things to look forward to, and one more book read

tonight i am leaving the kids and the mr. at home. i am heading to visit with some friends from HS. i am more excited about this than my reunion, as I imagine it will be more quiet and we'll be able to visit a little easier. will post pics tomorrow!

also, read and LOVED American Wife. I must say that it was difficult not to pic GW and Laura (upon whom it is based), but Sittenfeld's narrative was engaging and kept me reading. Would love to know how close she is to understanding the real Laura Bush's mind. I suspect that Mrs. Bush is not that deep, nor engaged, but I could be wrong. Un fortunately, that is something we will probably never know. As far as novels go, this was a first-rate story and the best of the three works by this author!

books to get me through january, perhaps beyond

so excited! i have so many books awaiting me :) the pic is just some of the many titles that i have read during break, or I am getting ready to read. here they are, in case you want to dive in and read them, too. I'll blog further about notable ones, when I finish....

- go ask alice: not only content that will make your hair curl, but writing so poor, it is laughable. read in advance of 13 YO K. to see if humanities teacher made a good rec. for her. uh, nope!
-Wishful Drinking: Carrie Fisher. This one gets mixed reviews because it is really a series of anecdotes, but I loved it. I found it brave, honest and intriguing.
-The Other: Guterson. From the author of Snow Falling on Cedars. A bit slow, but beautifully written reflections on friendship and love. Found many lines to add to my quote book.
-American Wife: Sittenfeld. Did not enjoy her first two books, but I am giving her another chance!
-A Short History of Nearly Everything: under the christmas tree to help me expand my mind. i will get to it, i swear!
-Dear American Airlines: J. miles. Currently reading this. i am enjoying the unfolding story and am suffering right along with his frustration.
-Loving Frank: Horan. Missed this when it was hardback (or waited?).
-Skeletons At the Feast: Bohjalian. One of my favorite authors. The book I am most looking forward to.
-America, America: Canin. Picked this at rec'd from Barnes and Noble.
-Mrs. Astor Regrets: under the tree to feed my desire to swap between "good" literature and gossipy literature!
-Twilight: picked it up for $4. Daughter has read them all, so i must give in and see what the fuss is.

So, there you have it! of course, this will need to be supplemented by weekly trips to the library!

bloggin' the mail

today's installment...BOOKS

my mom's day gift was a gift card to barnes & noble...here are the results! now, some pride themselves, and rightly so, on bargain shopping antiques, items for their e-bay store, craft materials, etc. for me, it is all about the books. (the library has no bigger friend than i!) pictured above are the fruits of three hours' labor (plus- not pictured two books for j. and one for c!). color me ecstatic...

our next installment...a surprise package from a swetie cousin!

Daddy's Girl- Lisa Scottoline

This is a fun legal thriller that I got i at the library the other day. This is the second book I have read by this author and her stories are tight, funny, action packed and smart. She writes strong women characters and took the plot of this one someplace I did not expect. If you like Evanovich, Stuart Woods, etc. check out this author.

HP# 7

well, i finished it yesterday morning and I can't believe it is all over. I feel like so many fans who have had to say good-bye- we knew the 7th book was coming, we always knew there would be 7, and yet it is hard not to have another to look forward to.

Don't worry, I am not going to give anything away! J, K and I meet in a quiet corner to discuss our reactions, so as not to ruin it for Joe.

I will say that i am pleased that, once again, JK Rowling returns to her orginal premise that love is a saving and protecting power. this idea has always been the core of these books and the singular idea my kids and I took away from them. (That is why I marvel at people who won't let their kids read them: parental love as eternal protection and guidance is a great lesson for kids)...

"Tell me one last thing," said Harry. "Is this real? Or has this been
happening inside my head?"
"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should
that mean that it is not real?"

Harry Potter Hangover

This is what you look like after you stay up until midnight reading Harry Potter #7...

In the past three days, J. & K. have put in about 5 hours a day, trying to beat the other to the finish line!

Joe and I are waiting patiently, avoiding all media accounts, and anyone who looks remotely like they would like to tell us how it ends...unless you are Joe's "special friend" who has told him everything- but, because it is her, I guess it is okay with him :)...he has been threatened with death if he tells me anything!

ed note: J. has, in fact, finished first. mooklettes is encouraged, as he is not crying! he did, however, say he can't believe it is all over...

Digging to America

This novel, by Anne Tyler, captured my interests immediately. I have only read one other book by her: The Amateur Marriage, which is a favorite of mine. I know she is most famous for Breathing Lessons (Pulitzer Prize) and The Accidental Tourist.

This work follows two families who are drawn together because of their simultaneous adoption of Korean babies. This singular event, leads to shared holidays, child rearing and two families that become intertwined through friendship. It also reflects a great deal on what it means to be American, to be included, and examines the various degrees to which people give up their culture, or hold themselves separate.

I was struck by the similarities to The Namesake. Although the focus in that book was on Indian immigrants, and this one features Iranian immigrants. Still, the struggle to fit in, to know what to let go and what to keep, to recreate traditions in a new country, to watch a new generation become solidly American are all represented in both works.

Anne Tyler does a wonderful job of giving her characters voice. She creates a world of imperfect people who are very careful with one another, lest they give offense. This is the heart of the story: how being so careful keeps them from expressing their truth to each other.

Tyler has a wonderful sense of narrative and quickly drew me in with her uncomplicated language and deft story telling.


PS: Short Straw by Stuart Woods. He never fails- good, dependable, fun mystery- easy to enjoy!

three down, three to go

Well, out of the first three books from my library outing- one is a hit. I expected so much more from Burning Bright, by Tracey Chevalier, as I have read all of her books. This one just left me cold, and I am unable to finish it. Perhaps I will have another go at it, but if a book doesn't grab you by page 100, when will it, really?

Don't Look Down by Cruisie/Mayer is another disappointment. I have had this on my fun/trach list to read for awhile now. I have read all of Jennifer Cruisie's books and enjoyed them for what they are- a fun, adventurous, sexy ride. I was intruigued with the authors' attempts to write main characters from their own perspective: Bob Mayer writing the male lead, Cruisie writing the female lead. I have been following their process on their blog, and enjoyed their sense of craft and humor, but it just doesn't work here. Again, with a book like this I give it 50 pages...I just wasn't feelin' it.

A Spot of Bother, by Mark Haddon: loved Curious Incident of the Dog at Midnight, especially since I have had autistic students on my classroom. In this new novel he looks at a modern English family whose father is in the midst of nervous breakdown, the wife an affair, the daughter not ready to committ, but planning the wedding anyway and the son at loose ends with his own love life. Haddon writes so convincingly of the breakdown that I felt like I was going mad. There were many times when I wanted to tell the other characters to get over themselves, but for the father I had a great deal of sympathy. This is a great dark comedy, that shows how far the "stiff upper lip" of the British can take them down the wrong road. A word of caution- if you are squemish about homosexual sex scenes, avoid this book!

Now I am in the midst of McDermott's After This, and so far so good...

Bliss

Just got back from the library...

a spot of bother, by mark haddon
digging to america, by anne tyler
short straw, by stuart woods
after this, by alice mcdermott
don't look down, by crusie/mayer
burning bright, by tracy chevalier

a little piece of heaven on earth... I'll let you know how they are...

The Higher Power of Lucky

This is the Newberry winner for Children's literature this year, and it is an extraordinary book. The heroine, Lucky, is a ten year old girl whose mother has died and whose father has abandoned her. In their place is Brigette, the father's first wife, who came from France to care for Lucky. Set in the desolate, wind-swept high desert, the reader is along for Lucky's struggles with loss, her desire to be good so nothing bad will happen, and her search for her "higher power".

As part of her search for her "higher power", she eavesdrops on the town's various 12-step meetings. During one such meeting, the participants are discussing when they "hit bottom", and someone shares the story of almost losing their dog due to a snake biting it on the scrotum. Lucky does not know what this means, but knows it sounds serious...Serious, indeed, as this is the reason most children will not be exposed to this book. How does one read this aloud in class, for example?? It is pretty hard to send a note home explaining it to parents, without the benefit of the context of the story.

So, how will I share this moving, humorous, real story? With my daughter for one, who thanks to my in-laws, was lucky enough to hear the author speak and discuss her choices. Beyond that, I will share with my sons and students I come across whose parents are interested in the value and impact of good literature. (Of course, I'll tell the parents to read it first and decide for themselves).

It is too bad that many kids who have experienced loss and longing for security will miss out on this book. I would love to teach it in my class as there is so much worthy of discussion, and the writing is beautifully phrased and rich with metaphor and symbolism. However, for 5th and below, I wouldn't be willing to put it out there without prior approval. It would be great to examine the author's right to choices and how it effects their audience- fascinating !

The Double Bind
by Chris Bohjalian

Well, well, well- I do love Spring Break and the chance to ignore the pile of grading that needs to be done so I can READ...This is the second book I have read this week. The first, The Thirteenth Tale, was as disappointing as The Double Bind was stirring.

The Double Bind, the title refers to a previously held theory about the effects of parenting on schizophrenia, opens with the attack of a young woman and follows her journey as she works with the homeless. One of her clients passes away and it is revealed that before mental illness claimed him, he was a successful photographer. The young woman, Laurel, is charged with researching his photos and his past. The reader is along for the ride as laurel tries to discover the truth about herself.

This books is so profound as it looks at mental health, the plight of the homeless, what kind of support systems exist to keep people from taking to the street. The author was inspired by actual photographs that came from a man in a homeless shelter and his love for the novel The Great Gatsby. The author prompts the reader to think about the capabilities of the human mind to protect itself, why people become homeless and consequences of violence.

This is the second book by this author I have read. The first was, Before You Know Kindness- a treatise of sorts on animal rights, gun control and parenting. An excellent book with a first rate sense of humor. In The Double Bind, the author proves extremely adept at capturing female characters and writing dialog that is genuine. Further, Bohjalian is a master at not telegraphing what is coming next in the plot and allowing the reader to savor their arrival at the conclusion of the book.

If a feel good book is what you are after, this is not for you. However, if a well crafted story, an engaging and thoughtful plot line and stirring characters that you can care about are what you are after- I can highly recommend this book.

Lisey's Story- Stephen King

Ummm...I have been collecting my thoughts on this read for a week or two. Still not sure what I think of it. First, I am reluctant to recommend it, as it is so unusual. Still, that makes me want to recommend it! I have never read Stephan King before and picked this one up because it is supposed to be a more personal work and marriage was the basis of the story. That said, I loved the main characters' relationship- it was honest and powerful and life saving. There are times, in the real world, where one wonders what might have become of oneself if your spouse had not come along. That is certainly the case with these two... This book is terribly graphic, with disturbing scenes of violence and mutilation. This would usually be a deal breaker for me. However, what redeems it, is that at the core, Lisey is a true heroine and is bent on saving her husband, her sister and ultimately herself. In a kind of modern day fairy tale, Lisey must enter a dark and dangerous world in order to prevent herself from being consumed in this world. Kind of an interesting juxtaposition and I was mesmerized by King's ability to turn a phrase and to capture the short hand language of two people who had been together for a very long time.

Little Children by Tom Perotta

Wow- what a book. This is the kind of book that is perfect for a book club because even if you hate it (which I did), there is so much to talk about. For example, does the title actually refer to the behavior of the adults? This novel is so cynical and devoid of hope. I don't expect everything I read to be pollyannaish- how boring- but at least give me something profound to think about or good escapism. The author does not "get" women and, yet, they are central figures. It seemed like he threw everything in, including a child molester, just to see what would happen. This novel is now a movie, and I am strangely curious as to how it became one.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by KimEdwards

...This was her life. Not the life she had once dreamed of, not a
life her younger self would ever have imagined or desired, but the life she
was
living, with all its complexities. This was her life, built with
care and
attention, and it was good.
She shut her purse,
then. She climbed the steps. She pushed
the back door open and went
home.

This is an intersting and thought provoking novel. I really enjoyed the
way the author took great care with the language. I think that is what
appeals to me most in a novel- beautiful, accessible language. This story
is a difficult one- an impossible situation and hard to have sympathy for with
modern eyes. I had a really difficult time accepting the main male
character- responsible for so much hurt. Still a satisfying read and an
intriguing story.