Cave of the Book Goddess

BOOK REVIEW: "A Hive for the Honeybee"

2012-02-05T19:59:00.003-07:00

A Hive for the Honeybee
By Soinbhe Lally
Copyright 1996
Scholastic Press
Adult Fiction
2 Bookmarks

Hummmm.......The hum of a hive of bees was easy to imagine while reading this short novel by Sionbhe Lally. I was originally not planning to read this book. I picked it from a 9th Grade reading list for my daughter, but some of the verbiage on the cover led me to think maybe I should read it first. I'm thinking that was a good idea.

In A Hive for the Honeybee, we meet a couple of newly-born worker bees, Belle and Thora. The two workers become friends, but their personalities are strongly contrasted. Belle is a worker and can't imagine anything else other than gathering pollen and honey, and taking care of the drone bees. Thora dreams of something outside of the hive, although she really has no comprehension of what that something might be. At the same time, two drone bees named Alfred and Mo, struggle with their own unique roles within the turmoil in the hive after their Queen takes off to form a new hive. When a new Queen is born, the drones go crazy with desire (stereotypical male behavior). Many die when mating with the Queen. The remaining drones seem to take it in stride, all except Alfred and Mo who seem to have some sense of what is to come.

The new Queen decides to change things up and lays only worker bee eggs (female) and no drone bee eggs (male). The Queen and the other worker bees are, apparently, tired of taking care of the drone bees (can you blame them?) I won't tell you what the end result of that is. Instead, I'll go straight to my opinion:

Although there was some interesting imagery and beautiful language throughout the book, it was really quite dark and fatalistic. Probably wouldn't recommend it to a 9th grader, and definitely won't be letting my 10-year-old read it. On the plus side, it was super short and I was able to read the entire thing in just a couple hours. A low "OK" read.

BOOK REVIEW: "How to Win Friends and Influence People"

2012-02-05T18:03:00.001-07:00

How to Win Friends and Influence People
By Dale Carnegie
Copyright 1936
Simon & Schuster
Non-Fiction
5 Bookmarks

I read this classic "how to be a better person" book once when I was in high school. Somehow it just didn't have the same effect on me back then that it does today. I could think of a dozen different ways I could use the ideas and suggestions in the book and apply them in my own life.

As I was reading along, I couldn't believe how many of the bits of advice in this book still apply over 75 years after it was written. The book is divided into four, easy to understand sections.

Section One deals with "Fundamental Techniques in Handling People, and imparts advice to avoid criticizing other people, appreciate them, and arouse in them "an eager want." There are a lot of great anecdotes throughout the book, but I appreciated them in this section because it was just getting started. My favorite was the one about the mom would couldn't get her college student sons to respond to her letters, so the uncle wrote a letter to the boys and added a postscript that he was enclosing $5. Only he didn't really enclose the $5. I'm sure you can imagine what happened next. Good chuckle.

Section Two deals with "Six Ways to Make People Like You". Some of the advice in this section was so simple, and yet I know I have not always followed this guidance. Be interested, smile, remember names, listen, talk about other people's interests and help the other person feel important. As I was reading this section I thought of numerous instances where I neglected to remember a name, or wanted to talk about something I was doing instead of listening. Definitely some things we could all be doing better in here!

Section Three focuses on how to "Win People to Your Way of Thinking". This section lists numerous suggestions, such as don't argue, show respect and admit when you are wrong, with some great ideas on how to avoid confrontation but still share your point of view. This was my favorite section. Here's a great quote: "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." A huge part of this section is spent on explaining how to get someone to see your side of things even if they don't want to, which is absolutely something I'd like to know a little more about!

The last section shares some proven guidance for "Being a Great Leader". Begin with praise, ask questions, use encouragement, etc. There were a lot of areas in this section of the book that I felt I could really apply to my relationship with my daughter. Positive reinforcement being a much better tool than yelling and nagging, apparently.

All in all, I'm really glad I read this book again and would absolutely recommend it to anyone who is looking to improve their relationships with family members, co-workers or clients. So many great suggestions!

COMMENTARY: Angst and Poetry

2012-01-29T16:49:00.006-07:00

I have a fascination with a certain emotion I have often referred to as “angst”. I realize I am not quite using the term correctly, as angst is technically defined as “a feeling of dread, anxiety or anguish”. What I mean when I say angst is more accurately described as some sense of emotional anguish related to darkness, sadness and loves lost or love unreturned.

So now that you know what I mean when I say angst, here are my two cents.

I love reading an entirely angst-ridden story with lots of anguished, unrequited love and painful near-misses, losses and sadness. Nicholas Sparks is the king of this genre of fiction. You’ve seen The Notebook, right? Some of his other notable selections include Message in a Bottle, The Wedding, and Dear John (reviewed here).

When I was a teenager, I was the queen of angst-ridden poetry. I wrote such titles as “The Crier”, “The Pain of Love” and “The Empty Kiss”. I look back on those now and just chuckle. How naïve we are as we walk through those puppy-love years and think every little loss is the end of the world. Some kids aren’t so lucky and do have to deal with real gut-wrenching losses during those formative years (I know this from watching my younger siblings grow up without our mother). But I was lucky and the worst thing that happened to me during those angsty, pre-teen and teen years was having a few boys who didn’t like me nearly so much as I liked them. It was easy for me to feel like that was the end of the world, of course.

My grandfather had instilled a love of poetry in me when I was young. He gave me an old copy of “101 Famous Poems” (copyright 1929) that had been given to him second-hand in 1946. Both the inscription from “Mr. & Mrs. Gustuvke” from 1946 and the inscription from my grandfather in 1985 are still quite visible inside the front cover. This book is one of my most treasured possessions. It contains such greats as “Trees” by Sergeant Joyce Kilmer (“I think that I shall never see/A poem as lovely as a tree”), “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley (“Out of the night that covers me/Black as the Pit from pole to pole/I thank whatever gods may be/For my unconquerable soul”), and “In Flanders Fields” by Lieut.-Col. John McCrae (“In Flanders fields the poppies blow/Between the crosses, row on row”). Some of my favorites.

Having the poetic guidance of that book led me to write many an angst-ridden poem, which was a great outlet during my hormone-laden teen years.

Here’s a little sample:

I wept for you,
And at some distant point
I know why

But for now
The sobs are enough

And the tears fall
And the memories fade
And the pain is strong

But at some distant point
There is sunshine

Hmm……something about reading through those old poems makes me feel a little nostalgic. Perhaps the reason I like books of angst-ridden, unrequited love now is because it reminds me of those times when I was actively stimulating my creative mind on a regular basis by writing. I haven’t written poetry in many, many years. Instead, I’m sure I will continue to fill that little spot in my soul by reading those novels about heart-rending, unrequited love and anguish. Or maybe one of these days I’ll dust off my writing pen and see what I can come up with.

(Painting is a portion of The Scream by Edvard Munch, one of my all-time favorite paintings, for obvious reasons.)

BOOK REVIEW: "Pink Slip"

2012-01-29T14:23:00.004-07:00

Pink Slip

By Rita Ciresi

Delacorte Press

Adult Fiction

2.5 Bookmarks

I swear this book felt like it was written in the 1980s. I just looked up the copyright and couldn't believe it's only 13 years old! The style of the book seemed really old-fashioned. And it didn't help that some of the mentions in the book (World Trade Center Towers, certain medicines, etc.) seemed so out of touch with today.

The story begins with Lisa Diodetto deciding she needs a fresh start. She's tired of her mother trying to marry her off to every eligible bachelor around, and she is very unhappy with her editing job and postage stamp-sized apartment in the city. So she moves to a smaller town and gets a new job at a pharmaceutical company.

Lisa doesn't intend to, but ends up in love with her boss (Yes, you are correct. Uh Oh). While Lisa is dealing with the secrecy involved in her relationship, she gets some very bad news from her cousin which threatens to end her relationship with the bossman. Drama ensues.

Other than the aforementioned oddities related to being able to accurately picture the timeframe of the story, it was a somewhat decent read. Sort of entertaining, although there wasn't much left up to the imagination. And, frankly, it just never seemed to really get going for me.

I really enjoyed one of the author's other books (Remind Me Again Why I Married You, reviewed HERE, which involves the same characters a few years down the road), so it was a bit disappointing that this one seemed so blah. If you want to meet the characters from the beginning, this is the one to read. But I do really think this author gets better with age.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Leap"

2012-01-29T14:06:00.005-07:00

The Leap: How 3 Simple Changes Can Propel Your Career from Good to Great
By Rick Smith
Copyright 2009
Penguin Group Publishing
Non-Fiction
3 Bookmarks

So I thought I might start the year by trying to give my career a little kick in the pants. As you know, I work in real estate (shout out to ERA Shields Real Estate, woohoo!) and as I'm sure you also know, real estate has been mired in bad publicity and a bad economy for the past five years. I wanted to try to get a better handle on sharing the positive side of real estate. So I looked around for a few good books to help me do that. The title of this one seemed promising so I picked it up.

I wasn't very far along into the book before I realized that this was just not quite what I was looking for.

The Leap is really more a collection of anecdotes about people who spend a lot of time doing what they HAVE TO do, and then magically find their passion and get to do what they WANT to do for the rest of their lives.

The "3 Simple Changes" mentioned in the subtitle basically involve finding your passion, finding a big idea to promote your passion, and then executing the big idea. Sounds simple enough, but the examples listed are so huge, it's overwhelming! I didn't want a total change to my career, I just wanted to get better at what I'm already doing!

So the positive things about the book: some of the stories are inspiring. My favorite was about the gal that cut the feet off her pantyhose and invented Spanx (mostly because Spanx are easily one of the best inventions of the past 100 years--who knew a girl could look like that in a form-fitting dress after giving birth!) Also, the shrimp fisherman who became the head of a research foundation after his son was diagnosed with a genetic illness. That was pretty awesome.

The Leap actually is a pretty good read, but was just a little too grand in scale for what I was really looking for. Unfortunately, it just didn't seem all that practical, even though the author does try to really press the issue that these people didn't make these changes overnight. For all of them, it was a process.

So, this is a recommend if you're looking for some big changes in your life and want some inspiration to get there. But not so much if you're more the baby-steps kind of person.

SONG OF THE DAY: "New York"

2012-01-15T21:28:00.001-07:00

"New York" live on David Letterman, 1/9/2012
by Snow Patrol
Fallen Empires 2012

Because sometimes someone else can say it better than I can.

BOOK REVIEW: "Wolves at the Door"

2012-01-15T21:09:00.000-07:00

Wolves at the Door

By Thomas A. Chown

Pipers Willow, Inc.

Adult Fiction

1 Bookmark

Man, am I getting tired of these low scoring reviews. I'm ready to read a five again, I tell ya.

Shockingly, I have (once again) started a book that I DID NOT FINISH. I simply couldn't.

This book was supposed to be a historical novel about a family who settles in Kansas and Colorado during the 1800s.

The book starts out with Henry Devon fighting in a battle of the Civil War. It cuts to snippets of his life with his family who came out west to take advantage of Uncle Sam's kind offer of free land in Kansas, but the author spent plenty of time recounting numerous gruesome things that, I'm sure, actually occurred (although it really is my preference NOT to read about them). After those first gory pages, I wasn't sure I wanted to keep reading, but of course I did.

So the story progresses with Henry and his family doing what they need to survive there in the wilderness of Kansas. When the author then moved on to Henry and his wife recalling the death of their first child, I got a little knot in my stomach. I don't do well with dead kids. Just one of those things. And again, I wasn't sure I wanted to keep reading, but of course I did.

So there I am then, on page 40 (yes, a mere 40 pages into this disasterous book), when the family ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time and their youngest son has his spinal cord severed. Really? I don't do well with dead kids and I don't do well with gonna-be-dead-soon kids. I closed the book and didn't open it again.

Really, that wasn't the only reason I put down the book. I had a serious problem with the headers in the book. The publisher actually used the same font (and text size) for the headers as they did for the body of the book (why would somebody do that?) A little OCD maybe? Yes. But every time I turned the page, I read "Bleeding Kansas" at the top of the page before my eyes would go back down to the text where they belonged and finish the sentence I had been reading. I found it highly, highly annoying.

So yeah. Unless you like the roughest side of the Old West, and dead kids, don't read this one.

BOOK REVIEW: "A Sister's Secret"

2012-01-15T20:40:00.000-07:00

A Sister's Secret

By Wanda E. Brunstetter

Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Adult Fiction

2 Bookmarks

I have a thing for the Amish. No, really. I do! I find all plain-clothed religions just simply fascinating. Mostly because I just couldn't imagine adhering to those types of strict rules by choice. But anyway, on to the book.

So I picked it up because of my fascination with the Amish, but it ended up being an intriguing little story.

Grace Hostettler has been home from her rumschpringe (her running-around years) for four years and has joined the Amish faith. But when someone from her past shows up in town, Grace fears the secret she has been keeping hidden for four years will come out, possibly ruining her future with the Amish man she is soon to marry.

A side story transpires while Grace is dealing with her issue. The side story involves mysterious vandalism that keeps occuring at the Hostettler home. Grace is concerned the person from her past is behind the vandalism, but there is no way to prove it. A few other suspects are mentioned, but as Grace is finally forced to face her past and find her way toward a future with her new Amish husband, the book ends.

I turned the last page back and forth a couple times just to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Really? After thefts, an explosion, a dog tortured, another dog killed, a clothesline cut, and finally a house nearly burned to the ground, there was NO RESOLUTION to the vandalism sidebar to the story.

Knocked off a whole bookmark for that lame mistake on the part of the author.

BOOK REVIEW: "Five-Star Families: Moving Yours from Good to Great"

2012-01-15T20:20:00.000-07:00

Five-Star Families:

Moving Yours from Good to Great

By Carol Kuykendall

Fleming H. Revell Publishing

Non-Fiction

1 Bookmark

Have you ever thought your family was pretty good but you'd really like it if they were "great"? I saw the title of this book and wondered what some author might say about taking your family from "good" to "great".

But wow. What a disappointment.

I think the author had the grandest of intentions when writing this book; i.e. help others do what needs to be done to have a "five-star family." But her effort falls woefully short. Instead, she merely points out the things she now thinks she did wrong and touts the things she thinks she did well. She has really no expertise in this area, other than being the mother of three children that somehow managed to reach adulthood without landing in juvenile hall. Oh, and she has a bachelor's degree in journalism.

So many things irked me while reading this book. Seriously too many to list. But the biggest one was the author's assumption that a family consists of two parents and numerous children. I felt like so little of the book applied to my life (with my little family of mom, dad and one, lone child), that it was nearly a complete waste of my time to read it. Over half the book seemed to be devoted to getting siblings not to fight with each other. The other half seemed to be devoted to getting the siblings to stand up for each other against "the rest of the world." I can't imagine someone living in a non-traditional household (one parent and kids, or grandparents raising kids, etc.), finding this a useful book either.

The one bright side to the book is that she did actually list five qualities that she thinks all families should have: Love, Fun, Loyalty, Growth and Faith. Although probably not the five qualities I would have listed were I to write a book of the same title (hmmmmm.....let's see.....if I had to list five right now I would say love, patience, forgiveness, devotion and......kindness).

Frankly, I was really disappointed that there wasn't anything more to this book than "This is what I did and it worked for me so you should do it too!"

BOOK REVIEW: "Menu for Romance"

2012-01-15T19:52:00.005-07:00

Menu for Romance
By Kaye Dacus
Copyright 2009
Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Adult Fiction
3 Bookmarks

So I'm a sucker for a good unrequited love story. This one seemed to have all the makings of a juicy story right up my alley.

Professional caterer Meredith is secretly in love with her head chef, Major. Only she doesn't tell him because he's never even hinted that he was interested in letting anyone into his life. Major has a "problem" mother that he doesn't want anyone to know about so he keeps to himself and doesn't get involved.

When Meredith decides to try dating someone else so she can move forward with her life, Major realizes what a huge mistake he has made by not telling her that he, too, is in love with her. But now it's too late.

The author does a great job introducing the characters and getting the reader emotionally involved in the outcome of the story. The author brings a lot of religion into the story, which isn't usually my favorite thing, but she does it in a tasteful manner that is not overly evangelical.

I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a light, quick read. I loved the John Wayne references and appreciated the fact that there wasn't any gratuitous sex in the book (obviously due to the Christian background of the author).

BOOK REVIEW: "This Side of Paradise"

2012-01-15T19:34:00.000-07:00

This Side of Paradise
By F. Scott Fitzgerald
Copyright 1996
Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Adult Fiction
2.5 Bookmarks

So I had worked my way completely through my stack of library books and had to resort to my own bookshelves for a book to read. I saw This Side of Paradise, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and realized I hadn't read it in a really long time. So long, in fact, that I couldn't really remember what it was about. So I pulled it off the shelf and started reading.

This is the story of Amory Blaine, a privileged youth making his way into adulthood. The story follows Amory through his college days, a trip to "the war", and aimless wanderings through the world as he tries to find his way. It is by the same author as The Great Gatsby, and the story followings a similar, meandering track as that classic.

There were some parts of the book that were interesting, especially when Amory discovers a girl he likes. But when that little flirtation ends badly, Amory turns into a sort of purposeless person and ends up in a lot of strange situations that don't really make him any better for it.

I suppose my biggest criticism of the book is just the constant wandering of the story without rhyme or reason as to WHY. Of course Fitzgerald is a "good" writer, and I never felt the desire to set the book down, but it's just not a good enough book for me to want to pull it off that shelf again anytime soon.

COMMENTARY: "2012--Here We Come!"

2011-12-31T15:15:00.012-07:00

Well, 2011 has drawn to a close…..finally! It’s been a rough year with health issues, surgeries, family concerns, work stress, school stress and everything in between, but I survived. And I’m now looking forward to the new adventures coming in 2012.

There’s something rather cathartic about these New Beginnings we are lucky enough to experience on the first day of January every year; a fresh start, a clean slate, a renewal of life. There are times when the day-to-day stresses are so overwhelming that they smother any ability to see the big picture of life. These New Beginnings are, in a way, an apology from life for the crap we’ve had to deal with every day. Sometimes just being able to take a deep breath and let go of the tough times and the sad times and the mistakes we’ve made is a necessary step in moving forward and progressing as human beings.

If there were no clean slates, we would be constantly bogged down by those negative experiences and life would surely become an extremely unpleasant undertaking.

I did two small activities this year that made me realize just how stuck I’ve been in that negative mindset. First, every day during the month of November, I posted on my Facebook status something I’m thankful for. You’d think that would be a pretty easy task, but it was not. There were days I really had to reach into the depths of my brain to find something “good” to say. I realized that forcing myself to see the good in life when I sure didn’t think there was any actually did make the day better. So, in December, I decided to keep the good thoughts coming and I posted one of my “favorite things” every day. Those days when I felt stumped trying to think of something to say made me realize I need to have more favorite things in my life.

But really, the thing that made it so apparently obvious that I need to be more positive, was a gift my daughter gave me for Christmas. She called it an “Optimism Box”. In reality, it was just a simple Kleenex box on which she had written in marker a message on each side: “If you are stressed, just be optimistic”, “Sometimes it’s good to be optimistic”, “Don’t worry, be optimistic”. On top she had written “The Optimism Eater” and inside the box she had several little notes including “If black cats were bad luck…I wouldn’t be alive. So proves they are not!” and my favorite: “Bear hugs are good….just not from a bear.” (Okay, so she may not have the exact definition of optimism down, but I got her point). Opening that gift, I laughed until I cried. Partially from overwhelming love at my sweet little kid who noticed I had a tough time this year and was trying to make things better. And partially from sadness that my sweet little kid was obviously affected by my reactions to life.

So as 2012 peaks his squeaky clean little head around the corner, I will be making a concerted effort to bring the positive around me. To show my little mini-me that life is good and that happiness is free. So if you catch me being a complainer this year, just give me a smile and quick reminder, “Don’t worry, be optimistic!”

SONG OF THE DAY: "Color on the Walls (Don't Stop)"

2011-12-21T22:32:00.003-07:00

My new favorite band: Foster the People
"Color on the Walls (Don't Stop)"

BOOK REVIEW: "The Shade of My Own Tree"

2011-11-20T21:58:00.004-07:00

The Shade of My Own Tree
By Sheila Williams
Copyright 2003
Random House Publishing
Adult Fiction
3.75 Bookmarks

An abused woman finally finds the courage to walk out on her husband after 15 years of marriage. Opal Sullivan finds that courage and heads out to begin her life anew. Over the course of her journey, she realizes many things.

First, that she will never truly be free of her ex-husband. Second, that she likes living under the shade of her own tree. And third, that life is full of nothing but surprises.

Normally, a book about domestic violence is not something I have on my radar. But I liked the title of the book and immediately "got" the significance of the phrase. And I was pleasantly surprised with the manner that the author handled the subject matter. It was not terribly graphic but got the point across when needed.

I really liked that the author gave the main character the strength to go out there and do the things that she did, including helping other women in abusive relationships. The reader gets a great feel for Opal's struggles and her triumphs in overcoming them.

I really enjoyed this book and would absolutely recommend it! Would make a great book club read.

BOOK REVIEW: "An Ideal Wife"

2011-11-20T21:40:00.004-07:00

An Ideal Wife
By Gemma Townley
Copyright 2010
Ballantine Books
Adult Fiction
1.5 Bookmarks

Wowza. This is the most typically typical British novel I've read in a long while. Jessica Wild-Wainwright (even the name is typical!) is madly in love with her perfect, perfect husband Max. Unfortunately, Jessica is not so perfect (quite the opposite, in fact).

And so, Jessica sets out on a mission to become the ideal wife.

Now just so you understand, Jessica is so far from being the ideal wife that it is, frankly, difficult for the reader to imagine her becoming what she has set out to become.

There's just a slight problem with her plan. Jessica has a dirty little secret that she has kept from her husband that is now coming back to haunt her. An ex-fling is extorting her for money and she isn't quite sure what to do about it.

You get to watch as Jessica tries to make up for the dirty little secret by attempting to learn to be a good cook, how to iron, and volunteering at a soup kitchen.

One particularly amusing episode of Jessica's attempts at wifely perfection leaves poor Max laid up in the hospital for a week.

Unfortunately for Jessica, her efforts are a dire failure. Soon it becomes apparent that her secret can stay a secret no more. And throw on top of that a couple of thugs from the Russian Mafia, a long-lost father that she never knew, and a few million pounds of money that she doesn't know what to do with.

Stories like this always have a happy ending, but they usually have quite a nail-biting climax and this was no exception. It was a quick read, and there were a few moments that were even kind of fun. But for the most part it was just so much like so many other British novels I've read that it was boring.

Open this one only if you really like predictability.

BOOK REVIEW: "This Fine Life"

2011-11-20T21:13:00.004-07:00

This Fine Life
By Eva Marie Everson
Copyright 2010
Revell Publishing
Adult Fiction
3 Bookmarks

A young girl comes home after graduating from a prep school where she has lived away from home for the past four years. Mariette is not sure which direction to go. Her mother wants her to "marry well". Her father wants her to go to University. Mariette just doesn't know what she wants.

But when Mariette stumbles upon a young man in a stairwell at her father's company who takes her breath away, just doesn't really think about it any longer. Keeping Thayne Scott a secret from her parents doesn't last long, and soon Mariette is forbidden from seeing him since he is not in the same social class as her family.

Mariette soon finds a way to go to him. They run away together and, surprise! They elope. But it's not all fun and games when Mariette realizes the kind of life she is going to have with Thayne. The two stumble through life's ups and downs together and Mariette tries to understand her husband's calling.

I enjoyed reading this book for the most part. There was definitely a bit of religiosity strewn throughout the story but it was not obtrusive. The characters were a bit weakly defined, but you sort of got the gist of who they were as people. A nice Sunday afternoon read.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Land of Painted Caves"

2011-11-02T20:31:00.004-06:00

The Land of Painted Caves
By Jean M. Auel
Copyright 2011
Crown Publishers
Adult Fiction
4 Bookmarks

Well here it is! The last in the Earth's Children series. It was published back in, I think, March of this year and I finally got around to reading it (after making my way back through the series again). I think this may be the thickest of the books. With 757 pages, it was certainly daunting.

Okay, first let me point out what annoyed me about this book. After writing five other books in this series, for some reason, the author still feels like she has to write the book as if it's a stand-alone book. Meaning, that in each of these books, she feels she has to re-cap all the important events of all the previous books in the series. A great number of those 757 pages were reminders of what I just got done reading in the previous six books, which was unbelievably tedious!

I was ready for some new material! Some new characters, some new subject matter. Instead, the recaps just went on for page after page after page. I'm guessing that 99% of the people who will read this book are addicts of the series (as I am), and already know the history of the characters. The recaps were totally overdone.

The other thing I didn't like was the basic plot of the book. The main character, Ayla, has become something of a spiritual leader of the group. Because of that, she is taken on a tour of the sacred sites of the people. Much of the book is the travel from one sacred site to another, from one painted cave to another. Not much variety in the storyline.

Whew! Okay, now that I've gotten that out of the way, let me just say I still love this series. I still really enjoyed the characters and the situations they found themselves in. I enjoyed being able to picture the landscapes and the surroundings. I enjoyed the descriptions of the different medicines and rituals observed by the people. I imagine I would have made a great cavegirl!

Normally when I read a book and have more negative things to say than positive, it's going to get a low rating. But hard for me to give anything by this author a low ranking when I really enjoy these books so much. Even with the 757 pages, I made it through the whole book in less than a week. Snatching a paragraph here or a paragraph there between other things going on in my life.

My frustrations really have more to do with it not quite fulfilling my expectations and not with any lack on the quality of the writing. Do read this one!

BOOK REVIEW: "Love in a Time of Cholera"

2011-11-02T20:07:00.005-06:00

Love in the Time of Cholera
By Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Copyright 1988
Vintage Books (Random House)
Adult Fiction
2.5 Bookmarks

A strangely odd and depressing story to have been made into a movie. I haven't seen the movie, but I'm pretty sure it's not one I would really enjoy watching.

Basic plot of the book is this: young boy falls in love from a distance with young girl, expresses his love solely through written letters since it's nearly impossible for them to actually meet face to face, father finds out, takes daughter away for a length of time, but boy manages to continue writing letters which are sneakily delivered to the girl, father thinks he's successfully ended the little love affair and thus returns the daughter home where she, nearly on accident, runs into the boy face to face. Girl turns tail, runs and marries the first man who proposes to her. Boy never gives up hope that he will be with girl (once the husband dies, of course). And so he waits. And waits. And waits. Most of the book is the waiting. And then suddenly, almost without warning, the characters are in their 80s.

I won't spoil the ending because it actually is kind of an enjoyable book to read, and many readers out there would appreciate it. It is very well-written with beautifully detailed sentence structure and compelling narrative.

Particularly meaningful, as I have always felt that it was easy to love through the written word. Being able to write what you feel and to read between the lines of what someone else has written is, for me, the ultimate romanticism. It is an art that is lost, and is painfully missed.

I probably would have given it a higher score if I didn't feel so sad when I finished reading it. It needed a little lightening up, but I suppose with a name like "Love in the time of Cholera", I shouldn't have expected it to be much more than depressing.

SONG OF THE DAY: Young the Giant - "Cough Syrup"

2011-11-02T20:05:00.001-06:00

I feel this song today.

BOOK REVIEW: "making love to the minor poets of Chicago"

2011-09-22T21:27:00.004-06:00

making love to the minor poets of Chicago
By James Conrad
Copyright 2000
Thomas Dunne Books
Adult Fiction
2 Bookmarks

Well frankly, with a title like that I expected a lot more. After all, I love "love", love poetry, and loathe all things Chicago; it made for an interestingly incongruous picture in my mind. But instead of being interesting, I just simply found the book boring. And weird. Actually more weird than boring.

So the basic story is this, a failed poet stumbles upon this opportunity to write a poem to save humanity from the nuclear waste stored beneath Yucca Mountain in Nevada. It seems that someone has been commissioned to paint a painting to be placed at the mountain to warn future generations for the next 10,000 years or so that it's going to take the nuclear waste to lose its dangerousness, and so this poet believes she can convince The Powers That Be that a poem should be called for as well.

So, maybe a slightly interesting premise, but the execution was severely lacking. First of all, the one who wanted to write the poem has to ask a colleague of hers to actually get in contact with The Powers That Be because, oh yes, the colleague's ex-husband is the painter who's been commissioned to do the painting. Since she has an "in", of course, they agree and you would think the story would move forward from here. Instead, it ended up being just a really discombobulated mess of minor storylines dropped in here and there that really had nothing to do with anything.

There was a seriously over-stereotyped group of gay characters linked to the poetry department at the local college. And I mean seriously stereotyped. I was even mildly offended by a scene in the book that is set in a gay bar where the author actually makes fun of the music playing "a groggy male vocalist was whining about someone having blue eyes, green eyes, and gray eyes" (which just happens to be from my very, very favorite New Order song ever!)

At the end of the book, two of the characters take off from Chicago and end up near Yucca Mountain (one of them even volunteering at the nuclear waste facility for a period of time for no apparent reason at all). And then that was the end of the book.

There were a few entertaining scenes written into the book, but really just not much substance or purpose to the story. The review on the back cover called it "the ultimate love story of the nuclear age" (Dale Peck). That one really left me scratching my head. Love story? There was no love story here.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Shelters of Stone"

2011-08-28T19:48:00.007-06:00

The Shelters of Stone
By Jean M. Auel
Copyright 2002
Crown Publishers
Adult Fiction
4 Bookmarks

Book Five of the Earth's Children Series takes the main characters, Ayla and Jondalar, back to Jondalar's home, the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii. Ayla is nervous to meet Jondalar's family but after more than a year of traveling to get there, she is ready.

As has been the case with all the groups of people they've encountered on the way, Jondalar's people are startled by the woman with the horses and wolf as traveling companions. But because they remember Jondalar, some of them are more willing to accept her at face value, including Jondalar's family, although some members of the community hold grudges against Jondalar and take it out on Ayla.

Once again, Ayla comes to the rescue of various individuals in her new community, including a baby who is being neglected and a boy who gets gored by a wooly rhinoceros. Ayla struggles with her innate ability to heal and faces some tough choices.

In The Shelters of Stone, Ayla and Jondalar finally become officially "mated" and have a baby to expand their family as they start this new life.

This is not my favorite book in the series. Partially because it is so dang long (753 pages, in case you were wondering why I haven't posted anything in awhile). Partially because now that they're "back home", they have to re-tell their story several times (and the author includes these retellings in the book), which gets a little redundant. However, it does have some interesting plot twists and new adventures for the pair, as well as some very novel characters.

Once again, I do really love Auel's ability to tell a story and capture the feeling of a situation through her words (although the "adult" portions of the book are pretty over-the-top graphic). And this is the last "old" book in the series (one that I have read before). Next will be the last book in the series that was just published this year, The Land of Painted Caves (watch for my review as soon as it comes up in my library queue!)

BOOK REVIEW: "The Year of Pleasures"

2011-08-01T15:35:00.004-06:00

The Year of Pleasures
By Elizabeth Berg
Copyright 2005
Random House
Adult Fiction
3.5 Bookmarks

Betta Nolan does what many of us often dream of doing; she sells her house, picks up and moves halfway across the country. Unfortunately, she only does this after the death of her beloved husband, John. The two had planned to retire together, then move to the country. But when John is diagnosed with cancer, their plans change.

Near the end of his life, John makes Betta promise she will finish what they started, and so Betta sells the house shortly after John's death and starts driving. She finds herself in a small, midwestern town and buys the first house she sees.

As Betta confronts her new life alone, she meets many new and interesting characters, feels much pain, and tries to move forward.

The author does an absolutely amazing job of delving into the feelings and fears that Betta goes through during this process. Grief is an incredible thing, but to feel it through the words written by the author was a new experience. At one point, Betta can't sleep. She keeps thinking she hears her husband talking to her. "I left the lights on, pulled back the bedclothes, and climbed in. I listened carefully: nothing. I turned out the light and listened again. A car going by, my alarm clock ticking. I took of my coat and boots, then lay back down. Some nights lasted weeks."

When I was about two chapters into this book I thought for sure it was going to be a 5 Bookmark book. In the end though, I really felt like the author let some really great opportunities get away from her.

After John's death, Betta finds a box with dozens of small slips of paper that John had written on; "Japanese tea ceremony", "iron grates", "Soprano gone--good". Betta is at first confused, but eventually realizes what John was trying to tell her. The memories Betta recollects as she's looking at these slips of paper were entrancing, but unfortunately, the author left it at that. They ended up being no more than just a sideline to the story.

That author also seemed to miss a few beats with another angle of the story. Betta meets a gentleman who is interested in her. She tries to force herself to move forward with him, but it just never feels right. I think the author could have explored this area a little bit further and gone into more detail about why she wasn't ready for another relationship yet, but instead she just sort of lets it fizzle and then get snatched out of her hands.

There were definitely parts of the book that I liked, and other parts I was disappointed with. One thing that always made me catch my breath were the moments in the book where Betta "remembers" that she's grieving. She thinks, "...part of me still lingered at John's side, staring both at him and at the future without him, waiting to see if he were going to change his mind and come with me after all." Heartwrenching for anyone who has ever loved another.

Although there was never a clear explanation for the title of the book, I did really enjoy reading it. There were a few moments where I would find a small tear in my eye, but it was good because it made me remember those in my life who I have lost, and appreciate those in my life that I still have.

BOOK REVIEW: "What the Dog Saw"

2011-07-19T20:20:00.004-06:00

What the Dog Saw
and other adventures
By Malcolm Gladwell
Copyright 2009
Little, Brown & Company
Non-Fiction
4 Bookmarks

Some of you may remember the book The Tipping Point that I recently reviewed. What the Dog Saw and other adventures is by the same author, Malcolm Gladwell, and he delivers yet again. This book is a collection of articles Gladwell wrote for The New Yorker magazine.

This collection of non-fiction observations about the world around us is eye-opening. Each article is like a story of life, pinging the nail right on the head. From stories about what makes a great infomercial salesman to why there is only one kind of ketchup, Gladwell discusses minor genius in a way that will really make you think.

The section on predictions goes into detail regarding the Enron scandal, the problems of homelessness and plagiarism. My favorite from this section was The Art of Failure, a discussion of why some people choke and some people panic, with the leading example of the famous tennis player, expected to win, hitting one bad shot and then another and then another because she choked.

The last section, on intelligence was absolutely my favorite section! Every topic here was interesting to me. Subtopics in this section include "Criminal Profiling Made Easy", "What Pit Bulls Can Teach Us About Crime" and "How Do We Hire When We Can't Tell Who's Right for the Job?", among others. I most especially enjoyed the piece entitled "The Talent Myth: Are Smart People Overrated?", another story using Enron as the example.

I think what makes Gladwell's books so interesting is that he takes something you already know about, turns it on it's head, and tells you about it from a completely different perspective. Not only is it the ultimate "looking at something in a way you didn't before", it really is "looking at something in a way you never dreamed of looking at it".

I would recommend this, and other Gladwell books, to anyone who likes to think, and especially to those who like, and have the ability, to think outside the box.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Plains of Passage"

2011-07-19T20:02:00.007-06:00

The Plains of Passage
By Jean M. Auel
Copyright 1990
Crown Publishers, Inc.
Adult Fiction
5 Bookmarks

Book four of the Earth's Children Series by Jean M. Auel, follows Ayla and Jondalar's journey from the end of the Great Mother River back to his homeland far to the west. It takes them nearly one year to complete the journey and they have many adventures along the way.

With two horses and a wolf for companions, the travelers are not welcomed easily anywhere they encounter other humans. The groups they meet are very wary of the newcomers and some even hide. But the pair do visit with some groups that remember Jondalar from his trip to the east.

With dangerous river crossings and changing weather chasing them down, the two face a perilous journey. They survive some near misses that leave your heart pounding! Some of the groups they encounter appreciate Ayla's skill as a medicine woman and she puts those skills to use frequently. A few places along the way are tempting to Ayla, who is tired of traveling. But she knows that Jondalar wants to go home and so they keep moving.

I suppose the most notable section of this book deals with Jondalar being captured by a group called the Wolf Women. He is held captive in a society where women run the show and the men are mere prisoners (I wish!) With Ayla's help, Jondalar finally escapes and the two work together to help free the other men who have been held captive by the Wolf Women.

As usual, I loved this book (who wouldn't love a book about a man, a woman, two horses and a wolf traveling together during caveman times?) I really am enjoying re-reading this series, despite the over-the-top "adult" scenes (again, don't let your kiddos read these!)

I'm getting close to the end! One more book to go before the new one in the series! I've only read Shelters of Stone (book five) once, so I'm looking forward to re-reading it! Review for that one coming soon!

BOOK REVIEW: "An Amish Gathering"

2011-07-19T19:39:00.005-06:00

An Amish Gathering
By Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller and Barbara Cameron
Copyright 2009
Thomas Nelson, Inc. Publishing
Adult Fiction
4 Bookmarks

Who would have thought the Amish had such good love stories? This collection of three Amish novellas was absolutely delightful!

In the first story, A Change of Heart by Beth Wiseman, the main character Leah knows she doesn't fit in with Amish society. She's no good at the things that are expected of a good Amish woman, prefers activities that are frowned upon (in particular, writing) and she has no illusions that that her abilities and preferences will be changing anytime soon. She tries to do as she is supposed to but never in her wildest dreams did she expect to find someone who appreciates her for who she is.

I think this was my favorite of the three novellas. I suppose that is because I could sympathize with Leah quite a bit, being raised in a culture where certain things were expected but never quite fitting in or being able to fulfill those expectations.

The second story, When Winter Comes by Barbara Cameron, was really sad. The main character Rebecca lost her twin sister in an accident years ago but hasn't quite completed the grieving process. She returns every winter to the spot where her sister died and mourns anew. But only a very special friend can help her get past the loss of her sister and move forward with her life.

This story was very heartrending. I could really feel Rebecca's grief as she looked across the ice where she had last seen her sister alive. I remember feeling that kind of grief after my mother died so whenever I read books with that kind of imagery it sort of brings those feelings back.

The third story, A Place of His Own by Kathleen Fuller, also had some dark themes in it. When Josiah left the Amish community with his father years ago, no one knew where they went or why. So when he returns unexpectedly and readies his family farm for sale, no one is more shocked than his neighbor and former best friend.

This was a sweet story, perhaps even a bit too sappy for me, but still enjoyable.

I don't know very much about the Amish community so reading about some of the things they are allowed to do (like play volleyball and bake monster cookies) was surprising. This is a lovely collection of stories that really was a pleasure to read.

BOOK REVIEW: "One Sunday Morning"

2011-07-19T17:08:00.006-06:00

One Sunday Morning
By Amy Ephron
Copyright 2005
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Adult Fiction
1.5 Bookmarks

Hmm.....this is a tough one. This longer-than-a-short-story-but-shorter-than-a-novel seems to be a commentary on the social strictures of New York society during Prohibition. When a group of ladies happens to see someone they know in a compromising situation, they make immediate judgments which cause a series of assumptions that affect all of their lives to varying degrees.

When the young lady in question is sent away, the gossipy voices start to carry some weight.

The story has some nice imagery and some unique twists and turns but, frankly, I was never quite sure what the purpose of the story was. Perhaps a mini-lecture on avoiding the very appearance of evil, perhaps just a self-indulgant trip into another time.

I didn't really enjoy this novella. It was very short with not much attention paid to developing characters. There were many dialogues throughout the book that seemed to be required solely to tell the reader what was going on. While I certainly understand that method of getting a point across, it was so obvious that it became annoying.

I prefer clever short stories with witty endings and this one doesn't really fit in that category.

BOOK REVIEW: "What Men Want"

2011-07-19T16:54:00.007-06:00

What Men Want
By Deborah Blumenthal
Red Dress Ink
Copyright 2006
Adult Fiction
3 Bookmarks
Spoiler Alert!

With a book title like What Men Want, of course I (as a woman) was curious. What do men want? I sort of thought the book would be a cute tale about some woman who finds out what men want. Instead, I found a book about a print journalist (columnist, actually) with a live-in boyfriend who is not quite right for her and a journalistic nemesis who only serves to cause her grief. Nothing about what men want at all, actually.

Meet Jenny George. With a boring name like that, I was not intrigued. Even the author thought it was a boring name and spent several paragraphs throughout the book commenting on the commonness of the name. And then, of course, is her nemesis Slaid Warren (MUCH better name for a character in a novel!) who continually calls to flirt with her in a weird, competitive sort of way.

When Jenny's boyfriend decides to trade her in a for a hotter model (literally), I sort of thought she would finally figure out the "what men want" part of the equation. Unfortunately, she just experiences a few ups and downs of the dumpee sort, then lands in the lap of Slaid Warren and that is about it. No mention of "what men want" at all! I assume the author was intending for us to simply believe that men want Jenny George, but I don't buy it.

While the misleading title was a bit of a disappointment (because, don't we all want to know what men want?), I did enjoy reading the book. Some funny scenes and witty banter. It was a cute story after all, although it did leave me a little empty in the end.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Lonely Polygamist"

2011-06-25T15:36:00.007-06:00

The Lonely Polygamist

By Brady Udall

W.W Norton & Company, Inc.

Adult Fiction

3.5 Bookmarks

In honor of my recent addiction to Sister Wives on TLC, I read The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall. I browsed the jacket description of this book and was fascinated...a polygamist with four wives who has, of all things, an affair. Honestly, I can't even imagine a man having enough time or energy for four women, let alone five (plus the challenges of keeping the 5th one a secret from the other four!!) It sounded hilarious and I thought I'd check it out.

So I started into the book and, frankly, I was a little disappointed. There were a lot of really sad things that had happened to the main character (a death of a child, a stillbirth, a wife who is a bit of a mental case). It didn't turn out to be quite the comedy I was expecting.

The main character, Golden Richards, lives in a somewhat typical polygamist community near Virgin, Utah (as an aside, I have a great photo of one of my husband's buddies standing in front of the Virgin, Utah, sign back when they were teenagers. This poor, teenage boy had lost a bet and had to stand in front of the "Virgin" sign and have his picture taken.....hilarious). Anyway, Golden owns three houses for his four wives and shuffles between them, always spread too thin to really do much good (I imagine this is a fairly accurately painted picture). Golden's construction business isn't doing so well, so he ends up having to take a job outside of town. And that's when the trouble begins.....just up the road a bit.....in Nevada......where prostitution is legal.

I won't spoil the story here, but suffice it to say that Golden's situation reminds me of that old story about how a lie spreads itself around and comes back to haunt you. Golden allows one little inkling of bad thoughts enter his mind. Then another slips in. Then another and another, until he isn't quite sure exactly what kind of person he really is. And those little thoughts definitely come back to haunt him in the end.

I was disappointed with the ending. It was quite sad and depressing. And it sure made me feel sorry for just about anyone who lives this kind of life (even the happy-go-lucky Brown family on Sister Wives). But generally-speaking, it was an enjoyable read. Probably a little higher ranking for someone interested in the topic, and lower ranking for someone who really thinks polygamists are quack jobs.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Mammoth Hunters"

2011-06-07T15:24:00.009-06:00

The Mammoth Hunters
Earth's Children Series
By Jean M. Auel
Copyright 1985
Crown Publishers
Adult Fiction/ PaleoFiction
4 Bookmarks

And again we are on to the next book in my favorite book series, Earth's Children, by Jean M. Auel. The Mammoth Hunters, book three of the series, is my least favorite (at least, so far.....I still haven't read book six, but I'm working my way that direction!) The entire storyline of this book always causes me great anxiety and nail-biting suspense whenever I read it (even though I already know how it ends).

In The Mammoth Hunters, the main characters Jondalar and Ayla finally leave their magical valley and go exploring. Lo and behold! They run into other Others, a tribe (or cave or clan or whatever you'd like to call it) of mammoth-hunting humans. They invite the pair to stay with them for the upcoming winter and they agree.

There's a problem, though. Jondalar and Ayla still have a little trouble communicating (in that her first language is the language of The Clan and his first language is of a people who live more than a year away), which leads to problems actually quite typical of those in a relationship defined by poor communication. One thing leads to another, and soon both Jondalar and Ayla think the other one doesn't love them anymore. Of course, this is exacerbated by a handsome member of the mammoth hunters tribe named Ranec who does everything he can to rip the lovers apart so he can have Alya himself.

And so as this yo-yo of Alya being tugged between Jondalar and Ranec continues for page after page after page.....after page......I always get to a point when reading this book where I just want to skip to the end! But not really. Because it is very well-written. And entertaining. And enjoyable. And I do love the full story. And, really, would they have truly known that they loved each other without having this tormented episode right in the middle of the series? Perhaps not. *sigh*

Just a little warning again, though. It does still have some of those "adult-ish" scenes with words like "his manhood" and "her supple flesh", so no, I would not recommend reading this one aloud to the kiddos.

And I can only give it four bookmarks instead of five, just simply because of the torment I felt the entire time I was reading it! (Seriously. I do not do well with suspense novels. I've read this book five times, obviously I know how it ends and yet it still causes me grief!)

BOOK REVIEW: "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall"

2011-06-07T15:00:00.006-06:00

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
By Anne Bronte
Oxford University Press
Copyright 2008 (New Edition)
The Classics
3.75 Bookmarks

Of course, you all know I love Victorian fiction. I had actually read this book a long time ago, but didn't have much recollection of it. So I decided to sit down and read it again. I had to sit a long time, though......I had forgotten that it was a very time-consuming read. Although it is not a thick novel, it is full of "old" English and takes a few extra moments to get through the dialogue and description. However, regardless of the length of time it took me to read it, I did enjoy it yet again!

In The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Anne Bronte tackles the unpleasant question of "what should happen if you were to marry the wrong person?" In our day and age, obviously, divorce is the answer. But in Victorian England, divorce was still unbelievably taboo and would result only in the complete and utter devastation of the divorcee's character and reputation, not to mention leading to her complete ostracization by all society. Not a pleasant outcome, to be sure, which we learn from a diary that details the events that take place when Lady Helen Huntingdon finds herself in such a situation.

Helen is a willful girl who marries the gentleman she thinks is best for her, although she is warned otherwise by caring (and wiser) relatives and friends. She soon learns the folly of her choice, but is stuck with no way out. As her circumstances become more dire, Helen puts together a plan of escape. She hides away with her young son at Wildfell Hall. Her location is precarious. Her secret is great. And the last thing she expects (or will allow) is to fall in love with a neighboring farmer (ooooooooooo! Exciting!)

The first few chapters of the book were a little confusing; trying to keep everyone straight was a challenge. But 50 pages in the reader will suddenly have a much better grasp of what is going on (and, frankly, the book gets more interesting by the page!) However, I would only recommend this little Victorian treat to other lovers of Victorian literature (i.e. Jane Austen, George Eliot, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, etc.) If that's not your cup of tea, well, too bad for you!

COMMENTARY: Real Estate Could Get a Whole Lot Uglier....Again

2011-05-24T16:52:00.015-06:00

Ouch. This is not good.

Every once in awhile something comes up in my "real" life that, frankly, kind of sucks. Right now is one of those times. My "real" life is Real Estate. That's what I do. Helping buyers and sellers buy and sell their homes.

And right now, federal regulators are trying to make that part of my life a whole lot uglier.

Congress recently created the Qualified Residential Mortgage rule (abbreviated QRM), to take affect this year. This regulation was intended to protect lenders and borrowers from the risky lending practices of a few years ago that have led to this debacle of Foreclosures and Short Sales. There are provisions in this rule that federal regulators are now very narrowly defining as requiring borrowers to put down a MINIMUM of 20% when purchasing a new home, or requiring hefty fees and significantly higher interest rates for those loans.

Now I don't know about you, but so far in my "young" life I haven't had 20% to put down on a home purchase. That's a big chunk of change! Not that there aren't buyers out there who can do that; it's just that there aren't very many. Honestly, not very many at all.

I think we all agree that there was some pretty irresponsible lending going on there for a few years. But the reality is that many of us responsible buyers also bought homes during that same period of time and very few of us put 20% down. I make my mortgage payment every month (have never even been late on it, thank you very much!), but if I had to put 20% down on my next house, it would be an awfully long time before I'd be able to do that (according to statistics from the National Association of Realtors, it would take the average person 14 years to save up that much for a downpayment).

Congress never intended this regulation to be so narrowly defined and the National Association of Realtors is asking Congress to press federal regulators to include an exemption in the QRM to allow for traditional loan programs similar to the loans available today; well-underwritten products such as 30-, 15- and 10-year fixed loans with from 5% to 20% down to include Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI).

Of course this is important to me because of my livelihood, but it is important to YOU because you own a home! If you were to try to sell your home in a marketplace where buyers were only allowed to buy if they had 20% down, how much do you think your house would be worth? Unfortunately, supply and demand is real. If there are 5000 homes on the market and 5000 buyers, housing prices are stable. If there are 5000 homes on the market and 50 buyers, prices will plummet. And boy, do I mean plummet.

Please call or email your Congressperson, Senator and anyone else you can think of TODAY to let them know you want mortgage loans to stay affordable!

Look up your Congressperson and Senator by clicking here, then enter your zipcode: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/.

Call or email them today. Tell them to protect America from the QRM. Tell them to keep mortgage loans affordable for qualified home buyers. Tell them America cannot afford another housing crisis.

Anyone who owns a home -- or merely wants to own one someday -- is going to be affected by the outcome of this. Please take the time to make the call.

BOOK REVIEW: "Room"

2011-05-22T18:42:00.006-06:00

Room
By Emma Donoghue
Copyright 2010
Little, Brown & Company
Adult Fiction
4 Bookmarks

Imagine your world is an 11x11 room and the few belongings that occupy it. That is the world of Jack in this horrifyingly stunning book by Emma Donoghue. Jack is five and has never known anyplace other than Room. He sees the outside world on TV and he knows it is just pretend.....all of it. Nothing is real to Jack other than this confined area he has lived in his whole life.

Jack's mother, known in the book only as Ma, has been held captive in Room for seven years. Two years into her ordeal she has a baby and thus begins Jack's world. He doesn't know what he is missing because he's never been anywhere else. He knows nothing other than Room, Bed, Duvet, Rug, Chair, Wardrobe and Skylight. But Jack's mother is worried. Their captor has lost his job and Ma is afraid of what will become of them if he loses his house. Jack is five and his mother knows they have to escape. She comes up with a daring plan, focused on Jack. But is he strong enough? Can he do what he needs to do to get them both to safety?

I don't want to spoil the story, so I won't go into any more details. But I will tell you that once Ma's plan is set into motion, my heart pounded for page after page as the story unfolded.

Some positive commentary on the story: The author did a great job of having Jack narrate the story from the perspective of a child who doesn't know any world other than this confined space. Jack's character has such a limited understanding of, well, everything, that there always seems to be something just a little odd about how he says things and views things. The intensity of the story is incredible. From the moment you start reading, you feel the story building to the climax, which actually comes earlier in the book than expected (for which I was grateful! My thudding heart needed a break!) And, for a change, you get to find out a little bit about what happens to the character "after" the main event.

Some negative notes: The entire topic of the book was so incredibly disturbing. An unbelievably evil man builds a shed in his back yard for the sole purpose of keeping a girl hostage. He thinks of everything and leaves her no possible means to escape. As I was reading, I had a sick little knot in my stomach just contemplating this actually happening to anyone. Horrifying does not even begin to describe it.

This was a very quick read. I can't say I enjoyed reading it, but I'm glad that I did (if that makes any sense). I feel it made me, somehow, a better person. And I truly could not put it down.

BOOK REVIEW: "Jimmy"

2011-04-23T13:03:00.015-06:00

Jimmy

By Robert Whitlow

Westbow Press

Adult Fiction

3.5 Bookmarks

I was all set to give this one four bookmarks....right up until page 371. Then it rapidly dropped down to 3.5 due to an unpleasant ending. I hate it when that happens, especially when I really did like the book!

Jimmy is a novel about a 14-year-old boy in a small town in Georgia with lower mental capacities than other children. The book documents his struggles and triumphs in a world that seems to swallow him up.

Jimmy views life around him with an innocence that goes beyond naivete. His world is black and white and those who surround him with love make sure that whatever he needs to understand is explained to him in the simplest terms possible.

But when Jimmy accidentally finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, things that are beyond his understanding become his downfall.

This was a very well-written book. The story of love between Jimmy and his step-mother, and between Jimmy and his grandfather, was incredibly heartwarming to read. The author spent a great deal of time developing Jimmy's character and, although it was simple, his soul truly shone through in the writing.

A great book.......until the last few pages.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Valley of Horses"

2011-04-21T17:51:00.018-06:00

The Valley of Horses
By Jean M. Auel
Copyright 1982
Crown Publishers
Adult Fiction
5 Bookmarks
Exceptional!

And this is Book 2 of the Earth's Children series by Jean Auel. I previously reviewed Book 1, Clan of the Cave Bear. This is the continuation of Ayla's journey.

As The Valley of Horses begins, Ayla is traveling alone to find people like herself, The Others. She travels far and for many days but doesn't find anyone. Instead, she finds herself in a beautiful valley where resides a herd of horses. Ayla finds a perfect cave and decides to stay for a few days, which turns into a few more, then eventually into an entire summer. As she plans for her winter stores, she faces the reality that she is still alone.

Auel, again, does a great job of explaining the intricacies of pre-historic chores like fire-starting, leather-scraping, and flint-knapping. Ayla is eventually joined in her cave by a baby horse and a baby lion. Auel creates a strong sense of family amongst the three cave dwellers.

Interspersed between the events occuring in Ayla's existence, Auel begins to tell a tale of two young men on a journey of their own. As they travel to new and exciting territories, Jondolar, and his brother Thonolan, experience adventure, love and hardship. As the days pass, they draw nearer and nearer to the valley of horses.

And, as I'm sure you can guess, Ayla finally has her first opportunity to meet someone of The Others: people like her.

This is my favorite book in the entire series. There is not a dull moment in this book as Auel does an incredible job of keeping the reader interested and anticipating what's going to happen next. I am always sorry when I get to the end of this one.

Again, this book has adult content and is not for young readers (there's a particularly "interesting" scene that starts on about page 470......*ahem*), so keep out of reach of children please!

BOOK REVIEW: "A Monk Jumped Over a Wall"

2011-04-10T14:54:00.012-06:00

A Monk Jumped Over a Wall

By Jay Nussbaum

The Toby Press, LLC

Adult Fiction

4 Bookmarks

Funny title caught my attention browsing at the library. Picture of a guy in karate pose standing on a scale of justice helped me drop it into my bookbag.

I don't usually get into lawyer-themed books (or police-themed or CSI-type or pretty much anything with too much suspense--my heart can't take it!) So when I first started reading and discovered this was going to be "lawyery", I groaned.....and kept reading (like I usually do). But this time, I was pleasantly surprised. By the end of Chapter 4, the main character, J.J. Spencer, is in a street brawl with a bike messenger and things start to get really interesting.

The main gist of the story is that J.J. was sort of forced by circumstance into law school and he doesn't really know if that's what he wants to be when he grows up. As a matter of fact, he knows it. His hero is a cop who used to help his family when he was a kid, and really, he just wants to help people too. So when an opportunity comes at his law firm to hold a hand out to someone who really needs his help, he does it. Only he doesn't really think about the consequences first and ends up starting a whole chain of events in motion that he is unable to stop.

In the process of all this, the main character has some flashback moments of law school and some of the people he has known. The title of the book comes from a lunch he has with a law professor where the professor is eating soup called A Monk Jumped Over a Wall where he explains the story of how the soup got it's name. Apparently there was once a monk who sat in the monastery day after day doing whatever it is that monks do. But then one day, someone made this soup just outside the monastery, and the aroma wafted over the wall. The monk was so intoxicated by the smell that he jumped over the wall to get the soup, and never returned to the monastery.

All of us have a life path we have chosen. And sometimes something comes along that pulls us off that path and veers us in a direction we never could have expected (for good or bad). I sort of took that as the "theme" of the book.

Just the right balance of good story-telling, emotion and suspense. I'd recommend this one all around and think it's appealing to men and women alike.

BOOK REVIEW: "Breathing Lessons"

2011-04-10T14:14:00.014-06:00

Breathing Lessons
By Anne Tyler

ATM, Inc., Publisher

Adult Fiction

1 Bookmark

I really hate it when I'm only a few chapters into a book and I'm already starting to feel like I really, really don't want to finish. Unfortunately, this was one of those books. Even more unfortunate, I am the type of person who usually finishes the book anyway. I continually tell myself, "this has to get better....this really has to get better". (Thus, the explanation for why I sat through the three miserable hours that was The English Patient.)

I also am continually telling myself, "There has to be some point to this," or "I can't believe I have to know how this ends." Torturous. Simply torturous.

But finally, I did finish the book. And it was soooooooooo not worth it.

Breathing Lessons is basically a commentary on a miserable married woman and the miserable relationship she has with her husband and the miserable relationship she has with just about every other person in her life. There are some moments where I'm pretty sure the author is trying to paint a "realistic picture of how women feel," but honestly, any woman who feels the way this woman is portrayed is probably on about six different kinds of anti-depressants and probably eats six chocolate bars every day just to make herself feel better. Okay, so maybe there are a lot of people like that out in the real world. But frankly, it was just depressing and miserable to read about.

The way the title character attempted to control and manipulate everyone around her was truly appalling. I know many of us (me sooo included here) have moments where we've butted into other people's lives (maybe some of which we regret), but the fact that this woman thinks she can control the outcome of everyone else's life is just......wrong.

Not a pleasant book to read. Not one bit.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Clan of the Cave Bear"

2011-03-27T17:43:00.019-06:00

The Clan of the Cave Bear

By Jean M. Auel
Copyright 1980

Crown Publishers

Adult Fiction

5 Bookmarks Exceptional!

Okay, let me just preface this review with the fact that Earth's Children is my favorite, favorite, favorite series of books. However, Ms. Auel is a bit of a, shall we say, methodical writer. Book 6 of the series, Shelters of Stone, came out in 2002 when I was at home with my few-months old baby. And just this month, March 2011, book 7 has been released (Nine years to write a book? Really?) And as much as I loathe the fact that I had to wait so long, I am greatly, greatly, greatly looking forward to The Land of Painted Caves. Of course, I am number 494 in the library queue of 643 readers waiting for this book so it will probably be awhile before it reaches my excited little hands. So in the meantime, I decided to refresh my memories of the rest of the series. And, of course, I started with Book 1, The Clan of the Cave Bear.

This series of books is an historical fiction about a history that we really are making a whole lot of guesses about: the time before history began. The main character, Ayla, is a Cro-Magnon human girl who loses her family in an earthquake and wanders aimlessly until she is found by a band of Neanderthals, who call themselves 'the Clan'. Despite her differences, the Clan take her into their fold. Ayla does what she can to fit in with this new family, but she is hindered by the advanced evolutionary changes that make her so different.

Ayla struggles with submitting to the male authoritarianism of the Clan. She loses her language as she learns to speak with her hands in the way of the Clan. She develops close bonds with the woman and man who care for her, but fights constant battles with those in the Clan who don't want her there.

Auel employs wonderful writing skills to describe the plight of Ayla in this foreign environment. She also emphasizes the plight of the Neanderthals as the reader realizes some of the reasons why that race of humanity disappeared. Auel truly makes an effort to research her material and includes as much "fact" with the fiction as she can (maybe that's why it takes 9 years to write a book!) I took an Anthropology class last year and was reminded just how much Auel takes from actual history and incorporates within the stories. Everything from clothing worn to tools used to the way the cave they called home was organized.

There was a movie made in 1986 based on this first book (and starring Daryl Hannah).
The movie wasn't very good, but it did prompt me years later to start reading the series and I am so glad I did! I even borrowed a bit of the tone from the title when naming my blog.

There is a mystical quality to the story, even though the tale itself is so historically based. There is some adult content in this series, so grown-ups only. But, as you can tell by the fact that this is my favorite book series, I do highly recommend it.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Picture of Dorian Gray"

2011-03-27T16:39:00.015-06:00

The Picture of Dorian Gray

By Oscar Wilde

Barnes & Noble Classics Publishers Classical Fiction

3.5 Bookmarks

I had seen this book listed on those "100 Books Every Person Should Read" lists, but had never really known much about it. When I read the synopsis, I thought it sounded interesting so I decided to add it to my own "Books I Have Read" list.

The Picture of Dorian Gray begins with an artist painting a portrait of a wonderfully handsome young man. So wonderfully handsome, in fact, that the artist seems to have become completely and utterly enamored with him, putting his whole soul into the painting. Shortly thereafter, when the painting is complete and Dorian himself sees how stunning the portrait is, he makes a wish that he could always be as young, inspiring and handsome as he is in the portrait and that the portrait instead should be the one who ages. A wish that, surprisingly, takes place.

As Dorian's activities shift into something sinister and forbidden, the selfishness that dominates his life begins to show on the face in the portrait while his own face remains as serene and beautiful as it always was. One of my favorite lines from the entire book was, "There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about," a comment on the degree of narcissism into which Dorian would soon slip.

A few random comments about the story:

1. It was interesting to me that Dorian's friends and acquaintances who were aging around him only commented in passing about his unchanged appearance.

2. Dorian seemed quite fascinated with the phenomenon that was occurring, observed it almost like someone would watch a science project, and yet continually maintained a level of indifference at his own actions.

3. I was sorry that the love story ended the way that it did.

4. Many in literary circles over the years have commented about the sexual undertones in this book (mostly due, I think, to Wilde's own scandalous life at the time). However, I didn't feel like it was unnecessarily sordid. Nor did I feel like it took away from the power of the story.

A few random comments about the writing:

1. I rather enjoyed the descriptive nature of each passage within the book. Wilde uses lovely phrases to express his thoughts (and the thoughts of his characters).

2. I also rather enjoyed the witty Victorian-style banter perfectly placed within the story.

3. Wonderfully sickening suspense at the end of the story, just waiting for Dorian to make the realization of what he had done.

This story is definitely not for everyone. There is a noticeable level of debauchery throughout most of the book, certain events with a definite "ick" factor, and just the mere incomprehensibility of the nonchalance shown by the main character for the choices he makes. But I did enjoy reading the story and am glad to check it off my list.

BOOK REVIEW: "Moon Over Tokyo"

2011-03-08T11:03:00.004-07:00

Moon Over Tokyo
By Siri L. Mitchell
Copyright 2007
Harvest House Publishers
Adult Fiction
4 Bookmarks

Yay! A book I liked! The main character, Allie O’Conner, lives and works in Japan. Even though she’s been there for a long time, she still feels like she doesn’t quite belong. When her only real friend in this foreign land moves away, Allie prays for a new friend. What she doesn’t expect is to run into her old high school nemesis, Erik Larsen. And what is even more unexpected, is that she finds herself (albeit reluctantly) calling him friend. Will he become more?

I won’t go into a more detailed synopsis because this is a book you ought to read yourself. But I will tell you that I really enjoyed the character development of this novel (after some of the recent books I’ve read, it was really refreshing!) The author also focused on description of the setting, really bringing Japan into view, including many unknown landmarks as well as more expected Japanese sites (including Sumo wrestlers and cherry blossoms).

I loved the flow of the story, from Allie’s torn connection to the novel she’s never quite gotten around to writing, to Allie’s trouble with finding her way around a local shopping mall, to the recurring dream Allie can’t quite wrap her head around.

Lots of symbolism, beautiful description, plus a cute story. What more could you ask for?

COMMENTARY: Kindles, Nooks and Other Literary Crooks

2011-03-06T20:25:00.003-07:00

If you check out my little “About Me” on the sidebar, you will know how much I love holding a good, old and dusty book in my hands. I love the way the pages feel, that old book smell, the crinkle of the dust jacket. I just love books!

So now the new reading rage is e-book readers. There are a variety of readers, the most popular of which seem to be the Kindle and the Nook (both costing roughly $150 retail). There are quite a few versions of each, offering a variety of different features. But the basic premise is, you have this nice little device you hold in your hands that you’ve paid a gob of cash for, then you pay another chunk of cash (not as much as a hardcover book, but more than many paperbacks) every time you download a book to your reader. The reader stores the book for you and allows you to access it at any time. You can hold thousands of books in your hands at any one time!

But wait. Don’t you ever read a book and think it’s so great that you want to loan it to a friend? I love my friends, but I’m not sure I’d be willing to loan my $150 electronic device to a friend for a long enough period of time for them to read it (especially when there are children and dripping sippy cups to contend with). Apparently, however, there is a feature offered that allows you to share your library if you have a friend or family member with the same e-book reader. They just have to register it to your e-book reader. Sounds a little complicated, probably not worth the trouble, and just not as nice as handing them the book in person so you can gush on about how good it was.

And of course, neither the Kindle nor the Nook will allow you stare lovingly at a bookshelf, tracing your fingers along the spines of these stories you love as you decide which one you want to read again. Nor do they allow you to flip through the pages as you reminisce about how much you enjoyed the story held therein. No. They merely keep the story in an electronic database forever. So these stories, whether you loved them or not, will most likely be relegated to the same fate as those thousands and thousands of digital photos you’ve taken and stored away on the hard drive of your computer, never to be viewed again.

And what about the kiddos? Are we going to get to a point where we sit down and cuddle together on the couch to read our bedtime stories from an electronic screen? I think not. I want my child to turn the page. I want her to see the pictures. I want her to learn to love holding books in her hand just as much as I do.

So consider this my official declaration that I will NOT succumb to this little fad. Any errant gift-givers out there beware; if a Kindle shows up on my door, I will return it…….and use the proceeds to buy about eight beautiful hardcover books for my shelf.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Thin Place"

2011-02-20T14:07:00.009-07:00

The Thin Place

By Kathryn Davis

Little, Brown & Company Publishing

Adult Fiction

Zero Bookmarks

Do not....let me repeat, DO NOT read this book. Well, attempt to read may be more accurate. What a huge letdown this book was! I read the synopsis: a story about a place where the world of the living blends with the world of the dead--sounded kind of cool! I like ghosts. I liked the movie "Ghost". I liked "The Sixth Sense". Heck, I even liked "Ghostbusters". So I got the book and started reading.

The story starts out with three friends taking a trip to the beach. They see a guy laying on the sand and make the realization that he's not breathing. So two of the friends leave to go get help. The third girl stays. Turns out he doesn't end up dead after all, although there's no explanation about what happened.

Then after just a few pages more, I was mightily confused. Several more characters had been introduced into the story, but not much description. Who are all these people? After 20 pages, I couldn't keep one character straight from another. And new characters were being introduced left and right, with no description of who they were and why I was reading about them. Several characters were introduced in such a horrid manner, that I wasn't even sure which gender they were. And many of the characters had odd and ambiguous names "Mees, Piet, Sonny, Billie", which didn't help (turns out Billie is female.....I think).

The story jumps from a pack of dogs roaming around town killing chickens, to a person (female, I think) who has an embarrassingly quiet crush on a man, then to an unhappily joined couple with a husband who lives in a tent, then to a single lady with a cat who has a "friend with benefits", then to a group of folks who are trapping a bunch of beavers, then to someone's daily horoscope, then to a police blotter, then to a group of girls being followed by a creepy guy in a Dart, then to a crazy lady at church and the group of self-righteous churchgoers that are trying to keep the crazy lady out of the church, then to a woman who was in the hospital after a car accident that we never read about..... Then finally, somewhere around page 170, you find out that Mees (the girl who stayed with the dead guy on the beach) has some kind of gift. Of course, the author doesn't tell you what kind of gift. No no! Lucky you, you are expected to infer that her gift is something to do with raising the dead.

So here I am, 170 pages into this book. And here is the first hint of something (anything) that has to do with the synopsis on the pretty little dust jacket. Frankly, I was a bit miffed. I read a few more pages, but the story (if you want to call it that) kept jumping from one of these strange little scenarios to another, laced with these characters that you can't connect to at all because they haven't been described at all. Is that a female? Is she tall? Is she a brunette? Is she young? Is she old? You can't picture anybody so there's no way to connect to any of them at all and there's no way to connect them to the completely unapparent story that is supposedly going on around them.

I mean, isn't the whole point of a person writing a book to tell a story?

I read a few more pages after that then decided to stop wasting my time. If anyone knows me at all, they know it is a rare, rare book that I don't finish. But this one was just such an utter waste and there was not one redeeming factor about it, so I can't even give it half a bookmark.

Oh, and I did have a little chuckle when I sat down to write this review as I checked out the "reviews" on the back of the dust jacket. You know, the comments that the author gets another author to write for them? My favorite was "What an odd and entrancing novel The Thin Place is? (by Andrea Barrett). Another was "The Thin Place combines elements that ought to be unmixable..." (by Mary Gordon) And lastly, "Davis's approach to novel writing is so original and the results so magical that trying to review her fiction in a thousand words on a tight deadline feels as doomed as trying to review one of Blake's prophetic books." (by A.O. Scott of Newsday)

It was hilarious! The reviews on the back of the dust jacket were insults hidden in praise-ish words! It was awesome.

So needless to say, I am not recommending anyone read this book. Really. Don't beat your head against a wall like I have for the past four days.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Tipping Point"

2011-02-13T16:07:00.010-07:00

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

By Malcolm Gladwell

Little, Brown & Company Publishing

Non-Fiction

3.5 Bookmarks

As recommended by my fellow blogger and friend, Brian, I took a few days recently to read The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. I don't usually read very many non-fiction books, but this was a good use of my time.

The Tipping Point is a commentary on why people do many of the things they do. As in, why do certain social activities (or clothing styles or crimes) become trends. He calls them social epidemics.

Gladwell asserts that the way trends get started is a lot like a medical epidemic. Gladwell uses case after case of ideas that passed from one small group into a larger portion of the population. He argues that just a few people in society are the ones who get the most done. He calls these people Connectors, Mavens and Salesmen. Basically, the Connectors are those who know everybody. The Mavens are those who seem to know everything that is cool and new. And the Salesmen are the persuaders; those who are so charming and likeable that whatever they say, other people believe. These three groups of people are why social epidemics occur, according to Gladwell.

Gladwell has several different ideas about how these three groups of people work and also discusses other factors that affect the production of social epidemics.

This no-nonsense take on how big social changes happen was well-written and a quick read. I was able to take some of Gladwells ideas and see how applying them to my own career as a Realtor would be useful. For anyone interested in theorizing on why things happen, such as why criminals commit crimes, why a certain sneaker becomes THE thing for teens to wear, why pre-schoolers LOVE Blue's Clues, etc., this is a great book to help you in your search.

Although I'm pretty sure there is still no logic anywhere that can explain the whole "pants on the ground" epidemic that's still going on around us.

BOOK REVIEW: "A Prayer for Owen Meany"

2011-01-27T19:44:00.007-07:00

A Prayer for Owen Meany
By John Irving
Copyright 1989
Modern Library, a division of Random House, Inc.
Adult Fiction
3.5 Bookmarks

I have unbelievably mixed feelings about this book. It's on that list of "100 Books Everyone Should Read", so I picked it up and gave it a whirl.

Let me give you the quick synopsis first. Imagine a young boy who is not "normal". He is small....much smaller than all the other boys his age. He has a funny voice. He thinks differently than other children. Imagine this boy surprising his baseball coach by actually hitting a ball when he is at bat. Imagine that ball sliding foul near third base and striking his best friend's mother in the head, killing her instantly. Shocking? Indeed, but maybe not quite as shocking as many incidents that follow in this obviously allegorical novel about young Owen Meany who is marching bravely forward to meet his destiny.

The story follows young Owen Meany and his best friend, John Wheelwright (who narrates the story from a point much later in life), through Christmas pageants, private school escapades, a stuffed armadillo, television commentary, an amputated finger, work at a quarry, enlistment in the army and so much more. The book is laden with story after story after story about the events that happen in Owen Meany's life (so much so that there came a point during my reading that I was beginning to wonder what the point was of there being so many side stories and incidental occurrances that didn't seem to link in to the main theme at all).

So while we're at it, let me get my negative comments out of the way. Number one, the book took simply FOREVER to read. It seemed to go on and on and on (see my comment above). There were a few times I almost gave up (and anyone who knows me knows I finish a book once I start it....but this one was close to being one of those rare instances when I didn't!) Number two, the book itself was extremely anti-war, anti-government and anti-American (certain passages left me with a very sour taste in my mouth). And number three, in my opinion, there is about a third of the book that becomes terribly repetitive and, frankly, boring; flashbacks, flash forwards, visits to an island, obsessions with newspaper stories about war, comments on the nonsexuality of the narrator (by the narrator)--it was really just too much.

Now on to the positive. There were some extremely poignant moments in this story. After John's mother is killed by that errant baseball, he says "When someone you love dies, and you're not expecting it, you don't lose her all at once; you lose her in pieces over a long time--the way the mail stops coming, and her scent fades from the pillows and even from the clothes in her closet and drawers." As someone who has lost my mother, I could completely relate to this comment.

As Owen Meany grows older, although not much bigger, he begins to express his belief that everything happens for a reason, that there are no accidents, and that he is an instrument in God's hands. He lives every moment of his life believing this. And the many incidents that happen to him during that life all inspire the reader to eventually believe the same thing.

There were some really neat things in this book. I really liked the author's use of capital letters for Owen Meany's voice. It emphasized the fact that his voice was "unusual" when you would read it as such: "WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO REFER TO ME AS 'LITTLE,' AS 'DIMINUTIVE,' AS MINIATURE'? says Owen Meany. Once Owen Meany is old enough to join the Army, that is exactly what he does because that is what he believes he is supposed to do. He makes a great statement, "THE ARMY OFFERS YOU THE ILLUSION OF CHOICE--THE SAME CHOICE AS EVERYONE ELSE."

I also really liked the development of the relationships between the characters. Even the minor characters were woven in and out of the story in such a way that you could truly believe this was a true friendship, a true family and a typical community.

I won't be a complete spoiler and tell you what happens at the end, but as is typical with most allegories, you don't really need a spoiler. You really only have to read the first few pages to know how this is going to end.....it just takes an awful long time getting there. Only in the very last few pages of the book is Owen Meany's destiny fully revealed.

And to be quite honest, up until about page 632, I was planning on rating this book 2 Bookmarks. I was frustrated that it had taken so dang long to finish, that there were so many little seemingly pointless side stories, and here I was, nine pages from the end and still no "big reveal"! And then it happened. It started on page 632 and was WHAM BAM, THANK YOU MA'AM (as my mother used to say) until the last line in the book: "O God--please give him back! I shall keep asking You!" So many of the seemingly pointless stories were tied together at the end, I felt a 4 Bookmark rating would have been appropriate, but I had to knock it down a little just due to the fact that I spent so much of the time during my read HATING it!

RECIPE: Blue Hake Fish in Tarragon

2011-01-09T18:32:00.004-07:00

Blue Hake Fish in Tarragon
(AKA New Zealand Hoki)

4 Blue Hake filets
1/4 cup white cooking wine
1 tsp tarragon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp 0nion powder
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp paprika
4 Tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat 9x12 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Rinse off Blue Hake Filets in cool water and pat dry, then place into baking dish at least one inch apart. Pour white wine evenly over top of fish. Mix together tarragon, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. In this order, sprinkle spice mixture, breadcrumbs, parmesan, then paprika over the fish. Lay small dabs of butter evenly over the fish. Bake for 20-30 minutes until fish flakes easily. Serve with lemon juice or sauce mixture from baking dish.

BOOk REVIEW: "The Tenderness of Wolves"

2010-12-05T20:20:00.009-07:00

The Tenderness of Wolves
By Stef Penney
Simon & Schuster Publishing
Copyright 2006
Adult Fiction
4 Bookmarks

I like wolves. As far as animals go, they seem to be some of the more likeable creatures, in theory at least. Their packs are like families, all taking care of one another. They can be beautiful. And I read a book called Julie of the Wolves (by Jean Craighead George) when I was a child that lent them a romantic air, of sorts.

So when I saw the title of this book, The Tenderness of Wolves, I picked it up without even reading the summary.

The book starts out a little more gruesome than my usual fare, with a brutal murder in a small Canadian village. The neighbor who finds the body soon has more problems on her hands when she realizes her 17-year-old son has disappeared on the same day as the murder and is being considered a suspect. Mrs. Ross, who is in an unhappy marriage, believes in her son's innocence (although her husband doesn't seem to have any opinion at all). She knows she must find him, so she joins with another man, Mr. Parker, who had himself been considered a suspect in the crime. Together they head off tracking her son's trail to see what they can find.

The difficulties of their travels and the direness of their situation lends itself to the unthinkable happening as Mrs. Ross finds herself developing feelings for the wayward Mr. Parker. Throughout the book, Mrs. Ross recounts her past, the choices she's made, and the feelings she is experiencing now. She finally realizes that she is not the only one feeling the way she is feeling, although they never can say it out loud to each other.

Through finding her son, and another trail that may lead to the real murderer and clear her son's name, Mrs. Ross displays enormous amounts of bravery, a little stupidity, and a level of humanity that is hard to convey through words. The author does a great job of throwing in surprising twists and turns when you least expect it, leading the reader down one road and then another.

There is a moment in the final chapter of the book, entitled "The Sickness of Long Thinking", where Mrs. Ross realizes she must say goodbye to Mr. Parker and go back home to her husband, her son, her old life. She realizes that she will always thereafter live with The Sickness of Long Thinking, as she calls it; knowing she cannot be with the one who is her love, her lodestone, her true north. Instead, she forces herself to turn away.

I enjoyed the variety of characters, interesting storylines, backwoods adventures, and the sadness and joy related in this book. I didn't want to put it down. I would recommend this one.

MUSICAL MUSING: Snow Patrol

2010-11-18T20:56:00.040-07:00

Snow Patrol

Of course anyone who knows me at all knows that my favorite band is Snow Patrol. If you've never heard of them, all I have to say is "WHAT?!???? Are you KIDDING me? Awesomest band EVER!!!!" (Okay, so perhaps I'm a little bit 16-year-old groupie-esque when I start talking about Snow Patrol). If you've never heard them, or think you've never heard them, click below:

Having grown up in a household where ONLY country music was allowed, once I became an adult my musical appetite (which had been starved for 18 years) was finally able to expand and develop. I've always liked an eclectic mix of pop, punk, grunge and alternative. Everything from The Cure to Nirvana to Paramore to The Postal Service....and now, Snow Patrol.

I know, I know. The lead singer has had a bit of relationship trouble over the years (thus the awesome plethora of break-up songs on the Final Straw album). Yeah, maybe I have a bit of a thing for Irish bands (U2 was my number one for years). And yeah, I will hesitatingly admit I fell in love with Snow Patrol watching that scene in Grey's Anatomy several years ago where Izzie is laying on the hospital bed with Denny's lifeless body after she killed him by cutting his LVAD wire (no, I don't know what an LVAD wire is....not that I really care). What I cared about at that moment was that an awesome song that I had never heard before, "Chasing Cars", played solemnly in the background as Izzie walked out the doors of the hospital, presumably forever (As it turned out, she ended up sticking around for a few more seasons before they sent her away with a brain tumor). A few moments later in that same episode with that same amazing song still playing ("If I lay here/If I just lay here/Would you lie with me and just forget the world...."), Meredith is faced by both Derek and Finn in a moment of sheer television genius....

Maybe I got a little off-track there.....sorry about that. Those TV dramas suck me in like that sometimes....... Ahh yes, where was I? Oh, music! That's what we're supposed to be talking about here. *Ahem.*

(I think I've admitted before that I "may" be a little obsessive.......)

So basically what I'm saying is that ever since that fantabulous moment in TV history, Snow Patrol has been my FAV-O-RITE band. I did get to see them live once (opened by The Plain White T's, another totally rocksome band); something I still count as one of my coolest-ever life moments.

So why is Snow Patrol my fav, you may be asking. Anyone can have a favorite band, and most people do. And it doesn't really mean that that band is truly THE best band ever (although I'm just certain you would understand why I say that about Snow Patrol if you are listening to them right now). To me, having a favorite simply indicates that the music created by that band (or musician) means something to that person.

You know, for me it's really a combination of things. For one, they don't really have a single song that I don't like. And on top of that, the poignant lyrics, the haunting melodies, the heartache that Gary Lightbody bleeds into his songwriting, memories of the moment when I first heard the song or an important event that is somehow tied to the music; all those things just pull me in and rip into my soul. Obviously, I think "Chasing Cars" is one of their best songs, especially considering that it was that first song that tuned me in to their awesomeness. But they really have so many that I love.

Other favorites include "Run" (click above to listen........featuring the lyrics "Light up, light up/As if you have a choice/Even if you cannot hear my voice/I'll be right beside you dear"), "You're All That I Have" (featuring the lyrics "You're cinematic, razor sharp/A welcome arrow through the heart" and "There is a darkness deep in you/A frightening magic I cling to"), as well as "Tiny Little Fractures" (featuring the lyrics "If I've forgotten what to say/It's because all words are dust"). As another plus, I'm always a fan of unique song titles. My favorite along this line is "Get Balsamic Vinegar....Quick, You Fool!" I mean, really. What does that mean?

Undeniably, the power of music is amazing. Even when a song may not apply directly to me or my life, it can still grab hold of me and just make me feel...something! Sometimes it's good to have those feelings stimulated, even just for those three minutes the song plays, and even if the emotions aren't really yours. Sometimes it's good to be reminded to feel. There is something that I can't quite explain about the power of music. How a certain song can evoke a particular image in my mind or elicit an extraordinary response. I can't even really explain why my favorite song is my favorite (click below), other than the fact that it makes me think about who I am, who I once was, and who I want to be ("I'm good for inspiration, aren't I?"). How often are we lucky enough to be reminded to think of such things? And for that, I thank my favorite band.

BOOK REVIEW: "Men to Match My Mountains"

2010-11-18T20:08:00.010-07:00

Men to Match My Mountains

By Irving Stone

Castle Books Publishing

(republish arranged by Doubleday Publishing)

Biographical Novel

5 Bookmarks

Well I have to say that when my 86-year-old grandfather-in-law (husband's grandfather) recommended this book to me, I was a little hesitant. As a matter of fact (and I hate to admit this), I kind of put off reading it for awhile. After all, I don't usually like biographies that much. And really, I'm not much of a history buff either. But, I thought, I may as well learn something about this part of the country that I call home. So finally after reading my latest frou-frou fiction, I picked it up and started reading. And then I couldn't stop.

Men to Match My Mountains was an absolutely fascinating summary of the settling of "the Far West", as it is often known. California, Nevada, Utah and of course, Colorado, are all included in this amazing story of amazing people who did absolutely amazing things to make their way across the mountains, toward the coast and toward the gold. I am not a person who could sit down and read book after book after book about the 49ers, the Donner Party, the Mormons, the railroad barons, the mountain men, the roughnecks and the few women who braved the west. But having it summarized the way that it is in this book was just perfect for someone who has a slight interest in the topic, enjoys some awesome anecdotes, and wants to feel just a little bit smarter after a few good days reading.

I will admit the book was long (nearly 450 pages) and it took me awhile to finish. But it was jam-packed with unbelievable stories taken from the journal pages of those who lived it, as well as from 150-year-old newspapers, books, pamphlets and other sources.

Much of this story was incredibly interesting to me on a personal level. There was a great deal of information about the settling of my beloved state of Colorado, including the initial silver finds, the Cripple Creek mines (very near to my home!), streams, rivers and mountains that I am very familiar with, as well as the settling of Pueblo, Colorado Springs and Denver. There was also a vast amount of information detailing the initial settling of Utah by the Mormons, some of which were ancestors of mine.

There were so many great stories in this book that there is just no way that I could at all do it justice by picking just one or two to share. Instead, I just want to strongly recommend that you do yourself a favor, check this book out of your local library and learn a little something about how this country used to work. And how the people of this country used to work for every little thing they had. Strong, strong recommendation for this one, even for those of you who don't think you're that into history. Thanks for recommending it to me, Edwin!

BOOK REVIEW: "The Tailor's Daughter"

2010-10-19T20:03:00.007-06:00

The Tailor's Daughter

By Janice Graham

St. Martins Press

Adult Fiction

4 Bookmarks

I love Victorian novels and here is another one that I rather enjoyed. The Tailor's Daughter tells the story of young Veda Grenfell, the daughter of a prominent London tailor. Veda is raised, as all young women of Victorian society are, to believe she will grow up and marry a man of her class and live happily ever after. Veda's life is thrown into turmoil when she loses her hearing due to a fever at the age of 16, rendering her unmarriageable according to society standards.

Throwing herself into her family's tailoring business, Veda impresses a great many people around her and opens up some life possibilities. However, what she really wants, she cannot have. And that is a tough lesson to learn. After all, what Victorian novel would be complete without a little unrequited love?

The Tailor's Daughter is loaded with plenty of tragedy and heartache, as well as deception and intrigue, but still manages to warm the soul with love and ardor in abundance. The characters are interesting and the story does (eventually) have a somewhat happy ending, which I always appreciate. I would recommend this one if you also like Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters.

BOOK REVIEW: "Closing Costs"

2010-10-19T14:51:00.006-06:00

Closing Costs

By Seth Margolis

St. Martins Press

Adult Fiction

3 Bookmarks

In my "real" life, I'm a Realtor. And so when I'm choosing which novel to snatch up off the library shelf and I see a real estate phrase like Closing Costs in a book title, I'm immediately intrigued. I thought perhaps this would be a book highlighting all the wonderful things about my chosen profession. But then again, perhaps not.

In reality, Closing Costs is a novel about several Manhattan area citizens who are dealing with real estate concerns: the older couple looking to downsize, the younger couple with new baby twins who are overflowing their rent-controlled one bedroom studio, the superbly rich socialite whose husband flees the country after he's accused of embezzlement leaving her homeless after the feds seize her mansion, etc. And what do all these fine folks have in common? One hardcore illustrious real estate legend named Lucinda Wells.

Lucinda wafts into and out of the lives of the characters in this book with a sneer down her nose and an air of indifference at their situation, and yet somehow manages to completely influence the decisions of those she comes in contact with.

These, and many other characters within the pages of this book make it an interesting read. The story jumps from one set of people in fine circumstance to another. Some characters were definitely more believable than others, but the story kept me interested and reading along. Not the best book I've ever read, but not the worst either. Sort of a middle of the road read here.

BOOK REVIEW: On The Road

2010-09-19T13:28:00.009-06:00

On The Road
(The Original Scroll)
By Jack Kerouac
Viking Penguin Publishing
Copyright 2007
Autobiographical Novel
2.5 Bookmarks

The concept behind this book intrigued me. I had not read the book On The Road previously, but I had heard of it. I knew it was a story about seizing the moment, living life to the fullest, never missing out on an adventure, etc., etc. Apparently, the edited and published version included changed names and read more like a fictional novel (at least that's what I gathered from the "Forward" in the book).

So this version, The Original Scroll, reads like a diary and includes the actual names of the character involved. It is written almost as one long train of thought exercise by the author; describing people, places and feelings with heart before rapidly switching to a new story.

Now on to the actual story: Kerouac describes a variety of cross-country trips he took over the period of several years in his life. For some reason, Kerouac is fascinated by a certain friend of his, and makes several of these random trips for the sole purpose of finding "Neal." Neal is an interesting character. He is someone your mother has warned you about. He is into just about every single despicable vice known to man (and a few others thrown in for good measure). Not only that, but he seems to be actually crazy. And yet Jack seeks him out like someone seeks out their next drug high. He hitchhikes, nearly starves, begs his mother for money, etc., just to follow some strange quest to "meet up with Neal." Oddly enough, in reading the book, I never quite figured out what magical power Neal had that kept Jack on the hook.

Things I liked: The traveling nature of the story (lots of interesting places in interesting times), the ability of the reader to develop an accurate picture of the characters, and the "Seize the Day!" mentality of the book. Things I didn't like: The rampant drug use (among a variety of other illegal activities), the missing chunks of time within the story, and the despicable behavior of the characters that was treated as "normal" by the author (including the abandonment of several wives along the way).

I may someday read the actual published version of On The Road, just to have the comparison. But for right now, I think I may be a little Kerouac'ed out.

BOOK REVIEW: "O the Clear Moment"

2010-09-19T13:09:00.005-06:00

O the Clear Moment
By Ed McClanahan
Counterpoint Press
Copyright 2008
Short Story Collection
2.5 Bookmarks

In this short and quick read, Ed McClanahan shares some of his favorite coming-of-age moments (true or fiction? I was never quite certain). From puppy love to iconic foundations to best frenemies (before the term was even coined), McClanahan delivers a witty and fun view of "how things were". The author also never hesitates to throw in a shameless, shameless plug of his novel "The Natural Man", which is mentioned on numerous occasions in this 183-page collection of short stories. If it wasn't so completely amusing, I would have been irritated by the repeated mention of the novel, but McClanahan keeps it so lighthearted that you can't help but chuckle a little at his audacity.

One of my favorite bits in the collection was "Great Moments in Sports", a story about the author as a youngster vying for the attention of a fair lady by lobbing a hand-grenade of an egg at some rival lads. The ensuing splatter of sticky egginess was deserving of it's own story, even if it didn't quite result in the hoped-for admiration of the lady in question. Another great story was "Dog Loves Ellie", about a man in his late 50s who attends a class reunion and sadly attempts to woo his high school love in a profound state of drunkenness, and the author (and hero of the story) coming to the rescue of the said high school love who also happened to be somewhat of a secret crush of the past for the hero.

I definitely love a good coming-of-age story, and there were definitely some chuckle-worthy moments here, but the shameless pluggery of the author's novel knocked it down a notch on the loveability factor. I would recommend this for a quick read only if you have nothing better to do.

COMMENTARY: "Going Home"

2010-08-30T17:20:00.003-06:00

There’s something so surreal about going home. I don’t mean going home from work at the end of the day. I mean going back to the place you spent your childhood: the “old” home. A few weeks ago, I did just that.

Technically speaking, the home I grew up in no longer exists. My dad built a house that the family moved into less than a year before I moved out for good. He still lives in that house, but the actual home that held most of my childhood memories is no more. Which, believe me, is a good thing.

So when I say “home” I really mean the small town in southern Idaho where I grew up. The town with two stoplights (although I do remember a time when there was only one). The town that boasted no chain restaurants during most of my childhood (I’m glad that Subway has finally found a home there, though). And the town with the hometown newspaper where I learned how to work for a living.

(And technically-speaking yet again, I’m not really from that town. Rather, I’m from a small farming community eight or ten miles from that town, but since it was the nearest outpost of civilization, in my mind, that town is “home” by default.)

It still shocks me sometimes how it is that I lived for the first 19 years of my life with no big-city amenities. Frankly, I like that I can walk from the house I live in now to the grocery store, the ice cream parlor and the city library. I like that I can go to the movies at the drop of a hat without having to plan for the 30-minute drive to the theater the next town over. I like that if my house caught on fire while I was out of town, my neighbors live close enough to see the smoke and call the police.

The reality, though, is that when I’m in that little town, it isn’t the amenities that come to mind; it’s the memories. Memories of a different time. Driving through this little town brings back those moments that I spent with the people who were so important to me at the time. Some of those memories are happy and some are sad, but either way, they’re unavoidable.

Wait. Let me back up. Maybe that’s too simplistic a view.

I’ve contemplated over the years why I become so weird whenever I visit “home”. It’s like I become a totally different person: emotionally insecure, scared, submissive. Being around my family, my old haunts, passing by the houses of people I knew so well but now haven’t spoken to in many a year…it can be somewhat disconcerting. I think I somehow forget that I’m an adult and I live in a different world now, with different friends, different relationships. But somehow, just being there, I get sucked into the nostalgia of it all. When I’m driving through that little town, I can remember vividly the trepidation I felt when I started 9th grade at the junior high school…my first day of school after eight years of homeschooling. I can remember my heart pounding with fear while walking through that cemetery in the middle of the night searching for a certain headstone. I can remember exactly how I felt the first time a boyfriend broke up with me, the moment I found out my best friend had been in a terrible car accident, or the year and a half I spent watching my mother die of cancer. Those moments in my memory give everything a sense of the surreal when I’m “back home”.

In real life, those pains are easier to forget, the memories fade into obscurity. But when I “go home”, they seem more immediate, more apparent. Those that I’ve lost, whether by death or by distance, become people to grieve again. Events that occurred, choices that were made…those things become painfully immediate in my psyche again. And so, it seems, for a short period of time during my visit, I become that same scared little girl I was when I lived there.

They joke here in Colorado that because there are so few people who live here who were actually born here, you can call yourself a native after you’ve lived here 10 years. I like the idea of that. Kind of like an adopted hometown.

So while I enjoyed visiting with the family that I only get to see once a year and doing the other things that I can only experience in that little town in southern Idaho, I am grateful to now be “back home” to my real home; the only home I now truly call home.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Last Blue Mile"

2010-06-30T14:58:00.006-06:00

The Last Blue Mile

By Kim Ponders

HarperCollins Publishers

Adult Fiction

2 Bookmarks

I picked up this book because it was about the Air Force Academy, something I'm vaguely familiar with as it is located directly north of my house. I usually really enjoy books that include anything Colorado Springs, for obvious reasons. I was kind of surprised, however, by the topic and tone of this book.

The Last Blue Mile covers a period of time in the "incarceration" of cadet Brook Searcy at the Air Force Academy. The ritual, the hazing, the unpleasant nature of the story, was just a little bit discomforting. Although other scandals that had actually occurred at the Academy are mentioned, the main story begins with a cheating scandal and how the Academy is forced to deal (less-than-fairly) with the female instigator of the cheating, simply because she is female and because the Academy is still recovering from a rape scandal still fresh in everyone's memory. Brook is a bystander to this, but has her own demons that she has to face.

The story also focuses on General John Waller, the Commandant of Cadets at the Academy.....the one who has to put a good face on everything for us out in the "real world". The Commandant is forced to see things at this mostly-male military institution from a female perspective and I, even as a female myself, felt like he was placed in a terrible position between a rock and hard place regarding the decisions he is forced to make.

The story switches back and forth between these two main storylines, with a few others thrown in for good measure. But then something happens to Brook that made me want to stop reading the story entirely. Suddenly it was as if none of the rest of the story mattered except this new "event" that occurs, throwing the reader back to the rape scandal of previous years.

I didn't like the "ick" factor in the book and I didn't like that the book was really about something that I didn't think it would be about. Just discomforting. Probably would not recommend.

BOOK REVIEW: "More Than This"

2010-06-30T14:35:00.009-06:00

More Than This

By Margo Candela

Touchstone/Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Adult Fiction

3 Bookmarks

Spoiler Alert!

Okay. I just have to say it. I loved reading this book. Well, at least up until the last chapter. More Than This is such a wonderfully indulgent, fairy tale read that I really just didn't want to put it down.

Evelyn and Alex have never met. But they keep "almost" meeting. A glance across a crowded train. Watching each other through the windows of their office buildings conveniently located across the street from each other. Odd circumstances and coincidences that keep them apart when they would be oh so perfect for each other! The story gets deeper and deeper and you just get sucked into this world where they both want what they see but can't seem to ever grab it....even though it's right there in front of them. I really enjoyed reading about these two people who have been disappointed by life, struggling to find meaning and purpose. Hilarious moments, especially for the Evelyn character when she takes on a "temp" job at her friend's company, and an ironic career position for Alex; two mothers with bright expectations for their adult children; and many other highly entertaining plot lines and characters.

But.......I'm just gonna say it. They don't EVER meet! Well, at least not in the book (I sort of imagined how it must have gone when I finished reading, but isn't that the author's job?) Yes, that's right. The author's last prosaic effort is the two characters explaining (in turn) what they felt and did in the moment BEFORE they meet. But, of course, as disappointingly disappointing authors always do.....she leaves the best part OUT OF THE STORY!!!!! I turned the page? Nothing. Nothing! So disappointing.

This book would have garnered at least 4 bookmarks if only the author had given me even ONE page of what it was like for these two perfect-for-each-other characters to get together.

Such an utter disappointment (......still worth the read, unfortunately. It really was a good book, so I can't totally dog it.)

BOOK REVIEW: "My Sister's Keeper"

2010-06-23T15:57:00.005-06:00

my sister's keeper

By Jodi Picoult

Published by Washington Square Press

Adult Fiction

4 Bookmarks

Okay, so probably everyone already knows what this one is about because you've all seen the previews for the made-for-the-big-screen movie, so I'll keep my summary short. Young parents find out their very young daughter has leukemia. Brother is not a match for a bone marrow transplant, so parents go to a genetic specialist and conceive a "donor" sibling.....a perfect match with the genetic markers required to be a good donor. Flash forward to the young parents, now the parents of three teenagers, including middle child still suffering recurring bouts of leukemia, and youngest daughter who has undergone numerous medical procedures over the years to keep her sister alive.

But now, all of a sudden, young Anna has had enough. She is ready to call it quits. She doesn't want to be a donor anymore.....and hires a lawyer to make sure she doesn't have to.

In case you haven't seen the movie (or haven't read past the first two chapters of the book), I won't be a spoilsport and tell you the rest of the story or how it ends. But here are my thoughts:

This was a scary book to read. As a parent, it is my worst nightmare to be in the situation these poor parents found themselves in. There were many times while reading it that I had to just put it down for awhile because I couldn't stop the tears. However, it was an extremely well-told story and I felt like Picoult did an outstanding job of really digging in to the lose-lose situation that this family found themselves in. I did feel some sense of an "ick" factor in the book, just simply because the topic is so utterly controversial and unsolveable. With this situation, there was really no good outcome possible.

I usually avoid any cancer-themed books and I did know the premise before I started reading it, but I figured if it was good enough to make into a movie, it was probably a pretty dang good book and worth the emotional thrashing! And it was. "My Sister's Keeper" truly was a heart-wrenching story, but I came out of it with hugs for my family and appreciation for what I have.

I don't think I'll see the movie, though. The emotions in the book were raw enough and I wouldn't want to spoil it by having it simplified into a two-hour retelling.

BOOK REVIEW: "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict"

2010-05-26T11:58:00.008-06:00

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict

By Laurie Viera Rigler

Dutton/Penguin Books Ltd.

Adult Fiction

3.5 Bookmarks

I know, I know, you're getting sick of me reading books with "Jane Austen" in the title. It's an addiction, I swear. I love love love all things Jane Austen (and, to be quite honest, all things Bronte as well). So whenever I see a novel that mentions Jane Austen by name, I always snatch it up.

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict had a great, although not all that original, premise. What happens when a lover of all things Austen wakes up in Mansfield Park? Is it a dream? She pinches herself to be sure, feels the pinch but still doesn't awaken. Now what? Courtney Stone is stuck. Stuck in world which she has always loved but never visited before, but now she can't get out.

Courtney stumbles through the rituals put upon her by pre-Victorian society as she contemplates her new-found circumstances. The uncomfortable attire, the formal language, and the role of a single woman in this place are all new to Courtney. There are some really funny moments in the book involving blood-letting, chamber pots and "the vapors". It was a fun read!

Even though I really enjoyed the book I'm only giving it 3.5 bookmarks because of the lack of originality. The author "borrows" so many storylines from actual Austen novels that it leaves you questioning her creativity. It seemed like every other page I was saying to myself, "oh yeah, I remember that from 'Pride and Prejudice'", or something along those lines. I'm all for not reinventing the wheel when it comes to many things in life, but novel-writing is not one of them.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Rescue"

2010-05-26T11:34:00.009-06:00

The Rescue

By Nicholas Sparks

Warner Books, Inc.

Adult Fiction

3.5 Bookmarks

Everybody's favorite author and screen-writer seems to be appearing all over the place these days. With The Notebook firmly under his belt (among others) and now The Last Song out in theaters, Nicholas Sparks is going to be a permanent fixture in American pop culture. So whenever I see a new (to me) Sparks book on the shelf, I try to grab it. The formula Sparks uses for his novels doesn't really change all that much, but I always feel like any book of his is a satisfying read.

The Rescue is no different. Denise Holton, single mother of a unique child, is inconsolable when her young son goes missing after an accident. Found soon after by firefighter Taylor McAden, the three form a special bond and thus begins the story of The Rescue. While Denise struggles with the challenges of motherhood, living in a new town, and her new relationship with a man who keeps protective walls solidly in place around him, the story moves forward toward what we know will be a dramatic ending.

With sad moments, happy times shared and a final realization for McAden, The Rescue doesn't disappoint Sparks fans. Many romantic moments dot the landscape of this novel. One of my favorites being the simple moment when McAden whispers to Denise, "You're perfect".

I enjoyed reading this book (as I always do with Sparks novels), but there were a few moments that were just nearly too sad to bear. When an author is really good and getting his reader's emotionally involved, you can almost feel the pain of the characters and sometimes it's just a bit much. But if you have a strong heart, take some time to find a good Sparks novel and let yourself sink in.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Art of Racing in the Rain"

2010-04-01T19:17:00.012-06:00

The Art of Racing in the Rain
By Garth Stein
Copyright 2008
HarperCollins Publishers
Adult Fiction
5 Bookmarks
Exceptional!

Okay, let me just start out by saying that this is THE best book that I have read in a very, very long time. If you are looking for a great bookclub book, this is it. If you are looking for a great feel-good book, this is it. If you are looking for a story that will tug at your heartstrings, this is it. If you are looking for a book that will make you look at life differently, guess what? This is it.

That last one is the most important to me, as a reader. I like books that make me think and make me step back and look at my life from a different perspective. The Art of Racing in the Rain was the right book to accomplish that.

The author, Garth Stein, is obviously a dog person. You know, one of those people who view their dog as an equal member of the family. And thus we meet Enzo, the main character and narrator of the novel. Enzo introduces himself by explaining to us mere humans why he behaves as he does. The book begins with, "Gestures are all that I have; sometimes they must be grand in nature." Enzo goes on to explain that he feels somewhat trapped in his life as a dog and hopes to one day die and come back as a human. Enzo becomes almost human to the reader from the very first page of the book. He becomes a friend, a neighbor, the watchful eye that sees all. I am not a dog person (not a dog person AT ALL, actually), but even I could truly appreciate the role that Enzo fills in this novel.

But this story is not really about Enzo. It's about a man, Denny Swift, semi-professional race car driver, his wife Eve, and their daughter Zoe. It's about Enzo's relationship with this family. It's about what happens when life takes an unexpected turn, and then another, and then another. It's about how we survive as human beings when the worst imaginable things come flying at us from nowhere.

A simple philosophy that Denny shares with Enzo early on rings true through much of the book. "That which we manifest is before us; we are the creators of our own destiny." It is through this simple philosophy that, somehow, Denny survives the rain that life pours down upon him. He takes the turns with a gentle hand and slides back into the race.

This book will make you laugh and it will make you cry. It will make you angry and it will make you feel love. It is poignant and profound, and yet the subtle way Stein weaves the emotion in and out of the story seems simple and natural.

This was a truly good read, and a book that I highly recommend you add to your reading list!

COMMENTARY: Grief and Sadness

2010-03-08T23:32:00.005-07:00

Today is my birthday. Yes, yes, thank you for all the birthday wishes. But that’s not why I’m writing this. I’m writing this because...things happen on my birthday. Sad things. 15 years ago today, my mother died. 10 years ago today, my first baby died. Those are the two major events, but not the only ones. I don’t tell you this to make you feel sorry for me. I do not want nor need your sympathy.

I suppose I just need an outlet for the grief that remains behind. And so, every year I take a few minutes this day to reflect on that grief and sadness. A few minutes spent one day a year alone with the memories of what used to be and what might have been. I don’t know if this is a healthy way of handling it or not, but so far relegating my grief to one specific day has worked for me. And since God (with his inimitable sense of humor) has granted most of these grievous events to occur on that day, He makes it easy.

Grief has a funny way of changing a person, making her look at life differently, to appreciate things in ways she may not have before. I may be sad, but I am stronger for the pain. I am more aware of the world around me. I know that I am alive, that I am breathing air. There is nothing worse than being numb, deadened by the inability to accept the terrible things that life throws at us. Not knowing which way is up or down. The grief process is simple: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. Each of us works our way through these stages in different ways. It’s been many years, and I have long been in the “Acceptance” phase, but that does not mean that I don’t still feel the pain. Because I do.

One of the worst things that happens when someone you love dies, is not being able to say goodbye. People talk about whether it’s better to know they’re going to die so you can have the chance to say goodbye, or if it’s better to not know ahead of time so you don’t have to dread it happening. Personally, when the Big Guy in Charge decides we don’t get a chance to say goodbye, I think it’s just... unnecessarily cruel. How good it would be if only we were able to say those final words, to say “I will love you always”, or “I’m so very, very sorry”, or whatever else needs to be said in order to truly have closure, instead of the regret of not being able to say a word.

Sometimes in the dark moments of grief, when all our hope is gone, we need to try to find something to hold on to. Saying goodbye is painful at best. Knowing it will be the last goodbye is heart-rending. Knowing you don’t get to say goodbye is...tragic. Having a goodbye to hold on to is worth the world.

But sometimes He decides for us. It is out of our control. Of course, if God were as omnipotent as religious folks will tell you, couldn't He just break the rules of the universe to allow that one last goodbye?

Death is cruel. The finality of it is almost incomprehensible. I wish it was easy to let go of the sorrow and pain. But it simply isn’t. And yet somehow we must take a deep breath and move forward with our lives. We hope the crutch of grief will get smaller and smaller each day, and it does to an extent. It just takes a long, long time. And it never truly goes away. So I give myself this day to cry, for all of us who have lost someone--mothers, fathers, children, a soulmate or best friend. Their losses are unquantifiable. And so I will spend my few minutes alone today, thinking of what I have lost.

COMMENTARY: Frankie Say Relax

2010-03-07T12:07:00.017-07:00

I hate the word "uptight". Especially when it's used to describe me. I don't generally consider myself to be uptight. I'm just "driven", "steady", "assertive", and "cautious". And, okay, maybe a little bit OCD.

I admit it. I like everything to fit. I like all the pieces of the puzzle to be in place. I'm a woman with a plan and I'm not afraid to use it!

Nothing can cause me to go into a panic quite so much as someone calling and wanting to (*gasp*) "go do something" at the last minute. I eat the same thing for lunch nearly every day simply because I don't want the pressure of deciding on something new. Spontaneity and I don't get along so well. Patheti-sad, I know. But I am what I am and I'm kind of used to it.

The problem that I'm finding with this is that life can't be planned. At least not to the level I want it to be.

First of all, I'm a parent. Having a child forces one to accept the reality that life goes where it wants to go. The constant bouncing around of reality when you have a child always throws me for a loop. I go left, she goes right. I stop short and she keeps right on trucking. She's like the Energizer Bunny and I find that sometimes I just can't keep up. Maybe I'm just getting old.

Add to that a high-stress career, adorning myself with the moniker of "student", keeping my "happily married" status firmly in place, and attempting to keep a tight grip on household management, well....it's a recipe for rigidity. To keep all the cogs in this wheel running smoothly, I write a To-Do list, but then I end up only accomplishing 3 of the 10 things on it. So the remaining 7 get bumped to the next day and add to the challenges of THAT day. I try to remember that's "just life", to "take it as it comes", and "it is what it is. But it's hard to do that for a person who is so upti....I mean, "steady and cautious".

Result? STRESS. So what's a girl to do?

Frankie says RELAX. But that's easier said than done for someone of my fortitude (or lack thereof). I'd like to think I give a valiant effort at doing what a person is supposed to do in this situation. Yoga. Meditation. Deep breathing. I also have been known to drop a few bucks for a good massage (love Kyle!) But it's not enough. How can I just find that moment of peace that I need? That break from this vicious cycle of stress?

When I was a teenager, my mother used to tell me to "chill". I used to get so angry that she would use such a cliched phrase to try to get me to think something earth-shattering in my life was less than important. But maybe she was onto something. Maybe all these things that are earth-shattering in my mind really aren't? I'm pretty sure my dear husband would agree. Sometimes I wonder how he puts up with my constant elevating of all things to a Code Red level of urgency and catastrophe.

A wise man once told me, "It isn't brain surgery. No one is going to die if this gets screwed up." But for some reason, I have a hard time taking that to heart.

I want to let go of the stress. I want to just relax. I don't want to feel like the outcome of a particular action of mine is going to result in a nuclear holocaust. I don't want to feel like I have to picture the poor guy who has his brain splayed open on a surgical table just to make myself feel better.

So instead, I do the best I can. I plan to my little heart's content. I take frequent deep breaths. I take a ME vacation away from it all. I have luxurious hours with my buddy Kyle's hands. And I occasionally throw in a glass or two of wine. And I take that little word "uptight" and throw it down on the floor in front of me and give it a good stomping. Whew! Now I can relax.

BOOK REVIEW: "Everything I Long For"

2010-03-07T10:42:00.007-07:00

Everything I Long For

By Melody Carlson

Harvest House Publishers

Adult Fiction

3.5 Bookmarks

"Everything I Long For" is a slice in the life of Maggie Carpenter who has fled the hustle, bustle and stress of the city for new possibilities in the small town of Pine Mountain. As Maggie makes a world for herself and her son Spencer, a new kink is thrown into the mix when they discover a runaway hiding out in the woods behind their home.

After Maggie uncovers the reason why Leah is in Pine Mountain, she begins a search to help the girl find her real father. Meanwhile, Maggie struggles with juggling the affections of two men in her life, as well as the challenges of being in the sandwich generation (having a son to care for, and an aging parent to care for as well). Maggie's uncertainty about the decisions she makes are very true-to-life. I liked that I could relate to her insecurities and the difficulties she faced with the decisions that were in front of her. Being in a new place and making new friends is hard for anyone, though many would be hesitant to ever admit it. It was easy to place myself in her position and feel what the character was going through.

"Everything I Long For" was a quick and easy feel-good read. If I had one complaint it would be that the author seemed to do a little too much "explaining" about why things were happening. It gave the book almost a little too much of a simplistic feel because of that. But all-in-all, I enjoyed the book and read the entire thing in just a couple hours.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Scroll of Seduction"

2010-03-07T10:00:00.007-07:00

The Scroll of Seduction

By Gioconda Belli

HarperCollins Publishing

Adult Fiction

2 Bookmarks

I picked up this book because it was supposed to be an historical fiction-type read, with main character, Manuel, sharing his knowledge of a historical Spanish queen with a willing pupil. While I did appreciate the historical nature of the story of Queen Juana, the story soon became a little too, ummmm...., statutory for my taste. When Manuel seduces his 17-year-old student, you just know things are not going to end well.

The story of "Juana the Mad", was interesting in a lot of ways, though. Based on historical accounts of the love-obsessed queen, "The Scroll of Seduction" takes you on a journey with a young girl off to meet her betrothed. She considers herself lucky when she immediately falls desperately in love with him. But she soon becomes wracked with jealousy when things turn sour. When Juana's love falls victim to illness, she never quite recovers and those who wish to rule the dynasty that was, in large part, created by her, use her passion and pain as an excuse to hold her captive and leave her helpless in her own kingdom.

But the side plot was, in many ways, quite disturbing. Manuel is a little loony, if you ask me. He wants his student to do some crazy things while he's telling her Juana's story. And, shockingly, she does them. And then one thing leads to another and... yada yada yada.

Sometimes when I read these stories written in another language and translated to English, I am pleasantly surprised at the unique way the story unfolds. This book, however, left something to be desired. In addition to the story having a decided "ick" factor, the way the book ended was off. Like the author didn't know how to resolve everything so she just lit a match.

Don't think I would recommend this one.

BOOK REVIEW: "Heart of Darkness"

2010-02-09T20:57:00.010-07:00

Heart of Darkness

By Joseph Conrad

William Blackwood & Sons Publishers

Classic Literature

3 1/2 Bookmarks

When I was in high school, "Heart of Darkness" was on a required reading list for Mrs. Brown's AP English class. At the time, it affected my 17-year-old psyche in ways that not many other things have (either before or since). The theme of the book revolves around the idea of restraint. An old river captain named Marlow tells a tale about a trip to find an elusive ivory agent named Kurtz. Everyone seems to know Kurtz and paints a picture of his grandeur for the narrator. Marlow cannot wait to meet Kurtz, to discuss philosophy and swap tales of adventure. Marlow's description of the events that occur along his journey are intriguing and disturbing, especially when he finally does come upon Kurtz only to discover that he is not the man Marlow had been led to believe.

This novel speaks volumes about how people in society make the choice to be "normal" or not, to follow societal norms or to step outside those boundaries to boost their own rank among the masses. Choosing a right or a wrong becomes more difficult when faced with the prospect of hero worship and adoration.

I did like the book, although it didn't seem quite as entertaining to me as an adult as it did to my 17-year-old mind back in the day. Conrad does throw in some great quotes. My favorite--now, as it was back then, is-- "Droll thing life is--that mysterious arrangement of merciless logic for a futile purpose." Seriously! What a great quote! Soooooo, to sum up: Good book, great wording, quotable quotes, freaky story, and you get to say you read a classic. All plusses. Hmmmm....I wonder what ever happened to Mrs. Brown?

BOOK REVIEW: "What to Keep"

2010-01-16T10:49:00.003-07:00

What to Keep

By Rachel Cline

Random House Publishing

Adult Fiction

4 Bookmarks

"What to Keep" by Rachel Cline is an enjoyable novel about Denny Roman. Most of the story is set when Denny is a young girl dealing with the foibles of being a pre-teen, having divorced parents, and a special adult friend named Maureen who also happens to be what we consider today to be a "household manager" for Denny's parents. Denny bonds with Maureen, mostly because Maureen actually looks at her and considers her to be real. Denny's own mother is absorbed in her work and herself and often forgets she even has a child. As Denny grows up, the story almost becomes more her mother's story; why she is the way she is, why she reacts to Denny the way she does, and how that affects her later in life.

The story then jumps to Denny as a young adult, finding her way in the world as an aspiring actress, she gets a phone call to come home and decide "what to keep" when her mother and her new husband decide to move away from the only home Denny has ever known as home. This part of the story was especially interesting to me, although I didn't feel like the author really fleshed it out as much as she could have. This trip back home almost reminded me of the movie Garden State, in the way Denny viewed the items from her childhood, and even her old childhood haunts. There were a few parts of the story that I really didn't feel were necessary (like a completely weird and bizarre kiss between Denny and her mother's new husband), but for the most part, I felt like this part of the story was meant to make the reader look at their own life and think about what we would keep if we were in her situation.

The final segment of the story brings us to a fully adult Denny in her mid-30s, single and a playwright living in New York, when a blast from the past shows up on her door. Denny has to make an important decision (What to keep?) yet again, and this time, for the first time in her life, her mother steps up and makes the right choice in giving to her daughter in a way she never has before in their entire relationship together.

This was really an enjoyable book. It would be great for a bookclub or, really, for anyone interested in a mild introspective about life. Cline does a good job of creating characters that are believable and, even in their darkest hours, likeable. 4 bookmarks from me for this one!

RECIPE: Red Velvet Cake

2010-01-07T14:47:00.004-07:00

Waldorf-Astoria Red Velvet Cake

(Grandma Carter's recipe!)

Cake:
1/2 C. shortening
1 1/2 C. sugar*
2 eggs*
1 tsp. vanilla
1 oz. red food coloring
2 level Tbsp. cocoa
1 tsp. salt
2 C. flour
1 C. buttermilk
1 tsp. soda
1 Tbsp. vinegar

Cream together shortening and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Beat together, then fold in food coloring. Sift together salt, flour and cocoa. Add to mixture with buttermilk. Beat on low until smooth. In small bowl, mix soda and vinegar. Froth and stir until dissolved. Fold into mixture. Do NOT beat! Pour into greased and floured pan(s) and bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Cool cake completely before frosting.

*High Altitude: Reduce sugar by 2 tablespoons and add an additional egg.

Frosting:
1 1/2 C. milk
3/8 C. flour
pinch of salt
1 1/2 C. sugar
3/4 C. shortening
1 1/2 sticks of butter--softened
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix together shortening and sugar and chill for 30 minutes. Cook flour, salt and milk in small saucepan, stirring constantly until thick and uniform. Cool quickly, stirring frequently while cooling. While cooling, add butter and vanilla to shortening mixture and mix on high until fluffy. Once milk mixture is COMPLETELY cool, blend together with shortening mixture. Mix on high for two minutes. Frost a completely cool cake. If cake will not be served within 24 hours, store in airtight container in refrigerator.

COMMENTARY: Health Care Reform

2009-12-23T18:14:00.002-07:00

You may be a compassionate person. You may worry about those less fortunate than yourselves who don’t have health insurance. Or you may worry about the fact that YOU don’t have health insurance. If either is the case, there are some things you need to know NOW about the Health Care Reform Bill.

Here are the main hits:
1. The bill is going to be up for a final vote in the Senate on Thursday, Christmas Eve, at 7 a.m. Eastern Time.
2. There is no accurate estimate of how much this bill is going to cost the American public. That means YOU and me. Would you ever agree to buy something without knowing first what it cost? The worst estimates indicate the bill could add as much as one TRILLION dollars to the budget deficit. That is $1,000,000,000,000, in case you were wondering.
3. Several Senators have been bribed to vote for this bill with special “deals” they’ve been given for their states. This includes an additional $100 million in Medicaid payouts for constituents in the state of Nebraska, and $300 million in additional aid for Louisiana. Do you think that a bill that required bribery to get the votes is going to be a “good” bill?
4. The Senate bill allows taxpayer money (read “YOUR money and MY money”) to be used to fund abortions. Whether you are pro-choice or pro-life, it doesn’t matter. Not blocking public funding for abortions is a travesty.
5. The provision in the bill that most closely resembles a “public option” is called the Class Act. To summarize, the Class Act is basically long-term health care insurance being offered by the federal government to all Americans. Then people like you and me sign up for it. But here’s the kicker. We pay premiums to the government for five years WITHOUT ANY BENEFITS. The government will use this money to fund other portions of the health care bill, then when they have to begin providing benefits to those of us dumb enough to have signed up for this program, it will go bankrupt. But instead of allowing it go bankrupt, of course the federal government will come in to “save” it (because, of course by then it will have become an entitlement), which is going to result in an ENORMOUS tax increase for all Americans, regardless of your income.
6. With the Senate bill, ALL residents of the United States will be REQUIRED to purchase health insurance. If you do not purchase health insurance, you will be the lucky recipient of a tax penalty of an amount up to 2% of your household gross income (or $750 per person, whichever amount is greater).
7. New regulations and restrictions are going to be imposed on all insurance companies currently doing business in the United States. So if you like your health insurance now, don’t be surprised when your premiums go up and your benefits go down.
8. Business owners with at least 50 employees who do not offer health insurance as a benefit will be taxed $750 PER EMPLOYEE per year. This will result in a loss of jobs, lower wages paid, and businesses going bankrupt. If you are the lucky employee of a small company who just makes that 50 employee cut-off, but is struggling to get by, you can kiss your job goodbye.
9. The amount of contributions to a flexible spending medical account will be limited based on your income. What sense does this make?
10. The government expects to pay for this health care plan, in part, by cutting Medicare and Medicaid. Just as the baby boomers are coming into Medicare-qualifying age, the government thinks they can cut those costs? If the government actually does cut Medicare and Medicaid, it will be the most vulnerable of our citizens who are left out in the cold. This will result in an ENORMOUS loss of service to the senior citizens of this country, as well as the poverty stricken.
11. Due to the new restrictions and regulations, it is going to become harder to be a doctor. Not only that, but the payouts to the doctors for Medicare and Medicaid recipients will be even less than they are now. This is going to result in some doctors closing their doors altogether. And it will become nearly impossible to find a doctor who will take Medicare or Medicaid. No one can work for free.
12. Cost-sharing subsidies will be offered to those in low-income brackets. These subsidies will go toward purchasing health insurance (but there is no indication that these subsidies will be enough to cover the actual cost of purchasing health insurance).
13. If you do not have health insurance, in additional to the wonderful “fine” you get to pay, you will also no longer be able to deduct medical expenses on your itemized tax return unless your medical expenses are over 10% of your taxable income.
14. A $2.3 billion fee will be charged ANNUALLY to pharmaceutical companies. If you think your prescriptions are expensive now, you just wait!

BOOK REVIEW: "Possibilities"

2009-12-21T20:12:00.004-07:00

Possibilities

By Debra White Smith

Harvest House Publishers

Adult Fiction

4 Bookmarks

I think I may have found a new favorite "current" author. Debra White Smith takes the stories of Jane Austen and transforms them into modern times.

In "Possibilities", the author takes the story "Persuasion", and gives it new life. We meet Allie, an heiress to a fortune who falls in love with the gardener, but cannot be with him because of their differences in class. After a traumatic breakup and years gone by, the two are reunited through happenstance, but both are hesitant to go down that path again.

Although, I will admit, I adore the very British tone of a good Jane Austen novel, I will say that I loved how the author took the "meat" of the Jane Austen novel and put it into a modern setting with modern language and modern characters. Nothing like a good love triangle to make a good story great! Smith's Frederick comes on the scene just as heroic and tragic as Jane Austin's Frederick. And Allie is every bit as externally-strong and internally lovelorn as Anne Elliot. The tension in the book was great.

I plan on reading Smith's other Austen-esque novels and will report here as I make my way through them!

BOOK REVIEW: "Growing Up on the Edge of the World"

2009-12-21T19:44:00.004-07:00

Growing Up on the Edge of the World

By Phil Callaway
Copyright 1971

Harvest House Publishers

Adult Fiction

3 Bookmarks

Wow. Okay, so I started reading this book and it was kind of a page turner, so I kept turning the pages. Then, when I was fully four chapters into the book, I made a startling realization. I have read this book before! This phenomenon is called "deja lu'", apparently, and is not all that uncommon. The shocking thing, I suppose is that I was fully four chapters in before I remembered that I'd read it before. And worse, I couldn't remember how it ended! So guess what? I had to read it again (it was, after all, still a page turner).

So other than the fact that it was obviously not memorable enough for me to remember it the first time (even though it really does have a unique cover...), it actually was a decent book!

This story revolves around young Terry Anderson and a shocking discover that he makes. Should he keep it? Should he tell someone? Not knowing what to do with his new-found secret, we watch Terry go through all of his options and wonder what choice he will make. The line in the book, "You're not much good until you find out how bad you are," tells you that Terry does make some "wrong" choices through the process. He learns some tough lessons and you wonder what could possibly happen next.

I really liked the way the author portrayed Terry and his siblings. They felt like a real family. I especially loved the scenes where they are staying awake in bed one night while an older brother pretends to host a call-in radio show. Funny stuff.

So even though I did forget I had read the book before, I really do recommend it. It's kind of a mystery, and kind of a "story" story, with a little bit of "coming-of-age" tucked into it as well.

BOOK REVIEW: "A Sound Like Thunder"

2009-12-21T17:57:00.005-07:00

A Sound Like Thunder
By Sonny Brewer
Copyright 2006
Ballantine Books
Adult Fiction
3 Bookmarks

While I didn't understand the title until nearly the end of the book, I will say that "A Sound Like Thunder" was an enjoyable coming-of-age read! In a small fishing town in the early 1940s, we meet Rove MacNee. Named for a drowned pet dog, Rove's life starts out conspicuously. Rove grows up with a tough father, an unhappy mother, and a grandmother who adores him; not unlike a lot of the rest of us out there.

Much of the story is told in the first person by a much older Rove MacNee. How he dealt with the pitfalls of teenagerhood, the realities of watching his parent's marriage holding together by a thread, and dealing with such issues as death and first loves. This story is a memoir of Rove's view of life and the events that he experienced. It is a "story" story, written for the sheer purpose of telling the tale.

The author's use of the older voice and the younger voice of Rove to relate certain incidents was interesting. The description of the sailing and the fishing were eye-opening to a "land-lubber" like me. There was one scene in particular where the narrator describes what it feels like to toss a perfect throw of a fishing net; the exhilaration he felt, the pride in his eyes after seeing the net sink into the gulf. I could really feel the passion felt by Rove in that one, perfect moment.

The story moved quickly, even though it was long. There were even a few "can't put it down" moments. It was not off-the-charts, but it was a good read.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Back Nine"

2009-12-21T17:35:00.008-07:00

The Back Nine
By Billy Mott
Copyright 2007
Publisher Alfred A. Knopf
(div. of Random House)
Adult Fiction
3 Bookmarks

"The Back Nine" by Billy Mott was an interesting take on the old washed-up sports hero story. Meet Charlie McLeod, fleeing from an unknown something in his past. Charlie lands at an out of the way members-only golf course near San Francisco and falls into a job working as a caddie, something of which he is very familiar. As the story develops, we learn that Charlie is a former child prodigy of the golf game. Something terrible happened to him and he lost his ability to play.

But a miracle is about to occur. Charlie is about to pick up a golf club of his own again. And when he does, he is overcome by the pull of the game. The hunger for success. The drive to beat himself on the greens. While Charlie is finding his way back to the fairways, he catches the eyes of all the players and caddies around him. Particularly one player and one caddie who then attempt to exploit Charlie's long lost talent.

Charlie's character is dark and troubled, and the author does a good job of leading us to discover the reason for Charlie's anguish. Through the course of the story, Charlie goes through some highs and lows and even finds love. But throughout, the thread of the power of the game of golf carries on. Charlie is drawn to it.

If you're a golf fan, you will more appreciate the subtleties of the storyline. The detailed descriptions of the courses; the grass, the pin placement, the lie of the ball. The subterfuge was actually almost a minor sideline to the main theme of the story, which was Charlie getting past his past. It was interesting, and it ended on the happy note that I always prefer. All in all, a decent read.

BOOK REVIEW: "Austenland"

2009-11-08T11:45:00.004-07:00

Austenland
By Shannon Hale
Copyright 2007
Bloomsbury USA
Adult Fiction
3.5 Bookmarks

Okay, pretty much anyone who knows me knows that I love anything and everything Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice--one of my favorite books and movies. I remember dragging hubby and a male friend to go see "Sense and Sensibility", the movie, when it came out in theaters years ago--an event hubby STILL complains about to this day (it was payback for being dragged to go see "I Know What You Did Last Summer"--I hate scary movies, even if they're the fakey kind of scary).

So I find this book at the library about a woman who also loves anything and everything Jane Austen, and of course I can relate, so I check it out. The character in the book, Jane Hayes, has a secret obsession with Mr. Darcy (and I can totally understand why). She seems to compare all the men in her life with him. And it's ruining her dating world. No one can measure up to the steamy, sultry, tempestuous Mr. Darcy.

A distant relative discovers Jane's secret obsession and bequeaths a trip to "Austenland" to Jane in her will. Jane travels to England and to a world she has previously only known in books. Taking in the experience of living in this historical fiction world, Jane faces some interesting challenges, men who are acting the part of her regency dreamboat (or are they acting?), etiquette rules she has only read about, and love triangles like no other. In the process, Jane discovers a few things about herself.

I have often thought I was born in the wrong century, and this novel let's the reader play along with Jane Hayes and act out what it would be like to have been born into Jane Austen's world.
The author, Shannon Hale, creates a fun story that can be appreciated by any Jane Austen fan. The story was lighthearted, and maybe a little bit too predictable at the end, but it was still an enjoyable read!

BOOK REVIEW: "The Garden of Eden"

2009-10-12T20:43:00.005-06:00

The Garden of Eden

By Ernest Hemingway

Scribner Publishing

Classic Literature

3 Bookmarks

Ernest Hemingway, author of the classics "A Moveable Feast," "The Old Man and the Sea", and "A Farewell to Arms," among others, penned a number of novels he never quite completed. After his death, some of these unfinished works were published by members of his family. And so we arrive at "The Garden of Eden".

Ahhhh...young love. David and Catherine are newlyweds, honeymooning at a beach resort while David works on a new novel that he's been writing. His last novel has received positive reviews and things are looking up for David on a professional level. On a personal level, the couple's days are filled with leisure and lovemaking. Life is good.

But one day, something changes. It starts as a small, erotic journey David is led on by Catherine. But it soon turns dark and sinister. Catherine becomes someone that David doesn't know. He accepts the change with hesitation, as what else is there to do? But then when the darkness spirals into something even more erotically dangerous, David finds himself unable to control the world around him, not even the novel that is finding it's way onto the pages of his notebook.

A good author is able to challenge the reader to open their minds and look at life through a different set of eyes. Hemingway succeeds, but at a price. Although the novel was never completed, the story does have an ending, just not one the reader might have hoped for. If you're looking for a book to give you warm, fuzzy feelings after reading it, this is not the book for you. But it does make you think.

BOOK REVIEW: "Dear John"

2009-10-12T20:17:00.005-06:00

Dear John

By Nicholas Sparks

Warner Books

Adult Fiction

4 Bookmarks

I've read some good books lately and this is definitely one of them. By the author of "The Notebook", this is another tale of love and sadness that pulls you in and rips your heart out (I love a good book like that!)

In this story, John Tyree leaves home after high school, an angry teenager who doesn't understand his father, and really doesn't even understand himself. John joins the Army and comes home only rarely to visit. It is during one of these visits that John meets Savannah. She is everything that John is not. She is soft and gentle where he is rough and rugged. She is religious and committed where he is floundering. But somehow, they fall in love. Through short visits and long letters, their love grows.

But things happen, as they always do, to interrupt a good love story, and this one is no different. Will John and Savannah be able to overcome the odds and get over the obstacles that come their way? Will they be able to face the logistical challenges of their relationship? Is love strong enough? I'm not going to be a spoiler on this one....you'll have to read it for yourself to find out.

I always enjoy a good Sparks novel. They are easy, quick reads; but they are always stories you just don't want to put down. I recommend this one!

BOOK REVIEW: "Candles on Bay Street"

2009-10-03T09:01:00.013-06:00

Candles on Bay Street
by K. C. McKinon
Copyright 1999
Doubleday Publishing
Adult Fiction
4 Bookmarks
(spoiler alert!)

Alright, so really, I generally don't like books that make me cry. Especially ones that make me cry because someone is affected by cancer. But this book is an exception (I realize I just gave a big part of the book away, but maybe you're like me and have been personally touched in an excruciating way by cancer and like to avoid the reminders).

If I had known that cancer would be a part of this book, I probably wouldn't have read it, which would have truly been a shame. "Candles on Bay Street" is set in small-town Fort Kent, Maine, where veterinarian Sam Thibodeau is faced with some very tough choices when his childhood friend and lifelong crush, Dee Dee Michaud, returns to town after a very long absence. Both of their lives have changed dramatically (he is married, and she has a child), but the friendship is still there. Soon after Dee Dee starts up a candle-making business and begins to create a community for herself, Sam starts to notice something is wrong. Dee Dee is sick and getting sicker.

The story progresses from there and you will have to read the book to find out how it ends, but I do want to share my commentary on the way this book is written. The author pulled me in to Fort Kent and made me feel it was my own small town growing up. The people were so real. The incidents that were occuring in their daily lives were real. The writing was real and McKinnon's words conveyed the beauty of the setting with ease.

I felt each characters' joy and pain at various different points in the book. At several points in the book, I did weep like a baby. In part, because it brought up so many memories of my mother's own battle with cancer that she lost in 1995. But also, in part because I truly felt the character's emotions as written by the author.

I would definitely recommend this book, especially for someone who likes a good tear-jerker.

COMMENTARY: "Away So Long....."

2009-10-03T08:45:00.003-06:00

No, I did not fall off the face of the earth. No, I did not contract some terminal disease and die. No, I did not "quit" my blog. But I did start school. College, to be more precise. So here I am, working, going to school, being a mom, being a wife, running a household.....no wonder I haven't had any time to post anything! I have been reading (when I can) and have read some good books. I'll get the reviews on here as soon as I can, but I just wanted to take a moment to.....what....vent, maybe?

I knew it was going to be tough going back to school after nearly 15 years. I knew it was going to be taxing on my personal life, a challenge as relates to my work life, and generally-speaking, I did know things were going to be different. But I just didn't realize how much it was going to take out of me. I'm not 18 anymore (duh!) and these long hours are tough! I'm finally finding ways to manage my time more efficiently, but there are certain things that are definitely not getting as much attention as they used to (housework being number one on that list *sigh*).

I love school, though. I love that I'm back in school. It feels so good to be learning again. My number one goal in life was always to graduate from college. It may not seem like a big deal, especially now that I'm pretty well established in a career and probably won't be changing that, but it is a big deal. Neither of my parents, nor any of my siblings, graduated from college (most didn't even attend any college). My sister, Emily, however, has been a huge inspiration for me on this whole back-to-school thing. She is in nursing school (and working and being a mom herself) and she is doing awesome! She will be graduating long before I will and I'm so proud of her. But when she started, I kind of started looking at my own life and said, "if she can do it, so can I." And so here I am, starting back in college and doing what I always promised myself I would do.

My first two classes are Intermediate Algebra (a class I have already taken and HATE that I have to be taking again....*sigh*) and Geography, which is, in actuality, not really a geography class so much as a liberal geo-political commentary on the world. I chuckle and shake my head in this class on a frequent basis. But the thing that makes me chuckle the most at school are the "kids" I'm in class with. Especially the "guy" who comes to class in bare feet (because he "doesn't like shoes") and the kid who listens to his ipod so loudly during class that I can hear all the lyrics two rows away (seriously, when did that become acceptable in the classroom?) So I have fun with the people-watching as much as anything else.

It's good to be learning, though. It's good to be exercising those brain-muscles that have been atrophying for so long. It's good to be doing this thing!

BOOK REVIEW: "Caspian Rain"

2009-08-02T11:32:00.004-06:00

Caspian Rain
By Gina B. Nahai
Copyright 2007
Macadam Cage Publisher
Adult Fiction
5 Bookmarks
Exceptional!

Let me just start out by saying this is the best book I have read so far this year. Caspian Rain begins by painting a picture of a young schoolgirl walking along the streets “in a city with blue mountains”, dreaming of better luck and a better life, “once upon a time in a land of miracles”.

In reality, the girl is an Iranian Jew, trapped in a land of class warfare, in a world where she exists at the bottom of the totem pole. But when her “miracle” appears and offers to pull her up out of the ghettos of her childhood, she thinks her luck has finally come. To the contrary, though, this turn of events ends up turning her world upside-down.

Caspian Rain is narrated by Yaas, the daughter of this unfortunate schoolgirl. Yaas takes us through the ups and downs of being a Jew in a land where Islam rules, a world where parents can prevent the divorce of their adult children, where extra-marital affairs are accepted and almost expected, where women have no rights, no rule, and no life of their own.

The author introduces us to such diverse characters as Chamedooni, a snake-oil salesman with a proclivity for cutting the hair off of girls in the morgue; the “ghost brother”, who rides his bike silently on the streets, ever searching for his path to heaven; and Niyaz, the high-class harlot who threatens them all. All these characters step in and out of the lives of Yaas and her parents as they struggle to accept their lot in life, and fight to create an illusion of being better than what they were born to be. The tragedy is that, in the end, no one can fool the world enough that it will ignore your fate.

I felt such a sense of sorrow for the characters in this tale; being so helpless to create a better world for themselves, and yet always always holding out hope that things will get better. The world we see in Caspian Rain is painful; a simple and beautifully tragic story to give us all a reason to appreciate what we have been given in our own lives. Exceptional!

BOOK REVIEW: "the watermark"

2009-07-25T22:23:00.003-06:00

The Watermark
By Travis Thrasher
Copyright 2001
Tyndale House Publishers, inc.
Adult Fiction
2 Bookmarks

I finished reading The Watermark over a week ago, but I have been torn about how to write this review. There is a part of me that liked the book. It had a certain sense of “can’t-put-it-down”ness. The characters were interestingly drawn. And the feeling of not being entirely sure what was going on kept me on the edge of my seat for a time.

But once I figured out what the real story was, it sort of felt….well, wrong.

Sheridan Blake (cool character name, by the way) is 28 and returning to college. For several pages of the book, you don’t know why he was absent so long. But the reader eventually learns that Sheridan has done something bad. Very bad. And not only that, but he got away with it.

Sheridan is torn up from his guilt and remorse, or at least he is supposed to be. In reality, it seems he is just trying to forget his past and ignore its importance in his life. Fairly early on in the book (and periodically throughout the remainder), the author points the story in the “if only he could look to god for forgiveness” direction. It seemed to me that these gratuitous pleas for Sheridan’s soul were thrown quite haphazardly into the book. They almost seemed like a weird sidenote.

Toward the end of the book, the plot started to become quite predictable and cliché, which was disappointing. Some of the choices the characters made seemed very out of character. And I really wasn’t sorry when the book ended. And that’s all I have to say about that.

BOOK REVIEW: "Train Man"

2009-07-12T20:21:00.004-06:00

Train Man
By Hitori Nakano
Copyright 2004
Del Rey Books
Adult Fiction
3 Bookmarks

Before there was Facebook, there were chat rooms. Before chat rooms, there were bulletin boards. And in “Train Man”, by Hitori Nakano, a love story unfolds before the reader's eyes on the pages of an innocent bulletin board “thread”.

Tren, a self-professed computer geek, has found himself in a quandary. Riding on the train to work one day, he witnesses a group of women being accosted by a drunken geezer. Tren does something completely out of character for himself; he comes to the rescue and saves the women from what he presumes is an assault waiting to happen. But when one of the women (a young, attractive one at that), sends a thank you gift to Tren, he hardly knows how to react. So he turns to his virtual “friends” on the bulletin board and asks for their help.

This entire book is written as a routine bulletin board “thread”; each post dated and timed from each individual user. Tren takes the advice of the other computer geeks on the thread and calls the girl to thank her for the thank you gift. The relationship progresses from there with the computer geeks giving Tren (a very inexperienced young geek) advice at every turn. What unfolds is a beautiful love story filled with sophistication from the young woman, and innocence and geeky-ness (two of my favorite male qualities! ;-) from the young man.

The writing style of the bulletin board was very clever, I thought. The book was originally written in Japanese and translated into English two years later. A fun book and a quick read.

COMMENTARY: Here Comes The Rain Again...

2009-07-09T14:31:00.006-06:00

We are a little spoiled in Colorado Springs with our average of 300 days of sunshine per year. This year has been tough on us with day after day of clouds and rain. Our lawns our happy, and so are our water bills, but are we?

If I go too long without the sun, I start to feel groggy and depressed. The sun is a lifeline to…well…life, if you will. The bright sunshine in the morning helps us wake up. The warmth of the sun gives us comfort and a sense of fullness. The constant motion of the sun in the sky helps us track our progress for the day. The shadows tell us it’s time to hurry up because the end of the day is drawing near.

But when the clouds roll in and just stay and stay and stay, everything feels a little…off. It’s more difficult to get out of bed in the morning. It’s impossible to know what time it is without referring to some kind of electronic device. There’s no sense of movement or warmth.

How do the people of Seattle survive with their average 43 days of sunshine per year? I don’t know. Really. I don’t have a clue. I went to Seattle once. I was there for five days; no sunshine at all for five days. I was unbelievably ready to leave by the end of those very long five days (let me make myself clear….I was actually ready to leave BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY at that point).

There is a mood disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), related to the changing of seasons. People who have been diagnosed with this disorder become depressed most commonly during the winter (in fact, many people know the disorder by the name “winter blues”) and occasionally during other seasons of the year. Believe me, I can relate! There is something to be said for the healing power of the sun.

And yeah, I am grateful we are not in a drought and I am grateful my garden is getting lots of water; but really, can’t the sun just come out and play for awhile?

BOOK REVIEW: "The Pastures of Heaven"

2009-07-07T15:10:00.005-06:00

The Pastures of Heaven
John Steinbeck
Copyright 1932
Robert O. Ballou, Inc.
Classic Literature
4 Bookmarks

Take a voyeuristic look at Las Pasturas del Cielo, The Pastures of Heaven, with author John Steinbeck and you will be welcomed into a world of fate, longing, disappointment, and resignation. This collection of interconnected short stories tells of the lives of the inhabitants of a secluded valley near Salinas, California. Each tale draws the reader closer and closer in to the core meaning of the name of this enchanted place.

This lonely collection of farmhouses and cabins is a final resting place for the hopes and dreams of three generations. From the single farmer who finds an abandoned baby on the side of the road, to the new school teacher fresh from the city, each character is portrayed in stunning detail. Their ambitions are all different, but the end result of each story ties them all together.

One of my favorite stories in the book revolves around the Whiteside family. A man who has decided to create a legacy, purchases land and builds an estate. He envisions the home being filled with children and imagines the home passing from generation to generation so that he can live on forever. This man and his wife, unfortunately, are able to have only one child. While this saddens them greatly, they direct their son, when he becomes an adult, to carry on their wishes. The son is very much like his parents, and he too wants to continue on this legacy. That son, however, is also only able to have one child, and when that child decides he doesn’t want to stay in the valley, the only reasonable conclusion to the story results.

There is such variety and eccentricity in the characters of this masterpiece; from the prostitutes who ask forgiveness each day from their statue of the Virgin Mary, to the chicken farmer who thinks nothing of visiting his friend (the warden of the prison) and witnessing executions, to the man named “Shark” who leads everyone to believe he is the possessor of great wealth, when in reality, he is as poor and destitute as his neighbors.

I truly enjoyed this book. It is one of the better “classics” that I’ve read and I would recommend it to anyone wishing to expand their literary horizons.

BOOK REVIEW: "On Chesil Beach"

2009-06-28T15:22:00.007-06:00

On Chesil Beach
By Ian McEwan
Copyright 2007
Doubleday
Adult Fiction
2.5 Bookmarks

Imagine, if you will, a man and a woman on their wedding night. Now, although it may be hard to imagine for those of you out there who aren’t Mormon, try to imagine what it would be like if that wedding night were your FIRST night together. And so begins the story of Chesil Beach, by Ian McEwan.

It is 1962. Florence and Edward are in love and this is their wedding day. McEwan guides the reader through the emotions of each of the characters in turn. Edward, who has waited for this moment since the first day he laid eyes on beautiful Florence. In fact, it is for this moment that he has waited his whole life. And then there is Florence. Florence, who is filled with fear and dread and disgust. Florence who acknowledges her obligation and tries as hard as she might to swallow the bile that seems to creep up her throat whenever she even thinks about what is to occur after the wedding ceremony.

The happy couple sit in their honeymoon suite at a hotel on Chesil Beach and slowly pretend to eat their wedding dinner. Small talk is the order of the day. Edward contemplating how he might begin the…ahem….proceedings. Florence contemplating how she might avoid them.

The author flashes back through the couple’s courtship; from the moment they first meet, through every moment that Edward attempts a physical advance toward Florence, through every moment that Florence grants Edward a token reward for his efforts. By the time their wedding day has arrived, they really are nowhere near the level of intimacy one would normally assume in this situation. It is a recipe for disaster.

The characters of this book were quite intoxicating. Each manages to be narcissistic and eager-to-please at turn. The alternating selflessness and selfishness of each of them clearly demonstrate that neither character really knows who they are. If this book weren’t so well-written, I would tell you to avoid it merely to avoid the horribly sad and depressing ending. But McEwan’s storytelling ability is quite thought-out and it is, generally speaking, worth the read just for the quality of that.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Good Life"

2009-06-25T23:06:00.005-06:00

The Good Life
By Erin McGraw
Copyright 2004
Houghton Mifflin Co
Short Story Collection
2 Bookmarks

Hmmm…I’m really not even sure what to say about this book. Normally, I really like short stories. They are usually detailed, and yet pithy, and then have a dramatic surprise at the end. This collection of short stories fell short of my expectations by quite a bit.

As the title of the book indicates, these stories are about “life”. However, I really felt like instead of the “good” life, the stories were more about people who are trapped in a life they don’t really want.

I think that my favorite was a story called “A Whole New Man”, about a man named Frederick who is somehow talked into going on a makeover show with his wife. The author describes Frederick’s lack of opinion on the issue in such an amusing way. And then when Frederick actually gets his makeover and he must deal with the feelings he experiences as a result, I did feel quite a bit of empathy for him (me who HATES to get my hair cut and feels a sense of loss for days and days whenever I can no longer avoid it).

In reading other stories, I think I just totally missed the point. I would get to the end of a story (which usually wasn’t an “end” at all), and wonder exactly why the author had written it in the first place. Some of the characters were oddly….well, odd. Like the woman who falls in love with her priest. Or the young girl who is sent to live with a woman her mother admires but whom she’s never met. Or the recovering addict who finds peace from her mother by attending early morning mass. Some of the concepts to the stories were interesting, but they really fizzled in the end.

There were a few good moments in the book, but not enough to justify the time I spent reading it.

REAL ESTATE: New Carbon Monoxide Detector Law

2009-06-13T10:40:00.004-06:00

Starting on July 1st, 2009, real estate law in Colorado is changing. The new law taking effect requires all Home Sellers and Landlords to have Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detectors installed within 15 feet of any bedroom or sleeping area if the home has a gas-fired heating source, appliance, fireplace or an attached garage. There is a link to the actual State House Bill 1091 below. The alarms are available for purchase at Home Depot, Lowe’s, Wal-Mart, etc., and can cost anywhere from$15 to $50. The goal, obviously, is to keep the population of Colorado safer by ensuring that (eventually) all homes will have CO detectors installed.

The law comes a little too late for one local family. In December 2008, the Murphy family, who had recently moved into a rental home in Manitou Springs, became ill with what they thought was the flu. They stayed home and rested, but when Joel Murphy awoke one morning to discover he couldn't walk, he called 911. He saved his own life and the life of his 2-year-old son, but tragically, Joel's wife Kelly was already dead.

Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness and nausea. The gas is produced by fuel that is incompletely burned, from fireplaces, furnaces, or even barbecue grills. This new law will help prevent senseless tragedies like the tragedy suffered by the Murphy family in Manitou Springs.

You can read the law and some general information below:

Carbon Monoxide Bill Signed into Law: Colorado's Governor Bill Ritter signed HB 1091 into law recently. The new law will cover all new residential construction and existing single-family and multi-family housing units offered for sale, transfer or rent. Beginning July 1, 2009, a seller or landlord of residential real property containing a fuel-fired heater or appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage will be responsible for assuring that a carbon monoxide alarm is properly installed within 15 feet of the entrance to each room lawfully used for sleeping prior to the sale or lease of the property. No person shall have a claim for relief against a property owner or their authorized agent if a carbon monoxide alarm is installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s published instructions.

POEM: "Us" by Andrea Rowley

2009-06-13T09:13:00.007-06:00

US

I saw it in your eyes
The day we met
I knew you knew
For I knew, too

Perhaps it was your smile
Or the way you held my glance
Or maybe it was nothing
But a comfortable realization

So natural
So synchronized
Each day is a year
Each moment, an eternity

Nothing breaking
Ever together
Hand in hand
Walking towards forever

By Andrea Rowley, for my dear husband Justin.

14 years ago today we met,
and each day we get to begin

the rest of our lives together. With love...

(print by Alfred Gockel, one of my favorite artists....)

BOOK REVIEW: "How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life"

2009-06-12T21:58:00.005-06:00

How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life
By Mameve Medwed
Copyright 2006
HarperCollins Publishing
Adult Fiction
4 Bookmarks

Okay, so I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for a good chamber pot story. How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life is a well-written novel about Abby Randolph, a “professional” antiques dealer, who doesn’t always seem so professional. Especially when she stumbles upon a chamber pot with some unique features. She doesn’t think much of it herself, but when a colleague urges her to take it on Antiques Roadshow, she is surprised to learn of the pot’s origins.

Wait a minute. Let me back up. Really, this isn’t a story about a chamber pot at all. Really it’s about how sometimes life IS a chamber pot that we may find ourselves wallowing in. And somehow, we have to find a way to crawl out of it. This book is about the main character doing just that.

Abby has just broken up with her boyfriend Clyde, a man she somehow always knew wasn’t really her soulmate, even though he seemed to fit into her life okay. She is pining away, but not really for him; more for the idea of togetherness. A part of Abby is also pining away for Ned, her childhood crush, and someone more suited to meet the needs of her soul. Unfortunately, Ned has done something totally idiotic that Abby simply cannot forgive.

So through these relationship ups and down, through her visits to flea markets and tag sales, through her antique discoveries, through a lawsuit mired in bitter selfishness, Abby Randolph slowly but surely climbs her way out of that chamber pot. It is a fun journey.

Definitely more geared for the female crowd, but I would recommend this book if you’d like a lighthearted read, if you are an amateur antiquarian, or if the Cambridge area is of interest to you. Lots of historical and geographic references, not to mention a fun title, and just plain readable!

BOOK REVIEW: "Bitter Milk"

2009-06-06T12:06:00.004-06:00

Bitter Milk
By John McManus
Copyright 2005
Picador Publishing
Adult Fiction
1 ½ Bookmarks

Weird, weird, weird. This entire book is written from the perspective of an invisible friend (or maybe it’s a dead twin, or a multiple personality…it’s never really clear which one it is), which was kind of interesting. But the flow of the book really bothered me. It’s written as sort of a stream of consciousness exercise. No breaks in the story at all (read “no chapters”!) And the dialogue is not offset with quotation marks, which was really odd to me at first, but since it’s the invisible friend relaying the entire story including who said what, I suppose that explains why.

This is a story about Loren, a young boy facing some very interesting issues in his everyday life. His mother wishes she were a man, he is very overweight due to the fact that for 11 years he’s been feeding his insecurities with the world (not helped by the narrator of the book, Luther, who is constantly demeaning and belittling Loren), and he doesn’t know what is wrong with his mother. Loren doesn’t fit in at school and he doesn’t fit in with his eclectic (at best) extended family. When his grandmother dies and then his mother disappears without a word, Loren is forced to find his way on his own for the first time in his life.

The best part about the book was watching Loren transform into a person of substance. He decides to do something about his weight. He decides to ignore Luther’s rumblings in his brain. He goes on his own looking for his mother. He decides to choose who he will associate with in his very, very messed-up family. You almost had to like the kid for a few pages there. Set in the backwards hills of East Tennessee, this book is a glimpse at what lack of education could do to a person.

The worst part about this book was that it really had no point. In the end I asked myself “why in the world did I just read this?” I hate it when that happens.

BOOK REVIEW: "Madame Mirabou's School of Love"

2009-06-03T09:48:00.008-06:00

Madame Mirabou’s School of Love
By Barbara Samuel
Ballantine Books
Copyright 2006
Adult Fiction
4.5 Bookmarks

What a fun book! Particularly fun because it is set in Colorado Springs so I know all the little nooks and crannies that are mentioned. This is a story about a recent divorcee who is trying to discover what she wants to be when she grows up. It is a story of rediscovering how to love someone else, as well as discovering how to love yourself.

The story starts out with Nicole trying to come to grips with the fact that she has just accidentally blown up her house and now has to find another place to live. Nicole finds comfort in smells, her “Scents of Hours” as she calls them (by the way, I think that would have been a much more appropriate title for the book); perfumes that she concocts related to certain experiences in her life. Some of the perfumes she creates are “Winter Suppers”, “The Apartment on Academy”, “Picnic in Cheyenne Canyon” and “The Man at the Bar”.

The book gracefully walks the reader through Nicole’s trials of living on her own, missing her daughter (who is living with her ex-husband), meeting new people, finding work, and finding meaning in her life. The story flows from page to page, occasionally interspersed with Nicole’s wonderful perfume journal entries that bring to mind scents of my own past.

I really enjoyed the story and didn’t want to put the book down. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a pleasant read.

BOOK REVIEW: "A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity"

2009-05-30T16:47:00.003-06:00

A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity
By Bill O’Reilly
Copyright 2008
Broadway Books
Autobiography
4 Bookmarks

Well, I will say that this book was a little surprising. Most people either love Bill O’Reilly or they hate him. And to be honest, I hadn’t really formed a solid opinion before reading his book. On his television show, I have always found him blunt and opinionated (not necessarily bad things in my book). And I have always appreciated his verbosity. I am a lover of words myself, so his “word of the day” always hits a soft spot for me.

I suppose I expected this book to be a political commentary, but it really wasn’t. It was an autobiography of O’Reilly’s upbringing and early experiences that shaped his opinions and made him the person that he is today. He sums up his early childhood by saying, “Life was simple: You want it—make it happen. Somebody bothers you; deal with it.” Could life really be that simple? O’Reilly spends a lot of time lauding the virtues of lifelong friends and detailing various exploits. He spent his formative years in various Catholic schools, and after reading this book I can definitely see how his religious background comes into play with his political alignments.

I found this book quite interesting, actually. Reading about the childhood of someone who was raised so vastly differently from me is always intriguing, but when reading about it in the context of the public persona of the adult Bill O’Reilly, it was quite eye-opening.

I don’t agree with O’Reilly on all his political opinions, but after reading this book, I do feel that even though he is a brash and straight-shooting individual, he comes at it with heart and soul. And that he is one of those people who means what he says and says what he means.

There were some very lighthearted parts of the book. My favorite, I think, being the chapter called “Mysteries of the Universe” where O’Reilly details items of pop culture that he just never “got”. Items such as the movie Love Story, rap star “Snoop Dog”, and the disappointing series finales of Seinfeld and The Sopranos. I found his pithy commentary on these cultural icons to be highly entertaining.

There was definitely a somewhat conservative overtone to the book, mostly due to the religious nature of O’Reilly’s upbringing, but other than that, the political commentary was very minimal. I thought it was a pretty good “story of my life” book and would recommend it to anyone who is willing to sit through “The O’Reilly Factor” on FoxNews.

COMMENTARY: Regret

2009-05-25T20:04:00.004-06:00

I find “regret” to be fascinating. We, as members of the human race, all seem to view regret differently. I know people who wallow in sadness over past regrets. These are the people that cannot forgive themselves for choices that they’ve made and are constantly bringing up things from the past that cannot be changed. These tend, in my opinion, to be the pessimists of the world who don’t think the future is very bright. They spend so much time reliving past miseries that it is difficult to imagine anything better.

And then, at the opposite end of the spectrum, are the folks who proudly boast that they “don’t believe in regret”. What does that mean, anyway? I actually know several people who say this, and it is something I don’t fully understand (which, I suppose, is why I find it so fascinating).

What does it mean to “believe” in regret? Does that mean that you must solely focus on the things you’ve done (or not done) and let it hold you back? Or does it mean that you acknowledge those poor choices, learn from them, and try to do better the next time around?

Personally, I’m a follower of the second train of thought. I think if a person ignores regret, they are missing an opportunity for growth. And that’s not to say that I don’t think people ought to move forward, because obviously I do. But I think if we look at a choice that’s been made as something that really doesn’t matter, then we are being wasteful of a gift we’ve been given.

Regret can mean a lot of different things, really; contrition, disappointment, penitence, grief, remorse, etc. But really, it’s all about doing something or not doing something that affected your life (or someone else’s life) in a negative way. It’s been said that when you die, you will have more regret for the things you’ve not done than for the things you’ve done. I suppose I’ll have to wait until my deathbed to test that theory.

We’ve all been faced with a crossroad in life; that one decision that veered you to the left or right. You know, in your heart of hearts, that if you’d made a different choice at that pivotal moment, your life would be vastly different than it is today. Some people may regret that choice, some people may be oblivious to the fact that they even had a choice, and some people will be satisfied with the choice that they made. And sometimes the choice we’re faced with cannot have a perfect outcome; for instance, when you must choose from the lesser of two evils, as the saying goes. In that instance, regret must also come with a healthy dose of resignation.

Probably my biggest regret in life is not finishing college (*gulp* it’s hard to admit that publicly). But I was faced with one of those lesser of two evils choices years ago. Either give up college (for the time being), or move four states away from the man who is now my husband. I know it is a little cliché, but it is what it is. I’ve often said over the years that I would go back to college and “fix” that little regret, and I do regret that I haven’t done it yet. But, to be honest, I’m glad I have that regret, because I feel it there constantly niggling in the back of my mind and I KNOW that someday that regret is going to push me enough to actually do it. I feel as though if I were the kind of person who didn’t “believe” in regret, college would be the furthest thing from my mind. And that would be a shame, really.

I will admit that there are some regrets that are difficult to bear. The night my mother died, I forgot to tell her “goodnight” and “I love you” before I went to bed. In my memory, before that night I had religiously hugged her and told her goodnight and I love you every night previous to that. The regret that I was wrapped up in my own existence that particular day and forgot to say those precious words stays with me and reminds me often to tell my husband and daughter that I love them. And what if I didn’t have that regret? Would those words mean less to me? I think they would.

And what of the words that have been spoken that have caused people to cut themselves off from my life (another terrible thing to have to admit)? Do I regret those words? Well, I certainly regret the outcome, but again it is one of those lesser of two evils things. Do I say something that I feel absolutely must be said even though the consequence may be the end of a relationship? Or do I not say anything and wait for disaster to strike and be one of the people who stand around shaking their heads and saying, “I knew I should have said something,” or “I knew I should have done something”? A difficult choice to make and a regret that cannot be avoided no matter the way you go. As sad as the outcome is, I do not regret the words because they needed to be said and I can only hope that they were heard.

I will admit that there have been moments in my life when I have gotten wrapped up in regret and that sometimes it has been difficult to take a step back and look at things from an outside perspective. And, to be honest, I feel like those are instances where my regrets have held me back. By focusing too much emotional energy on something that is unchangeable, I allowed myself to stagnate for certain periods of time when I could have been moving forward and growing. And yes, I will ruefully admit that I identify more with the folks wallowing in their regret than the ones who don’t “believe”. But at the same time, I do acknowledge the damaging results that regret can cause if you don’t allow yourself the opportunity to learn and step past the regret. And the reality is that if I hadn’t gone through those difficult points in my life, I would not be the person that I am today.

On the flipside, it is a little ironic that sometimes there are things in life that you think you’ll regret and then you do them and you realize you don’t regret them at all. It’s all part of that growth. And I think it goes back to the idea that in life you will regret the things you haven’t done more than the things you have.

And I will say this: I don’t regret that I have regrets. I’m grateful to have learned from the mistakes I have made and feel I can move forward and be a better person for them.

So my question to you is: Do you believe in regret?

BOOK REVIEW: "The Everything Parent's Guide to Raising a Successful Child"

2009-05-24T16:03:00.005-06:00

The Everything Parent’s Guide to Raising a Successful Child
By Denise D. Witmer
Copyright 2004
Adams Media Publishing
Self-Help
3 Bookmarks

Well, I have to say that it is kind of a difficult thing reviewing a book about parenting. Everyone has such different ideas about what makes a good parent. There were some really good suggestions in this book, but there were also some parts of the book where the author tells you what you need to do, but not really HOW to do it, which was a little frustrating.

One thing I liked about the book is that in each category, the suggestions are broken down by age group. One of the sections of the book deals with organizational skills in children. I followed one of the suggestions of this section and wrote lists for my daughter breaking down some her chores and routines to manageable tasks. It used to be very difficult getting her to clean her room, but we sat down together and wrote a list of all the different parts of cleaning her room (i.e., making her bed, putting stuffed animals on the top bunk, putting all the Littlest Pet Shop toys in their bin, putting all dirty clothes in the laundry basket, etc.), and now when she cleans her room, she can do each task one at a time without getting overwhelmed.

I definitely agreed with the section of the book that talked about modeling behavior for your children. The old “do as I say, not as I do,” does not ever work, which is why I have a huge pet peeve with parents who smoke or use foul language around their children. If children hear you say something inappropriate, you can be certain they will repeat it at the MOST inopportune time (and nobody likes a potty-mouthed kid). I also think it is important for parents to protect their children from being exposed to other people who speak inappropriately or do inappropriate activities around children.

One of the sections I had mixed feelings about was the section on Discipline. Basically, this section says to use Time Outs, Privileges/Rewards, and Natural/Logical Consequences over all other forms of discipline. I don’t know about you, but pretty much none of these work for my kid. When she was younger, the Time Out worked somewhat, but now the only thing that really works is “The Lecture”. She dreads that pretty much over anything else (except maybe the threat of a spanking which, of course, the book categorically disapproves of). Now, I’m probably going to get all sorts of comments from folks who think spanking is the WORST thing a parent could ever do to their child, but they have probably not been faced with a child who doesn’t care if every belonging she has is taken away, who doesn’t care if she’s not allowed to watch TV for a month, and who doesn’t care if she is forced to sit on the stairs for an hour. Sometimes, you just have to do what you have to do (by the way, before I had a child, I SWORE I would never spank….) Of course, it’s been eons since I’ve had to actually spank her—the threat apparently carries a huge amount of weight in a 7-year-old mind.

Anyway, enough about that. Some sections of the book that didn’t give enough information were the sections on forming good habits, practicing self-discipline and building your family’s strengths. None of these sections spelled out practical ways of accomplishing these tasks; it just said they were important.

But basically, I liked most of the suggestions the book had. I always want to know what I could be doing better as a parent. And finding better ways of doing things is always great.

Next up on the Parenting Book front? How to talk to your child about sex. Yikes. I don’t think I’m ready for that one quite yet.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Second Coming of Lucy Hatch"

2009-05-24T12:40:00.004-06:00

The Second Coming of Lucy Hatch
By Marsha Moyer
Copyright 2002
William Morrow/ HarperCollins Publishers
Adult Fiction
4 Bookmarks

A woman who is not in love with her husband of 14 years (and never has been) is confronted by his death in a farming accident. Lucy Hatch must somehow move forward in this heart-filled tale of grief, love and new beginnings.

Moving back to her hometown after such a long time, Lucy must face her judgmental mother, deal with having no money, and finding out that she doesn’t really know who she is. She meets a man who she had known of in high school and finds herself falling in love for the first time. Everyone in town sets their tongues wagging at this little development, but Lucy takes it in stride. She takes a job at the local florist shop and starts getting her life back in order.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was lighthearted, and yet it dealt with some very real life issues. Who am I? What do I want out of life? Who do I want to be? I think we all deal with those questions at one time or another, and this book was an interesting look at how to process those feelings.

My favorite part of the book was when Lucy finally allows herself to grieve her husband’s death. Even though she didn’t love him, losing him was still losing a part of herself. Her anguish at making that realization brought me to tears.

BOOK REVIEW: Children's Books

2009-05-13T13:37:00.005-06:00

I am proud of my kid. She is in the top reading group in her 1st grade class and she reads really, really well. I attribute this to the fact that I started reading to her when she was just a few days old and I’ve read to her every day since then. When she was young, it was a story before every nap and bedtime. Now, it’s about 20 minutes of chapter books before bedtime at night (in addition to the time she is required to read herself for homework).

Over the years, I’ve read some really good children’s books (and some not so good ones). So I thought I’d tell you about my favorites.

There are some great board books out there (intended for the infant to toddler set). One of the first board books anyone gave us for my daughter was the book “Silly Sally” (by Audrey Wood). This is a lovely book filled with deliciously sing-sing rhymes and an alliterative character (alliteration, by the way, is my favorite rhetorical device). The book chronicles how “Silly Sally went to town, walking backwards, upside down". The artwork is entertaining for even the smallest children and the story is lots of fun.

My favorite bedtime book from when my daughter was small is, “Time for Bed” (by Mem Fox). All I have to do is hear the words, “It’s time for bed, little mouse, little mouse. Darkness is falling all over the house”, and I get all nostalgic for those great snuggly moments we had together.

The book “Guess How Much I Love You” (by Sam McBratney) created a very fun tradition in our family. The book goes through a competition between Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare of how much they love each other. “I love you as high as I can reach,” says one. “I love you right up to the moon,” says another. And so now my daughter and I will occasionally start a little competition of our own. “I love you more than all the stars in the sky,” is definitely a favorite.

Once my daughter came more to the age of awareness of her surroundings, we moved on to books for the 2-5 crowd. There are lots of books in this age group that help to teach young children values and help to strengthen their character. One of my favorites is “Webster, the Scaredy Spider,” (by Max Lucado). The beautiful computer-generated photos, and the path to Webster learning to be brave through God’s help, are a very fun read.

Another favorite for this age group is “Olivia” (by Ian Falconer). This is a wonderful book about a little girl and the stresses of her day-to-day existence. What to wear, a trip to the beach, the confusing art at the art museum, her cat and her little brother, are discussed in such a childlike tone that it is easy for your child to relate. The illustrations in this book are simple, and yet enough. I love at the end when Olivia’s mother tells her, “You know, you really wear me out. But I love you anyway.” And Olivia says, “I love you anyway too.”

It was about this age that we discovered the “Little Critter” books, by Mercer Mayer. This is a fantastic series of books about a little porcupine named “Little Critter” and his family. Over the years we collected at least 20 of these books because they are just so fun to read (for both child and parent!) One of my favorites in this series is called “Just Me in the Tub,” about Little Critter taking a bath. In this story Little Critter tells us all the steps to taking a bath, from running the water, pouring in the bubbles, washing, time to get out, etc. But what makes these books so much fun, is the illustrations. As Little Critter is telling us how important it is to carefully step out of the tub onto the bath map so he won’t splash water everywhere, you see in the illustration all the water that Little Critter already splashed everywhere from his game of pirates being caught in a terrible storm at sea. This series also features books that open up lines of discussion between parents and children. With titles like “Just a Trip to the Dentist,” “The New Baby,” “Just Lost,” “A Very Special Critter,” and “I Just Forgot,” these books make it easy to talk to your children about important things they face in their own lives. I highly, highly recommend owning at least a few of these books!

For the next age group (5-8), check out anything written by John Lithgow. My favorite is “Micawber,” a tale about a squirrel who discovers a talent for painting with his, er, tail. Lithgow’s books are magical for his use of rhyme and verbosity. Where else could you find the word “peregrination” in a children’s book? I also love his book "I'm A Manatee."

To help children learn how to tell time, try “The Grouchy Ladybug” (by Eric Carle). By far, my favorite of Eric Carle’s books.

Another fun book that all kids this age like is, “Skippyjon Jones” (by Judy Schachner). Just something intrinsically entertaining about saying that name 40 or 50 times!

My daughter is sort of a bat fanatic. She loves all things bat. So, of course, we have about 20 books dedicated to bats. My favorite being, “Bats at the Beach” (by Brian Lies). An ordinary group of bats takes a trip (at night, of course) to enjoy all the things the beach has to offer. From “bug-mallows” toasting "on slender sticks", to “sailing in the wing-boat races,” to wearing their “moon-tan lotion”, this is a clever take on what going to the beach would be like for nocturnal creatures.

As my daughter has gotten older, we’ve moved onto “I Can Read” books and a variety of chapter books. My favorites of the “I Can Read” books are the “Frog and Toad” series (by Arnold Lobel). Frog and Toad are best friends and are always getting into one scrape after another, but their friendship always pulls them through. These are fun to read to your children, and then once your child is learning to read, fun for them to read to you.

We are just beginning our foray into children’s chapter books. We have loved the “Little House” series (by Laura Ingalls Wilder), and are getting ready to start reading “The Secret Garden” (by Frances Hodgson Burnett). I can tell you right off that I do not particularly like the "Magic Treehouse" series (by Mary Pope Osborne). In my opinion, they are the same story written over and over and over in different locations. But for some reason, my daughter just LOVES these books.

Two other children’s books that I find to be highly overrated are “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,” (by Bill Martin Jr. and Jon Archambault), and “Where the Wild Things Are” (by Maurice Sendak). Both are award-winning books that are really hyped in literary circles. I felt like there was basically no purpose or redeeming quality to the book “Where the Wild Things Are”. “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” is highly irritating to read and I just don't think it succeeds in it's intended goal of helping children learn the alphabet.

So there you have it, my favorite children’s books (and a few not-so-favorite). Now get out there and read to your kids!

BOOK REVIEW: "The Man from Stone Creek"

2009-05-11T14:54:00.006-06:00

The Man from Stone Creek
By Linda Lael Miller
Harlequin Books S.A.
Copyright 2006
Adult Fiction
4 Bookmarks

I don’t usually get into “romance” novels very much, but I do love historical fiction. "The Man from Stone Creek" is a western pseudo-romance (you know, no graphic sex scenes) filled with gunslinging rangers and women of questionable character, as well as the upstanding members of the small town of Haven, Arizona.

Maddie Chancelor runs a small shop (as well as the post-office) and tries to keep her younger brother out of trouble. But when Sam O’Ballivan shows up in town as the new school teacher, both he and Maddie are taken by surprise with the attraction that develops between them. Sam, however, is hiding a secret. He’s really a lawman trying to take down a gang of thieves. And when things go south, Sam is forced to realize what’s really important to him and to his future.

The criminal aspect of the story is actually pretty interesting. I particularly liked the character of Vierra, a Mexican who comes across the border to try to help Sam capture the gang of thieves. There were some good twists and turns with that part of the plot.
I enjoyed the book, but thought there were a few avenues that could have been better explored. There were a lot of characters in the book that weren’t very likable and at the conclusion of the story that fact really stood out to me. But all in all, I was glad I read it. And I might read something else by this author again in the future.

BOOK REVIEW: "Chocolate Beach"

2009-05-08T22:47:00.001-06:00

Chocolate Beach
By Julie Carobini
Bethany House Publishers/Baker Publishing Group
Copyright 2007
Adult Fiction
3 Bookmarks

“Chocolate Beach” didn’t quite have that “can’t put it down” thing going for it, but it was still a fun read. Bri Stone, the funky, witty and cool main character thinks she has it all. But when things start happening that throw her life into a spin, she isn’t quite sure what to make of it. So she throws herself headlong into the changes that are coming her way (and she even creates a few changes of her own).

The descriptions of beach life in this book are entertaining and almost make you want to brave the hurricanes to experience what it’s like to be a beach bum. Bri has a carefree attitude in most areas of her life, including parenting, marriage and her job. But for any woman, thinking her husband is cheating on her can be devastating. Bri takes it in stride, however, and always keeps that “cool girl” attitude. One of my favorite parts of the book is when Bri imagines herself barging into her husband’s office “demanding to know where he was going yesterday with his too-thin, bleached-blond legal associate”, but she realizes doing that would be “just too daytime television.”

I would hate to call this a “frou-frou” book, but its close. Very light-hearted, easy read with some fun twists and turns.

BOOK REVIEW: "Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor's Story"

2009-05-03T11:59:00.003-06:00

Beyond the Tears: A True Survivor’s Story
By Lynn C. Tolson
1st Books Library Publishers
Copyright 2002, 2003
Biographical Memoir
4 Bookmarks

This is the memoir of Lynn Tolson. Her journey begins with the reliving of a terrifying suicide attempt. And why? Why would this young woman want to end her life? That is the question. And so Lynn carries you through her story, from the molestation she endured as a child, the emotional abuse in her household, the mental illness of a parent, a teenage rape she suffered, the adults around her that didn’t believe her, and the mind-numbing drug use that she experienced in the years leading up to this attempt to end it all.

This story is one of survival. As you read through the things she has experienced, the reader begins to understand why Lynn tried to kill herself, why she didn’t think life was worth living. Lynn endured unimaginable suffering in her life and in her own mind. The book relives her feelings of inadequacy and fear. You learn, through the course of the story, that Lynn escaped the pain she was suffering by turning to drugs. The drugs, in turn, took away her will to live. It was a vicious cycle of pain.

Then one day, everything changed. Lynn met a woman who changed her life. A therapist who told her it was going to be okay. Who told her she was worth it. Who told her she could do something more with her life. And then, slowly, slowly Lynn finds her way out of the hole she’s been in for so, so long. A victory against her childhood. A victory against those that assaulted her. A victory to champion hope for anyone else who has ever suffered in the way that she suffered.

This book was emotionally difficult to read at times. You just wanted to reach into the pages and hug this young woman and tell her it was going to be okay. But it is an important book because it brings to light things that happen to young women all the time. And if we talk about it, maybe the next young woman this happens to will find an advocate, someone who will believe her story and help her find safety before she sinks into a place where she feels the only option is death.

COMMENTARY: Sage Advice

2009-04-28T14:58:00.006-06:00

Here is some additional sage advice I've been given over the years. I find that as I try to live life and remember everything I'm supposed to do, pithy phrases and quotations stick well and are easy to recall when necessary:

1. Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
2. When all else fails, take a deep, cleansing breath.
3. Always work hard, no matter what the job. Nothing gives you a better reference than a good work ethic.
4. If you treat a person like they are the person they ought to be, they will eventually become a person who deserves to be treated that way.
5. People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.
6. You can have everything in life you want if you'll just help enough other people to get what they want.
7. In marriage, give 100 percent. If you give 100 percent and your spouse gives 100 percent, you'll have a good one. If you both only give 50 percent, it won't be enough to last.
8. Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.
9. True victory is not about finishing first; it is about finishing regardless of how many times you fall.
10. There is no failure except in no longer trying.
11. If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders.
12. Watch a sunrise every now and again. It is good for your soul.
13. Remember people's birthdays.
14. Have a firm handshake.
15. Write thank you notes.
16. When someone is relating an important event that's happened to them, don't try to top them with a story of your own. Let them have the stage.
17. Let your children overhear you saying complimentary things about them to other adults.
18. Smile when you answer the phone.

BOOK REVIEW: "How the Dead Dream"

2009-04-28T14:47:00.005-06:00

How the Dead Dream
By Lydia Millet
Copyright 2008
Counter Point Press
Adult Fiction
2 Bookmarks

Let me just say first that “How the Dead Dream” is quite possibly one of the most bizarre books I’ve ever read. And let me say secondly, that I absolutely HATED the ending. This is one of those books that you don’t really know how the story ends…you are left hanging and have to make an assumption of what happens…which is a HUGE frustration to me.

So that being said, let me tell you about the good stuff. You start out in this book by learning about T., a young boy who has an obsession with money. Well, obsession is really putting it mildly. He extorts money from his classmates, earns money through surreptitious means whenever possible, and he even goes through a period of time where he carries coins in his mouth because he wants to really “feel” the money. The description of T.’s childhood is incredible. He is an odd character, to say the least, but the author’s ability to make you understand his oddities is magical. The author is so matter-of-fact about T.’s weirdness that you almost begin to see it as normal.

The book travels through T.’s childhood and then adulthood, until he becomes the caretaker for his ailing mother. The mother is another interesting character. My favorite part about her is when she dreams that she dies and (instead of going to heaven or hell) she is trapped in a Waffle House. To her, it is the most horrible horror of horrors to think that when she dies she will spend eternity in a Waffle House (I’m sure most of us can relate to that). This is the beginning of many life-changing events for T. The story turns in a whole new direction and starts to focus on T.'s newfound obsession with "last" animals (species who are facing extinction); which is pleasantly ironic because of T.'s chosen career as a real estate developer. Like I said, the story turns.

I did enjoy reading this book and would have given it a higher mark if it wasn’t for the way the story ended. If you don’t mind having to use your imagination a little bit to get some closure at the end, though, I would recommend this one just for the sheer ability of the author to make you see things so vastly differently than the way they actually are (not to mention the fact that the book has an interesting name and an intriguing cover...)