Book Review: The Lovely Bones

You may have seen the movie The Lovely Bones, but have you picked up the book, yet?

I saw the movie quite a while ago, so when I started reading the book, by Alice Sebold, I had a vague sense of what would be happening throughout, but nothing too definite. I honestly can't remember now if we had had any kids when I first saw the movie.

If you have kids, and you're sensitive to crimes against children (or even if you don't have children and you're sensitive to that), I really don't recommend you read this book. The beginning is a pretty brutal portrayal of what befalls 14-year-old Susie, and it made me a little ill to read it.

*SPOILER ALERT*

The rest of the book deals with Susie looking down from heaven and watching how her family and friends deal with her murder. She also follows her murderer at various points, which provides a different level of interest because you keep waiting and waiting for him to be found out and punished . . .

While I enjoyed the book for what I feel is probably an accurate portrayal of what families go through and how loss affects people very differently, I would not call it an uplifting book. While her family struggles on earth, even Susie is not particularly happy in heaven. It's heaven! I can't imagine not being happy and content there; and if I were to lose someone close to me (I'm talking about an unexpected death) I wouldn't want to imagine them anywhere but in a heaven where they feel every happiness all the time. I guess you could say I was a little disappointed with the portrayal of heaven.

Most of the characters in the book are likable, which is good because if they weren't I don't think The Lovely Bones would have enough redeeming qualities in it for me to say that I liked it.

As a parent myself, it's gotten more and more difficult to watch movies or read books dealing with child death. I can't imagine how I would deal with it myself, and it tends to make me a little morbid for a couple days.

I know I wouldn't re-read this book, but it easily kept me reading when I had free time. It was just okay to me, but not something I would recommend people run out and buy right now, as I would with other novels.

If you've read The Lovely Bones, you might be interested in Lucky: A Memoir, which is also by Alice Sebold. It recounts Sebold's own rape as an 18-year-old and how she overcame it. This has an even more brutal account of her victimization, but I enjoyed the uplifting and inspiring aspects of this book more than The Lovely Bones. Check it out!

Book Review: Outlander

I had never heard of the Outlander series until fairly recently when it was recommended to me by my husband's friend/coworker. She knows I love reading, and I am so thrilled to have read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Thank goodness there are seven more books in the series because I can't wait to read them!

Outlander is the story of Claire, a young, married woman who was a nurse during WWII. While sightseeing with her husband in Scotland, they come across some odd stones. When she goes back for a closer look at some plants she believes might have some medicinal use, she finds herself transported back in time to the year 1743. She comes into contact with her husband's ancestor and quickly (and repeatedly) discovers he is much less than the honorable man he is depicted to be in historical writings.

Claire soon finds herself married to a young Scotsman, against her will, but eventually faces a heart-wrenching dilemma: should she go back to the stones and attempt to get back to her husband whom she loves in 1946, or should she stay and see what comes of this relationship and her growing feelings for her "new" husband?

As a woman of the 20th century, Claire often finds it difficult to conform to proper behavior, and the situations that arise are humorous and, at times, chilling.

Gabaldon has a unique way of making the reader feel inclined one way, only to find his/her inclination tend the opposite way a few chapters later. I was continually surprised by the book, and fell in love with the characters and the relationships among them. It was a unique read, and as I said, I look forward to reading the next in the series . . . If only someone would hurry up and return it to the library!

Book Review: A Parent's Guide to Harry Potter

When it comes to Harry Potter, I know there are a vast number of opinions on the matter. One of these is the hesitancy to let children read it because it involves magic and witchcraft . . . And couldn't that be harmful to our kids then, or even to adults? It can't be healthy to let them immerse themselves in that for 7 books (some of which are quite long), can it?

If you happen to have that opinion of the series, then I urge you to do two things:
1) Read the series yourself if you haven't already. Please don't judge based on hearsay or the opinion of others.
2) If you've already read the books and still find yourself on the fence, please read A Parent's Guide to Harry Potter. It just might change your mind about the series.

Gina Burkart, author of the book, does an excellent job of laying out the themes found in the books, and subsequently showing that these are the heart of the books, not the magical aspects.

The first section of the book discusses what children can learn from Harry Potter (i.e., morals). She also offers "Questions to bridge the gap" which parents can use to discuss sometimes difficult issues with their children - situations they may face in school with other children, or even handling bad dreams (as Harry does throughout the series).

The second section of the book deals with how to talk about Harry Potter with your children. How, as parents, do you go about discussing the bullying that occurs, fears, or making tough choices? Burkart lays it all out for us, and does so exceptionally well. She points time and again to the fact that love is the all-encompassing aspect of the book. Love is what brought Harry into the world and allowed him to survive, beating the odds.

Burkart also discusses how to talk to your kids about the difference between fantasy and reality, which is important with many popular series that they might one day want to read (The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings come to my mind immediately).

I'm obviously an avid supporter of Harry Potter. I sincerely believe the series offers so much for kids . . . and adults! Not only do they profess love, but also hope. And couldn't we all use a little more hope in our daily lives? I encourage you to check out A Parent's Guide to Harry Potter if you're experiencing any misgivings about letting your kids read the books. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Book Review: "The Other Queen"

Philippa Gregory is a master at writing historical fiction. If you've seen the film "The Other Boleyn Girl," you've seen a movie based on one of her novels. If you enjoyed it, I highly suggest you read the book as it is much richer in detail and history. It's not dry or boring in the least; her writing is entertaining and interesting every bit of the way. As she herself admits, not everything in her books is based on fact because not all the facts are known. When this happens, she fictionalizes plausible events or occurrences based on the information she knows. When you glance at the Bibliography at the end of each of her books, you'll realize how much research she does before writing her books. It's astounding.

The Other Queen features Mary Queen of Scots. She sought help from her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England when her life was threatened in Scotland. Mary fled to England to save her life, but quickly realized how difficult it was becoming to get back to her throne in Scotland. Elizabeth I felt threatened by Mary's own claim to the throne of England, and she and her adviser were hesitant to let Mary go back to Scotland without promises that she would not attempt to claim the throne of England. Mary became involved in plots against Elizabeth and soon found herself a prisoner of England instead of a guest of England; eventually, she was on trial for her life.

The book also follows the Earl of Shrewsbury and his wife, who were charged with keeping Mary during her stay in England. Both of them seemed to factor largely in Mary's day-to-day life during her time in England; gradually, she became a punishment for them, rather than the honor they first thought it would be.

What I enjoyed about The Other Queen, was the conflicting emotions I felt throughout. At times I admired and liked Mary, while at others I utterly despised her. I felt sorry for the Earl of Shrewsbury, but at other times thought he was an imbecile. His wife at times made me think she was the most selfish and cold-hearted person ever to live, while other times I empathized with her plight.

It was an enlightening read, and I went through a range of emotions while reading it: excitement, frustration, sadness, empathy, annoyance, and happiness, to name a few! Although it wasn't my favorite novel of Gregory's, it was one I'll probably end up adding to my repertoire of re-reads.

If you're interested, my favorites from this author are The Other Boleyn Girl and The Constant Princess. The first focuses on Anne Boleyn's sister, Mary, while the second focuses on Henry VIII's first wife Katherine in her younger years. Over the last few years I've become very interested in anything involving Henry VIII - so much so that I bought the history book The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir. I'm not much of a purely historical literature person (although I wish I were), but this book was excellent. It does not read like the history textbooks you might remember from school; instead, it pulls you through the lives of the wives of Henry VIII so quickly and easily that you're sure you must be reading fiction. Definitely check 'em out!

Book Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

I finally got around to reading Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs, after having it on my Amazon wishlist for about 6-8 months. Sometimes I just put books on there to remind myself I want to read them. It's a good thing I do, too, because when I remember to check it I always find myself surprised at what I have on there!

Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the originality of this book. It's along the same vein of fantasy/sci-fi books that I love, but was refreshingly different.

Jacob, the protagonist, loves listening to tales of his grandpa's adventures when he's younger, but he gets to a certain age and realizes there's no way those things actually happened. The photos his grandpa shows him of children levitating and holding enormous boulders are clearly just made to look that way. Well, after his grandpa dies under abnormal circumstances, Jacob finds himself on a journey that takes him to a remote island in search of answers. He finds himself face-to-face with the children from his grandpa's photographs and none of them has aged.

While thrilled that these children are real, and so then are his grandpa's stories, Jacob finds himself faced with a very difficult choice. And, he must make this choice while in extreme danger not only to himself, but his family.

It really was an interesting read, and I'm thrilled that Riggs is working on a sequel! Interestingly, the photos peppered throughout the book are real photos that people have acquired through the years and Riggs was able to locate and use. Although, I will say the photos displayed throughout the book were more disturbing to me than anything else. They didn't really jive with the way I was picturing the characters from the descriptions given. But, that was a minor deterrent for me that didn't affect my enjoyment of the book. Definitely check it out!!

Book Review: "The Land of Later On"

I was pretty excited to read Anthony Weller's The Land of Later On. It wasn't a book anyone had recommended to me; it was one I happened across on Amazon and thought looked interesting. I had high hopes that I had found a real winner all on my own.

It was average. I don't regret reading it, but I wouldn't read it again. That is saying something, because I am an avid book re-reader. Good thing it was inexpensive and is on my Kindle, not taking up valuable space on my actual bookshelf.

You know that Seinfeld episode where George sends Jerry to get a book he left at his ex-girlfriend's apartment and it turns into a whole fiasco? Jerry doesn't see what the big deal is because George won't read it again and people just collect books as a prestige thing. Totally not true in my case. I'll re-read books (mostly series) numerous times and enjoy them every time.

Anyway, the book was fine, I just wasn't able to get totally immersed in it. Weller's writing is interesting and fluid,  but I wasn't pulled in as I am with  books I love. The protagonist, Kip, writes his account of The Land of Later On (aka the afterlife). His wife has died years before him, and he commits suicide to be with her again. Weller's depiction of the afterlife was definitely new to me.

He describes it similarly to the regular world, except you can travel any where and any when. As in, you can visit any place in the world in any time period you choose, even exact dates in history. Kip is on a desperate search for his wife because people are subtly urged to reincarnate themselves and not remain in the afterlife. Kip's quest seems impossible, of course, because his wife has been there for years, and could literally be anywhere in the world, and maybe not even in the current year, let alone century. It's devastating to think of yourself trying to locate someone in those circumstances.

Luckily, he meets Walt Whitman (yeah, that was a neat twist) and is guided and aided by him in his search. The premise of the book is really intriguing and romantic in a bleak, morbid sort of way. It was an interesting read, and pretty out of the norm for me, so I was pleased with that. As I said, I didn't dislike it; I just wouldn't spend the time reading it again.

One Year!

Well, people, it's the one-year anniversary of my first post on this blog! And how appropriate that the fabulous Ms. Katie revealed the awesome new blog design just in time! How do you like it? I love it. I think it's marvelous . . . I could go on with a lot of adjectives, but I'll spare you - just know that I love it, and hope you do, too!

The purpose of my blog hasn't changed - it's still helping me keep my sanity! I don't always get to post as often as I'd like, but it feels good when I do.

I love when people are able to connect to a post, or when they have success with a recipe and love it as much as I do! It's a great feeling. Seriously, I get really excited when someone tells me, "Oh I made this recipe and everybody loved it!" I always tell Dusty as soon as I see him remember . . . For some reason he doesn't get quite as excited as I do. :)

Let's take a quick look back over the year . . . Here are the 5 most-viewed posts:

5) Two Under 2

4) No One Ever Told Me . . .

3) It's Wedding Season! Part 2

2) Why I Love Fantasy

and the Number 1 most-viewed post goes to . . .

1) Parenting Is One Crazy Rollercoaster

I'm glad to know that all three of my interests made it in the top 5. Most favorites were about "babies," but "baking" and "books" made the list, too. That counts as success in my book!

Thanks to all of you out there who keep reading this tiny little blog. I sure do appreciate it! If no one read it, I probably wouldn't continue it, so thanks for making it feel worthwhile!

Hugs and cookies,

Amanda

Book-to-Film: "The Hunger Games"

Well, I've been waiting on pins and needles since I first read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and discovered it was being made into a film. Dusty and I had a mini getaway this past weekend and went to see it . . .

. . .

SO WORTH IT! I loved every second. It's one of those movies where as soon as it was finished I could have easily watched it again. I was concerned going in since we'd seen some negative reviews about a lack of character development. I was not disappointed with what they did with the characters. I felt the important parts of the book were included, and yes some things were left out, but that's always the case with a book-to-film adaptation. I had just re-read the book the week before we went, and I'm glad I did because everything was fresh in my mind, and the things they left out in the film I could easily fill in with what I knew happened in the book.

A former professor of mine said that you have to see the film as a separate entity than the book. I always try to keep that in mind because it really is true and great advice. I've found myself far less disappointed when I go in with this attitude. Of course, I can't help but compare the movie to the book, and there are always things I wish could have been included; but, it's impossible to include everything from a 300+ page book in a 2 1/2 hour film.

I have yet to see a movie that I think is "better" than the book, and that's why it's pointless to expect them to be equal. A film can't capture everything the book presents, which is part of the glory of reading. But, I think "The Hunger Games" was really, really well done, and I can't wait to see how they do with Catching Fire, the sequel.

And here's something to make you smile or laugh . . . which I do, out loud, every time I see this picture.

Reading with Your Kids

At this point in Asher's 2 1/2 year old life, it really is reading with him. What he wants from reading time differs day-to-day. Sometimes, he just wants to listen while my husband or I read with him. Sometimes, he wants to finish parts of the sentences in books. Sometimes, when he's looking at a book I'll ask him if he wants me to read it to him, and he says, "No, Asher's reading it." Doesn't matter to me which scenario is occurring, I love that he's interested in books.

Aiden's attention span is obviously much shorter than Asher's, but he'll page through books on his own, and if he's in the right mood he'll bring one over and hand it to me to read . . . Granted, I usually only get through 2-3 pages before he's onto something else, but still it's good!

Asher at about 8 months

Aiden at 7 months

You can start reading to your kids while they're still in the womb (which we didn't do) or wait until after they're born. Even if you wait until they're older, it's a wonderful habit to get into. I started reading to Asher when he was just a newborn, and at times it seemed silly and pointless because he was staring off into space, but I'm convinced that if we read to the boys often enough, it's something they'll want to do on their own as they get older. One of my tactics was to offer board books to the boys when they were/are little instead of, or in addition to, other toys so they were able to look at them frequently. It seemed to peak their interest more if they looked at books of their own volition instead of me pushing it on them. Reading has so many benefits that aren't necessarily thought of on the surface; it definitely increases vocabulary (which is one of the reasons we're encouraged to read to our children when they're young), and I would also argue that it helps with schoolwork - if reading comes easily, it's not as onerous to read for assignments because kids can focus on the material they're supposed to learn, and not struggle reading the individual words.

Reading through all 26 letter-books.

Right now we don't have a set time to read to the boys, but we do it almost on a daily basis. I'll admit, there are times when I'd rather be doing something else, or I can't stand the book that's brought over (e.g. Fox in Socks - too many tongue-twisters for my taste), or the book is way too long so I sneakily skip paragraphs . . . or sometimes pages. But, I think the important thing is that it's getting done. We've learned to try to engage the boys right away in the book by doing voices or silly sound effects to match the pictures, and those are the books that Asher would bring over most frequently. Whatever works with your kids is the best approach. Sometimes I'll just read a book aloud even if neither of the boys seems to be listening because as I said, it's something I think is important to establish early.

Aiden, Daddy, and Asher

I know as they get older their tastes will change with whatever they're most interested in at the time, but it's my hope that as parents we can always provide them with a book that will fit those interests . . . and that they'll enjoy reading it!

"Green Eggs and Ham" . . . twice, apparently :)

Book Review: "The Woman In Black"

Okay, here's a quick book review for ya. I'll admit, the reason I wanted to read this book is because the movie comes out soon . . . The reason I was interested in the movie in the first place (since I'm really not a fan of scary movies) is that Daniel Radcliffe (aka Harry Potter) is starring in it, and I wanted to see how he does. Anyway, aside from my possible nerdiness, I think the book is well worth reading.

The Woman In Black by Susan Hill is really quite a harrowing tale. Hill sets an ominous tone right from the start, and while there are lighter parts to the book, the undertone remains the same. While some of the back-story could have been fleshed out a little more, I easily connected with the main character, and found him likable and someone with whom I could commiserate.
As a young man trying to earn/gain more responsibility from his employer, Arthur Kipps eagerly agrees to make a trip to small village out in the country to settle the affairs of a deceased, elderly woman. It quickly becomes apparent that people in the village dislike discussing the woman, her estate, or anything concerning her house out past the marshes. Kipps discovers why, and his journey will make your heart beat faster, to say the least.

I'm not much for ghost stories, but Hill's style of writing, combined with flawed, yet appealing, characters made this 130+ p. book a fast, enjoyable, and thrilling read. If you get a chance, check it out!

On a Side Note: I can't find my camera-charging cord anywhere. It is driving me insane. I am 99% sure of when and where I last used it, but can't seem to find it. SO, I may have to see if I can get a new one, otherwise I can't take any pictures . . . of anything. It's very annoying; I rely on my camera almost on a daily basis! Maybe The Borrowers are roaming around our house . . .

Book Series Blues

I know I've found a winner book-wise when I feel a teensy bit depressed when I'm finished. It's rare that this happens to me with a single book, but it's been known to happen when I finish reading a series that I've been pretty invested in.

I just finished reading "The Hunger Games" trilogy, which is what brought me to write this post. It was one of those series where I couldn't put the books down, stayed up later than usual to read them, and literally did nothing but read during the boys' precious nap time . . . Clearly, I was very unproductive for a few days. So after speed-reading to the end, I was left with that "down" feeling where it kind of feels like something's missing for a little bit. Maybe this doesn't happen to you, and it's probably weird, but I actually miss the characters when I'm done. This has happened with Harry Potter (of course), The Lord of the Rings, Twilight, and maybe a few others that I can't remember off the top of my head.

The first time I ever remember having that type of feeling when I finished a series was when my parents bought The Chronicles of Prydain for my siblings and me one Christmas when I was probably 11 or so. Anyway, I remember laying on the floor in front of the heater, flying through the books and enjoying every second. When it was done, I was so disappointed that I immediately re-read the entire series. Nerd city.

That's what I love about books though - they provide an escape or reprieve from stressors or other things going on in life. Bravo to any author who can achieve that strong of a connection with their reader because that is a rare gift.

On a Side Note: I'll be posting the recipe for some Pumpkin Cupcakes soon - they were pretty yummy! And, I had to share these pics because I think they're hilarious!

I guess he just couldn't wait any longer . . . 

Ohhhh, BUSTED!

Catching up on some classics

Waiting for eagerly anticipated books to come out in paperback is hard! It's especially hard when they're part of a series. So, as I waited (and am still waiting) for Catching Fire and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins and A Dance with Dragons by George R. R. Martin, I decided to peruse our bookshelves and read some books that have sat there for a while . . . an embarrassingly long time in some cases.

Dracula by Bram Stoker: This was surprisingly creepy considering it was written in 1897. I know! I was surprised, too - I had no idea it was written that long ago. That being said, I found it enjoyable, but felt the ending was kind of anticlimactic. The creepiness lessens throughout the book, but I had no trouble finishing it. Dracula is the original vampire, seeking to strengthen himself and enlarge his species by feeding on humans.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: The extent of my prior knowledge of this book was only what I gathered from watching A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (which, I recommend). That's kind of sad. The book, of course, differs from the information you get from the movie, but I thought it was interesting and entertaining. I was, however, annoyed because I read the front panel of the version that I have (you know, to get an idea of what the book is about) and it gives away all the major plot twists! So beware of that. Basically, Dorian Gray is a young, handsome, socialite who sees a portrait of himself that so entrances him that he becomes depressed at the thought of aging. He sells his soul in order that the portrait may physically alter instead of himself. Some parts are really chilling.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne: Yep, I have my M.A. in English and had never read it. I'm embarrassed by that actually. But, no more! I consider it a valuable addition to my have-read book list. The language is old, but I like that in books - for example I love early British lit. so old language and long descriptions don't usually deter or annoy me. It also provides a glimpse into the Puritan beliefs and attitudes. Hester Prynne is a married woman who has an affair while her husband is away for years. She becomes pregnant, and as punishment she is forced to wear at all times a red letter A (adulterer) prominently displayed on her clothing, while the identity of the man is kept secret. The man, Hester, and Hester's husband suffer in different ways throughout the book, and the conclusion is a satisfying and somewhat surprising one, in my opinion.

I have to say I'm kind of glad those previously-mentioned books aren't out in paperback yet because I got to read some books that would probably still be gathering dust right now. Oh the gems you can find if you actually look. :)

*On a side note, I just purchased Oxi Clean Stain Remover Powder for all the variety of stains that Asher's and Aiden's clothes acquire . . . it's spendy, but I am SOLD. If I don't have to spend half an hour or more scrubbing clothes before putting them in the wash, that's worth the money to me. If only I had tried this sooner . . . live and learn I guess!

Hungry for a good read?

While on vacation with my husband's family, I was able to read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Surprisingly, I didn't hear about this book from anyone (surprising because it's so popular). Instead, I randomly saw on the internet that it was going to be made into a movie, so I searched for the series and decided to purchase the first book of the series. Money well spent! I'm always leery of buying a book unless I know for certain that I'll enjoy it, but this one seemed right up my alley and it was.

For those of you unfamiliar with the book, it's sci-fi and takes place in the future. The protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, ends up partaking in the Capitol's annual Hunger Games. These games require one boy and one girl from each of the 12 districts to participate in these games as a reminder that the Capitol is in control. It serves as a reminder because only one contestant survives the Hunger Games - the others are killed by other contestants, the elements, or various horrors the Capitol sends in to keep the audience interested. Written in the first person, the book follows Katniss on this nightmarish ordeal.

If you haven't read it yet, you should! Collins has a way of making you feel connected to the characters despite your best efforts (it's the nature and necessity of the Hunger Games to be individualistic). It keeps you wanting to read up to the last sentence of the book. I really look forward to reading the next two books in the trilogy, but unfortunately they're only out in hardcover right now. So, I'll probably wait until they come out in paperback . . . bummer. If you're interested, you can read more about Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games, and other books she's written here and/or here.