Catching Up on Book Reviews for 2011

Still Alice by Lisa Genova (read in December, 2011)

 

From early on in this novel when Alice, a distinguished professor working at an Ivy League college, forgets how to get home from a jog she has run a million times, Lisa Genova had me hooked. With increasing panic and helplessness, I sunk into Alice's story and "felt" her despair as early onset Alzheimers threaded its way into her life.

This story was wonderfully written and I highly recommend it. A favorite, for sure!

 

 

Mrs. Miracle by Debbie Macomber (read in December, 2011)

  
I saw the movie version of this book on a channel like Hallmark or Lifetime before I read it, so I knew what to expect before I began the book. The movie followed the book closely and I found both to be pleasantly distracting. I enjoy Debbie Macomber's easy writing style and predictably happy plot lines. I plan to read more of her books in the future.

 

Freckle Juice by Judy Blume  (read in November, 2011)

Cute little story I read with a boy I was tutoring. Great message about self-acceptance.





 

The BFG  by Roald Dahl (read in October, 2011)


I've read this book a couple of times now and re-read it for Battle of the Books. It's wonderfully imaginative and I love that little Sophie is a brave heroine who helps to save children all around the world! Roald Dahl is a great children's author.


Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan (read in October, 2011)

** spoiler alert ** 

 Zach, my 8-year-old nephew, is visiting and his school assignment was to finish this book while he was on his trip. He had only read through chapter 4 so I quickly caught up and we read a little every night together while he visited. Each night he had to write sentences about the two main characters, Jake and E.D. Beginning with Chapters 5-6, here are the sentence Zach wrote which basically sum up what the groups of chapters in this book are all about:

Chapters 5-6
E.D. is catching butterflies and feels horrible because Jake came.
Jake was thinking of Juvy (Juvenile Detention).

 
Chapters 7-8
E.D. saw a car crash.
Jake thought he would die of starvation because there wasn't that much meat.

Chapters 9-12
Jake is changing a lot.
E.D. is being ignored.

Chapters 13-15
Jake found the butterfly and E.D. felt horrible because she didn't. Jake has the right kind of singing voice so Randolf is going to put him in The Sound of Music.

Chapters 16-20
E.D.'s father asked her to be stage manager because the people quit and it made her feel important.
Jake captured some caterpillars and put them in a glass case to watch them turn into butterflies.

Chapters 21-24
Jake saw Wolfie butting around and stopped him.
E.D. had an idea to keep the show running, but her father stopped it.

Chapter 25-30
What brings Jake joy is acting. Now Jake likes himself.
E.D. is the stage manager. The lights went out and she had the idea of using candles to light it up.

In my opinion, this book was a good story with a nice message. It would be terrific to use for teaching character development and it has a nice message about valuing each person for their own individual talents. In Zach's words, "It wasn't the best book in the whole world, but it better than a middle book!" (He rated it four stars as well.) :)

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith; read in September, 2011 (finished Oct. 2)

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a poignant book that tells the life story of Francie, a girl growing up in Brooklyn in the early 1900s.

It's hard to describe how great this book is because it covers the span of Francie's life and the small, and even smaller, events that shape her into the person she becomes. Francie is a delightful character- likeable and relateable- and the development of her personality through the course of the novel was artfully done.

The book doesn't have much specific to tell about it (or maybe there is just too much to share to even know where to start), yet it is a wonderful read. It took me about a month to finish the it (back in October of 2011!) and it almost felt as though the story were being told in real time. But, it is a book to savor and I felt like that is exactly what I was doing!

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell; read in August, 2011

Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point, is one of the most engaging works of nonfiction that I have ever read!

The Tipping Point succinctly explains how three “agents of change”- the law of the few, the stickiness factor, and the power of context- work together to cause a particular product or idea to “tip” (become incredibly popular) among the general public. Gladwell explains how particular types of people (the law of the few) become powerful agents in propelling the popularity of products/ideas. Connectors know large numbers of people and have a knack for bringing people together. Mavens are the people we rely on to always know the latest and greatest information. And Salesmen are the negotiators who convince others to agree with them. The right combination of these three types of people can result in a widespread awareness of a new product. The stickiness factor is the message associated with the product that helps it to “stick” with the consumer, allowing it to stay in the minds of the buyers. Finally, the context- conditions and circumstances- surrounding the release of a product or idea will also affect the rise of its popularity.

Gladwell uses many specific examples to reinforce his theories. Especially interesting to me were his explanations of the rise in popularity of the children’s television show Blues Clues as it compared to Sesame Street in the chapter on the stickiness factor. It explained how small children pay attention not to flashes and movement but rather to what they understand. I was also fascinated by the study on the steep drop in the crime rate in New York City in the 1990s. It illustrated how the power of context (i.e. your environment) is more significant than much else, and this knowledge can help us change things to avoid criminal activity. Peer and community influence are just as important (maybe more) than family influence in how children turn out. "Studies of juvenile delinquincy and high school drop-out rates, for example, demonstrate that a child is better off in a good neighborhood and a troubled family than he or she is in a troubled neighborhood and a good family... children are powerfully shaped by their external environment." There was also a very interesting study on honesty discussed on pages 157-9 that is worth mentioning.

I found this book to be a fascinating study about a topic I never knew I was interested in. I look forward to reading more books by Malcolm Gladwell.

Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year by Anne Lamott

This book is amazing!

I have never read Anne Lamott before, but I can't wait to read more of her work after picking this little beauty up.  With complete frankness and absolute honesty, Lamott writes about the highs and lows of her first year as a single parent in this quick and simple memoir.

For me, the timing of this book was perfect.  While reading it, I was able to look back on the first year with my own son (just the year before) and found so much of what Lamott went through to be completely relateable.  I also found her straightforwardness about the difficulties of being a parent to be so refreshing.  Being a mom is totally rewarding and wonderful but it can also kind-of suck sometimes, so it was nice to read a truly honest account of parenthood, including the negative. 

As an added bonus, this book had some real gems of laugh-out-loud hilarity.

I loved it!!

Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman

This is another winner from one of my favorite authors, Carol Goodman!

After her husband dies unexpectedly, Meg accepts a position teaching at a boarding school in upstate New York uprooting her teenage daughter, Sally.  But when one of Meg's students at the boarding school falls to her death early in the school year, Meg finds herself and her daughter caught in a dangerous web of secrets and intrigue.

Carol Goodman has a way with words.  And a way of creating a vivid, picturesque scene for a haunting and mysterious story.  All her books may contains threads of commonality but, despite their similarities, each one is a rewarding reading experience which just illustrates how engaging Goodman's stories are.  I've loved them all!

Where You'll Find Me and other stories by Ann Beattie

This is a book of short stories that I found to be rather average and very forgettable.  As I am writing this "review" 7 months after reading the book, I find very little has stuck with me.  I'm sure there are more memorable ways to spend your time.

No Place Like Home by Mary Higgins Clark

Celia's husband surprises her with an extravagant gift- he has purchased the home Celia grew up in. What seems like a lovely gift is actually a living nightmare for Celia as this childhood home is the same house in which she murdered her mother at the age of 10. 

Like all Mary Higgins Clark books, I was drawn into this suspense novel from the very first page and I turned the last page only a couple of days later.  But, also like all Mary Higgins Clark books, I found this one enjoyable yet forgettable.  So, if you are looking for a fun, light, suspenseful read but one that won't make you think too hard, this might be the perfect book to spend three days with.

Bossypants by Tina Fey

I think it must be hard to write humor well.


Or maybe humor doesn't translate well on paper for me.

Whatever the reason, I think Tina Fey is hilarious in real-life (you know, all those times I see her in "real life," she's cracking me up!) and this book was good.... for humor.

It was also fun to read some behind-the-scenes information about Fey's life and start in show biz. I am definitely amused by her outlook on life.

But... all-in-all, the book was a bit disappointing. I was hoping for more from a person I almost consider a comedic genius!

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

This is a powerful story of two women, Sarah and Little Bee. As strangers, Sarah makes an unthinkable sacrifice for Little Bee and, years later, the consequences of this sacrifice draw the two women together again.

It's hard to write a review about this book without giving too much away. The premise of the story- the relationship between Little Bee and Sarah- is fascinating and the outcome unpredictable.

This is a fabulous book for anybody who wants their literature to contain political undertones and take them out of their comfort zone. It's not light, it's not cheery, and it's definitely not for the faint of heart.

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

Geraldine Brooks is a beautiful writer and this book about a small town that voluntarily quarantines itself when the Plague strikes its citizens in 1666 is deeply moving. Steeped in death and darkness, the book weighed heavily on me as I read it. It took me a month to get through and during that same month Jack was quite sick and constantly running a fever. A fever was the first sign of the Plague.

The end of the book was unexpected, but also a relief. It seemed to (finally) bring me out of the darkness I was shrouded in just as it did for Anna, the main character.

All of my reader friends have rated this a full five stars and I can certainly understand why. For me, so much death and dying in the novel I was reading while my son was so sick made me feel like I was moving through a fog of darkness and it was just too much. So, this one gets four stars from me.

Amsterdam by Ian McEwan

Clive and Vernon, both previous lovers of Molly, make a pact at her funeral to never allow one another to die in the way Molly did- with humiliation and disgrace.  Yet, it is not death that brings humiliation and disgrace to both men, rather failures in their previously prestigious professions.  As Clive and Vernon both struggle to salvage their respective professions (as composer and newsman), they find themselves failing miserably in situations of ethical dilemma.

I grabbed this book solely for the title.  I did a cross-cultural study in Amsterdam during college and was hoping this book would take me back to that place, if only briefly.  While that did not happen, I did enjoy this book a great deal- especially as I watched these men face moral decisions that ultimately led to each man's demise.  It was a dark and engaging novel that, despite the heavy material, did not feel weighty or cumbersome.  I thought this book was highly entertaining, but it might not be everybody's cup of tea.

Battle of the Books Reviews

I am way behind on my book reviews.

Last spring, I served as a judge for the Pikes Peak Battle of the Books competition.  To be a judge for that competition, you must read 50 young adult chapter books.  I got pretty busy reading those books... and not writing reviews of them.  After the competition was over, I was so far behind that I just couldn't motivate myself to write reviews. 

Now, here we are, a month into the new year and I am anxious to do my Best Books of 2011 entry and giveaway, but I haven't been reviewing the books as I would like to.  So, in a small attempt to catch up and get some reviews written to I can do that entry, I am going to write about the last of the Battle books from the spring and, hopefully, move quickly on to the other books I read last year.  (I will be back-dating the entries so they will show up in 2011 purely for the purposes of creating my yearly blog book.)  So, here goes...

 Rules by Cynthia Lord

Catherine's brother David has autism, which greatly complicates Catherine's life. Rules are very important to David and so rules have become central to Catherine's life as she attempts to use them to manage David's potentially embarrassing behavior.

While with David at occupational therapy one morning, Catherine befriends Jason, antoher special needs kiddo who uses and wheelchair and needs special equipment to communicate.

In this wonderful Battle of the Books book, Catherine's connection with Jason and loyalty to David teach her an important lesson about what it means to be a real friend.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

When Esperanza's wealthy land-owning father is unexpectedly murdered by bandits and her house burned down, Esperanza and her mother are forced to flee Mexico and go to America.

Her new life as a Mexican migrant worker has Esperanza working long hours doing physical labor while harboring the hope of someday returning to Mexico to bring her grandmother back to the United States.

Esperanza Rising is a wonderful book with a powerful message about new beginnings. Pam Munoz Ryan is a wonderful author of books for young people and I would also highly recommend her book Becoming Naomi Leon!

Charlie's Raven by Jean Craighead George

When his Sioux Indian friend tells him that ravens can cure illness, Charlie goes to great lengths to find and remove a raven's nest so he can bring the raven home to his ailing grandfather. Charlie spends that summer with his grandparents near the Teton Mountains studying ravens.

While this book is not fast-paced or exhilarating in its excitement, the story has a beauty that is hard to find in young adult novels.  It is a rare and pleasing read. 

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

I was very excited to read this Battle of the Books book because I had heard so many great things about it.  Also, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (also by Kate DiCamillio) is one of my all-time favorite chapter books for children.

The icing on the cake... this one won the 2004 Newbery Medal.

But, unfortunately, I was pretty disappointed.

The reasons I didn't care for this book can be summed up in two pretty short explanations...

First, it was dark. And now, months later, that is the biggest thing that sticks with me about this book.  And it was not dark in a deep, thoughtful, and brooding way, rather it was physically dark.  It seemed that much of the events that happened are in damp, dark places.  It didn't work for me.

And...

Secondly, I just didn't find myself connecting with the characters in this novel. They were creative and unusual but, for me, not terribly interesting or "relate-able".

So that about sums it up.

The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis

In this prequel to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe two young friends find themselves, through a series of magical events, witnesses to the creation of a new world, Narnia, by the great lion, Aslan, and, inadvertently, the cause of the White Witch's emergence into that new world.

The Battle of the Books competition was fast-approaching last spring and I had yet to read this one so I downloaded it onto my iPod.  For the two weeks leading up to the competition, I listened to the story in the car on the way to and from work.  At first, I didn't like sacrificing my 20 minutes of uninterrupted NPR news in the mornings, but I quickly became enthralled with the story.  I very much enjoyed this book and hope to read it with my son someday!

 Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

Jeffrey Lionel Magee is a legend in the town of Two Mills, PA.

Fed up with his aunt and uncle's unspoken dislike of one another, Magee runs right out of a school concert...

...and, for years, he just keeps running.

Amidst all this running, Maniac (as he later becomes called) manages to accomplish some legendary feats, including intercepting a pass made by a local football star and hitting some homers off a little-leaguer's fastball.

Oh, and he also blurs the lines of separation between the black and white communities of Two Mills.

There are a lot of wonderful books on the Battle of the Books list and this one manages to stand out among them.  It is a fabulous children's chapter book with wonderful themes of equality and homelessness.  If you take the time to read it, you won't be disappointed.

Christmas 2011

photo taken by my dad

photo taken by my dad

photo taken by my dad

photo taken by my dad

photo taken by my dad

photo taken by my dad

photo taken by my dad

photo taken by my dad

photo taken by my dad