We listened to the audiobook version in the car today.
Another few surprised laughs came out of me in the listen. Not quite as dated as the original, bWe listened to the audiobook version in the car today.
Another few surprised laughs came out of me in the listen. Not quite as dated as the original, but it is still not a solid recommendation from me. I know kids love it. I liked the bit with Arthur's magic show fueled by his brother's invisibility. Although I'm left stumped why this poor kid has to solve/stop all the crime in his town--first foiling the museum sneak thieves and now the lady bank robbers. I wonder if the author just needed more plot devices to make the story long enough for publication.
Anywho the road trip is over so I probably won't be listening to any of his other adventures. And that's okay. Either way was fine....more
Admittedly, this was my first read of this book that seems to be a part of growing up in Canada. Once, several years ago, my husband's cousin sent us Admittedly, this was my first read of this book that seems to be a part of growing up in Canada. Once, several years ago, my husband's cousin sent us a Flat Stanley to take on vacation with us, and that was fun but I honestly didn't really get the idea. As of today, I have heard the story (excellent reader for the audiobook, btw). Yes, it's a bit dated, but it did get me to laugh out loud a few times from surprise, so good for you. Listened to on road trip with the kiddos, and even the little guy who has so far had no exposure to Flat Stanley enjoyed the tale....more
My teenager found this book while visiting family and enjoyed the story. And let me tell you, when your teenager asks you to read a book because they My teenager found this book while visiting family and enjoyed the story. And let me tell you, when your teenager asks you to read a book because they enjoyed it, you read the book. (Well, some of them but that is another story.) I don't think I've read any other Ronald Dahl books besides Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, so I went into this with somewhat of a blank slate of expectation. The style of this story reminded me in the best way of Mark Twain. There was definitely humour, but also our hero learned important things about himself and grew as a person, although not in the way expected. Overall worth a read, but Dahl isn't jumping to the top of my sought-after author list....more
I've read a lot of books promising to organize my life if I just follow 22 easy steps. And literally none of them have worked. However, this book realI've read a lot of books promising to organize my life if I just follow 22 easy steps. And literally none of them have worked. However, this book really met me where I was at. The entire goal of this book is to help people understand that "cleaning" or "chores" aren't a moral imperative (and therefore not doing them makes me a bad person), but that they are morally neutral, and sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do to get through a season or a condition in your life. So if you struggle with perfectionism that paralyzes (like I do) or are going through a hard time (new parenthood, heck old parenthood, chronic disease, grief, etc), this book is a lovely reminder that we don't have to do anything to be worthy of being alive or taking care of ourselves or resting....more
I loved the simplicity of falling into the beauty of this book. The photographs seemed to capture the essence of the girls who were in them in all theI loved the simplicity of falling into the beauty of this book. The photographs seemed to capture the essence of the girls who were in them in all their wonder and might. You'll recognize some photos that have been stolen by the internet to make memes. But I think my favourite part was the photographer's story of how she decided after looking at photos of her wonderfully imperfect daughters to take that photo shoot cross country and include quotes from all kinds of girls doing all kinds of things....more
The premise was great in this book--immediately I could see the great desert and its magic, the kingdom of Qalia, the training of the Shields. I lovedThe premise was great in this book--immediately I could see the great desert and its magic, the kingdom of Qalia, the training of the Shields. I loved the relationship dynamic between Imani and her siblings. But where this book failed for me was (view spoiler)[ this weird attraction to Taha based on who he was the few times they were alone together, and in the face of the fact that she discovers he just wants to kill her brother. Every scene with the two of them left me scratching my head. (hide spoiler)] A lot of potential here, but I'm not sure I'm engaged enough to continue the series....more
This is the second book of Janie Chang's I've read, and it's so eye-opening to learn more about Chinese history through historical fiction. Truly, I'mThis is the second book of Janie Chang's I've read, and it's so eye-opening to learn more about Chinese history through historical fiction. Truly, I'm not a big WWI reader, so most of the info in this book was new to me. I loved following Pauline & Camille's journeys as they searched for a better life than what they were handed by family circumstances. And the story of the Chinese labourers brought over to help the British and French troops--basically keeping the army running with supplies, loading and unloading trains and ships and trucks, cleaning up no-man's land (horrifying), reinforcing/digging/building trenches, repairing tanks, cleaning up shrapnel and reclaiming metal, they were the unsung heroes that kept the Allies supplied and moving in Europe. I knew none of this. I knew WWI was a horrible time of mustard gas and mud and screaming horses and way too many dead soldiers and civilians. This was very insightful, and all her books are on my to-read radar!...more
Some parts were truly laugh out loud funny. I don't often laugh while reading a book, but this caught me out a few times. The story of his first car, Some parts were truly laugh out loud funny. I don't often laugh while reading a book, but this caught me out a few times. The story of his first car, the crawl space where he retrieves Christmas decorations. CHRISTMAS TOWN! A few others very, very funny. But for me I felt like his humour didn't quite land for me. Would read another book for sure but I'll have adjusted my expectations.
An interesting and up-close look at beekeeping in Canada, specifically northern Alberta. It was beautiful to hear the author's story and think about cAn interesting and up-close look at beekeeping in Canada, specifically northern Alberta. It was beautiful to hear the author's story and think about climate change through the lens of bees--both wild and honey....more
This book was emotional and wonderful. It tells the hard story of Dakhota that are driven out of Minnesota in 1862 and their descendants. It touches oThis book was emotional and wonderful. It tells the hard story of Dakhota that are driven out of Minnesota in 1862 and their descendants. It touches on the horrors of residential schools and children being removed from their communities by the government. All that sounds like a heavy, and of course it is, but I found the writing style of this book was perfect--straddling past and present and far past as the Kills Deer family struggles through war, famine, addiction, suicide, and remembering who they are. I find a lot of books on these topics difficult to read--and that's I know in part due to my white privilege as the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of immigrants speaking. I have the luxury of walking away from uncomfortable stories. But I think as a citizen of the planet, as someone who relies on the earth for food and water, we all have a responsibility to know what has happened on this land. And use that knowledge, not to drown in the guilt of our ancestors, but to make better choices as we walk into the future....more
Perfect summer read. This story follows three women in one family who strike out in new directions over the summer, following impulses wise and foolisPerfect summer read. This story follows three women in one family who strike out in new directions over the summer, following impulses wise and foolish. I loved getting the granular picture of the village life, all the storylines crossing and recrossing through the past and present as Rose, Maggie, and Cherry decide what's actually worth fighting for in their lives....more
This book was a very good time. I was scared for a while that it would end in suicide, and that is something that I tend to avoid in fiction. But thisThis book was a very good time. I was scared for a while that it would end in suicide, and that is something that I tend to avoid in fiction. But this book kept me hopping--past to present to future to distant past, and it was beautiful. What a wonderful thought that we are not necessarily locked into the choices/situations of our ancestors. Well worth the read!
Another page-turner from Nev March! If you loved the first you'll enjoy this one as well. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love stories duAnother page-turner from Nev March! If you loved the first you'll enjoy this one as well. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love stories during this time period that aren't just out and out we all have to accept that people who aren't white and English are less than. This story weaves a confrontation with that "accepted reality" with every chapter. I love Jim and Diana. I love that they are there for each other and would go/have gone to the ends of the earth to help each other. I love the way this book looks at America as a land of immigrants--which were treated differently based on appearance, but mostly people just trying to make a go of it. And people everywhere were trying to love their neighbours more often then extort them, and I think that matters, too.
November 2021 Just an incredible job by these voice actors. I didn't think I could love anything more than the book, but these people take the cake.
JulNovember 2021 Just an incredible job by these voice actors. I didn't think I could love anything more than the book, but these people take the cake.
July 2023 This book is still just as good as the first time, except now that I know what's coming I'm looking for those first seeds of romance with Fin and Scar, Kal's deception, Ty somehow still landing on his feet with the Syldrathi. I'm going to savour this moment between books before I get the third audiobook. My commutes to work will have a whole different feel without Squad 312....more
This was a good read for where I'm at in my faith journey. I identified with a lot of things Sarah said--things I knew in my heart to be true but I coThis was a good read for where I'm at in my faith journey. I identified with a lot of things Sarah said--things I knew in my heart to be true but I could never quite articulate them. I feel like she drew a world that was big enough to contain us and also challenging enough that we can safely say the work of sorting out our interactions with faith/church/Jesus/others is not done. I would recommend and am looking forward to the next book of hers I encounter!...more
As You Wish
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Books:
jul-2023
(21)
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