Book Review: The Getaway Car

The full title is thus:
"The Getaway Car: A Practical Memoir About Writing and Life" by Ann Patchett

I cannot honestly remember where I heard about this book. I think it was on this blog by a bunch of guys, really funny guys. One of them had written a post about kindle singles that they liked. So I purchased three of them. Two of them had the "f" word, a lot. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that was where I got the recommendation. I was disappointed in the first two and never read "The Getaway Car" until now. After writing my novel for NaNoWriMo, I decided it was time to read Patchett's short and sweet 'memoir."

On a sidenote, I quite enjoy the concept of kindle singles. I just need to find a better way of finding stories I like before I fork out the 2 or 3 dollars for singles I later find I need to delete.

Well, it turns out that "The Getaway Car" was a great read. It's short, thus being a 'kindle single' and it was inspiring for an amateur novelist. Patchett briefly goes through her early life as a student of writing and the first time she sequesters herself to focus on writing. I loved reading about the feelings she had and her advice to new novelists. 

I finished feeling optimistic and somewhat enlightened. If you want to write or enjoy reading about the creative process, this is an interesting book/single.

Book Review: Several short reviews

The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
I remember reading this book as a young girl and just loving it. The premise is a young girl who feels overlooked and underappreciated at home, so she decides to run away. She takes her younger brother with her because he has money. They run away to a museum and stay there, spending the nights behind the roped off areas, in a grandiose bed. It seemed like such an adventure to me, to spend the nights in a museum. Reading this as an adult, it is simple and obviously written for children although it wasn't as disappointing as "A Wrinkle in Time." I would recommend this for 4-6 graders, especially girls. And it is a Newberry Award Winner, which is saying something.

Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson. This is the memoir of Stephanie Nielson, a popular blogger who focuses on family and the joys of being a mother. In one frightening moment, she is involved in a horrific plane crash with her husband and a flight instructor. She was burned over 80% of her body and in a coma for 4 or 5 months. She is a devoted mother of 4, in the book. Her family has now grown to 5 children. She sets the story up by writing about her life before the crash. This part kind of dragged for me. It seemed too picture perfect and I've never been one for sappy lovestories. She then details the terrible crash and the difficulties in recovery. It is a really heart-wrenching story. I was touched, even by the Spirit, several times while reading the book. I didn't think I would like it but I really did. I came away feeling optimism and hope and renewed enthusiasm for family and being a mother. Its worth your time if you read it. Sterling just finished it and really enjoyed it as well.

The Beginning of Better Days by Sheri L. Dew and Virginia H Pearce
This book is subtitled, "Divine Instruction to Women from the Prophet Joseph Smith." That part of the book was a little dry for me. It is actually just the notes taken by Eliza R. Snow and are choppy and a little hard to follow. I'm sure I just wasn't in the right frame of mind and lacking focus because it seems really small minded of me to judge it as dry. Anyway, Snow's notes are preceeded by two essays, written by Sheri Dew and Viriginia Pearce. These are both very engaging and I enjoyed them very much. 


Daughters in My Kingdom by Church Distribution
It is always nice to know where you come from. Its also nice to know the history of organizations you are involved in. So this short book is nicely organized and inspiring in the presentation of the history of the Relief Society. I enjoyed learning about the previous leaders of the Relief Society and the difficulties they faced in their time and place in history and how they rose up in strength and unity to meet those challenges. It inspires me to rise up and to take action and be a force for good within this great Relief Society organization.

Raven's Gate by Anthony Horowitz
Sydney is reading this as a class. I don't know why. I can think of a lot better books with an actual message and greater discussion topics. As a school read, I have my doubts. As a fun read, this book was great. The story follows the typical confused hero blueprint. The protagonist, Matt, is a hero, who makes a poor decision and ends up in a situation where things are not as they seem and he has no one to trust. Those who he does trust end up dying. I was surprised at the speed that the body count added up. Myself, I was wondering what the author was thinking, killing off so many characters. And there is something strange, mystical and magically going on in the city. The writing keeps you at the edge of your seat as you try to figure out, with Matt, what is going on and how to get out of the sinister situation. It is clearly a set up for more books. It will be interesting to see where this book goes. I like it. But I'm still going to follow up on the classroom reading list.

Blessed

“Don’t leave me,” Claire pleaded. The fire reflected off her sweat drenched brow as she lay on a bed of blankets on the wood floor. Mary winced as Claire’s fingernails dug into her wrist.  Claire’s labor pains were long and hard now, and the two young friends clung to each other in the otherwise empty cabin.

“Even if I wanted to, I can’t now,” said Mary, forcing herself to sound calm and unconcerned. She shuddered as the winter storm blew a draft under the door and across the floor. “The wind would push me right back through the door and back to you before the snow even had a chance to touch me.” 

She wiped Claire’s brow with a damp rag and stared deeply into her frightened eyes. “Everything will be fine, Claire,” Mary asserted. “This pain is but a moment and shortly you will be holding your beautiful baby.  You’ll be fine. Everything will be fine.” She repeated the words, hoping to convince herself.

Neither woman had expected Claire’s labor to start that day. They had planned on finishing the last baby quilt together, while their husbands worked on securing the barn at Mary’s cabin, just a mile away, before the first big storm of the winter arrived. The baby wasn’t expected for another couple of weeks, but the storm arrived early, before the men were able to make their way home.

 When the pains of labor began, the friends stoked the fire and chattered in excitement and anticipation, contemplating the glory and wonder of new life. The labor grew more intense as the snow continued to whirl outside, blowing more and more fiercely as the contractions raced on. The earlier emotions gradually morphed from anticipation to anxiety as the women realized, they were on their own and neither the storm nor the baby were holding back.

When Claire closed her eyes for a small moment of respite between pains, Mary also closed her eyes. She had assisted other births with her mother, a gifted midwife. She knew to expect intermittent pain and relief. She knew how to tell when the baby was close and had witnessed her mother help many babies take their first breath before laying them in their mothers’ arms. Claire’s labor was different somehow. The pain seemed longer and deeper with hardly a chance to catch a breath. Mary whispered a prayer. Please dear Father in Heaven, make me equal to the task. Help me be what she needs.

Claire twisted and pulled at the blankets beneath her. She grasped Mary’s hand, this time with such force that Mary bit her tongue.  “Robert. Where’s Robert?” Mary glanced at the window and the drifts of snow rushing like angry fists against the glass.

“He’s on his way, Claire,” Mary lied.  “He’s coming.” She wiped Claire’s brow again and tried to loosen Claire’s grip on her hand.

“He said he’d give me a blessing. I need a priesthood blessing,” Claire pleaded. Her eyes shut fiercely as another pain ravaged her body. The pain was long and deep, low in her back. It felt as though the pain would rip her limbs from her body. She opened her eyes as the pain faintly diminished and stared up at the blank ceiling.

“I can’t do this,” she sobbed, in short, staggered breaths. “I don’t know how. Please God, please help…” With a guttural yell, she pulled her head toward her knees.

Mary knew this was a sign that birth was near. She wrenched her hand free of Claire’s grip. Claire rested her head back on her shoulders and cried, both hands now grasping the edge of the blankets at her side.

Mary knelt at her friend’s feet, ready for the next contraction. She could see no progress as Claire screamed and clenched her fists again. Claire trembled and frantically looked for Mary but couldn’t find her. Mary seemed so far away. Everything seemed far away and dim. Mary saw Claire’s glazed eyes and was frightened for her. Something wasn’t right, she could feel it. She could feel it deep in her heart, in a way that spoke truth. Something wasn’t right.

Mary wished her husband were here with her. She longed for his confidence and capabilities. She yearned for the priesthood authority he held and for the blessing he could offer poor Claire in her time of need. She covered her head with her hands and let out a helpless sob. What could she do, a young, inexperienced woman, alone in this solitary cabin, with the storm raging outside and her friend failing by her side?

In that instance, staring into the fading eyes of her friend, Mary rose onto her knees. She had to do something, she decided. She wasn’t about to sit by and wait for her friend to die. Mary knew God exercised His power on this earth and she knew He answered prayers. She had seen it before, when the priesthood was exercised on behalf of others who were ill. She didn’t hold the priesthood, but she believed in its power. She placed her hands on Mary’s fevered head. Her hands shook as she began a fervent and sacred prayer with all the power of her faith. She vocally and reverently began to plead for the life and safety of Claire and her, as of yet, unborn baby.

Mary wouldn’t allow room for doubt in her mind. She searched her heart for feelings of the spirit and the will of God. She moved her hands to cradle Mary’s face and continued to pray for guidance, for knowledge, for a miracle. Claire writhed and groaned as another contraction enveloped her mind and body in unending pain. “I don’t know what to do, Father,” Mary submitted. “Please guide my hands.”

Mary laid her hands on Claire’s stomach and paused. Claire’s breathing was irregular and shallow. Her stomach was tight, yet Mary could feel the slight contours of the baby in the womb.  She continued her plea to heaven. She felt to bless Claire in her pleading, with strength and power and the will to live. Suddenly her hands felt warm and her sense of touch acutely perceptive. In her mind, she could see the form of the baby and knew it needed to be turned. Following the impressions she felt in her mind and her hands, she pressed firmly on the hidden limbs of the baby and gently nudged them to a new position. She cradled the form of the baby in her hands and prayed a blessing on her. Yes, somehow she knew this baby to be a girl.

Mary was suddenly aware of Claire shifting on the blankets. Feeling like she had woken from a dream or trance, Mary reached up and grabbed Claire’s outstretched hands and helped her brace herself with her knees. Mary lowered her hands again while Claire endured the final anguish and freeing emptiness of childbirth.

When Claire finally fell back in exhaustion, Mary held in her hands a baby girl and helped her take her first breath. Hardly moving, she reached for a clean cloth, tenderly wiped the residue of birth from the baby and wrapped her tightly in a soft blanket Claire had prepared just that morning.  She shuffled, still on her knees, to Claire, who laid quiet yet still trembling from the effort of the birth. Claire tried to pull herself to a sitting position as Mary pulled a nearby chair behind Claire as a backrest.

“She’s beautiful,” Mary said, placing the baby in Claire’s arms, marveling at the miracle that had taken place. Claire cradled the baby close to her chest. The fire flickered and flamed brighter for an instant, casting warmth and light around the two women and the newborn. The muffled wind continued to blow around the cabin like a sentinel guarding a valued possession. 

Claire’s eyes sparkled and shone in the firelight, filled with well-earned tears. She looked to Mary, whose tears matched her own. Mary wrapped her arms around Claire and her baby and held them both.

“I thought I wouldn’t make it,” Claire said quietly, almost to herself. She looked at Mary, then back at the baby and stroked her daughter’s cheek. “I didn’t think I would make it and now I’m holding this beautiful baby. My baby.” Words failed her and she laid her head on Mary’s shoulder.

The reverence of the experience settled in the room and the spirit grew thick around them. “We are blessed,” Mary acknowledged. “So very blessed.

Book Review: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

The Newberry Honor book, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon," Grace Lin, is a great read.  The story focuses on Minli, an only child in a small Chinese village. In order to help make her mother happy and bring fortune to her family, she leaves on an adventure to find the Old Man on the Moon, who can answer any question. On her way she meets many friends and discovers that most answers lie in the heart.

Minli's story is facilitated by Chinese folklore. I loved reading the folk stories inside the larger story. It really felt authentic, until I read the author explain that they weren't.  It took a little of the depth and oomph out of the experience for me but the story still remained a great story. Minli is a strong little girl with a good heart. Her traveling companions are stalwart and true. Her discovery at the end of journey, although predictable, is welcome and satisfying. 

Young readers may be a little put off at first with the folklore and becoming accustomed to how the folklore relates to the overall story. But I think it is a great cultural experience and would encourage any and all to read this book. It won't take long and it will be worth your time.

Book Review; One Crazy Summer

I absolutely loved "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia. As you can see from the cover, this book has won a lot of awards and it deserves them. 

Delphine has taken care of her sisters ever since her mother left them alone with their dad. It was still a good life, living with her dad and grandma, but her mom was a completely absent person. Until the summer of 1968her dad decides to send them from their home in Brooklyn, New York, to visit their mother, Cecile, in Oakland, California.

The problem is, Cecile doesn't really want them. The children are then left in the care of a woman who forbids them to enter the kitchen and sends them off to the Black Panther summer program down the street to fend for themselves.

I just fell in love with Delpine and all her oldest sibling characteristics. She had to grow up much to quickly and it shows. She and her sisters have several adventures of their own. They travel the city, they learn about the Black Panthers and their mission, which is vastly different from what they had learned from the tv and their grandma. It's the story of an important time in our history and an inside, child's view into the black panthers. It's a story of growth and understanding. It's not a nice and tidy ending but it is satisfying and complete. I would love for all of my children to read this book. I highly recommend it for all ages.

Book Review: Maisie Dobbs

"Maisie Dobbs" is a fantastic novel, written by JacquelineWinspear. It is set near the turn of the century and includes World War I. 

Maisie Dobbs is the daughter of a grocer. Her mother died when she was young, so it had just been Maisie and her father for quite some time. Eventually, Maisie finds herself working in a wealthy household as housemaid (think Dowton Abbey). While there, she impresses her employers who send her to Cambridge to gain an education. From there, she enters World War I as a nurse. When she returns, the world has changed and she cannot resume the life she once had. She opens her own investigative business and begins a dangerous mission to uncover deadly secrets. It's Downton Abbey meets private investigator. It's fabulous.

The story is fleshed out from beginning to end. There is just enough of each segment of her life to satisfy. The glimpse into the early 1900's is delightful. The front lines of the war, in France, are harrowing and real. The investigation is tense and fantastic. Oh, the whole book is fantastic. This is a must read. 

Here are a few of my favorite passages, regarding veterans of the war. They are really touching and insightful.

“So what do you do when you cannot sleep?”

Billy looked down at his hands and began pulling at the lining of his cap, running the seam between the forefinger and thumb of each hand.

“I get up, so’s not to wake the missus. Then I go out. Walking the streets. For hours sometimes. And you know what, Miss? It’s not only me, Miss. There’s a lot of men I see, ‘bout my age, walking the streets. And we all know, Miss, we all know who we are. Old soldiers what keep seeing the battle. That’s what we are, Miss. I tell you, sometimes I think we’re like the waking dead. Livin’ our lives during the day, normal like, then trying to forget something what  ‘appened years ago. It’s like going to the picture ‘ouse, only the picture’s all in me ‘ead.”

And another passage:

“Shame, isn’t it? That we only like our heroes out in the street when they are looking their best and their uniforms are ‘spit and polished,’ and not when they’re showing us the wounds they suffered on our behalf.”

Book Review: Fallen

At bookclub, quite a while ago, someone was offering this book up for free. I can't even remember if they had read it themselves, or if they just knew they wouldn't get to it and were offering it to the first taker. It sounded interesting; a love story involving a guardian angel and a mortal. You know, one of thosestories, that seem to be so popular these days.

The novel, Fallen, by Lauren Kate, starts out in a former place and time. It was slow and confusing to me. I had a hard time differenciating the characters and the setting. I didn't understand the relationships and their motives. Then we jump to the present day, where Luce, the female leading character, is enrolled in a boarding school of sorts for troubled kids. The background of why she has to go there is explained but lacked enough depth for me to truly understand it. 

At the boarding school we meet all sorts of characters who are eventually sorted out but it takes a while. Luce finds a best girl friend (Penn), a handsome admirer named Cam and then there's the guy. You know the one. You're attracted to him but he remains aloof, even rude at times. But you can still feel the pull from him, like he's trying to avoid you only because he wants you so bad. You get the gist. That pretty much says it all.

It takes a long time to get to the action. I honestly almost didn't get there because the character development and plot progression was so slow and shallow. There is finally action in the end, which was pretty good. The bad guy is way more interesting and fun to read about than the good guy, so when he started to be more of the story, it really picked up. Too bad for the good guy and the love story. I just wasn't sold on it.

Anyway, it was so-so. There is no language, sex or gore. There is lovesick longing and supernatural fighting. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. 

They say its recommended for grade 8 and up but I don't like the idea of my daughters reading this type of book that makes a first love, puppy love, high school love seem sooo life consuming. Life is much more than who you love in high school. (my opinion). And the website says Disney has the movie rights and they are in pre-production. What? I don't understand that. Wait, hollywood movies....maybe I do.

Book Review: The Pioneer Woman: From Black Heels to Tractor Wheels

Ree Drumond is an entertaining writer and a great
cook. Just ask any of the thousands who subscribe to
her blog and website, thepioneerwoman.com. She
started writing her love story on her blog, which was
wildly popular. Thus was born the idea to write a full
length book. And if she’d had more material to work
with, it might have worked.

This was a nice book to read. A cute, fish-out-of-water story. She’s a city girl who's moved back home to sort out some changes in her life and the end of a 3-year relationship. She meets a cowboy in a bar and she is smitten. The rest of the story revolves around her learning the ins and outs of country living and her embarrassing yet entertaining mistakes as she tries to woo and impress her "Marlboro Man." We also hear a lot about the disintegration of her parent’s marriage. 

Parts of this book are entertaining and even well written. Other parts are redundant and repetitive. I kept waiting for something real to happen. Most of the action was between their lips and her raging desire to be with him. Though conservative and moral, which I appreciated very much, I got tired of her going on and on about her attraction to him. I felt like it was a little overdone.

On the positive side, it did make me reflect on the energy and enthusiasm of new, young love. The thrill when he says your name, or calls on the phone, or grabs your hand. I enjoyed reading about the honeymoon, which did not turn out the way they had planned. The chapter about having her first baby was also entertaining.

All in all, it was a fun read but hard for me to keep going. The draw to continue on to the next chapter was not strong enough. I felt like I was re-reading sections because she said the same things over and over. Would I recommend it? Well, if you like Pioneer Woman, you will probably like this book. If you like deeper reading, things that make you think, probably not. If you just want a toothless, light book for the end of summer, go for it. You may enjoy it.Ree Drumond is an entertaining writer and a great
cook. Just ask any of the thousands who subscribe to
her blog and website, thepioneerwoman.com. She
started writing her love story on her blog, which was
wildly popular. Thus was born the idea to write a full
length book. And if she’d had more material to work
with, it might have worked.

This was a nice book to read. A cute, fish-out-of-water story. She’s a city girl who's moved back home to sort out some changes in her life and the end of a 3-year relationship. She meets a cowboy in a bar and she is smitten. The rest of the story revolves around her learning the ins and outs of country living and her embarrassing yet entertaining mistakes as she tries to woo and impress her "Marlboro Man." We also hear a lot about the disintegration of her parent’s marriage. 

Parts of this book are entertaining and even well written. Other parts are redundant and repetitive. I kept waiting for something real to happen. Most of the action was between their lips and her raging desire to be with him. Though conservative and moral, which I appreciated very much, I got tired of her going on and on about her attraction to him. I felt like it was a little overdone.

On the positive side, it did make me reflect on the energy and enthusiasm of new, young love. The thrill when he says your name, or calls on the phone, or grabs your hand. I enjoyed reading about the honeymoon, which did not turn out the way they had planned. The chapter about having her first baby was also entertaining.

All in all, it was a fun read but hard for me to keep going. The draw to continue on to the next chapter was not strong enough. I felt like I was re-reading sections because she said the same things over and over. Would I recommend it? Well, if you like Pioneer Woman, you will probably like this book. If you like deeper reading, things that make you think, probably not. If you just want a toothless, light book for the end of summer, go for it. You may enjoy it.Ree Drumond is an entertaining writer and a great
cook. Just ask any of the thousands who subscribe to
her blog and website, thepioneerwoman.com. She
started writing her love story on her blog, which was
wildly popular. Thus was born the idea to write a full
length book. And if she’d had more material to work
with, it might have worked.

This was a nice book to read. A cute, fish-out-of-water story. She’s a city girl who's moved back home to sort out some changes in her life and the end of a 3-year relationship. She meets a cowboy in a bar and she is smitten. The rest of the story revolves around her learning the ins and outs of country living and her embarrassing yet entertaining mistakes as she tries to woo and impress her "Marlboro Man." We also hear a lot about the disintegration of her parent’s marriage. 

Parts of this book are entertaining and even well written. Other parts are redundant and repetitive. I kept waiting for something real to happen. Most of the action was between their lips and her raging desire to be with him. Though conservative and moral, which I appreciated very much, I got tired of her going on and on about her attraction to him. I felt like it was a little overdone.

On the positive side, it did make me reflect on the energy and enthusiasm of new, young love. The thrill when he says your name, or calls on the phone, or grabs your hand. I enjoyed reading about the honeymoon, which did not turn out the way they had planned. The chapter about having her first baby was also entertaining.

All in all, it was a fun read but hard for me to keep going. The draw to continue on to the next chapter was not strong enough. I felt like I was re-reading sections because she said the same things over and over. Would I recommend it? Well, if you like Pioneer Woman, you will probably like this book. If you like deeper reading, things that make you think, probably not. If you just want a toothless, light book for the end of summer, go for it. You may enjoy it.

Book Review: Gap Creek

"Gap Creek" by Robert Morgan, is the story of a young girl named Julie, set in the Appalachian high country in the final years of the nineteenth century. We are introduced to her when her brother dies a horrible, quite graphic death in her arms. She soon loses her father as well as is burdened with assuming the responsibility of her father in taking care of the family farm. She is 15 when she is swept off her feet by Hank Richards. He marries her and takes her to live in a small cabin in Gap Creek where he rents a room from Mr. Pendergast in exchange for meals and upkeep of the place. 

Julie’s story is one of hard work and heartbreak. Her life is a hard frontiering life . She quickly learns that marriage can be difficult as well. Things start out well for the marriage despite Mr. Pendergast demeaning treatment of Julie and often times crude remarks. The challenge of growing food and raising and slaughtering animals leads to a devastating accident that changes the course of their lives quite dramatically. 

Julie’s story is one of work, love, determination and heartache. She is faced with hope and regret, in her decisions and handles most things with the maturity I know I didn’t have at 15 or 16 years of age. She is quite the amazing young lady. Julie’s inner strength somehow pulls her through her challenges. She relates it this way. 

 “Then I took a bucket and rag and washed the floor. It made me feel strong to get down on my knees on those rough boards. It was like a morning prayer, kneeling on the cold boards and crawling backwards to rub away any dirt with the rag. As I scrubbed the floor I was s rubbing part of the world. And I was scrubbing my mind to make it clear. It was work that made me think clear, and it was work that made me humble. I could never talk fast, and I could never say what I meant to people, or tell them what they meant to me. My tongue never loosened my feelings. It was with my hands and with my back and shoulders that I could say how I felt. I had to talk with my arms and my strong hands.”

 She spends a lot of time alone in that cabin on Gap Creek until she opens her heart and home to the local Christian church. This part was a relief for me, to finally see her find the support of other women that she needed so desperately. 

"The world wouldn't have lasted this long if women didn't help each other," Elizabeth said.
"The world would be a better place if people helped each other more," Joannes said.
That night as I laid in bed, I kept thinking about how kind Joanne and Elizabeth had been to me. It made me feel growed up and kind myself to be treated that way. It made me feel like I was a bigger person. They made me want to be better.

 The author does a fantastic job of getting inside a woman’s mind and describing those thoughts and feelings of connection and interaction that women have with one another. Another example of that is when Julie has her first baby, all by herself in the cabin. The description of labor and childbirth are so accurate and beautiful. I could relate to every word. 

There were a few parts of the book that I didn’t care for. The scene of her brother dying was pretty graphic and gross. There are also several scenes of intimacy. Although they are between husband and wife and therefore moral, I still did not want to read about it and skipped as much as I could. If I were to recommend a book in this genre, I would recommend a different one. Although it was a good book, I can think of others I would recommend first.  

Book Review: Scumble

Learning to scumble a new savvy is not easy. At least that’s what Ledger Kale thinks.

Ledger Kale, the main character in “Scumble” by Ingrid Law, was hoping his savvy would be something useful, like running at lightning speed. But when his 13^th birthday rolls around and things start falling apart, literally, his hopes for his future are destroyed, along with the family van and anything else held together with nuts and bolts. Ledger Kale’s savvy is being able to tear things apart and he is not happy about it.

When the family drives to Uncle Autry’s bug ranch in Wyoming for cousin Fish’s wedding, things go from bad to worse. In an effort to help Ledger learn to scumble or control his savvy, his parents leave him and his sister, Fedora, at the ranch for the summer. The ranch is the perfect place for using your savvy without worry of discovery, out in the wide open spaces of Wyoming and is home to several other cousins who are working on scumbling. Things get really complicated when 13 year old Sara Jane Cabot stumbles into Ledger’s life and sees his savvy at work. The problem is that she runs a self-published newspaper called the Sundance Scuttlebutt and is about to blow the whistle on what goes on up at the ranch, which has just been foreclosed on by her father. Now it’s a race against time and Sara Jane, to save the ranch and keep the family secret a secret.

Ledger is a typical 13 year old, full of self-doubt and extra energy, to which most kids, boys and girls both, will relate. His savvy is most active when he is nervous, angry, or embarrassed which seems like all the time, especially when you’re in the middle of puberty. Introducing a girl, Sarah Jane, into the mix makes it all the worse to the point that he doubts he will ever regain control of himself. I believe most kids will relate to those feelings. As in Savvy, I really appreciated the simple love story. It was innocent, fun and completely age appropriate, which seems really hard to find these days.

Ledger learns a lot about himself throughout his adventure. In the final climatic scene of the novel he says, “Closing my eyes, I bowed my head, wondering…praying…demanding to know: Dear God, what had I been built to do?” This prayer could be offered by anyone, young and old, anytime making the novel relatable to all who read it. And his prayers are answered as he discovers his savvy is not just to tear things down. “But now I knew too,…that sometimes things have to come apart before becoming something different-something better.”

This young adolescent novel is fantastic and lives up to the expectations left by its predecessor, “Savvy.” It is full of new family characters, each with their own unique savvy and a few carry-over characters, such as Rocket. The new savvies, as well as old, are fun to see and the characters interact as a family would. The characters are diverse and interesting. This book is just wonderful. It’s full of adventure and discovery.  Just like “Savvy,” I recommend it for all pre-teens and up.

Book Review: The Graveyard Book

What would you do, if your parents were murdered? What if you were the only child and had no one else to care for you? What if you were only 1 year old?

What if you found yourself in a graveyard and it was there that people, or more accurately, ghosts, opened their hearts and mausoleums to you?

That is exactly how Bod’s story begins in “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman. Bod’s real name is, well, we don’t really know. He has been Bod Owens, short for Nobody, for as long as he can remember. He is taken care of by the ghosts of the cemetery. He is adopted by a very nice, elderly couple. He is also watched over by Silas who, for undisclosed reasons, has the ability to leave the graveyard and is able to find food and provisions for Bod. He is also Bod’s teacher and instructs him in academics. In addition, he instructs in fading, disappearing and other abilities that come in handy when you live in a graveyard.

Bod has many adventures as he explores his new home. He meets interesting characters, both living and dead. But the real adventure begins when he decides to leave the graveyard, which is his home and also a safe haven from the people who murdered his parents and may still be searching for him.

This novel was fun to read. A unique setting and character sets it apart from other books. Bod was a very relatable character as a curious and lonely boy, left to fill his own time in the graveyard. He makes mistakes that most young boys would fall prey to in such a mysterious place. His coming-of-age story is entertaining and satisfying. My only problem with it was that there were so many other characters I wanted to learn more about. His parents, both living (then dead) and ghost, for example. And what about the witch? What is her story? The Jack of All Trades group probably has an interesting origination. Most of all, I would like to learn more about Silas, Bod’s teacher and protector. Who is he? Where did he come from? Why is he different?

Although I was left with a lot of questions regarding other aspects of the book, the story of Bod I felt was sufficient. This is a sweet coming of age story with adventure, mistakes and growth, and a sweet little love story.

Book Review: Among the Hidden/ Among the Imposters

I’m two books into the Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix and I’m itching to get my hands on the 3^rd (out of 7) book. Parker introduced me to these books and was pretty excited about them. The first book, “Among the Hidden,” introduces us to young Luke. He spends a lot of his time outdoors on his family’s farm, running wild and free as any 8-year-old is inclined to do when he has no school and can’t go into town. All is heaven for him until he is forced inside as other homes are built nearby. He is in danger of being seen by others, which is a bad idea for him, because he is a third child. The penalty? Death.

In this world, severe famine and other factors have driven the government to regulate families to two children and only two. This is enforced by the population police, who mean business. So Luke goes into hiding in the attic of his room and is never allowed in any of the main areas of the house, let alone outside. So he spends a lot of his time looking out the small slits in the attic vent. It is there that he discovers he may not be the only third child and his adventures begin.

The next book is “Among the Imposters.”  Luke continues his adventure in a different setting under a different name. He continues to make discoveries about his status as a third child and what that means and who is involved in efforts to thwart the population police.

These are such fun books. The characters are well drawn and the situations are believable and real. It’s a quick read, definitely suitable for a 2-5 grade level. Even though the intended audience is so young, the story kept me interested and entertained, imagining a world with population police and restrictions that force young members of society into hiding.

Book Review: Enchantment

I am a softie for fairy tales and retellings. Is it any wonder I couldn’t resist “Enchantment” by Orson Scott Card? This novel is a retelling or expanding of the story of Baba Yaga, a Russian fairy tale. We begin by learning about Itzak/Vanya/Ivan Smetski and his early years in Russia, then Kiev (Ukraine) and eventually America, when still a young boy. Before Ivan’s family move to America, he and his parents stay a while with Cousin Marek near Kiev, where Ivan enjoys running through the forest. He is only around 10 years old when he happens upon a clearing where he imagines fairy tales might take place. Much to his surprise, the leaves start churning and a pedestal is revealed in the center of the clearing with a beautiful girl asleep on a bed. He is mesmerized by her, perhaps even in love already. The rapidly churning leaves and appearance of some sort of being underneath them scares him and he runs away. And thus plants the seed for his own real life fairy tale. Later in American, Ivan’s graduate study on the earliest beginnings of fairy tales leads him back to Russia and Kiev, and eventually back to the same magical clearing and the sleeping woman, where he soon finds out for sure what is under the churning leaves as he becomes the hero and saves the sleeping princess.

Quote: “He had done what he came to do – he cleared away the leaves, defeated the beast, crossed the chasm, woke the princess. That was as far as the stories ever went. None of the stories included shivering naked between forest and pit, the princess scorning you as a peasant…”

This is where the story really takes off. Ivan and the princess, Katarina travel between both her land and his as they try to outwit and outrun the evil witch, Baba Yaga and save her kingdom. Orson Scott Card does a wonderful job of describing the emotion and conflicts of being in a place where the customs and expectations are different as they jump between centuries. Belief systems and traditions are miles apart. I really enjoyed watching Ivan and Katarina, work through the conflicts created by having to learn and adapt to the different social environments. It was one of the highlights to see them work through their emotions and challenges. Another highlight was to read about a love story that isn’t love at first sight and doesn’t turn around on a dime for a happy ending. Ivan and Katarina struggle through real, honest, feelings as their relationship develops. I loved that it wasn’t smooth and easy.

Most of the characters are very likeable and strong. Though the stereotypical fairy tale characters are present, (hero, princess, anti-hero, villain, sidekick, and shunned woman) they are not truly stereotypical because the character development is deep enough to make them individuals you are interested in. The plot keeps moving along and never gets old or boring or predictable with a few clever twists and turns. The villain, Baba Yaga, is definitely a villain and lives up to the name. She is a little nasty and by that I mean there is a trend for some of her dialog and topic of conversation to be a little on the sexual side and the language a little coarse (swear words). It bothered me a little. Definitely adult topics and language.

I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to other adults. Because of the adult topics and language in some parts of the book, I would not recommend this to young readers. It was entertaining and really fun to read about a fairy tale you don’t hear referred too much at all.

Book Review: New York

"New York" written by Edward Rutherford was a fascinating read, even for historical fiction. This genre can be tricky to write sometimes because authors will weigh heavy on history or heavy on fiction and the one or the other is left lacking. But I felt none of that, which is notable, because this book spans a whopping 400 years. Rutherford successfully mixes fictional and real characters to create a fantastic history of the city, making the city itself one of the most, captivating characters in the novel.

Beginning in New Amsterdam, in 1664, we are introduced to Dirk vanDyck, a Dutchman and his relationship with the local indian tribes who originally inhabited the area. From there, we begin to follow the Master family and they live in the city of New York through all its history and happenings. 

It covers a lot of ground and I guess if I had one complaint, it would be that I forgot sometimes where I was and who was who, who begat who and so forth.  Sometimes I would think, "Man, that happened 100 years ago." And it did. The novel covers a lot of ground. When I decided to not let that bother me anymore, I became absorbed by the story of this family. 

It was so interesting to read about the back and forth of politics in the early stages of America (before it was the United States) particularly with France, England and the New World. One of my favorite parts was the Revolutionary War. The complicated relationships between the federalists and loyalists, especially among family members was so interesting. I particularly loved the Master family throughout this portion of the novel. The family relationships were honest and gave me a perspective I had never really thought about before.

Beyond the revolutionary war, we read about slavery, the civil war, war draft riots, financial troubles, the great depression, hippie movements, immigrants and the list goes on. In fact, there is not much that is not mentioned. There were all sorts of tidbits about architecture, art, theater, finance, politics, weather. Although I'm sure I missed a lot because I know a lot, what I did catch was so interesting. 

The fictional family is fun to read about. Their relationships are complicated and not always pretty. There are happy marriages as well as love affairs, undisciplined, disobedient children and honest, respectful relationships. I came to enjoy the family very much and was very interested in where history (their future) would lead them. Without that interest, the novel would have flopped.

The story ends on 9/11, when the twin towers fell. The more current parts of the novel seem to move more quickly to get to the end, and aren't quite as interesting as the previous parts. Maybe because I live in this world and I know what's coming. It is still a satisfying ending, though, with a great connection to the early chapters of the book. Overall, I came to admire and enjoy the Master family and would love to book a ticket for New York.

Book Review: The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

I just finished reading The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. It had been highly recommended and had been on my reading list for quite some time. Unfortunately, I think it was a case of expectations that were set too high because of the recommendation and anticipation. Don’t get me wrong, the book was great but did not meet the possibly unrealistic expectation I had for it. It just felt really disjointed with no solid development.

The book is about Precious Ramotswe, a private detective in Botswana. I was expecting a good mystery story. She is a private detective after all. I was confused at first, that we learned so much about her past, her father and upbringing, her indiscretions and challenges. After I realized the nature of the book, I started to enjoy it more. There are passages that are so beautiful in imagery, describing the landscape of Africa and the community in which Precious lives. I always enjoy reading about other cultures and countries. All the background sets the stage for nice character development in Precious.

However, Precious is one of the only characters I feel is adequately developed. Most of the other characters are the clients that come into the agency. Though the cases are entertaining enough, I don’t feel like they propelled the story in any real direction. And the final case, made reference to early on in an ambiguous story, not related to anything at all, really, feels empty because the connections and development were never very deep.

Beyond that, though, there were several parts that I really enjoyed. One was the attitude regarding the value of a woman.  A cousin raised Precious during the early years of her life. She was a meticulous teacher at home. By the time Precious started school, at age 6, she would have been considered very gifted, by our standards. In response to all this mothering, educating and nurturing, Obed, Precious’s father “had thanked her, and done so often, and generously, but it had not occurred to him to praise her, because in his view she was just doing her duty as a woman and there was nothing special about that.

“We are the ones who first ploughed the earth when Modise (God) made it,” ran an old Setswana poem. “We were the ones who made the food. We are the ones who look after the men when they are little boys, when they are young men, when they are old and about to die. We are always there. But we are just women, and nobody sees us.”

I think that may be a common attitude towards women, especially in certain cultures. I’m grateful that I don’t have to deal with that kind of mentality here and now. How draining.

 Another part I thought was hilarious was this. Precious is talking about the sense of confidentiality that doctors have, something she feels she has that in common with them, being a private detective. She reflects on how she doesn’t really have anything to hide anyway. Then she admits, “Now constipation was quite a different matter. It would be dreadful for the whole world to know about troubles of that nature. She felt terribly sorry for people who suffered from constipation, and she knew that there were many who did. There were probably enough of them to form a political party – with a chance of government perhaps – but what would such a party do if it was in power? Nothing, she imagined. It would try to pass legislation, but would fail.”

Besides Precious, the only other character who really mattered at all was her friend, a mechanic, J.L.B. Matekoni. The love story between the two, at least from his point of view, is so humble and genuine. I wanted to know more about him. 

There were occasional nuggets of gold thrown out, thoughts that caused me to think and added depth of character and emotion. For example, this one regarding the challenges facing Africa.“There was so much suffering in Africa that it was tempting just to shrug your shoulders and walk away. But you can’t do that, she thought. You just can’t.” But the nuggets were just too few and far between without enough development of character to hold me over. They just made me wish for more of something that wasn't there.

It was a fine book. I'm glad I read it. But I'm not racing to get the next one in the series because I don't feel connection to any characters or storyline. Recommendation: 3/5.

Book Review: Midnight in Austenland

I read this novel for bookclub during the summer. I know, it's the middle of winter but I just remembered I never review this book, so here goes. "Midnight in Austenland" by Shannon Hale is a great summer read. I have loved her other adolescent novels, particularly "Princess Academy" and "Book of a Thousand Days" so I had high hopes when I read "Austenland." I was disappointed. I wasn't prepared for the slightly edgier, more mature aspect of the book and the whole thing seemed a little shallow. So when "Midnight in Austenland", sequel to "Austenland", was suggested at bookclub, I tried to hide my lack of enthusiasm and agreed to the pick. Although my opinion was already slightly tainted before even opening the pages, I was pleasantly surprised.

The story is completely separate from "Austenland" allowing the reader to conveniently skip over that one if you choose. In "Midnight..." we are introduced to Charlotte Kinder, a divorced mother of two who desperatly needs a vacation. Soon enough she finds herself in the rolling hills of the English countryside at a resort where everyone takes on a Jane Austen era character. The 'hotel' per say is staffed with actors and romance is in the air. 

As Charlotte enters this new world, she meets all sorts of interesting characters and entertains herself in trying to figure out what part of the character is real or not. It doesn't take long before there are situations that don't add up in her mind and she's soon hot on the trail of solving a suspicious disappearance and possible murder. 

The story isn't deep and I had it figured out early. The bad guy really is the bad guy, although I had hoped until the very last pages that there would be a twist or red herring type of ending. Alas, it all played out according to the basic formula. 

The redeeming part of the story that made the read worthwhile was the character of Charlotte. I really liked her. Shannon Hale does a great job opening up Charlotte to the reader in a way that immediately draws you to her side and you wouldn't think of leaving her before the final page is read.

So although I felt like the plot was lacking, I still recommend this book, especially if you need a quick summer read. In 5 or 6 months after we thaw from winter.