I re-read it so I could talk about it at our school's book faire. I also needed to be reminded about the characters because I want to read the other bI re-read it so I could talk about it at our school's book faire. I also needed to be reminded about the characters because I want to read the other books in the series. The clear descriptions and mixture of mythology blends well with the engaging plot. Since I had forgotten much in the three years since I read it first, I guess it is not extremely memorable; but it is worth the read!...more
"Cranford" is not a page turner, but instead a series of charming vignettes of a predominantly female society. The most excitement these women get is "Cranford" is not a page turner, but instead a series of charming vignettes of a predominantly female society. The most excitement these women get is when a travelling show, a titled visitor, or a man comes to town. Gaskell, a master at subtle wit and satire, endears her audience to her affable characters. Because there are no major conflicts that need to be resolved in this sleepy community, I found it very easy to exit and then eventually re-enter Cranford; nevertheless, it is a relaxing and delightful read. I have the entire "Cranford Chronicles" on hold at the library and will get around to picking it up and then reading it at a refreshingly leisurely pace!...more
In a somewhat Faulkner "As I Lay Dieing" stream of consciousness technique, Minot writes about the last days of Ann Lord. (Luckily for my harried braiIn a somewhat Faulkner "As I Lay Dieing" stream of consciousness technique, Minot writes about the last days of Ann Lord. (Luckily for my harried brain, Minot doesn't have nearly as many narrators as Faulkner does!) Inside Ann's muddled morphine mind, the reader is transported from past to present capturing glimpses of her life. The chronological order of events is all mixed up except for one pivotal weekend. This weekend shaped Ann's thinking, emotions, and self worth for the rest of her life. Although I can appreciate the literary merit and depth of "Evening", I can not appreciate nor relate to the main character's assessment of what was most poignant and transcendent. I believe that one steamy romantic weekend eclipsing motherhood, friendship, and the death of a child is not just fictional but absurd. This sense of absurdity replaces any feeling of tragedy that the author was trying to invoke....more
Janette Rallison’s books are my new guilty pleasure. I’m not writing reviews on all of the books I’m reading of hers because they all follow the same Janette Rallison’s books are my new guilty pleasure. I’m not writing reviews on all of the books I’m reading of hers because they all follow the same formula. I enjoy the formula however, and her writing continues to make me laugh – laugh so hard in fact, that Greg banishes me to the other room when reading. Rallison’s “My Fair Godmother” breaks from her typical formula. Like her other books, it is amusing and clever, but this one includes fantasy and adventure. It is a cross between “Ella Enchanted” and Orson Scott Card’s “Enchantment.” My one complaint about all of Rallison’s books is their covers and titles. I’m too embarrassed to read them outside the privacy of my own home....more
Only a seventeen year old could write this book. The fact that it is Louisa May Alcott only explains why a seventeen year old is writing books, but thOnly a seventeen year old could write this book. The fact that it is Louisa May Alcott only explains why a seventeen year old is writing books, but that is as far as it goes because this is no “Little Women.”. Alcott scholars were so excited to find the manuscript of her first book, “The Inheritance” during the summer of 1988. Up until then, it had never been published. There was a reason for that. The heroine, Edith Adelon, is so sweet and good that she makes the Disney princesses look like brats. Edith’s tears makes Demi Moore’s tears in “Ghost” seem like mere mist. Edith’s sweetness tames and conquers all living things around her including thieves, haughty aunts, and jealous and conniving cousins. The hero, Lord Percy, is as idealistic as his heroine so at least they can live in La La Land together. Honestly, if one of my daughters came home and introduced me to a man who treasured away a sacred medallion that contained a faded flower from his mother and the portrait of his dead sister-in-law, I would say, “Run away!! Run away!!”
Just to give a taste of a young idealistic author, here is a quote from the climatic scene. I’m not giving anything away because you see it coming from page one.
“Lady Edith,” said a low voice near her, and she started, for he stood before her with all his untold love shining in the earnest eyes that looked so tenderly upon her. “Forgive me that I dared to follow you, but my heart bid me come, and I am here to ask you if the love I have cherished long and silently can be returned. I never thought to tell it, but the sorrow my departure caused you woke a new hope in my heart, and I could silence it no longer. Do not think your newfound wealth and rank have tempted me, for God knows I would most joyfully have won you when most poor and friendless, for I had learned the priceless worth of a pure heart, rich in woman’s truest virtues and most holy faith. But you had said you could not give your hand to one above you in rank and wealth, and from the hour my love was hopeless, but it never died. Each day some new deed of tenderness and care, some gentle look or word of yours made it stronger and more heavy to be borne. We now are equals in mere worldly riches. Can you give your heart to one who so ill deserves the blessing you bestow and trust me with the precious gift that shall be held most sacred until death?
“I can.” And, with her tearful eyes turned trustingly to him, Eidth laid her hand in his and pledged her love. “I can bring you nothing but a grateful heart, whose constancy and deep affection can never pass away. Take me poor and erring as I am, and teach me to be worthy of the great happiness I have won.”
It’s no wonder that Alcott never married. Who could live up to that? ...more
Shannon Hale wrote another fantasy – oh wait, there was neither magic dust nor super human powers. Oh dear. Shannon Hale has written a fantasy masked Shannon Hale wrote another fantasy – oh wait, there was neither magic dust nor super human powers. Oh dear. Shannon Hale has written a fantasy masked as reality creating ABSURDITY!
Absurdity #1: A mother of four and happily married Mormon housewife, Becky Jack, from Layton, Utah becomes best bosom friends with a celebrity heartthrob, Felix Callahan. They consummate their relationship through a pinky pledge made outside the Utah state capitol building.
Absurdity #2: Becky’s husband, who happens to be perfect (did I mention that this was fantasy? – sorry Greg, you’re just a genius and a god, but not yet perfect), gladly holds down the shabby fort in Layton while his wife flies off to New York to spend quality time with Felix because Felix is someone who “clicks with her soul, finding an empty groove and fitting it perfectly.” The husband has no problem with this and apparently, neither does Felix’s wife. Why is Mike the husband so secure with his marriage? Because he and Becky have the following conversation:
Mike: Is there something I’m not doing? That I should be doing? Becky: No! Heavens, sweetheart, you’re perfect, almost annoyingly so. You are my eternal companion. I want to be with you in this life and the next. Felix is. . . it’s like he’s my long-lost conjoined twin or something. Conjoined twins can still fall in love and marry other people, can’t they? (Husband has an ah-ha moment!) Becky: Let’s both be on this marginally slippery slope together and hang on to each other for support.
Yep, that conversation did the trick because the very next day they fly out to LA to share the joy of their epiphany with Felix. It is during this very trip that Becky reveals to both of them that Mike is her heart and Felix is her liver. To take their relationship to the next level, Becky and Felix get matching liver lockets to wear around their necks – Becky’s on a delicate chain, and Felix’s on a masculine leather cord.
Absurdity #3: Becky meets with her bishop to discuss her extra-marital relationship. He advises, “Pray about this. Keep yourself open to the guidance of the Spirit. Keep talking to Mike. You’ll make a good choice.” Becky’s “revelation” – her friendship with Felix was part of God’s grand plan for her life. Yeah.
If you can stomach it, Absurdity #4: Becky writes a screenplay which not only gets green lighted by a major Hollywood studio, but she gets to star in her own romantic comedy opposite to. . . you’ll never guess. . . Felix! AND they get to kiss- but it’s all kosher because right before the kissing scene she eats garlic and onions to make her less desirable, and during the kissing scene she pretends she’s kissing Mike.
I could go on, but I’ll stop. So why do I give this book any stars at all? One star: It makes for good discussion about the appropriateness of male/female friendships outside of marriage. Two stars: Some of her well-written descriptions (yes, I did just say “well-written” – after all, Shannon Hale is a Newberry award winner!) of what makes for a great kissing scene found on page 194, and of the end of summer melancholy on page 97. ...more
Wow! What a trip! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Higham family round the world adventure. I especially enjoyed how John incorporated tidbits oWow! What a trip! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Higham family round the world adventure. I especially enjoyed how John incorporated tidbits of information about the culture, people, and history of the places they visited. His observations fascinated me, and I still find myself thinking about some of them. I also enjoyed in a "fly on the wall" type of way the glimpses of their family dynamics and personalities. By then end, I felt like I had a taste of a year long adventure around the world without leaving the comforts of a comfortable bed, indoor plumbing, and hot water. That said, I'm not old enough yet where arm-chair travel will do, so the Highams experience definitely ignited my inner travel bug!
The most exciting part was having John and September come to our book group and tell even more "behind the scenes" than what we got on the google earth link - which is very cool by the way!...more
If I could have all my nearest and dearest read one book right now, it would be “Leadership and Self Deception.” In a nutshell, it talks about how to If I could have all my nearest and dearest read one book right now, it would be “Leadership and Self Deception.” In a nutshell, it talks about how to solve “the problems that have been created by the little-known but pervasive problem of self-deception (the problem of not knowing, and resisting the possibility, that one has a problem).” This book was the first to use the term “getting out of the box”. I thought this referred to creativity, but instead it means being able to see others and the situation clearly, without bias; to see people like myself, with similar needs and desires. Being “in the box” is seeing others as less than they are – “as objects with needs and desires somehow secondary and less legitimate than mine”, or being stuck because I have a problem that I don’t think I have or see. I see “matters only from my own closed perspective, and I am deeply resistant to any suggestion that the truth is otherwise.” Out of the box, I experience myself as a person among people. In the box, I experience myself as the person among objects.
The Arbinger Institute who published the book is made up of a group of philosophers who try to help people overcome self-deception. I usually shy away from philosophers because I don’t relate to their need to dissect truth, and I get a brain cramp trying to understand what they say. Unlike other philosophical texts I have read, “Leadership and Self Deception” is very user-friendly. For some, the fictional stories and conversations used to deliver the message will be corny and unbelievable; but if you can get past the mode of delivery, the message can really help you view yourself and others is a much different and revolutionary way.
Some favorite quotes: “Self-deception is like this. It blinds us to the true cause of problems, and once blind, all the “solutions” we can think of will actually make matters worse. That’s why self-deception is so central to leadership – because leadership is about making matters better.” p. viii
“If I’m not interested in knowing a person’s name, I’m probably not really interested in the person as a person.” p.41
“People respond not primarily to what you do but to how you’re being – whether you’re in or out of the box toward them.” p.43
“After I betrayed myself, my view became distorted. I saw the world in a way that justified my failure. My perception became distorted systematically in my favor. When I betrayed myself, I became self-deceived.” p.75
“As people, we have a sense of what other people might need and how we can help them. And if I have that sort of a sense and go against it, then I betray my own sense of what I should do for someone. That’s what we call self-betrayal. . . And if I betray myself, then I start seeing things differently – my view of others, myself, my circumstances, everything is distorted in a way that makes me feel okay about what I’m doing.” p. 81
“The box is a metaphor for how I’m resisting other. By ‘resisting,’ I mean that my self-betrayal isn’t passive. In the box, I’m actively resisting what the humanity of others calls me to do for them.” p. 140
“In order to stay to stay out of the box, it’s critical that we honor what our out-of-the-box sensibility tells us we should do for these people. However – and this is important – this doesn’t necessarily mean that we end up doing everything we feel would be ideal. For we have our own responsibilities and needs that require attention, and it may be that we can’t help others as much or as soon as we wish we could. But we do the best we can under the circumstances – and we do that because when we’re out of the box, seeing others as people, that’s what we want to do.” p 147 ...more
I find myself frequently thinking and talking about this book not because I live such a life of danger, but because of how it portrays fear. De BeckerI find myself frequently thinking and talking about this book not because I live such a life of danger, but because of how it portrays fear. De Becker distinguishes fear as a positive emotion unlike the harmful emotions of worry and anxiety - emotions that I previously viewed as that same. De Becker encourages his readers to pay close attention to our instincts when faced with a potentially dangerous situation. He also describes the steps that a person goes through before they become violent and the things that they do when they have violent intentions. The only part that dragged a bit for me were the beginning chapters where he discusses the psychology of fear and violence. The later chapters that include examples and advice are much more interesting. Although there are some disturbing stories, they are told to teach the lesson of how fear protects us. De Becker ends on a positive note about how all of us have the innate ability to recognize and avoid violence. He teaches that worry and anxiety are destructive emotions that cloud our instincts and ability to recognize true fear. Initially I checked out the book from the library, but there is enough good information that I will want to re-read and share, that I just bought it as well as another of de Becker's books directed to parents of young children....more
I wept during this book. . . tears of intense laughter! This is "High School Musical" meets "Waiting for Guffman". If you have ever been in a play, plI wept during this book. . . tears of intense laughter! This is "High School Musical" meets "Waiting for Guffman". If you have ever been in a play, please read this book! Overlook the romance and revel in the portrayal of a disastrous but politically correct rendition of "West Side Story". If you like teen romance, it's a fun book for that too. I picked it up to enjoy a lazy afternoon and couldn't put it down, even to go watch the new Harry Potter movie!
I so enjoyed this book, that I've read several other of Rallison's books. They are all entertaining and delightful!...more
My summer literary fling with mindless reading is over! Like a summer fling, it is kind of fun, but you know it is a waste of time. There are too manyMy summer literary fling with mindless reading is over! Like a summer fling, it is kind of fun, but you know it is a waste of time. There are too many great books to read to waste time on this one unless you are on a road trip and need to take care of children, navigate, and carry on conversations at the same time as listening to this book on your ipod (which in my defence, I did.) As for Sophie Kinsella and her books, three strikes and you are out! Her characters are one dimensional and daft. I am done....more
I find it a bit disturbing that the author takes her main character right back to where she was at the beginning of her first book -same addiction, saI find it a bit disturbing that the author takes her main character right back to where she was at the beginning of her first book -same addiction, same problems. I am even more disturbed that Kinsella portrays this as something humorous....more
Perhaps I would have liked this book more if I had read it instead of listened to it. The full cast audio included all the singing which I found sillyPerhaps I would have liked this book more if I had read it instead of listened to it. The full cast audio included all the singing which I found silly and distracting. I would recommend this book to girls ages 9-12 for what it says about beauty, family, and forgiveness. ...more
My children were surprisingly interested in all the details about building a chimney, door, and windows, and so was I. We all felt the suspense of waiMy children were surprisingly interested in all the details about building a chimney, door, and windows, and so was I. We all felt the suspense of waiting for Pa and the Indians' war cries. This classic holds up....more
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