Thursday, December 19, 2013

The Land of Stories

What if the fairy tales you grew up hearing were, in fact, simply the history of another world?  What if you favorite characters like Snow White and Cinderella were real flesh-and-blood people?  What if all the fantasies you know and love were actually real?

And what if you could hop between your world and theirs and visit them?

This is the delightful premise of Chris Colfer's The Land of Stories.  Alex and Conner Bailey, twin 12 year olds who have grown up hearing fairy tales read to them from their grandmother's book of stories.  Upon their 12th birthday, their grandmother gives them the book as a gift, and Alex makes a startling discovery:  the book can become a magical portal to another world.  A world where fairy tales are real, with princesses and evil queens and wolves that speak.  After they accidently fall into that world, they must go on a quest to gather the items necessary to make their way home.  Along the way, they discover that not all is what it seems, and there are secrets to be uncovered everywhere they go. 

This book was recommended at an education conference I attended, and the premise intrigued me, so when it came up on my daughter's book order for a few dollars, I grabbed it.  I am so glad I did.  The book is fun, fast-paced, and opens up some interesting perspectives on well-worn stories.  Colfer's take on the way things could be is enjoyably refreshing.  The language itself is nothing startling, and by about 2/3 of the way through it, I started successfully guessing what was going to happen next.  None of that kept me from dropping everything for an evening to try and finish the book (after all, I had to figure out if I was right or not!).  The idea of fairy tales being real is not a new one, and neither is the concept of characters having different back stories than originally intended.  However, Colfer paints an interesting picture with his take on the tales, and it's worth reading the book to see where he takes the characters.

One fascinating - and controversial - topic addressed in the book is the idea of motives.  The Evil Queen from Snow White is given a history that explains why she did what she did.    Some have felt that by giving her a history, it is excusing the fact that she tried to kill Snow White multiple times.  As I read the book, I did see the author excusing the behavior, but merely explaining it.  I also think it gave the read something to ponder about news stories they read or gossip they hear - there is always more to the story at hand, good or bad.  Understanding someone's history does not have to whitewash their behavior - but it can help one see that not everything is black and white, villains have feelings too, and situations are usually more complex than is seen on the surface. 

I also appreciated the fact that Colfer chose to relate his stories with the original fairy tales.  He does not mention the sanitized versions of stories unless it is to scoff at them - instead, he uses the old tales, such as The Little Mermaid turning into sea foam because she would not kill the prince, or the Evil Queen making four different attempts on Snow White's life.  When we "clean up" these tales to make them "appropriate" for children, we lose the message of the original story as well as pieces of the culture from which it came.  Colfer's choice to stay as true to the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Anderson is one I was glad he made. 

I plan to use this book soon with my students to talk about point of view and compare/contrast, so it has value on an educational level.  It is also valuable for the pure enjoyment of it.  Read The Land of Stories and travel to the place and time of the fairly tales of your childhood.  It's a ride that is worth your time.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
What I'm Reading Now: Becoming Myself by Stasi Eldredge

Top 5 TBR:
1.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2.
Shooting Victoria by Paul Thomas Murphy
3.
A Prophetic Calendar by Jill Shannon
4.
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
5.
The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordian

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Moon Over Manifest

Recently I received a box of books in my classroom through a program my school participated in involving Sunny D labels.  The end result was me with 20 new books for my classroom library - who-hoo!  It was like Christmas in October!  And of course the most fun part was that I now had all these new books to read!  I like to read as many of the books in my classroom as possible so I can recommend them to the right students.  I haven't read every book on my shelves, but I have read most of them.  I want my love of reading to spill over and splash my students, and I hope that in the years to come I can perfect the task of recommending books to students in a way that gets them excited about reading.  There is such a vast world out there to experience through reading, it truly is extraordinary. 

This is why I am now on my third review in a row that is on a book considered to be young adult fiction - and as much as I loved The False Prince, today's book has surpassed it.  It is one of the best stories I have read in a long time.  It was the 2011 Newberry Award Winner, and I cannot imagine the competition was that close with any other book.  It's that good.

Moon Over Manifest is the story of Abilene Tucker, a 12 year old girl from the 1930s who has been sent to her father's hometown of Manifest, Kansas to stay while he works on the railroad.  She is used to moving around and living on the road, and she lives every day with the expectation that her father is going to come get her.  In the meantime, she stumbles across a box full of mementos and some mysterious letters, and through these items along with the help of some of the townspeople she meets, she begins to uncover the story of Jinx, a boy similar to herself in his life situation who was in the town two decade before.  As their life stories overlap and intertwine with one another, Abilene begins to see the town, the people, and her own life in a different light.  There is much to learn about Manifest, and as she uncovers truths that have been buried for many years, the town's sign begins to weigh with a much heavier meaning: "Manifest...A Town With a Past."

This is a magnificent story.  It has it all.  Well, not much romance, I suppose.  But it has everything else.  It is the kind of story I absolutely love.  The author puts several lures out there to hook you right from that beginning.  Everything mentioned has significant meaning, and you don't understand how it all relates until the very last page.  The author does not leave out a single detail, and the story that unfolds is like an onion, unfolding layer after layer, until you are so overwhelmed with "a-ha!" moments that by the time you finish the book, you're exhausted.  I LOVE THAT!  This is the kind of book you can't put down.  It's a walk-through-the-halls-reading-and-try-not-to-bump-into-walls kind of book.  It's a be-careful-and-don't-burn-the-dinner-because-you-are-reading-while-you-cook kind of book.  And it's definitely the kind of book that, upon finishing, you will start over and read again, because NOW everything is much more significant than the first time. 

This book also holds a specific meaning for me because although the author names the town in the book Manifest, she states in the author's note that the book is really about the town of Frontenac, Kansas, which is a town just a few miles from where I live.  It's not just a fantastic story.  It's also the story of Southeast Kansas around the turn of the century.  It's the story of my own immigrant ancestors and how they came here for a better life.  It's about the control of the coal mines and the hold that they had over this area - and to some degree the hold they still have today, judging by what the mines did to the land and how they defined the people.  Many will read this book and see a great historical fiction story.  I read this book with personal pride knowing that the people on whom the characters are based are my people from almost 100 years ago.  The story of Manifest is the story of Southeast Kansas, and I am proud of my ancestors and who they were and who they became. 

In short: READ THIS BOOK. 

Rating: 10 out of 5 stars!
What I'm Reading Now: Becoming Myself by Stasi Eldredge

Top 5 TBR:
1.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2.
Shooting Victoria by Paul Thomas Murphy
3.
A Prophetic Calendar by Jill Shannon
4.
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
5.
The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordian

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The False Prince

I am bleary-eyed this morning, and it's been a while since I felt this way because I stayed up all night to finish a book...but what a book!!  I finished it in about 48 hours - could not put it down!  And on top of all that - it's not even an adult book!  It's for teens and young adults! 

The False Prince tells the story of Sage, an orphan boy in a fictitious medieval-age world who is bought from the orphanage by a mysterious, powerful stranger.  Three other boys are also chosen, and these four are pitted against one another in a contest to see which one of them can pull off their new master's plan: pretend to be the long-lost prince of Carthya in order to stave off a civil war. 

It's kind of like a cross between The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones.  Except for a younger audience, so it's not quite so gory.

Anyway, as the story wears on - told from Sage's point of view - twists and turns appear throughout the story, and you find yourself breathlessly turning the pages, waiting to see what happens next.  And just when you think you have it all figured out, there is a HUGE surprise awaiting everyone involved that turns everything in the far off land of Carthya upside down.  Nothing is quite as it seems...

This book is fast paced, well-written, and captivating.  I would recommend it to readers about 6th grade and up in a heartbeat.  I don't remember the last book I read that kept me up till 1:00 am to find out the ending.  This was worth every moment of fatigue.

As a side note, this would also be an excellent read-aloud book for middle school teachers.  There is so much you could do with inferences, point of view, and making predictions.  You could even read it through twice - once from one perspective, then a second time from another, knowing the ending.  It would also captivate a wide audience - boys as well as girls will love it. 

This is short and sweet because I don't want to give too much away.  Sufficient to say, this book is a quick read that is worth your time.  Set aside 48 hours and read it.  You won't regret it.

Whew!  I need a nap...

5 out of 5 stars.  Hands down.

What I'm Reading Now: Becoming Myself by Stasi Eldredge

Top 5 TBR:
1.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2.
Shooting Victoria by Paul Thomas Murphy
3.
A Prophetic Calendar by Jill Shannon
4.
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
5.
The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordian

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Countdown

“There are always scary things happening in the world. There are always wonderful things happening. And it's up to you to decide how you're going to approach the world...how you're going to live in it, and what you're going to do."—Jo Ellen Chapman, Countdown

Sorry I've been a little lax, folks - we are moving!  The house is completely torn apart, and we are living out of two residences at the moment.  Kinda crazy at home, and when the new basement flooded last week, that pretty much took priority over everything.  Including this blog.  But I'm back on this week, and I have a new book to share!

Every generation has those moments from their childhood which seem to stand still because of the gravity of what was going on in the world.  Kennedy's assassination, the Berlin Wall coming down, the Challenger explosion - these are all moments in time that seem to freeze everything and spill over into our lives in frightening ways that are hard for a child to understand.  Parents would love to shield their children from these moments, but they are so huge that no one can hide from them. 

For me, the first time I remember really feeling that way was the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995  I was in 7th grade, and I remember coming home from school that day, the world being all about me and my 13 year old drama, and flopping down on the couch complaining to Mom about this kid and that teacher and how the world was just so unfair.  Mom nodded and made all the right murmurs, but she wasn't paying a lot of attention.  When I got to the end of my rant, I said "so what did you do today?"  And Mom pointed at the TV screen and said, "just watching this, really."  I turned around to see the Alfred P. Murrah building blown half off, bloodied faces being interviewed, and a massive manhunt for the men they believed to be responsible.  I watched for hours that night as the search for survivors continued.  I remember seeing the toll number on screen for kids in Oklahoma City to call if their parents hadn't made it home yet.  For the first time, I felt unsafe in the world.  This was an evil that couldn't be made ok with a hugs and kisses from Mom and Dad.  Something had changed in the world, and my little teenage universe was no longer about me, but about things far beyond my grasp and control.

Countdown by Deborah Wiles is a new kind of novel about another such time in 20th century American history - the Cuban Missile Crisis.  It follows the story of Franny, an eleven year old girl growing up in the shadow of the Cold War in the 1960s.  Franny, her mother, Air Force pilot father, older sister Jo Ellen, younger brother Drew, and World War I veteran uncle live near Andrews Air Force Base in the era of the Kennedys, duck and cover, rock and roll music, and the civil rights movement of the sixties.  Like most eleven year old girls, Franny's world is very much about her own trials and tribulations, such as her best friend suddenly turning on her and a cute boy moving in across the street.  Her parents don't seem to see her or understand her, and nothing feels quite right or fair.  She knows about the nuclear threat from Russia, and she thinks if she can just get a letter to Chairman Khrushchev and explain things, she could put an end to the growing fear that has become a part of their everyday life.  Right in the midst of all this pre-teen angst, the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 develops, and life in Camp Springs, Maryland seems to come to a standstill as the world holds its breath, waiting to see if they will wake up tomorrow to a nuclear holocaust.  Franny has to find her way in the world and begin to come to terms with how scary life can be but, in contrast, how much having your family around you to love and be loved by can make a difference in deciding how, as her sister Jo Ellen puts it, she is going to approach the world.

First, the historical perspective.  I love historical novels, and this is no exception.  However, this novel add a new dynamic to the classic historical novel.  It is what the author calls a "documentary novel."  Throughout the book, interspersed through the pages, are slices of life from 1960s America.  Pieces of speeches by presidents and civil right movement leaders are printed in large print.  Song lyrics are randomly interwoven with Cold War propaganda posters.  Occasionally there is a biographical mini report on someone who shaped that era, such as President and Mrs. Kennedy.  Throughout the narrative, there seems to be a soundtrack of a civil defense filmstrip, telling kids what to do in case of a nuclear attack.  (Because, after all, a nuclear blast can destroy everything within hundreds of miles, but if you duck and cover your head you should be fine, right?)  It's as if this soundtrack is playing in the back of Franny's mind all day, all the time, no matter what is going on around her.  As the threat of the Missile Crisis grows, so does the intensity of this soundtrack of her mind. 

The book's narrative is also written in present tense, which is absolutely perfect for this character and what's going on around her.  Eleven year olds hardly think about the past, and they certainly don't think too much about the future.  Everything is very in the NOW with them.  What's more, the pressure of the Missile Crisis had everyone living moment by moment.  America literally did not know what was going to happen next.  At any moment, bombs could start falling from the sky.  It was a very "clear and present danger" kind of time.  The present tense illustrates that tension beautifully. 

The book is well written and manages to capture both the struggles of Franny in her life and the struggles of the global crisis around her, balancing between the two and even drawing parallels.  Her relationship with her best-friend-turned-enemy, Margie Gardener, heats up in the exact timing of the Missile Crisis, and the reader sees two people who just can't seem to communicate well at the same time they see two countries that couldn't manage to get their relationship happy either.  October 27, 1962, the Crisis reached a climax when Major Rudolf Anderson was shot down and killed over Cuba.  This is day Wiles chose for Franny to have her climactic moment in the book, her damaged friendship with Margie coming to a head, with dramatic and tragic results.  The two crises are felt keenly by the reader, and as a result, you wind up in the head and heart of Franny as she struggles to sort it all out and find her place in her family, neighborhood, and world. 

In the end, it's a book about love, family, friendship, and choosing how you will enter the world.  It's a book about the personal struggles we face every day as well as the global threats around us that affect us more than we know.  It takes us back to a time and place where childhood was idyllic and terrifying all at the same time.  It captures the mood of a nation and the mood of a little girl in 20th century America, just trying to be seen and understood by those around her. 

It's a delightful book.  I enjoyed both as an adult reader and as a teacher looking for books to recommend to young readers.  This would be a great book to recommend to readers about 5th grade and up.  Wiles has two other companion novels coming about life in the 1960s, and I can't wait to read those as well and she where she takes some of these characters.  This is a great series either for teaching history or just for reading for enjoyment.  Check it out and travel back to experience life in the 1960s - you won't regret the trip.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
What I'm Reading Now: Becoming Myself by Stasi Eldredge

Top 5 TBR:
1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2. Shooting Victoria by Paul Thomas Murphy
3. A Prophetic Calendar by Jill Shannon
4. Forgotten God by Francis Chan
5. The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordian

Monday, November 11, 2013

Confessions

This blog is entitled Confession of a Hopeless Bookworm.  Thus far I have focused on books I am confessing to have read or books I am actively reading.  There is another kind of confession: those books that I am supposed to have read but, for whatever reason, I have not.

Some of them just didn't catch my interest.  Some of them took too much time.  And some of them have sat on my shelves for decades now, waiting for me to stop putting them off.  At any rate, here is my List of Books I Should Have Read By Now:

1. Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank.  I went through a major Holocaust phase in elementary school.  I have read The Cage, Night, and countless other books and personal narratives.  So why I have I not read THE book of the Holocaust, that quintessential story of this horrific era?  I honestly don't know.  I have started it dozens of times.  I have never even gotten to the point where they start hiding.  It's embarrassing, but no, I've never actually read it.

2. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.  You would think with my affection for Gone With the Wind that I would be addicted to Civil War novels.  However, I have never gotten past the first chapter of this book.  Does that  get me thrown out of the girl club?  Oh well, I don't know how to do my eye makeup either, so maybe it's just as well.  I simply never got into this book. 

3. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.  This is a confession because I was SUPPOSED to have read it in high school. Plus I really like Dickens, so I should have read the thing. I had five novels to read for my summer reading assignment in preparation for English 12AP.  I read four of them.  I ran out of time and Cliffed this one.  I also rocked the test on it...but what goes around comes around: I was so busy reading the Cliffs Notes* for this book the night before the summer reading test that I did not review the other books and bombed the other parts of the test.  Well played, Mrs. Turk. 

*Cliffs Notes, children, were what we used in the days before Wikipedia to fake our way through tests.

4. The Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  As I mentioned in this post, I never got into these books.  I realize that I am a girl that grew up in the Midwest and therefore I am supposed to fawn over these books, but I just can't get there. 

5. Anne of Green Gables and the rest of the series by L.M. Montgomery.  When I was about 8, I fell in love with the Avonlea series and the Anne of Green Gables mini-series on the Disney channel.  (For those of you who might be my younger readers: children, once upon a time the Disney channel produced good, quality family entertainment, unlike the nonsense you find on there now.)  I asked for and received the entire series for Christmas, and I eagerly set out to read them...and never succeeded.  Not even once.  BUT - I view them as my next A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.  It took me decades to getting around to reading that book, but once I did, I loved it.  I really think I will conquer Anne one of these days. 

6. The Complete Works of Shakespeare.  This is on the list because I love Shakespeare and I feel like I should have read more of his works by now.  But I haven't picked up one of his plays since high school.  Pity - they are amazing, he does incredible things with the English Language.  This is on my bucket list - to read every one of his works. 

7. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.  Confession: I love Jane Austen.  Second confession: the only novel I have actually read in its entirety is Pride and PrejudiceBut I WILL finish her complete works one day!

8. 1984 by George Orwell.  I haven't read any of Orwell, actually, but I feel like I should in order to be a well-rounded adult. 

9. Wuthering Heights  by Emily Bronte.  I've read Jane Eyre - why haven't I read this one again?  More confessions: haven't even seen the movie.  I know, I am a terrible excuse for a young woman. 

10. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.  I covered not reading this book in this post, but it still embarrasses me that I've never gotten through it.  I really would like to, but every time I try, I fail.  I absolutely love the movies, even the extended versions, so it's not the length.  I have no idea why I have this block against finishing this book, but it's there.

Phew!  I feel so much better getting that off my chest.  What about you?  What books have you never read that you feel like you should have by now?

Sunday, November 10, 2013

In Their Own Way

Sorry to be gone last week folks, but I was out of town at an education conference.  Once I got back, I spent the next few days playing major catch-up.  So I am just now sitting down to get the blog updated - my apologies! 

My saturation with all thing education last week brought me back to one of my favorite education books.  As a special education teacher, I can testify with confidence that kids do not all learn the same way.  In fact, no two students are exactly alike.  Yet we have a very narrow idea of what "intelligence" really is or how learning should take place.  Our dream for our children can be too small - and we wind up hindering their true potential as a result.

In Their Own Way by Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D., takes a look at our idea of what "smart" means and how in truth, there are many ways to be "smart" and bloom.  Most people in education these days are familiar with Howard Gardner and his theory of multiple intelligences.  The idea is that people are smart - intelligent - in different ways, but our school system tends to reward only one or two of those ways.  Gardner has identified eight different "intelligences":  body-kinesthetic, logical-mathematical, spatial, linguistic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalist.  Schoolwork tends to be aimed at those strong in the mathematical or linguistic intelligences.  However, what if we were able to allow kids who were musical or spatial to learn in their own way?   How would that change the amount of information and skills they'd be able to obtain and use in their lives?

Thomas Armstrong takes this theory and runs with it in an extremely applicable way. He addresses issues of multiple intelligences in schools and reasons why your student may not be thriving.  The chapters are chock-full of insights and great ideas for both the home and the classroom.  But my FAVORITE part of the book is in the back where he breaks down books, games, internet sites, learning materials, and a TON more for each specific intelligence.  It's like a treasure trove of ideas for anyone who works with kids, whether an educator, teacher, day-care worker, counselor...anyone who works with kids would benefit from these final chapters.  They are massively useful in helping kids reach their full potential. 

Some examples:

- Have a child who is strong in bodily-kinesthetic form punctuation marks with their body posture to teach grammar

- Come up with chants and songs to help students learn math concepts in a musical manner

- Use puzzles to teach countries to kids with strong spatial skills

In addition to providing a massive amount of resources and good ideas, the books is well written and easy to read.  It's not at all  "academic" in its vernacular.  You don't have to have an Ed.S. to understand it.  Dr. Armstrong's goal is to provide useful information rather than a professional or highly academic discussion, and he surpasses that goal with his book's structure and word choice.

I also found the book to be very personally applicable.  In reading the book, I realized that I am very strong in the linguistic and intrapersonal intelligences.  I can go to those sections of the book and identify strategies that can help ME learn new concepts. For example, journaling my way through new ideas is a great way for me to learn because it uses both of those strengths. 

If you interact with kids at all, this book is for you.  If you've ever struggled with getting a concept into a kid's head, this book is for you.  If you've ever wondered why your child doesn't do well in school, the book is for you. 

In short...there's a good chance this book is for you.  Check it out! 

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
What I'm Reading Now: Becoming Myself by Stasi Eldredge

Top 5 TBR:
1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2. Shooting Victoria by Paul Thomas Murphy
3. A Prophetic Calendar by Jill Shannon
4. Forgotten God by Francis Chan
5. The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordian

Thursday, October 31, 2013

We Were Here First

We're packing up to move, and in the process, I keep finding old books that I had forgotten about but that I love.  It makes packing take a long time because I tend to sit down and read the books instead of pack them away.  It's like cleaning up my room when I was a kid all over again.  (Mom, cue in anytime here.) 

Anyway, I found one of my "beside" books when I was packing up my room - you know, one of those books you just leave by the side of the bed to flip through when you're trying to go to sleep.  It's like a coffee table book except more tuned to your personal tastes.  (Yes, I do have one on the history of England.) 

This particular book is a collection of one of my favorite comic strips, Baby BluesBaby Blues has been hilarious to me for years, but - much like Up a Family Tree - it became especially near and dear to my heart after the children arrived.  The parents of the strip, Wanda and Darryl, have three small children.  She stays at home while he works.  The gags of the strip surround their attempts to juggle trying to have an adult life with raising their three small ones. 

With a 7 year old, a 6 year old, and a 3 year old, is it any wonder this is one of my favorite comics?

The collection I found is entitled We Were There First, and it focuses on the trials of "couplehood" when you have small children running around.  Wanda and Darryl are pictured on the cover of the book hiding in the closet with a candle and two wine glasses in a desperate attempt to get some alone time.   While my husband and I have not resorted to this (mostly because we don't have closets and don't like wine), we can definitely identify with trying to have a "couple" life along with a "parental" life.  Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott, the authors of the strip, have always managed to show a real appreciation for the joys and loves of parenting while being able to point out some of the irony and ridiculousness that comes along the way. 

Such as:
- Rejoicing when you finally get to go away for the weekend with your spouse, only to rush into the hotel room in a grand hurry to email the kids, whom you miss terribly
- The wife arguing with the GPS in the mini-van ("who are you going to believe?")
- The conversations you want to have with your spouse but never get around to having because of all the interruptions
- The despair that comes to a household when the washer and dryer kick the bucket
- SCHEDULES
- And the 6 things you learn after having kids ("#3: Free time is anything but that," also known as paying the baby-sitter)

Parenting is an adventure.  It is full of tears, joy, and laughter.  And if you don't learn to laugh, there are far too many tears.  I would not give up my life as a mom for anything - but that doesn't mean it isn't great to flip through a book of comics and laugh, knowing there are others experiencing the same thing you are out there. 

P.S. If you want to read the strip on a daily basis, you can find it on this link.  I read it every day!

Rating:3 out of 5 stars
What I'm Reading Now: Actually, not sure.  There are so many possibilities.  So on to the Top 5.
Top 5 TBR:
1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2. Shooting Victoria by Paul Thomas Murphy
3. A Prophetic Calendar by Jill Shannon
4. Forgotten God by Francis Chan
5. The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordian

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Great Tales from English History: The Truth about King Arthur, Lady Godiva, Richard the Lionheart and More

Our family has been under some considerable stress lately.  We are trying to purchase our first house, and the process has been long and grueling.  Sometimes, when you're under pressure and receiving disheartening news at every turn, you turn to the comforts of books that help soothe over the troubled times.

Comfort books are different for everyone.  For some, cheap supermarket novels serve this purpose.  For others, a good mystery, and for still others, anthologies or short stories are a welcome distraction.

For me it's non-fiction stories about medieval England. 

We all have our things, ok? 

I was gratified to be recently notified via paperbackswap.com that this little book, Great Tales from English History by Robert Lacey, had come up available.  For some reason, it took almost 3 weeks to arrive at my house, but that is simply symptomatic of my life lately - a lot of hurry up and wait.  A book that served as a fun escape from the drudgery and heartache of home-buying should, after all, take forever to get here.  It's quite fitting, really. 

But once it arrived, all was forgiven.  Lacey seeks to take the mystery out of history and tell it like it really was, or at least as close as he can get.  He starts with the Cheddar Man in prehistoric Albion (England) and goes all the way through Richard II and the Peasants' Revolt.  He tells the stories of Richard the Lionheart, Lady Godiva, and other famous English tales with the rose-colored glasses firmly off his face and his tongue planted firmly in his cheek.  He does not take himself, his country, or his country's most beloved tales too seriously, but he tells the tales of England's story with wit and a proper historical perspective.  Most of these stories I have heard before - this is, after all, my favorite period in history.  I know all about Canute, and Boadicea, and King Alfred burning the cakes.  But it's still fun to read, and Lacey tells each story like just that - a story, not a history lesson.  I truly believe many people would find this collection of stories enjoyable - not just the medieval history geeks like me. 

Great Tales from English History was a great distraction from this past week's adventures in housing-land.  It is well-written and tells fun tales of history with a great perspective.  Check it out sometime - you might find yourself enjoying it!

And...it's a series!  He wrote several of these collections!  MORE FUN!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
What I'm Reading Now: Actually, not sure.  There are so many possibilities.  So on to the Top 5.
Top 5 TBR:
1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2. Shooting Victoria by Paul Thomas Murphy
3. A Prophetic Calendar by Jill Shannon
4. Forgotten God by Francis Chan
5. The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordian

Monday, October 21, 2013

A Little Princess

Computer is still down, folks, so I'm updating as often as I can!

My recent foray into Victorian England has reminded me of a childhood favorite of mine.  As I am still working on The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, I thought I would stop off at on memory lane and remember that lovely classic by Frances Hodgson Burnett, A Little Princess.

Princesses are taking a beating today.  There's an entire culture of mothers that are rioting against the idea of "making our daughters into princess."  I think it's a reaction to the commercialization of the Disney Princesses, making the idea of a princess the one of voluptuous beauty waiting for their prince to come.  Being a "princess" has come to mean that you have to look a certain way and have your life center around whatever guy you happen to be waiting for.  It has become commercialized into something pretty superficial.

There is more, however, to the idea of being a princess. 

A Little Princess is the story of little Sara Crewe who has lived her whole small life as a privileged daughter of the very wealthy Captain Crewe, a well-to-do British officer in India.  In due time, as many children of her age and station were in the Victorian era, she was taken to London and enrolled in a girls' boarding school.  The headmistress of the school, Miss Minchin, does not like Sara from the start because she can sense all the grace and beauty of heart in Sara that she herself never had.  However, Sara's papa is crazy rich and spoils both Sara and the school with gifts and monetary support, so she puts on a good face where her star pupil is concerned.  Sara quickly becomes a quiet leader in the school and a hero among the younger students, spinning stories, helping others in their schoolwork, and defending the outcasts and helpless, even down to the scullery maid, Becky.  However, tragedy befalls little Sara as her papa finds himself involved in some bad investments, loses everything he has, and then dies, leaving Sara a pauper on Miss Minchin's hands.  Miss Minchin responds by turning Sara into a scullery maid herself and treating her cruelly.  Through it all, Sara remains regal in her own way, bearing her burdens with a dignity that comes from way down inside of her and proving that real royalty has nothing to do with birthright or circumstances.  Being Princess Sara means that she looks out for others, finds joy in the midst of despair, and treats her enemies with a respect they do not deserve.  In the end, the story ends like a fairy-tale, and everything comes out just as it should, with surprise delights along the way.  Through it all, ups and downs, Sara remains as she always has - a little princess. 

This is a marvelous story, one that I have enjoyed for many, many years, and one that I can't wait to read to my own daughter one day.  Not only is the story absolutely perfect - the ending is something I go back and read anytime I need my spirits uplifted, there is a scene in which Sara gets to confront Miss Minchin and it is everything you want it to be! - but it is also a story of one young girl facing life with fierce determination and dignity.  The story of Sara Crewe is not a story of trying to look a certain way or falling into the arms of a prince.  Her story is one of courage and perseverance.  She looked life in the eye and said "No matter what you hand me, I will hold my head up high and face it with dignity and grace." 

That is the kind of princess I want me daughter to be!

And everyone loves a story with a magically happy ending.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
What I'm reading now: Great Tales of English History: The Truth about King Arthur, Lady Godiva, Richard the Lionheart, and More by Robert Lacey
Top 5 TBR:
1. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2. Shooting Victoria by Paul Thomas Murphy
3. A Prophetic Calendar by Jill Shannon
4. Forgotten God by Francis Chan
5. The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordian

Friday, October 11, 2013

The Sign of the Four

My love affair with Sherlock Holmes continues. 

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote four full novels about the world's most famous detective, along with anthologies of short stories.  I've already written about the first one, A Study in Scarlet, and my newfound affection for Mr. Holmes.  I recently finished the second full novel, The Sign of the Four, and am now making my way through The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.  You may have to put up with the mysteries of Victorian England for a while.  But if you've read my blog for any amount of time, you've learned to put up with a great deal of England anyway, so here we go. 

The Sign of the Four begins with the classic woman in distress who, as all of Holmes' clients, has an unsolvable problem.  Her father has gone missing, and now someone in connection with the disappearance wants to meet her at a specific time and place.  Not knowing what to do, she turns to the original dynamic duo, Holmes and Watson, for help.  (Sorry, kids have been watching a lot of Old School Batman lately.)  So ensues a tale of mystery, treachery, and romance, with Holmes solving what on the surface appears to be an impossible problem - but of course, once he explains it, it's all really quite simple, you know.  

These books are just plain fun.  There's a reason everyone loves Sherlock Holmes.  Who doesn't love seeing an impossible problem solved?  Crime shows are very popular right now.  Sherlock is the original Jethro Gibbs, the original CSI.  The story will twist and turn until finally it all comes together in the final scene.  This book has some additional perks in that we get to see more of a glimspe into Watson and his private life - the end of the story sees him making some major happy life changes, and it's fun when your favorite characters find joy and happiness. 

Once again, there are some dark moments that remind you that you are dealing with 19th century text.  Part of the backstory takes place in India, and the way Doyle describes native Indians is atrocious.  It may have been totally acceptable in the 1800s, but it is simply unaccetable by any modern standard.  Read these parts keeping the context of the story in mind - it's not ok, but that's the way it was in that time and place.  

Sherlock Holmes is easy to read, lots of fun, and a classic for the ages.  If you haven't checked him out yet, you should get on board.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
What I'm reading now: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
TBR:
1. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (Just got The Complete Novels of Jane Austen in the mail via paperbackswap.com)
2. Israel: A History by Martin Gilbert
3. The Autobiography of Henry VIII by Margaret George
4. Forgotten God by Francis Chan
5. Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Top Ten LEAST Favorite Books

Discussing books is fun.  Getting to compare notes on your favorite books is always enjoyable, but what is just as enjoyable is talking about the books you DON’T like.  I’ve done many lists and discussions on this bog about books that I have enjoyed, but it can also be interesting to explore those books that one does not like - books that, dare I say, one even despises.  Yes, I have read a few books over the years that were not my cup of tea, and talking about the whys of hating these books is just as much fun as discussing why I so love Gone With the Wind.  So, in the spirit of all book discussions, I present here my top ten LEAST favorite books.  (I don’t particularly like using the word hate...but in a few of these cases, the word is fairly applicable.)  Feel free to disagree.  That’s what makes it fun!
 
Now, I should make this disclaimer: I am in no way a fan of banning books.  I am not demanding that NO one read these books.  Many of these books are classics and have been favorites of millions of people of many years.  I don't discount that at all.  These books are simply one I did not enjoy.  It's all open to discussion!
So, here they are...my top ten least favorite books…


1. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
I read this as a required reading in my sophomore English Honors class.  I seem to recall throwing it against the wall on more than one occasion.  This classic is supposed to be an examination of the brutality of the human spirit and a sort of creation allegory.  All I saw was a bunch of bratty British prep school boys marooned on an island that proceeded to become even more grotesquely bratty.  A friend of mine from high school and I decided together that this was the worst book we had ever read.  16 years later, whenever we see each other, we talk about two things: how much we loved marching band and how much we hated this book.  We are often bound together by common hatred as much as common interests.  Lord of the Flies is definitely a common hatred.


2. A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Another required reading during sophomore year.  This is also supposed to reveal something about human nature or some other twaddle.  One of the most boring books I have read in my life.  I could not find one redeeming character in the lot, not one person I was rooting for.  Besides, the big “climatic surprise” is written in the front of almost every English textbook I’ve ever seen.  (Hint: someone dies.)  I could have gone my whole life without reading this one.  Too bad for me.


3. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

My brother’s going to kill me for this one, but I can’t stand Steinbeck.  Of Mice and Men is one of the most depressing books I’ve ever read in my life.  My brother starred in our high school production of it, but that still couldn’t redeem the story to me.  I wound up pretty much hating each and every character, and the ending just left me feeling bereft of any desire to have anything to do with these people ever again.  Read it once.  Never again.


4. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

Yeah, I really, really don’t like Steinbeck.  Others see a great American author who captured the mood and spirit of a desolate decade.  Here’s what I remember about The Grapes of Wrath: that stupid turtle.  My mother still remembers me coming downstairs during my junior year with the book in my hand, yelling “when will this blasted turtle ever get to the other side of the road and why should I care?!”  I never got a satisfactory answer to that last question.  What’s more, there was all this mystery about the “controversial” last page...maybe it’s a commentary on my generation, but I found no controversy or anything juicy in the final scene, it just was what it was.  And the whole book was a disappointment.  Bleh.  


(And now I invite my brother to come back at me with whatever scathing review he would like to write of Jane Austen.  Turnabout’s fair play.)


5. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein

I absolutely love The Lord of the Rings movies.  I have seen the extended versions over and over again.  But for some reason, I cannot get into books.  I just can’t.  I managed to force my way through The Hobbit, but I could not find it enjoyable.  I tried, I really did.  I felt  guilty when I got to the end and discovered that I didn’t really like it at all.  But truth is truth, and the truth is, I don’t like this book, and I can’t seem to read the other novels either.  Maybe someday they will get to me.  But not now.  


6. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

I did not do much “cliffing” books in high school.  I generally wanted to read the required reading in my English classes.  This is a book that I tried to read, then tried to get by with the Cliffs Notes.  Honestly?  I couldn’t even understand the Cliffs Notes.  I am still not sure what this book was about.  Surely it has some sort of great literary significance.  It has become a classic since it was first published in 1866, and there must be some reason.  Darned if I know what it is.  I can’t even give you a decent summary of it.  


7. The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

I have enjoyed other books by Ms. Russell, and this one was supposed to be one of her greats.  It certainly started out promising enough, with an intriguing storyline about a Jesuit-sponsored outer space trip to another planet.  Ok, re-reading that last line makes me think I should have seen the weirdness coming.  At any rate, this book is very promising for quite a while...and then all of a sudden, it takes a violent, weird, shocking turn at the end that somehow ruins the whole rest of the story.  It was really rather interesting right up until that point...at which point I quit recommending it to others.  Right away.  Still gives me shivers to think about it.  There’s plenty of other sci-fi in the world to keep a person busy.  Stick to that.


8. The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown
“Oh great,” you may be thinking “just another Christian hating on Dan Brown.”  Well, yes, Mr. Brown and I have some severe theological and philosophical differences, but what annoys the heck out of me in this book are his pathetic historical inaccuracies.  He just sort of made up history as he went along, and far too many people took it as gospel.  It is a fiction story - way too many people were duped into believing that so much of what he was saying was fact.  All religious differences aside - AND THERE ARE MANY - really, there is no need to change the course of history in order to make a good book.  History is interesting enough, thank you.  And the ending?  He totally “Grisham-ed” the ending.  This is a term my father and I coined years  back to define how John Grisham tends to write himself into a corner, not know what to do with his characters, so he puts them all on planes and sends them home.  His endings are terrible.  So is the ending to The DaVinci Code.  Know where you’re headed with your characters.  Don’t just send them all home in the end.  


9. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Oh boy, now I have done it.  As a girl who grew up in the Midwest, I am supposed to fawn over these books.  They are supposed to be THE defining books of my girlhood.  The truth?  Never made it past the first one.  I struggled through it because, well, I was supposed to, but I never moved on.  Never had any desire to.  The pioneer days are not an era of history that particularly fascinates me, and I never had any interest in continuing on with this series.  I may get kicked out of the girl club, but there is my confession.  


10. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
This book just held no particular interest to me.  None of Jack London’s books do.  Well written, just do not captivate my interest in the least.  I forget the exist simply because I don’t fancy the subject matter.  That’s all there is to it.  


So!  Now that I have opened this can of worms...agree with me?  Yes?  No?  What books have you read over the years that you didn’t enjoy?