Saturday, July 30, 2011
36: The Help
Loved this novel! Set in Mississippi in the 1960's, this novel permitted my glimpsing into a time in history that I had not ever paused long enough to fully appreciate.
NOTE: the author Kathryn Stockett submitted this novel 61 times before a publisher accepted it. Yes, 61 times. She believed in story, and her faith has now paid off, for her readers support her, and now the movie industry does also, as the big screen now brings to life the lives of these characters (so very sad that the local theater is not bringing this one to our local big screen).
The novel relates the narrative of African-American maids who took care of and raised so many of the children in white households during this time and the treatment they received during this quite volatile time in history. Told through the voices of Aibileen and Minny, two of the maids, and Skeeter, a young white woman who decides to tell their story, the reader experiences much, learning that one is quite and a rock, while another is loud and hard yet soft at the same time, and the third is driven to be accepted yet to be different.
What impacted me the most was the faith embedded within the characters. Despite their fears for the safety for themselves and their families, they chose to take a literary stand and proved that once again the pen is as mighty as the sword.
Please consider reading this novel...again, this is one of those novels that sat on my shelf waiting for over a year. Books are like that, though. They are very patient, holding all the wonders, experiences, and life-lessons within their covers, waiting for us to learn and grow, page by page.
NOTE: the author Kathryn Stockett submitted this novel 61 times before a publisher accepted it. Yes, 61 times. She believed in story, and her faith has now paid off, for her readers support her, and now the movie industry does also, as the big screen now brings to life the lives of these characters (so very sad that the local theater is not bringing this one to our local big screen).
The novel relates the narrative of African-American maids who took care of and raised so many of the children in white households during this time and the treatment they received during this quite volatile time in history. Told through the voices of Aibileen and Minny, two of the maids, and Skeeter, a young white woman who decides to tell their story, the reader experiences much, learning that one is quite and a rock, while another is loud and hard yet soft at the same time, and the third is driven to be accepted yet to be different.
What impacted me the most was the faith embedded within the characters. Despite their fears for the safety for themselves and their families, they chose to take a literary stand and proved that once again the pen is as mighty as the sword.
Please consider reading this novel...again, this is one of those novels that sat on my shelf waiting for over a year. Books are like that, though. They are very patient, holding all the wonders, experiences, and life-lessons within their covers, waiting for us to learn and grow, page by page.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
34-35: Theodore Boone and Tough Customer
In what spare time I had at Student Council Summer Leadership Workshop, I snuck in some reading time!
#34: Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer
Author John Grisham has a new young adult series (at least to me...two in this series are now out). His main character Theodore Boone is a lawyer-want-to-be, who some might view as a nerd, but many view him as their shining knight in law books, as he helps several of them with legal advice. Until...one such confidante pulls Theo into a current on-going trial with information that could affect the outcome of the trial.
Theo, a thirteen-year-old, will definitely appeal to middle-school aged readers, but I have to admit...I liked this novel, enough so that I plan to introduce Theo to my students this fall.
I also appreciate introducing or reminding my students of authors with connections with our home state, which John Grisham has...remember The Painted House, set not too far from our area of the state.
Now, to read Theodore Boone: The Abduction...to find out what other adventures Theo will soon be involved.
#35: Tough Customer
I picked this one up on one of my trips to Wal-Mart to begin reading as I sat waiting on medicine to be processed at the pharmacy. I have enjoyed some of Sandra Brown's action, suspense, will-the killer-be-caught-in-time novels.
This one narrates the tale of parents who have kept the identity of their daughter's father until her life is threatened and the skill of the father is needed to assist in protecting and assisting in finding the now deranged killer.
For some reason, the flashback chapters bothered me a bit...I supposed I wanted to read faster and wanted the secondary story to move faster.
What "hot" reads have you been reading this summer?
#34: Theodore Boone: Kid LawyerAuthor John Grisham has a new young adult series (at least to me...two in this series are now out). His main character Theodore Boone is a lawyer-want-to-be, who some might view as a nerd, but many view him as their shining knight in law books, as he helps several of them with legal advice. Until...one such confidante pulls Theo into a current on-going trial with information that could affect the outcome of the trial.
Theo, a thirteen-year-old, will definitely appeal to middle-school aged readers, but I have to admit...I liked this novel, enough so that I plan to introduce Theo to my students this fall.
I also appreciate introducing or reminding my students of authors with connections with our home state, which John Grisham has...remember The Painted House, set not too far from our area of the state.
Now, to read Theodore Boone: The Abduction...to find out what other adventures Theo will soon be involved.
#35: Tough CustomerI picked this one up on one of my trips to Wal-Mart to begin reading as I sat waiting on medicine to be processed at the pharmacy. I have enjoyed some of Sandra Brown's action, suspense, will-the killer-be-caught-in-time novels.
This one narrates the tale of parents who have kept the identity of their daughter's father until her life is threatened and the skill of the father is needed to assist in protecting and assisting in finding the now deranged killer.
For some reason, the flashback chapters bothered me a bit...I supposed I wanted to read faster and wanted the secondary story to move faster.
What "hot" reads have you been reading this summer?
Friday, July 15, 2011
30-33: Recipes, Gardens, and Shakespeare
30: The Recipe Club by Andrea Israel and Nancy Garfinkel
A good read, written in the genre of emails and recipes, this novel caught and held my attention, as I entered the lives of two ladies who had once been best friends and progress (and regress) through multiple decades of their lives.
I enjoyed the novel. The emails took abit getting used to; they actually slowed me down, for I had to go back and check dates and keep up with who was writing, but after several pages, I the storyline began to flow.
If you like chick-flick novels, you will enjoy this one!
31: Gardens Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
I purchased this novel after reading a review of The Peach Keeper (also by Allen) on Dana Huff's book review blog. (By the way, this would be an excellent blog for you to follow...unless you do NOT want to read more books!)
I loved, loved (yes, loved squared!) Garden Spells (and I very much look forward to reading The Sugar Queen, which I also purchased by this same author). This novel contains just enough fantasy, with a very healthy dose of realism, to appeal to my reader's imagination.
You may go here to read an excerpt from the novel and to meet main character Claire...and to obtain some of the recipes that Claire uses throughout the novel that cast the magical spells upon those who enjoy the the edible creations.
The "magic" within this novel is just enough, not morbid, nor overdone. It's enticing, especially the tree within the garden. Please consider allowing this novel's magical powers cast its spell on you!
32: Shakespeare's Landlord and Shakespeare's Champion by Charlaine Harris
A native of Arkansas, I especially appreciate Arkansan Charlaine Harris's series that is set in Shakespeare, Arkansas (fictional) about her main character by the name Libby Bard...yes, Bard, a character that will affect you, change you because of the extremely harsh events in her life.
Lily, a housekeeper by trade, flits in and out of the lives of the residents of Shakespeare, getting to know them better than anyone else, as she cleans their homes and workplaces, all the while attempting to maintain a low profile herself. Twice, though, so far, in the two novels I have read in this series of five, Lily finds herself assisting the peacekeepers, by giving input and using her self-defense training to help bring justice to those violating the rights of those in Shakespeare.
I like Lily. If I were to meet such a person as she (actually, I can think of a few students with her personality type), I am not sure, though, that I would be able to get to know them, for persons of his nature take a lot to time to get to know. Only with the reading of the second novel, did I feel like I was "getting to know her." The lesson here, though, is that she definitely a person worth knowing. Yes, the gift of time in friendships is invaluable.
My wish? That the two next installments in this series were sitting on my side-table, waiting for me to read them. To get to know Lily more, I will have to wait a few days, for then I will read Shakespeare's Christmas and Shakespeare's Trollop.
If you desire to learn more about Shakespeare, the playwright, by reading this novels, CAUTION, you will be disappointed! Just so you know...
Also, yes, True Blood, the series on HBO, is based on Charlaine Harris's other series based on character Sookie Stackhouse (includes vampires!).
Enjoy!
A good read, written in the genre of emails and recipes, this novel caught and held my attention, as I entered the lives of two ladies who had once been best friends and progress (and regress) through multiple decades of their lives.I enjoyed the novel. The emails took abit getting used to; they actually slowed me down, for I had to go back and check dates and keep up with who was writing, but after several pages, I the storyline began to flow.
If you like chick-flick novels, you will enjoy this one!
31: Gardens Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
I purchased this novel after reading a review of The Peach Keeper (also by Allen) on Dana Huff's book review blog. (By the way, this would be an excellent blog for you to follow...unless you do NOT want to read more books!) I loved, loved (yes, loved squared!) Garden Spells (and I very much look forward to reading The Sugar Queen, which I also purchased by this same author). This novel contains just enough fantasy, with a very healthy dose of realism, to appeal to my reader's imagination.
You may go here to read an excerpt from the novel and to meet main character Claire...and to obtain some of the recipes that Claire uses throughout the novel that cast the magical spells upon those who enjoy the the edible creations.
The "magic" within this novel is just enough, not morbid, nor overdone. It's enticing, especially the tree within the garden. Please consider allowing this novel's magical powers cast its spell on you!
32: Shakespeare's Landlord and Shakespeare's Champion by Charlaine Harris
A native of Arkansas, I especially appreciate Arkansan Charlaine Harris's series that is set in Shakespeare, Arkansas (fictional) about her main character by the name Libby Bard...yes, Bard, a character that will affect you, change you because of the extremely harsh events in her life. Lily, a housekeeper by trade, flits in and out of the lives of the residents of Shakespeare, getting to know them better than anyone else, as she cleans their homes and workplaces, all the while attempting to maintain a low profile herself. Twice, though, so far, in the two novels I have read in this series of five, Lily finds herself assisting the peacekeepers, by giving input and using her self-defense training to help bring justice to those violating the rights of those in Shakespeare.I like Lily. If I were to meet such a person as she (actually, I can think of a few students with her personality type), I am not sure, though, that I would be able to get to know them, for persons of his nature take a lot to time to get to know. Only with the reading of the second novel, did I feel like I was "getting to know her." The lesson here, though, is that she definitely a person worth knowing. Yes, the gift of time in friendships is invaluable.
My wish? That the two next installments in this series were sitting on my side-table, waiting for me to read them. To get to know Lily more, I will have to wait a few days, for then I will read Shakespeare's Christmas and Shakespeare's Trollop.
If you desire to learn more about Shakespeare, the playwright, by reading this novels, CAUTION, you will be disappointed! Just so you know...
Also, yes, True Blood, the series on HBO, is based on Charlaine Harris's other series based on character Sookie Stackhouse (includes vampires!).
Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
26-29: Four More Reads
On books 11-15, I inserted an extra book number; thus, on this blog I am accounting for that mistake...so Book #26, Part 2...
26: Washington's Lady by Nancy Moser
My second novel of historical fiction in a row! (See previous post for Remarkable Creatures.) Love this author (ordered more of Nancy Moser's novels) and really appreciated her insight into the life of Martha Washington. My first literary unit will be initially based on the first founding documents...seems appropriate to include George AND Martha Washington, especially since I know realize what an ever greater impact that she had upon the founding of this nation.
Written in first-person point of view, this novel chronicled the life of Martha from the death of her first husband to the death of President George. A Christian, Martha made mistakes, she succeeded, she cried, she laughed. This novel made her "human" to me.
Prepare to be intrigued, as you learn (or are reminded of) interesting facts about both George and Martha Washington.
....I think (cannot remember for sure!) I purchased this book at Hastings for $4.97. Certainly received more than $5 worth of entertainment from this novel!
....I also look forward to reading How Do I Love Thee (about Elizabeth Barrot Browning) and Just Jane (about Jane Austin) and Mozart's Sister (about Nannerl Mozart).
27: The Scarlet Thread by Francine RiversI checked this book out of our church library some time ago (so glad we do not charge overdue fines!). Really wished I had read it sooner so I could recommend it to my church lady friends.
The novel tells the stories of two women Sierra and Mary Katherine: Sierra's set in modern day, Mary Katherine's, via a journal, set back in the "pioneer" days. Not sure which plot I enjoyed the most, maybe both? For each seemed to parallel, foreshadow the other's live as each fought, then sought a closer walk with God.
Both women women move great distances, both literally and spiritually, in an endeavor to please and appease their husbands. The journeys cost much, yet the results are pleasing and comforting.
Francine Rivers faces head on, never skirting, the issues of infidelity, hurting hearts, and the power of admitting one's faults, and then forgiving one's self and others, as well.
If you enjoy a woman' story with a Christian emphasis, you will definitely enjoy this novel.
28: Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts
Through a friend, I learned about a local women's book club, whose chosen book of the month is Shoot the Moon. The lady at the bookstore where they host the meetings did not have a copy of the novel, so I purchased it from half.com for $.75 (plus shipping and handling $3.99)...and got my money's worth in reading entertainment!This novel tells the story of a man thought murdered as a baby who, having just learned about his adoption returns to Oklahoma to hopefully meet his real mother, only to find that she had been murdered. So begins the search for what really happened way back when...the journey includes meeting a host of characters that Billy Letts brings to life...characters that make you laugh, sympathize, and maybe even empathize.
I look forward to reading more by Billie Letts...a good read!
29: Miles to Go by Richard Paul EvansThe second novel in The Walk series, this next installments continues Alan's journey of healing from the many great losses he has experienced that initiated this walk.
In this journal (for that is the genre through which Richard Paul Evans portrays this character's thoughts, feeling, emotions), we meet and greet characters that proves that God places people in our paths that sometimes we are to help. Sometimes they help us. One of those such characters is Kailamai. The true story behind this character may be found here on Evans' website...for a small fee.
I encourage you to read anything that Richard Paul Evans has written. Inspiring.
REMINDER: Michael Vey: Prisoner of Cell 25, also written by Richard Paul Evans (the first in this new young adult series), will be released August 9!
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