Enjoy!

There is a temperance zone in the mind, between luxurious indolence and exacting work; and it is to this region, just between laziness and labor, that summer reading belongs.

Henry Ward Beecher

July Book Group and Book Review -- Nine Parts of Desire

Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks

Rating:  2 out of 5 stars

I've read nearly all of Geraldine Brooks' books -- and for the most part -- have loved them all.  This one just didn't do anything for me.

The consensus amongst our book group members was mixed as well -- the majority of them didn't finish the book -- or -- skipped various chapters and moved on to others.  I read all but the last two chapters, because I felt like the author just continually repeated herself through out the book.  From the discussion we had tonight, I don't think I missed anything substantial.

Ms. Brooks experience in the Middle East is legendary.  She spent many years covering the first Gulf War as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal.  I don't doubt her expertise. My biggest complaint about this book was from the opening page, then author seemed to have an agenda against the Islamic faith.  That she was out to prove that all Islamic women should abandon their religious garments, and in many ways, "burn their burqas" (much like burning your bra) in order to become feminists.  Granted, in the forward from the publisher it reads, "Brooks' acute analysis of the world's fastest growing religion deftly illustrates how Islam's holiest texts have been misused to justify repression of women, and how male pride and power have warped the original message of a once liberating faith." But I was hoping for more balance in her writing and less "axe grinding."  Also, as a Mormon, who is often reading about my religion from a non-members perspective, I kept wondering, "How much of this is correct?"  Because when reporters or writers are writing about my faith, inevitably, they always have something wrong. 

Another issue I had, and this isn't the fault of the author, but the book seemed dated.  This was published in 1994, long before 9/11, and our wars with Afghanistan and Iraq.  Islam has become far more militant since these events, with the rise of the Taliban and Al Qaeda -- and her stories and analysis didn't measure up to current events.

None of our book group members know anyone personally that is a Muslim.  It would have been nice if we could have had a a guest speaker at our book group -- a Muslim woman who could explain where Ms. Brooks was on track, and where she wasn't.  Unfortunately, we had to decipher those things on our own.

But as is ALWAYS the case, the discussion was lively and I came away having learned so much from the book and my fellow groupies. 

This book was one of my original selections for the Women Unbound Challenge.

Our next book club selection is:  Same Kind of Different as Me : A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together by Ron Hall and Denver Moore

 Book source:  Personal copy

Book Sale!

If you happen to be driving along I40 this weekend thru the state of Arkansas, it would be worth the effort to stop in Little Rock and take in the Central Arkansas Library System's quarterly book sale!

Hardbacks are $1 and paperbacks are 50 cents.  You won't find a better bargain anywhere!

Additionally, River Market Gifts and Books, the used book store associated with CALS, will be selling their gently read books at 50% off.

You know where I will be this weekend -- I already have a list of authors and books I am looking for -- not that I need to add to my already over crowded shelves.  But, I can NEVER turn down a book sale!

Hope to see you there too!

It's Monday -- What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. It's is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week.

Books finished:
The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly McNees (4 of 5 stars)

This was a delightful, romantic, and breezy novel. Perfect for summer.

I also finished for book group:

Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks. I haven't reviewed this one yet and will wait until after book group, so I can incorporate some of my fellow groupies' thoughts.  But my initial thoughts: I was really disappointed.  I'll leave it at that for now.

I got in the mail this week:

A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff
From B&N

Phoebe Swift, the proprietress of a new vintage clothing boutique, forms the center of this richly layered novel filled with the luxurious fashions of a bygone era. As Phoebe discovers, when you buy a piece of vintage clothing, you’re also buying a piece of someone’s past. There’s one item in particular that will unexpectedly change her life. Seamlessly blending humor and heartbreak, A Vintage Affair is a great summer read.

This was a "Barnes & Noble  Recommends" book selection and I was totally suckered in by the promo.  I've read other BN recommended books with varying success.  I'm hoping it is worth the "recommendation."

Additionally, I have on the HOLD SHELF at the library:

Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson
From B&N:
BACKSEAT SAINTS will dazzle readers with a fresh and heartwrenching portrayal of the lengths a mother will go to right the wrongs she's created, and how far a daughter will go to escape the demands of forgiveness. With the seed of a minor character from her popular best-seller, GODS IN ALABAMA, Jackson has built a whole new story full of her trademark sly wit, endearingly off-kilter characters, and utterly riveting plottwists.

I will pick this up on Tuesday.

The TBR stack remains disappointingly untouched -- it's a carbon copy from last week:

Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Love and Other Impossible Pursuits by Ayelet Waldman
A Long Long Time Ago But Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
Evangeline by Ben Farmer (I just won't let this thing go! I'm determined to read it even though I've re-checked it out 5 times! Ugh!)

What should I start this week?  Any votes?

What are you reading this week?

My Top Tens: Biographies and Memoirs

Suey at It's All About Books posted her top 10 favorite biographies and/or memoirs today. I am going to follow her lead:

I didn't think I was a big biography/memoir reader, I was surprised at what I came up with!

I no particular order:

1. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
2. The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
3. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
4. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
5. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
6. Bitter is the New Black by Jen Lancaster
7. The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan
8. Bad Mother by Ayelet Waldman
9. Gastronomical Me by MFK Fisher
10. Out of Africa and Shadows on the Grass by Isak Dinesen
11. My Life in France by Julia Child (thanks to Jayna for the reminder, I ADORED this book!!!)

Another one I would have added, but it's not really a memoir or biography is The Johnstown Flood by David McCollough.  A fascinating book -- I highly recommend it. 

Do you have a top 10 list?  Are you a big memoir/biography reader?

Guest Book Review -- Percy Jackson and the Olypmpians: The Titan's Curse (#3)

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Guest Review by Daisy Dad

When I started the third installment of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Titan’s Curse – I really didn’t want to like it. I read and reviewed the first two and you may remember that I was hung up over the similarities to the Harry Potter series. The characters, the situations, even the games that they play (I still enjoyed the Quidditch matches of HP over Capture the Flag and/or Chariot Races of PJ). But then I was talking to another father about the two series and he is a HUGH Percy fan and said that Harry was “just o.k”. JUST O.K.???? I almost fell over. I bit my tongue and allowed him to explain. He felt that while the Potter books were extremely entertaining, he really appreciated the teaching of Greek Mythology in a new, interesting and original way. I mentioned in my first review of The Lightning Thief that I wanted to go back and read D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths or maybe Homer’s The Odyssey, but have I? I’m not going to answer that, but I will let you know that I did finish The Titan’s Curse reading it differently.

Did I like it? Yes. Was it great? No. Unfortunately, I think Mr. Riordan missed a couple of opportunities to make his work stand above the critics (like me) that his books are subtle knock-offs of another series that “will not be named”. The best example of this is when the di Angelo siblings are introduced as the newest half-bloods in the story. An opportunity to explore these character’s feelings as they learn of their new identities as a daughter and son of a god was lost. I thought it would be interesting to see a different perspective than that of Percy’s, but that was not to be so. This installment is also basically the same as the first – a journey across the United States to save the world from the return of the Titan Kronos.

But the true craft that I have finally appreciated is the way Riordan weaves Greek myth into a modern day adventure. The Lightning Thief was the myth of Odysseus, The Sea of Monsters was the myth of Jason & the Argonauts, and now The Titan’s Curse is the myth of Hercules. And not a glossing over of those myths – a full telling with many of the side stories and details of the mythology that I would doubt would be learned in any elementary school or junior high. I lost myself in the adventure and spent less time making comparisons. I am a sucker for young love and the author does a nice job with the awkwardness of it, and I look forward to see how it develops further in the next two books. Knowing his audience, I also appreciated how death and the loss of a loved one were handled in this book.

I may have to read something else now and let some anticipation build for The Battle of the Labyrinth. What new Greek myths will I learn next?

Book Review -- The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O. McNees

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Reimagining the lives of deceased women authors is literary vogue: Jane Austen and The Brontë sisters have all been recreated in memoir-like fashion, as have the characters from their many novels.

Kelly O’Connor McNees has now added The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott to the list of “biographical” fiction – and I’m so glad she did.

Louisa is the fiercely independent daughter of Bronson and Abigail Alcott – and along with her three sisters, has settled in Walpole, Massachusetts, much against Louisa’s desires. At 22, she is eager to become a writer and to set off on her own in Boston to pursue her dreams. However, because of her father’s ideals and lofty philosophical beliefs (which results in no job and no income) she must stay at home and help her family subsist on virtually nothing.

In spite of the meagerness of their lives, Louisa enjoys the friendships of a group of young Walpolians – they entertain themselves with picnics at the swimming hole and producing theatre for the community. One such friend is Joseph Singer, a dashing young store clerk who shares Louisa’s love of poetry and literature. It is clear that Joseph is smitten with Louisa’s verve and intellect, but Louisa is determined that she is above and beyond having a relationship with this suitor. What proceeds, is a wonderful, if not bittersweet love story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The character of LMA is exactly how I had her imagined – extremely independent and willing to sacrifice most everything for the sake of her writing (including her romantic/personal happiness). From what little I know of LMA, I thought the author did a skillful job of interweaving fact and fiction – including the use of the known friends of the Alcotts – Emerson and Thoreau. She vividly recreates 19th century rural life, which although harsh, seems very bucolic. She also had a spare, but beautiful prose that reflected the style of LMA.

I’m eager to indulge on the writings of LMA after reading this book.

And if you are looking for a “summer read” then The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott should be on your list!

If you are interested in a "reading challenge" Margot at Joyfully Retired is hosting All Things Alcott Challenge. There is still time to participate.

Also, not too long ago, PBS produced a fabulous docu-drama on Louisa May Alcott. Here is a snippet, but I highly recommend viewing the entire episode!

Book source: Personal copy

View all my reviews >>

It's Monday -- What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Sheila at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. It's is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week.

I finally had a break out book this week -- Ayelet Waldman's Bad Mother.  I highly recommend it for a book discussion or for girlfriends who are mothers. She is a brilliant writer, PLUS, there are many potential hot button issues to discuss (or debate, which ever you prefer). 

Books finished this past week:

Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain (2 out of 5 stars)

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (3 out of 5 stars)

Bad Mother by Ayelet Waldman (4 out of 5 stars)

Currently reading:

The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly McNees

So far, this is a delightfully quaint book.  Nothing particularly new for this genre, but very enjoyable.  Louisa has been a fun character to follow.

To be read:
Ah -- the dreaded To Be Read list!!  Once again my impulsive nature sabotaged me this week.  I was so excited about Ayelet Waldman's writing that immediately upon finishing, I went to the library and checked out this:

Love and Other Impossible Pursuits

Summary from Goodreads:

In this moving, wry, and candid novel, widely acclaimed novelist Ayelet Waldman takes us through one woman’s passage through love, loss, and the strange absurdities of modern life.

I think this has been made into a movie -- but I'm not sure if it was ever released.  One of my "goodreads" friends finished this in one day, she said it was so good.  I want to believe her!

Another impulse check out:
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

Summary from Goodreads:

I Capture the Castle tells the story of seventeen-year-old Cassandra and her family, who live in not-so-genteel poverty in a ramshackle old English castle. Here she strives, over a six-month period, first in a sixpenny book, then in a shilling book, and, finally, in a splendid two-guinea book, to hone her writing skills. And it is within these pages that she candidly chronicles her encounters with the estate's new, young, and handsome American landlords, the effects of her sister Rose's marital ambitions, her writer's-blocked father's anguished and ultimately renewed creativity, and her own hopeless, first descent into love.

So, the current stack of books (including the above) on my beside table looks like this:

Nine Parts of Desire by Geraldine Brooks (book group choice, must be read soon!)

Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas (borrowed from a friend, must be returned soon!)

A Long Long Time Ago But Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka (carryover from last week)

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly (yep, another carryover)

Evangeline by Ben Farmer (this was only a 2 week check out, and I've reached my limit of renewals for this book -- I wonder if I will get to it or not?!)

For me, I've actually accomplished a lot this week.  My PTA duties begin in earnest this week, so I'm not sure July will be as literary prolific as June -- but I'm trying to keep up the pace until school resumes, because I know my reading time will take a hit once I'm fully ensconced as Madame President! Ugh!

What are you reading this week?  Anything to recommend?

Book Review -- Bad Mother

Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace by Ayelet Waldman


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

From the moment I brought my daughter home from the hospital 9 ½ years ago (and the two other children that followed) there hasn’t been a day go by that I haven’t thought of how bad I am at mothering. When trying to embrace “co-parenting” and allowing my then 3 week old to sleep on my chest, I fell desperately asleep, then was suddenly startled awake to realize she had rolled off my chest and onto the floor. When my second son was born, I spiraled into previous unknown depths of depression and misery. I couldn’t stand the sight of him and wondered where this foreign looking creature came from and how I could give him back. When my third child was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect at 28 weeks gestation, I blamed myself for drinking too much Dr. Pepper, forgetting to take my prenatal vitamins for two weeks while we were on vacation in New York – even going so far as to blame my proximity to the microwave for his malformed heart.

Now my “bad” mothering encompasses yelling too much, spending too much time on the computer, throwing away countless school assignments, and not being a presence at school parties.

In Ayelet Waldman’s treatise on motherhood – Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace, she writes in brilliant and witty prose that, guess what moms, we are OK and our kids will be just fine.

Her commentary covers everything from her relationship with her husband to her mother-in-law (a chapter I actually skipped, because my mother in law died a year after our daughter was born); she tackles breast feeding Nazis, her personal battle with bipolar disorder, her son’s failure to thrive at 2 weeks and another son’s ADHD. The most poignant, painful and heartbreaking is the chapter on “Rocketship” her third child, who was diagnosed with a chromosomal defect during an amniocentesis. After an intense internal battle, she decides to terminate her pregnancy. Bluntly she admits, “…I killed him.” I’m not here to cast judgment on Ms. Waldman, but, boy, that was a tough chapter to get through.

Ultimately, Ms. Waldman councils: I think it’s worth trying to be a mother who delights in who her children are…a mother who spends less time obsessing about what will happen, or what has happened and more time reveling in what IS. A mother who doesn’t fret over failings and slights…a mother who doesn’t worry so much about being bad or good, but just recognizes she’s both and neither. A mother who does her best, and for whom that is good enough, even if, in the end, her best turns out to be, simply, not bad.

I want to be that mother – a mother that knows her failings and limitations, but also knows that she loves her children desperately, and that even when I think I’m bad, I’m still pretty darn good.

Book group:  For those in a book group -- I think this would be a fascinating book to read along with others and a potentially firecracker discussion!

Book source: Public library

View all my reviews >>

Book Review -- When You Reach Me

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead


My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Author Rebecca Stead has created a totally unique juvenile novel featuring time travel, middle school angst, friendship, and of all things, Dick Clark and ‘70s game show, The $20,000 Pyramid.

Sixth grader Miranda, has to navigate a neglected friendship with neighbor Sal, a budding friendship with classmate Annemarie, and a conflicted friendship with Julia – all the while try to help her mother “practice” for her upcoming appearance on the game show, The $20,000 Pyramid AND figure out who the heck has been sending her very freaky and cryptic notes.

I’m not sure what to say about this novel – on one hand it was great:

• I loved Miranda’s spunk; she was a delightful character to follow, as was her mother and her group of rag-tag friends, supporting cast of school employees and Jimmy, the deli counter guy.

• I loved the time period – I was a grade schooler in the ‘70’s – so the essence of the book was very familiar and comforting – and who my age hasn’t watched The $20,000 Pyramid at least a gazillion times. And it’s true, Dick Clark never ages (at least until recently when he had his stroke).

On the other hand, I thought it was odd:

• The time travel thing just didn’t work for me. I understand that the author was trying to pay homage to A Wrinkle in Time – dare I say I’m not too fond of that book either (is that literary sacrilege?). But it was awkward and confusing.

• And who was the audience for this book? Once again, all of the 5 star reviews are primarily from adult, white women -- are the 9-12 year olds (for whom this book is intended), liking it as much at the adult audience? I can’t answer that – because I don’t think they have Goodreads accounts. I do know this book would be over the head of my 9 year old and the majority of our Mother/Daughter book group participants. And when I read juv fiction – that’s who I’m trying to “channel.”

So, it was quirky and somewhat endearing, but it didn’t meet my expectations.

Book source: Public library

When You Reach Me was the 2010 Newbery Award Winner.

View all my reviews >>