reading in the 2nd quarter

With graduate work just around the corner, I have been taking advantage of any spare moments I have to read some novels.  I have been loving the time spent reading and hope to get in quite a few more before September when my first classes start.


GEMINI by Carol Cassella

*** Had you asked me prior to reading this if I would enjoy novels with plots driven by medically related topics I would probably have said no.  I would have been wrong.  This book was amazing!  Taking place in areas where I grew up and currently live was an added bonus.  Carol does a great job of keeping the reader on their toes as she weaves them through the lives of complex characters who are discovering themselves at the same time the reader is.  I would highly recommend this book. 

ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr

*** How lucky am I to read two books in a row that are completely stellar yet so very different from one another. There is so much in this world we cannot see, either because of physical impairment or influential forces steering us.  In All The Light We Cannot See, we are given glimpses into the lives of two young kids as they come of age in countries ravaged by war.  Anthony Doerr does an exquisite job in developing characters that grab a hold of your emotions and become familial in every aspect. I found myself carrying this book with me everywhere so I wouldn't miss an opportunity to read a little more. A great WWII era novel you won't want to miss.

OXYGEN by Carol Cassella

** I couldn't help myself. Picking this up in June at Eagle Harbor Books on Bainbridge Island at a local author's event I was excited to get started on it.  The book really was great.  I loved how it analyzed the medical profession and the aspects of it that are driven by the corporate world rather than patient or employee care.  That said, I was disappointed with how abrupt the end was.  Carol Cassella spent the first 5/6 of the book developing amazing characters and a succulent plot line, then brought it all to a conclusion so quickly at the end I left with a slight disappointment. I wanted it to last longer.

RUBY by Cynthia Bond

* / ***  Completely torn is how I am currently feeling as I attempt to decide how to rate this book.  The literary abilities of the author shine through. From the characters to the setting, Cynthia Bond did an amazing job at pulling her reader into a world that they otherwise would never see.  However, the novel is dark.  I find myself having difficulties deciding what to say about a book that ultimately made me feel a little sick while I was reading it.  The grisly rape and murder of a young child living in a home filled with young early elementary age girls that were sold out for sexual favors and fantasies to older men....just one of the many difficult character developments that filled the pages. I have to leave it to you, the reader, to decide if this is a book you will embark upon. If you do choose to pick this book up and read it, you are sure to be captivated by the literary skill of the writer. However, be aware there are many difficult passages and themes and please share your thoughts as a comment to this post.  I would love to hear what you thought.

MAN AND BOY by Tony Parsons

** Sometimes in life tough situations cause us to re-evaluate where we are at and what we are doing.  This story follows a man who makes choices in his life that prompt him to have to make some grown up decisions. The main character did not pull you in to root for him, but rather continued to make comments that almost push you away.  Then, just when you have almost given up on him every redeeming himself, you start to see the pieces falling together.  What I realized half way through reading this was that it was real life. This book allows us a glimpse into a man's life as he faces the repercussions of choices made because of his inner demons while also letting us witness his self revelation and redemption. A British book, there is some word usage that an American may not be familiar with but I did not find this hindering in any way.  I did short this book a star because of the excessive use of the 'F' word.

A YEAR OF BIBLICAL WOMANHOOD by Rachel Held Evans

*** What fun!  A great read.  Humorous and also educational.  The reader follows Rachel's struggles and triumphs as she maneuvers through a year of living out 'Biblical Womanhood.'  I myself loved her references to scripture and how different scriptures have been pulled out of context to suit the desires of specific organizations or denominations while yet others seem to have been forgotten.  While reading in the evenings, I found myself sharing the humorous stories throughout the book with my husband; he couldn't help but chuckle.  I encourage all to read this eye opening narration of Rachel's year of biblical womanhood.

 THE INVISIBLE GIRLS by Sarah Thebarge

*** A simple life experience shared by the woman who experienced it.  At times saddening, but also uplifting and encouraging as you walk along with Sarah as she puts love first by stepping out of her comfort zone to show compassion to a woman and her children.  This book reassures the reader that we also can take the step to help another even when it seems impossible.  This book reminds me of a quote I read recently by Scott Harrison. Scott states, "For me, charity is practical. It's sometimes easy, more often inconvenient, but always necessary....Charity is singular and achievable." This book is a great reminder to all that read it of this fact. It is not a difficult read and flows pretty quickly once started.

I have picked up a classic novel to read that never made it to my reading lists in High School. Be watching for my next post on the books we are reading and I hope to include a review of CATCH 22 by Joseph Heller as well as some input from the girls. If you are looking for some great places to pick up a book, I recommend the following:

Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo, WA
Eagle Harbor Books in Bainbridge Island, WA
Kitsap Regional Libraries (locations all throughout Kitsap)

a little reading in the new year

The New Year started off with a few good books.  It felt so good to sit down with a hot cup of coffee and fall in love with reading all over again.  Here is the selection from my book shelf that has kept me busy the last few months.

ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline

*** I loved this book.  Transporting me to another time when children were not precious cargo to be cherished and loved but rather property to be used at whim.  It is also the story of a young girl who endures extreme sorrow, brutality and despair but also experiences love, kindness and peace. I encourage everyone to pick up this book and throw themselves into a piece of literature that will definitely leave its mark.



WHAT ALICE FORGOT by Liane Moriarty

*** Not like any book I have ever read. I very much enjoyed the twists and turns that it took and that I wasn't able to just guess what the next thing was. We are met with many obstacles in our lives that take us down paths we never would have expected.  This is a story about some of those.

A MILLION MILES IN A THOUSAND YEARS by Donald Miller

** Have you ever looked at your life and wondered what your story was? If so, this is the book for you.  I loved how Donald shared learning about creating a story in his life and I look forward to moving in a direction with my life that welcomes adventures that help me to create a great story.

A MILLION WAYS HOME by Dianna Dorisi Winget

(reviewed by Olyvia Young)

*** This book follows the main character, Poppy, as she suffers great loss, frightening events and ultimately great friendship. I encourage other 5th-7th graders to read this book.

WILDWOOD by Colin Meloy

*** The girls and I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the Wildwood Chronicles and are 1/3 of the way through the second book.  I am not usually a fan of fantasy fiction, but find myself excited for the next time we will get to cuddle up and read a few more chapters.  A series full of adventure, secrets, imagination and friendship. I would suggest this series to anyone looking for literary adventures. There are some situations that may be difficult for younger grade school kids to understand and may require explanation.  I would not recommend this series to any children below 4th grade and for some that may even be too young.  Definitely a book to read with your grade school children and not leave them to read by themselves. There are some situations that offer up a great opportunity for discussion with older children.  I look forward to where the 2nd and 3rd book take us on this amazing adventure that is Wildwood. 



saving ceecee honeycutt by beth hoffman

Confession . . . when I first picked up this book I was almost positive I wasn't going to like it.  I let it sit and collect dust on my book shelf for almost 2 years before I finally picked it up because of a lack of anything else to read at that moment. I should have picked it up sooner.  Amazing story.  Beautiful! Nothing like what I thought it would be about.  I know...don't judge a book by its cover. ;) 

It really was a great story though. A story of sadness, struggle, 2nd chances and blessings. We are introduced to a young girl and follow her through a period of her life that would discourage many and at times gets her down. Ultimately, however, we get to see the connections she makes with those around her and how those connections save her.

*** Pick it up. Read it. Let me know what you thought.

where'd you go, bernadette by maria semple

Wow!  An emotional roller coaster of characters.  I enjoyed reading Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple.  A thoroughly humorous look at the many facets of Bernadette's life; an artistically successful architect who struggles with her own inner demons while raising her daughter in a city she very much dislikes while her husband basks in his own stardom at Microsoft.   Refreshingly written through a series of letters, emails and memos; I loved how we get to see the story from so many of the characters' points of view.

** Although I wouldn't rate this as a 'must read', it was definitely a book I would recommend.  A fun story that kept you guessing what was next. A little piece of me wants to be a little more like Bernadette.

the light between oceans by m.l. stedman

A deeply moving love story, The Light Between Oceans captures the reader.  Its vivid setting, the Janus Rock in Australia, creates a backdrop for a poignant tale where life's inevitable element of loss & despair fall upon the story's compelling characters, struggling to regain their sense of balance and contentment. 

I spent the last three chapters in tears.  I was invested in the characters' emotional survival; their loves, their losses, and their struggles.  There were many times I found myself holding my breath not sure of the outcome, hanging onto the edge of the precipice, waiting for solid footing to be secured by Tom and Isabel.

*** I would highly recommend this novel.  Very well written.  I loved the attention to detail in explaining the complexities of caring for a lighthouse, and the emotional gravity experienced during great trials no one in this live will ever completely escape.  Just don't forget your box of tissues!

eight keys by suzanne lafleur :: literature

 

 

I made a decision years ago that when my girls got to the age when they started to be assigned books in school, I would read those same books.  This way I would know what they were reading and also know that they were reading them. :)  That time has come and there have been some revisions to this plan.  Miss O and I have decided that we will share our individual thoughts with you on each of the books we read.  Know that we are not reading these together but rather taking turns each reading them.

 

This last month we have had two.  Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur is the first and we will give you our input on it in this post.  Another post will follow sharing our insights on Protecting Marie by Kevin Henkes.

 

After giving our thoughts on the book we will each rate the book on a 3 start rating.

*    poor

**  good

***amazing must read

 

Mom's Thoughts

A well written book about a young girl who is trying to find herself.  Having lost her mother at birth and her father when she was a small child, she enters middle school struggling to identify who she is and what her future holds.  Everything she has known seems wrong and she is embarrassed by the identity she feels others have given her.  It is a little sad watching her struggle as I remember having similar struggles at that age and thinking about my Miss O, similar in age.  Just as she is meeting with these challenges, however, she remembers a key she saw with her name on it and decides to investigate.  This discovery leads her on a journey of self discovery and confidence that is both hard to read but reassuring also.  She struggles as we all do in our lives, but she learns great lessons along the way.  ** I give this book 2 stars.  It was a good story including struggles and triumphs and seems like a perfect book for girls between the ages of 10-12.

 

 

Miss O's Thoughts

 This book was good.  Very inspirational.  My favorite character is Elise. I enjoyed her curiosity and how although she had a lot of difficulties, I was able to watch her overcome these. This helped me because sometimes people tease other kids because they are having their own struggles and really they just need help and a friend.  This book reminded me of that.  It was sometimes hard to read because as she was facing her struggles and trying to figure them out, she sometimes made wrong choices.  ***I give this 3 stars. I think this is a perfect read for girls or boys ages 9 and up who are looking for books that show examples of overcoming difficulties and struggles through adventure.



"ninth ward" by jewell parker rhodes :: literature

Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans residents and many other communities along the Gulf Coast in the late summer of 2005. Now, 8 years later, it is hard to express this devastation to my two girls, ages 9 and 7.  My youngest wasn't yet born and my oldest was only 1.   This last Christmas my oldest came across this book and added it to her wish list for Christmas.  Being a sucker for literature, I couldn't help but grant this wish and I am so glad I did.  She read through it twice before I got ahold of it and was able to read it and then pass it on to my youngest to read as well.

*** Although I believe this was an amazing book, I only give it 3 stars because it is definitely geared towards young girls which leaves out boys as a reading audience.  I believe that there may be boys out there that would enjoy it, but I would probably recommend this book to 10 year old girls who enjoy historical fiction or adventure stories.  My youngest did find parts of the book a little scary so you may want to read it prior to letting younger children read it to determine if it would be a good fit for them. 

"grace" by t. greenwood :: literature

 

Grace. According to Webster's dictionary, is 'disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency.'  Recently, while doing a walk thru at a local book store, I came across this intriguing novel.  I haven't read anything from this author previously so wasn't sure of the writing style I could expect.  The inside flap shared a glimpse into what would turn out to be the complex life of the novel. 

The story within the pages of this novel dealt with so many aspects of life we face every day.  Bullying, grace, parenting, sorrow, joy, fear, solitude, hoarding, and so much more.  With her novel, T. Greenwood made me extremely angry to the point of almost not finishing, then made me smile, cry in disbelief and ultimately feel relief. She reminded me to be careful to judge, to not keep in the feelings I may have and to talk . . . most of all to talk to those around me and not assume the conclusions my mind comes to are fact.  There are so many complexities that surround the lives of those around us. Be careful with how you view others.  Don't let your preconceived notions of who you think they are judge how you treat them. 

In my house we have chosen a verse from Ephesians to focus on this summer.  Ephesians 4:29 "Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear."  It was shortly after we made this choice that I read this novel and it couldn't have been a better example of why all of us need to work on this skill.  The skill of building people up and ultimately always acting with love and kindness to everyone we interact with. 


**** The act of graciousness is amazing and this book follows close behind.  It has been awhile since I have read a book that so aptly invokes such strong contradictory feelings in me.  To be so angry and then so happy, to laugh and then cry.  Wonderful.  It is not an easy book, dealing with some real issues that many of us have to face in real life.  That said, I encourage you to check it out, pick it up at your local book store, buy it online or borrow it from a friend.  You will be glad you did and just possibly, will look at the next unknown person you see walking down the street a little differently and with a little more grace.

"the art of racing in the rain" by garth stein :: literature

I came across this novel at Barnes & Noble and was intrigued by the simple fact that it is a story written from the point of view of a dog.  I mean how can that not be intriguing? A local author from Seattle, Garth Stein did an amazing job.  From the turning of the first page I fell into the story being told, loving how it made me laugh, cry, get mad and rejoice.  I look forward to getting ahold of his other two novels and diving into them.

**** I would definitely recommend this book to all adults.  The skill involved in writing from the dog's perspective really is amazing.  If you have an aversion to car racing you might want to skip it simply because there are a lot of comparisons made between life and racing and a lot of references to pro drivers and their careers.  I recently saw a preteen version of the book I would be intrigued to review that.  The original version is definitely not kid appropriate. 

"testimony" by anita shreve :: literature

Every day we are faced with decisions that not only affect us, but can and do have an impact on the many people that surround us.  Testimony looked at this phenomenon.  It showed the utter devastation that can come from a decision made by two people; the far reaching affects of a decision made to fulfill one's selfish desires.

Testimony by Anita Shreve starts with a graphic event that I have to admit was slightly shocking and almost made me put the book back on the shelf.  After finishing the book I was glad that I stuck with it.  It really made me think about the decisions we make and how what seems like one simple decision can have complicated results.

***A good read. Intriguing. I would recommend this to anyone who appreciates reading a novel with a puzzeling plot.  The twists and turns will keep you guessing the entire time and bring you to an end that you were never expecting. 

"7~an experimental mutiny against excess" by jen hatmaker :: literature

I couldn't have picked a better book to wrap up 2012 with than this suggested piece of literature written by Jen Hatmaker. 

From 2001 until 2007 I had the amazing opportunity to know exactly what God wanted me to be doing and to be doing it.  I remember siting in the Social Hall at our church during a meeting discussing the future of the youth ministry at First Lutheran Church. I remember listening to all the people around the table talk about what they were looking for in a ministry director.  I could feel the Holy Spirit calling me into ministry at that very moment.  It was as if He was laying out the yellow brick road brick by brick and I was Dorothy. 

That period of my life came to a close and I feel like I have spent the last 5 years wandering, not sure what God wanted me to be doing.  As if the yellow brick road just ended and all that lay ahead was a big empty field as far as the eyes can see in all directions.  It isn't as if I have done nothing. My beautiful girls are a big part of my life keeping me more and more busy as they get older. In 2007 I picked up a camera again. Something I hadn't really done in years and I am so glad I did.  I LOVE taking photos.  It is a true outlet that I am super greatful for. I had also been helping my parents at their company for 6 years part time and when my position at the church ended I switched to full time. At the end of 2007 my parents began the process of developing a beautiful place in Sequim called Fern Hollow and I have had the blessed opportunity to assist them with that as well.  So for sure these last 5 years have been full with amazing opportunities.  I have been so busy though that I have sometimes felt like I wasn't sure if I was who God made created me to be. 

A few months ago a friend shared with me a book she was reading called 7.  A book about a woman who exercised 7 fasts (clothes, shopping, waste, food, possessions, media and stress) each lasting 1 month. A way for her to eliminate excess in her life to have more room for God. This book chronicled her experiences throughout these months.  This book is amazing.  It has made me look at my life differently.  It has made me reevaluate what I put importance on and where I feel God is leading me.  It is a book I would suggest to everyone.  An amazing book that helps you to evaluate so many aspects of your life.

One of my favorite quotes from the book, one that I will take with me always, is "if we all raised others up instead of raising ourselves higher, there would be few needs left on earth." Wow!

After reading this book I have been reassured that I am a work in progress.  That God did not create me and then leave me on my own but created me and continues to work on me every day. I am still processing but I know for sure that God will be in all that I do.  I am going to make a point to focus more on what he wants for my life and not what I want for it.

***** A must read for everyone. 

'the walk' by richard paul evans :: literatue

On a recent trip to a local supermarket chain, I previewed the books in the bargain bin and came away with this winner.  The walk is an inspirational, heartbreaking and heartwarming novel all at the same time.  It starts pulling at your heart strings from the very beginning.  I loved how all throughout it I could apply what I was reading to my life. . . the life events weren't the same, but the main character, Alan, had many of the same thoughts I do on a daily basis. 

The Walk takes place in Washington State as Alan embarks upon a journey to walk away from the life he knew and find another one.  Written as if it were a journal, you are able to really get inside the main character, feeling his pain and happiness as he sets out on his journey.

**** I highly recommend this easy inspirational novel for all.

'the shipping news' by annie proulx :: literature

Our much anticipated trip down the coast camping with our children was a fabulous adventure.  Other than the amazing time with my kiddos and hubby, I LOVED that I got to devote some time to reading.  Lately I feel like the busyness of work has gotten in the way of some of my enjoyments, reading being one of them.  So I decided that this long weekend I would make some time to read.  My first task was to finish a book I had started awhile back called The Shipping News by Annie Proulx.  A Pulitzer prize winning novel written in 1993 and turned into a movie in 2001.  I have never seen the movie so my judgments about this book are solely due to what I have read. 

Quoyle, the main character, is an emotionally abusive relationship until tragedy changes everything. The book follows him to Newfoundland where he attempts to make a new life for himself under the instruction of his Aunt. You watch him continually allow others to treat him horribly and I almost gave up on the book because of this.  I just wanted him to have more value in himself.  I stuck in there though and finished the book, glad that I did.

** Not a bad book but full of pretty depressing situations that seemed to be avoidable.  I sometimes felt the characters weren't as developed as I would have liked and was sometimes confused with the progression of events.  That said, I enjoyed rooting for Quoyle to succeed, to find himself and ultimately to find real love.  If you enjoy reading literature that steps outside of norms and makes its own rules, then I would definitely recommend this book.

out with 'cloudsplitters' and in with 'the shipping news'

I pride myself with the fact that I always, and I mean always, finish a book once I have started it.  It may take me 6 months to a year in some cases, but I finish it.  Even if I don't necessary enjoy the novel, I will finish it.  I hate leaving novels unfinished.   Have you every started a novel that you didn't finish?  If so, which one?

Almost a year ago I purchased a book called Cloudsplitter and was very excited about the prospect of reading it.  An historical fiction novel written from the perspective of the son of abolitionist John Brown.  So in January when I flew to Las Vegas with my mom and sister I took the flight as an opportunity to break into my new book.  Off to a good start I was excited to continue. Now, after 150 pages I can't decide if I like it or not, but have decided for sure that I need to stop.  I need to set it back on the shelf and go onto something else for awhile and maybe in a year or more I will be at a point to go back and try again. 

I have been trying to decide what it was about the book that I just couldn't get through and I conclude it was my inability to sit down for long periods of time to read.  Working full time and busy in the evening with kiddos, husband, laundry (always laundry), I often only have 10-15 minutes to read at a time.  This is not enough time for this book.  This is the kind of book you need a couple hours at a time to really escape into the novel. I felt like every time I sat down to read I had to reread what I read the last time I sat down.  I found I wasn't moving forward in the novel.

The book is back onto my shelf and I am starting on another.  I perused the selection on my bookshelf and have decided to read The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx, a Pulitzer prize winning novel originally published in 1993. 

Be watching for a review.



Janet Evanovich

I decided to take a break from non-fiction books. Actually I decided to take a break from any novel that I had to put too much thought in to read. I needed something light and airy that would make me laugh. I was able to find that in Janet Evanovich. Her novels are a little quirky, but definitely funny. Are they for everyone? Definitely not.

At this point I have read all of her Stephanie Plum series, all of her Full series as well as select others she has written. One of the difficulties with her novels I find is that if you haven't read previous ones in a series, it would be difficult to fall into later books as they all tie together. Even some of her separate series connect in some way or another. That said, they were the perfect solution for what I was looking for.

I am currently finishing up the last of her novels written with Charlotte Hughes in the Full series and am then moving back to some more advanced pieces of literary work. I may actually read Timothy Egan's The Worst Hard Time. Stay tuned to hear what I thought.

dicey's song by cynthia voigt

After reading this much talked about and honored book, I must say I wasn't as impressed as I expected to be. I admit that I read it without having first read Homecoming not realizing that this novel picks up where that one ended. As I began the book there were a lot of questions I had that weren't answered until I did a little research into the content of Homecoming.

That said, the book was a pleasant read. Not overly complicated which was refreshing. Although character development was light, I have a feeling some of that was done in the previous book. The story picks up with 6th grader Dicey and her 3 younger siblings as they are taken in by their grandmother after having been abandoned by their mother in the previous book. Dicey spends the majority of the summer caring for her siblings and upon connecting with their grandmother now has a new role to learn.

** A heartwarming & uplifting summer afternoon read.

how i planned your wedding

Invited by my mother, I went to Eagle Harbor Books on Bainbridge Island to hear Susan Wiggs and Elizabeth Wiggs Maas read from their new collaboration. As many of you know, I have always loved weddings. Every part of them from the engagement to the planning and execution. I have an especially fond love for capturing these most amazing events so that they can be reminisced over for years to come. So, even though I have been married for over 14 years and am not in any way planning a wedding I was excited to go and hear the perspectives of this mother and daughter as they planned Elizabeth's wedding. At the time of the reading I had only heard excerpts from the book that my mother had read to me as I had not myself purchased the book yet. Since that time, I have acquired the book and read it in its entirety.

How I Planned Your Wedding is a exceptionally well written fun read. You get to hear Elizabeth's voice and Susan's voice as they encounter the many areas a bride unfolds during the process of planning her wedding. Hearing both the perspective of the bride and that of the mother of the bride adds a new dimension to this book that I believe will be well received. It reads like a story, but is filled with all the great information a bride is looking for as if told to her by her best friend. Oh, and it is hilarious.

*** I give this book a three star rating because it is very audience specific. If you are in the midst of planning a wedding, about to become engaged, or recently married you will love this book. I highly encourage you to pick it up either as a great tool as you embark upon the wedding industry or as a reminder of all that you went through while planning your wedding. The sneak peak we get as readers into the mother daughter relationship that is shared is wonderful.

the true and outstanding adventures of the hunt sisters

According to Merriam Webster, a sister is, first and foremost, a female who has one or both parents in common with another. Later in the lists of possible definitions Merriam also says that a sister could be a girl or woman regarded as a comrade. Curious, I then wondered what Merriam would say about a comrade. Turns out a comrade is an intimate friend or associate, see companion. So I did. Merriam informed me that a companion is one that accompanies another. Now I realize that for each and every word there are multiple definitions available and for these words I did read through the lists of possible definitions. But none of them embodied the definition of a sister more than Elisabeth Robinson's book 'The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters." The love hate relationship that surrounds all sisters. Whether you are yearning to be like your sister or struggling to be your own person, you have a deep rooted relationship with this person. A relationship so rooted that if something devastating were to happen to them, you would forget about everything and give up everything to be by there side.

In this wonderful, easy to read novel, Robinson takes you on an adventure many sisters hope to never have to see. Written as a series of letters from the perspective of the older sister (starting the year of her sister's birth and then picking up 20 years later) the novel chronicles their lives as Maddie fights a fight of all fights, leukemia. It is a peak in on their relationship, reading Olivia's private thoughts as she pours them out onto paper in letters to her sister, mother, father, business partners, best friend, ex-boyfriend and lover.

**** I am going to give this book 4 stars. Kind of a high rating for a pretty simple novel and one that only took me a few days to read. I chose 4 stars for a couple reasons. First, I think the way the author chose to write the book, as a series of letters, really allowed you to get inside the relationships in the story. This is HUGE in a book that really is about one of the most magnificent of relationships that can exist. For those that are sisters it was like a reality check and for those of you that aren't it is a clear glass window into what it is like. Second, as a sister myself, it was wonderful to put a literary picture to a relationship that is so hard to put into words. If you are a sister, pick up this book and get ready for the possibility of an overload of emotions. This is a great book to remind you how important it is to remind your sister you love her. Kristin, I love you!

the gravedigger's daughter

After many tough months working my way through this literary work, I can happily say I have finished. It has taken me a little while to wrap my head around what I actually thought of this book. Was it well written? Yes. Was it good enough to suggest to any of you? It really depends on what you are looking for in a book when you pick it up to read it.

This book follows the story & life of Rebecca Schwart. She is the youngest child in a family of 5 who escape a Nazi ridden Germany to arrive in the United States with high hopes. Many, if not all of these hopes are thrown aside year after year as tragedy after tragedy overtake this young girl. This book brought many tears to my eyes and I don't think there was any point where it brought a smile to my face. I was never able to rejoice with Rebecca as she was never really given anything to rejoice over. As an adult woman she continually struggles with her past and never seems to be truely happy although she does seem to achieve contentment with where her life ends up.

*** I give this novel 3 stars for literary genius alone. I find Joyce Carol Oates overly tragic and at times down right depressing. Would it have been too much to ask, to bring some true joy into this woman's life? That said, the ability to draw on history and establish a very true character was amazing. I do not doubt for an instant the truth in Rebecca's character. Ms. Oates' ability to establish her characters in a way that truely represents the psychological impact of the events in their life made this book a worthwhile read.

Best Friends Forever

An intriguing book about the friendships we establish as children and the impacts they can have on the rest of our lives. This story follows the life of Adelaide Downs and her friendship with Valerie Adler. It shows how their friendship blossomed through Jr. High and High School culminating in an exchange their senior year that forced a chasm in their relationship that wouldn't be addressed until 15 years later when Valerie returns to attend their High School reunion. As the two are forced back together after an accident the night of the reunion, they begin to see who each other really is and how the life of their good friend is not as wonderful as they had always thought it was.

This book is a reminder that when we analyze our friends we often only see what we want to see. We have a tendency to ignore the difficulties our friends have in order to see their life as so much better than ours. It is an amazing story, well written while not being pretentious or heavy.

*** I give this 3 stars not because it isn't worth reading but because it is written for a very specific audience. I encourage anyone out there who has had a best friend in their lives that they can go years without seeing and then fall into each other's footsteps the second they reconnect, to read this book. If you are looking for something light and easy to read for the summer, this would be a great choice. So grab your beach towel, sun screen and this book and head out for a weekend at the beach. You won't be disappointed.