club discussion, a barrier for others, too).

Landon and Ava/ coffee and compassion / Uganda and Seattle - definitely my favorite aspect of the book. Here are some other spots I noted:

Page 52 - "God, she suspected, would want the theology she'd spent a lifetime learning to siphon down into her hands and feet. Share His love with those who needed a glimpse of it during this dark season." (Josie, May 1942)

Page 85 - "Books, she once said, are the best legacy. They outlast one's life and shed light on the past when truth is hard to find." (Ava, in Uganda)

Page 115 - "Every experience God gives us, every person He puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for a future that only He can see." (Quotation from Corrie Ten Boom's The Hiding Place.)

Page 242 - "I sit on a bench and retrieve her Bible out of my handbag to find the verses where Jesus speaks about the truth of His teaching, truth that could set people free. The father of lies wants to conceal the truth, He said, enslave people in their sin. Their shame. God sent His Son to set them - to set me - free." (Ava, in Seattle, after meeting Mrs. West)

Page 308 - "A glimpse of heaven, that is the terroir I need right now, a place where evil can no longer hide, the supreme light of Christ blasting away the shadows." (Ava, in Amsterdam)

Page 313 - Yes! I suspected this but was pumped when Paul answered what his father's name was!

Page 347 - "He started buying antique bottles in their memory, and for years we would watch the light pour into each one, filling what had been broken, their legacy living on in both of us." (Mrs. West, talking to Ava, Landon, and Kendall) This scene is so gorgeous in my mind that it makes me want to start collecting colorful glass containers to put in a sunny window!

We had a good discussion, but I was only halfway done reading it so I couldn't fully participate. I need to get the book club book more quickly and hunker down to read it!

Of Sound Mind

by Jean Ferris
NPMS library hardcover 215 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction

This is a more serious title from Ferris, who often writes with humor. Theo is a senior in high school. As the only hearing member of his family, his ability to hear and speak English as well as use ASL means that he does a lot of interpreting for his parents and little brother Jeremy. He also takes on a large share of responsibility for the household.

Theo as a character was a delightful young man, but it didn't seem realistic that he was so innocent about so many things. Perhaps I'm too jaded. That said, his friendship with Ivy and the conflicts with his mother made this very readable. I'm not sure how easy a "sell" it would be to middle schoolers. Unlike most realistic fiction, this book has clean language and no sexual content. The kiss scene (pages 134-5) is super sweet!

I loved Jeremy and Theo's care for his family. There was actually a climax to the story that I did NOT anticipate. This was worthwhile. The signing, frustrations, and challenges for deaf people and their family members was enlightening.

The Bees

by Laline Paull
Scott County Library audiobook 9CDs
read by Orlagh Cassidy
genre: fiction, bees, unusual

Other than a prologue and epilogue that bookend the story, the entire book is told from the bees' point of view. Specifically, a worker bee named Flora 717. I don't think I can do justice to a description of the book . . . so I'll grab one off Amazon.

"The Handmaid’s Tale meets The Hunger Games in this brilliantly imagined debut set in an ancient culture where only the queen may breed and deformity means death. Flora 717 is a sanitation worker, a member of the lowest caste in her orchard hive where work and sacrifice are the highest virtues and worship of the beloved Queen the only religion. But Flora is not like other bees. With circumstances threatening the hive’s survival, her curiosity is regarded as a dangerous flaw but her courage and strength are an asset. She is allowed to feed the newborns in the royal nursery and then to become a forager, flying alone and free to collect pollen. She also finds her way into the Queen’s inner sanctum, where she discovers mysteries about the hive that are both profound and ominous. But when Flora breaks the most sacred law of all—daring to challenge the Queen’s fertility—enemies abound, from the fearsome fertility police who enforce the strict social hierarchy to the high priestesses jealously wedded to power. Her deepest instincts to serve and sacrifice are now overshadowed by an even deeper desire, a fierce maternal love that will bring her into conflict with her conscience, her heart, her society—and lead her to unthinkable deeds. Thrilling, suspenseful and spectacularly imaginative, The Bees gives us a dazzling young heroine and will change forever the way you look at the world outside your window."

I didn't think I'd like it, but I ended up wanting to know what would happen to Flora and wanting her to succeed. I was very curious what a bee keeper would think of this book. (Yes, I could look up other people's reviews . . . but I'm tired and want to go to bed.)

I was surprised by passages in the book that had strong religious themes and language and others that were extremely sexual in nature. It was a very strange book, but interesting, too. I liked Flora's trip to the greenhouse, her fight with the wasp, and her courage in "reading" the queen's library and becoming a forager. I also liked Sir Linden, the drone. Odd but fun book! The vocal work was excellent.

The Aviator's Wife

by Melanie Benjamin
Scott County Library audiobook 13 CDs
read by Lorna Raver
genre: historical fiction

This book told from the perspective of Anne Morrow Lindbergh has been fascinating and frustrating. I've already gone online to look up some info . . . so far, it seems very historically accurate. I want to read something actually written by AML now - perhaps Gift from the Sea.

Charles Lindbergh comes across as an arrogant jerk. Anne at times seems pathetic and other times powerful. The best parts (to me) are her early years as an ambassador's daughter (including their courtship) and the section on the "baby's" kidnapping. To me, a twenty-month old is a toddler, but that's quibbling. How incredibly awful for them to go through such a horrific event. (Side note - I hate that there are still so many questions about Hauptman and if others were involved but went free . . . )

I wondered a lot about Dwight Jr. since the author barely mentions him after Anne marries Charles. There's not a lot about him online . . . not that I've dug deeply. I loved when he and Anne were joking around when Lindbergh called her. Sibling fun!

When they had their first baby, I was horrified by "the Watson method" for raising children! To suppress the maternal instinct belies the way we are designed to care for our young! This part made me wonder a lot more about Lindbergh's own mom and dad and how they raised him. Later, when he told Anne to forget about their murdered child and move on, it was like another death blow. How does a marriage survive something like this?

The fact that he admired Hitler and was of like mind . . . I'm pretty sure that's historically accurate. "Lucky Lindy" allied himself with the Germans prior to WWII. I don't understand how he could be such good friends with Harry Guggenheim yet subscribe to Hitler's attitude toward Jewish people and the dangers they posed. This section also made me think about the "America First" attitude again prevalent in America . . .

The descriptor on the back of the case includes this: "The Aviator's Wife is a vividly imagined novel of a complicated marriage - revealing both its dizzying highs and its devastating lows." I found it interesting that the storyline moved from 1974 back to the 1920s, 30s, etc. Large chunks of their shared life were summarized in a few paragraphs. I think the author made some good choices, but ultimately I found myself frustrated with Anne for caving in to Charles so often, then choosing her own life, and denying him forgiveness on his death bed. Not sure how realistic this is, or what the Lindbergh children would think of it. It feels very autobiographical . . . but is fiction.

The vocal work was excellent.

Oh! The author's note was informative at the end of the book. And I can appreciate Anne's interest in moving to Germany prior to WWII, since they were hounded by the media everywhere else. The author described it as the worst paparazzi situation along with what Princess Diana experienced. Horrid!

Also, the fact that Anne's diary - her diary! - was heavily edited by Charles before his death makes me NOT want to read it. He tried to sanitize his image even via his wife's personal recollections!

I am interested in reading their daughter Reeve's book Under a Wing. . .