It's Been Awhile....

I feel like I've really been neglecting my blog lately! It has been more than two weeks! Geeze! Well the one thing I can promise is that for the next few weeks it wont be improving any! The good news in all of this is that I am still reading! Even if it is at a turtle's pace (slow and steady wins the race right?) Anyways... I'm a little short on time, but wanted to update the last three books I've read!

Update Book 60: Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosney

Yes, another World War Two book.... But not JUST another Word War Two book. This was written in a very creative and compelling way. Sometimes I dislike book that change narrators from chapter to chapter, but that wasn't so in "Sarah's Key." The author or editor or publisher did something brilliant that I just loved! The chapter's written from the two narrator's perspectives were in different fonts. Not crazy different, the effect was actually quite subtle, I don't think most readers would even notice, but to me it added a little something. This book is heartbreaking in ways that only a novel about war can be. Recommend by both my mom and one of my favorite coffeeshop ladies, this is a book that everyone will enjoy.

Update Book 61: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

I guess I lied about hitting my teen fiction quota. Lets be honest, I'm a sucker for anything vampire/werewolf/supernatural teenybopperness. Lately I haven't been read very many that I could even reluctantly recommend. But this is a series I do! The first in the series is, "Shiver." I think it's successor, "Linger," is even better. They are quick reads that are smart, feeling, absorbing. A must read for anyone who looking for a teen fiction fix.

Update Book 62: Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

I think I used to use just about anything that was handy as a bookmark. Rereading some of my favorite books has brought this to light. Inside of "Into the Wild," I find a North Kitsap High School Hall Pass. Signed by Mrs. Beauchamp.

I really enjoyed this book. I have always enjoy Krakauer as an author. He is a journalist, which I think helps to make the type of stories he writes better. They are jam packed with information that obviously took time to research. This book is the story of Chris McCandless, a young man who went to live in the wilderness of Alaska where he died after four months. This book came out of a magazine article Krakauer wrote for Outside. While reading the novel, you can feel how deeply connected the author is to his subject, it is obvious he sees himself in McCandless. The feeling I got was that Krakauer wants the world to understand McCandless.

Usually I don't want to know how a book ends before I read it, but Krakauer writes in a way that still allows for some surprises. I also enjoyed, "Into Thin Air," also by Krakauer.

So it goes.

One of the things I love most about books is that they bring people together. The best part of this challenge has been talking to people about books. People really do love to read, whether or not they commit to reading one book a year or a hundred. Everyone has an opinion on books and I've had some amazing conversations with people about things like their favorite books, my book challenge, book clubs, authors, writing styles, and just about everything in between. Talking about books is sort of like talking about your kids, people get excited. There is a sort of pride in mutual book appreciation.

Yesterday my aunt told me she has been in a book club for about 30 years. Some of the people have changed, but she said that there has been a nucleus of about 15 women who have been coming together the entire time. I hope my own book club someday evolves into something similar. So far I have four friends committed, but someday I hope more people will join in. (If you want to join let me know!)

This months read is: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Update Book 19: Witch and Wizard by James Patterson

Note to authors everywhere!!! When writing a teen fiction you don't have to dumb it down. Some of the smartest most interesting books I've read have been geared towards teens. "Witch and Wizard" is not worthy of sitting next to any of these books. There was no value to reading any of the pages. No new thoughts, plots, or characters were revealed. What makes me the maddest is that this is another series! Talk about jumping on the bandwagon!

This is the first time I've read Patterson and I might just be disgusted enough to never read him again. Famous for writing the "Alex Cross" novels, Patterson apparently wrote this in his sleep. He writes "Witch and Wizard," like a 60 year old man attempting to be hip. I cringed whenever "WTH" (What the hell) was included in conversations. I could go on and on about how terrible this book was, but I have a much better book I'd like to talk about.

Update Book 20: Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Originally published in 1969 "Slaughterhouse Five" is often cited as one of the best novels written about WWII. This book is uniquely written, it is often schizophrenic--jumping through time, events, and planets. Then back again. But it is never confusing. Within the first chapter Vonnegut describes that this is an anti-war novel. He also explains how futile writing an anti-war novel is:

"You know what I say to people when I hear they're writing anti-war books?"

"No. What do you say, Harrison Star?"

"I say, 'Why don't you write an anti-glacier book instead?'"

What he meant of course, was that there would always be wars, that they were as easy to stop as glaciers. I believe that too.

A book about any war is filled with death, but this isn't a book that makes you cry. This is a book that makes you understand the harsh reality of war. Vonnegut is honest and at times funny... but not in a way that will make you laugh. I enjoyed this book. Some of the concepts of time and reality were inspiring. Would I call it a favorite? No. But I would say that I learned from it and that you should put it on your book list behind the "Book Thief".

Love. Love. Love.

Nope, I'm not talking about Valentine's Day. I'm talking about February 11th. My birthday day. Ok you can laugh and judge all you want, but it is my favorite day of the year. You might think that it is because of the presents, but that is not true (although I don't mind them ;-) ). I love this day because I get to spend it with people that I love. Valentine's Day is for lovers. Birthdays are a day to show all sorts of love; motherly, sisterly, friendly, brotherly, etc. Hallmark can make up all the fake holidays they want, but nothing compares to the love people show you on your birthday.

I've been known to in the past, to make a big deal about my birthday, but this year I wasn't planning anything fancy. Just a relaxing day with some of my favorite people. And you know what? It was one of the best birthdays I have ever had! This is mostly because my favorite people just so happen to be the best people in the whole entire world. No exaggeration. I received phone calls and cards from people I was sure wouldn't remember, both of my brothers called even though I was going to see one of them later that day at dinner. Basically what I'm trying to say is that the people in my life are truly wonderful and I am one lucky girl to know them.

Another word about birthdays: They are always magical. Seriously, when I wake up on my birthday I know it is going to be a fantastic day. Once again it is the little things, finding an amazing parking spot or having the server giving me an ice cream sundae after breakfast (even though I really couldn't have eaten more than a bite). Part of this is waking up and having a positive attitude about your day. On your birthday you wake up and think, this is my day. So what happens the other 364 days of the year? If you dread going to work or that phone call you have to make, guess what?! You will have a bad day. But if you wake up thinking this is going to be a good day, you will most likely fulfill that prophecy.

So another resolution! Wake up and put a smile on my face and tell myself I'm going to have an extraordinary day. No matter what!

Update Book 15: Flyboys by James Bradley

I thought that I was really getting out of my box by reading some of the books that have been recommended to me so far this year. That was until a friend brought over three books he wanted me to read. All three are books that I would never pick out on my own, they are basically boy books. But part of the fun of making a resolution is the challenge. So I guess you could say I had an absolute blast with this novel. It was the most difficult book I've attempted thus far. Not because of big words, but because of the content. I was not given any caveat before I started reading. This is a book about war, and at times it was intensely graphic. So graphic in fact, that I almost admitted defeat and put the book down. But I didn't, and I feel like a better person for finishing it. Although"Flyboys" is at times very difficult to read, it is also incredibly informational and very captivating.

"Flyboys" is about American Airmen during Word War II in the Pacific. I had not put much thought into that half of the Great War. But this book opened my eyes. The history is fascinating and the book is incredibly well researched. The author's other novel is "Flags of our Fathers," also about this part of the war. So if you are interested American history and a worth while challenge, pick up "Flyboys."