Review: Making Waves by Tawna Fenske

I've had a bit of a struggle this summer to do any "escape" reading, so Making Waves by Tawna Fenske did a great job of helping me wrap up my summer vacation!  Granted, I now would like to hop a boat to some remote, tropical island with crystal blue waters, but it was a nice get away.

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "When Alex Bradshaw's unscrupulous boss kicks him to the curb after 20 faithful years as an executive with the world's largest shipping company, he sets out to reclaim his dignity and his pension. Assembling a team of fellow corporate castoffs, he sails to the Caribbean to intercept an illegal diamond shipment. None of them counted on quirky blond stowaway Juli Flynn, who has a perplexing array of talents, a few big secrets, and an intoxicating romantic chemistry with Alex..."

Review:  Sometimes there's nothing better than a fun, thriller to take your mind off of things.  Making Waves had all the components of a fun get away, complete with crime, mystery, romance, and plenty of humor.  Honestly, there's nothing that serious in the story that you can't sit back and enjoy the ride.  Alex is the hot protagonist in the story who needs to get even with a crooked boss.  He's thrown caution to the wind and has partnered up with all of his closest coworkers/friends to get the job done.  In walks quirky, mysterious Juli Flynn, who says she's just there to scatter the ashes of her recently deceased uncle.  But who in the world is this girl and how did she end up mixed up with Alex's plans?

The chemistry between Alex and Juli is there from the beginning, but in some funny PG-13ish sort of moments that have you laughing.  Juli is just so quirky that it's no wonder poor Alex has been sidetracked from his mission into trying to figure her out!  If you've ever seen the movie Romancing the Stone, I couldn't help but feel like I was reading a novel version of that type of a story.

I really enjoyed Making Waves.  Yes, it's a romance and has some pretty racy scenes, but the context of the story around it is funny and unpredictable in many ways, so you keep reading.  Personally, I found the writing to be engaging and well done.  You knew everything would work out, but not how things would come together.  I sometimes felt lost with all the other minor characters in the beginning, but it always circled back around to Alex and Juli's relationship amidst all the chaos and undisclosed information.  In the end, I just wish I could sit on a boat in a gorgeous, tropical location to read this book!  Now that would be a perfect combination!

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based off an Advanced Review Copy provided by Sourcebooks.

Sunday Blatherings: Back to School

What a great week!  Seriously.  The school I teach at started back up on Tuesday and I think I had one of the all-time best weeks ever.  All week my classes worked together like clockwork and we had a good time together.  It was so great!  I know that issues will pop up, because they always do, but this is going to be a good year.  I'm really excited to be back in the classroom, and that feels great.

Before I get too far into my post today, I wanted to take just a second to say something about education.  This is my 11th year of teaching.  When I started back in 2000, teaching and teachers were really respected. The tide has changed a bit and it makes me sad.  I understand that it's in reaction to falling test scores and achievement, but an article I ran into on Yahoo News  this past week had me frustrated, "7 Ways to Get Your Kid's Teacher to Like You."  Really? I get that they were trying to be an advocate and suggest respectful ways to interact with teachers, but the assumption from that title is that we DON'T like you or your child before we like them.  That's just silly!  I just wish that the media would think about the way they write their articles or report on things so that they can be part of the solution and not part of the problem.  Trust me when I say that we're geared up to work hard this year.

Okay.  That's just a bit about school and that whole side of things.  As everyone knows, work and other things that dominate your life impact what and how much you're reading. Now that I'm getting back into a normal routine again, I can see that the reading slump is about over.  Yay!  My friend Heidenkind, over at Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Books pointed out to me one day that my reading slump was probably just because it's something I use for escape.  Now that school is back in session, I'd much rather shut off the television and extra noise and escape into a book.  Finally. 

Here's what I'm just finishing:

 

And here's what I'll be reading more of this week:

What are you reading this week?

In conclusion, I wanted to send all my best wishes to those who were impacted by Hurricane Irene.  All my best to everyone!  Have a great week.

Fiction, to Film, to Fantastic Music Friday: Anne of Green Gables

 You know that line from While You Were Sleeping when Meg Ryan's character is watching the classic old movie An Affair to Remember and her friend Becky says, "That's your problem.  You don't want to be in love.  You want to be in love in a movie."  I remember thinking how true that was.  Who wouldn't want to be in love in a movie?  Maybe it's because we don't see them doing the laundry and paying bills (you know--real life things), but they definitely seem like some ideal. That had me thinking about the movies, and even books, that shaped the way I look at love.

Growing up, I had a set of hardback books that contained Aesop's Fables, Little Women, Jane Eyre, and Anne of Green Gables to name a few.  They were such a pretty matching set of colorful books, with pretty color art folios inside the books.  I still remember picking up Anne of Green Gables and falling in love with Anne, Diana, Marilla, Matthew, and of course Gilbert.  We only had that first book, so that's where it stopped.  Regardless, I loved the story of Anne, who loved to read and learn with an absolute passion.

Several years down the road, a friend invited a group of us from high school over for a sleep over to watch all of the Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea films.  Well, that did it.  We sighed and fell in love with Gilbert and Prince Edward Island along with everyone else who has ever watched those movies.  That put me back on the road to reading the rest of the series.  Although they're completely different from the movies, they are delightful; the books, the education, the letters, the lifestyle, and the language all pull together to make a quaint and wonderful read.  Oh, and have you ever noticed how much these people just walk or "ramble" for fun?  Even exercise looked philosophical and romantic!  Between the movies and the books, what wasn't to love?  It all just seemed like such a romanticized time period and story. 

So, for this Friday, I thought I'd share a little reminiscing love of mine with the Anne of Green Gables series and movies.  The books, films, and soundtrack for the films are all a great memory and feel timeless.  Besides, who doesn't love a character who is so passionate about books and poetry that they'll reenact Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott" with her friends?  Awesome.

What movies or books shape your view of love?

Fiction, to Film, to Fantastic Music Friday is my own little weekly post. The premise is just to share my favorite books made into film, with amazing soundtracks to boot.  There might even be times where it's just a great film and soundtrack, or great book and film.  Either way, join in if you would like! 

Review: No Going Back by Jonathan Langford

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "A gay teenage Mormon growing up in western Oregon in 2003. His straight best friend. Their parents. A typical LDS ward, a high-school club about tolerance for gays, and a proposed anti-gay-marriage amendment to the state constitution. In No Going Back, these elements combine in a coming-of-age story about faithfulness and friendship, temptation and redemption, tough choices and conflicting loyalties."

Review:  In this teen novel, we find Paul Flitkin trying to be honest about who he is and what he believes.  Having grown up LDS (Mormon), he knew that coming out and trying to deal with his sexual identity was going to be hard enough without adding the conflict he felt from his religion.  All he ever really wanted to do was attend BYU and have a family, but it suddenly all seemed to conflict.  

I really thought that this novel dealt with a lot of issues that I hadn't seen tackled in a story before.  Not only did he have to face the obvious changes that happened in his friendship with his best friend Chad Mortenson (who's dad was also the bishop), but he also had to face the kids in his GSA club who felt that his desire to be LDS conflicted with who he really was.  I really felt for Chad, as he was tossed back and forth in the story between his church/beliefs and his same-sex attraction.

There were many layers of conflict built into this story, which I think does a nice job of touching on some of the realities that must surround a teen who wants to admit that they are gay.  Honestly, Paul was such a straight-laced character that he almost felt unreal.  His strength of character made him a truly sympathetic character, which then highlighted all the different prejudices he and those he loved encountered.  Paul had to worry about the reactions of his mother, his best friend (Chad), his bishop, his friends at school, the people at church, and the other kids in the GSA. It was an enlightening inside view of this character's experiences.

I don't want to simplify this book or its hot button issues in any way, but there is so much to consider.  One thing that I thought was unique was the reverse tension that came from Paul's new gay friends who were angry at his allegiance to his religion.  It's all completely understandable and feels very real in adding to Paul's confusion and isolation.  I would think that regardless of religion, that this book highlights what a teen that is coming out in a strong religious community might encounter.  There aren't any easy or pat answers given in the book, which is probably for the best, but this story tries to tackle them head on.  For starting a dialogue and giving voice to teens also coming out, this book does a really nice job.


*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a copy provided by the publisher. 

Utah Book Bloggers Summer Social 2011

It's that time again for anyone in our area to get together for our Book Blogger Summer Bash!  Natasha at Maw Books Blog, Suey at It's All About Books , Emily at Emily's Reading Room, and myself are hoping to gather as many of our blogging and writer friends together as possible. 

Here is the basic information:

• WHEN:  Saturday, September 10th at 6pm
• WHERE:  Vivian Park in Provo Canyon at the small pavilion  (Take 800 North in Orem to Provo Canyon, 5.8 miles up the canyon, park is on the right, pavilion is on the right after turning into the park.)
• WHO:  Book bloggers, authors, booksellers, etc.
• WHAT:  Families are invited.  We will be having pulled-pork sandwiches and ask that you bring a potluck item to the bash.
•  HOW:  Really, there is no how here!  Come with a paperback book, ready to swap, chat, and have a great time. 

***Please RSVP to utahbookbloggers(at)gmail(dot)com so that we know who can make it that night.  Also, please don't hesitate to get in touch of any one of us for more information.  Other than our blogs, we can also be reached on Twitter at:  @mjmbecky, @SueySays, @mawbooks, & @emsreadingroom.

We hope you can come and look forward to chatting and socializing again!  It's always great fun to see the wizard behind the curtains, meaning that we're happy to get to meet the amazing writers of blogs and books alike.

Sunday Blatherings: Deep End of the Pool

It's such a beautiful day here and I'm fretting about the week ahead.  Last week we started meetings to head back to school on Tuesday. Ready or not, here it comes!  I never feel 100% ready, but I'm as close as I'll probably ever get.  When I was in London, I bought a couple of really cool posters, and I love how they look in my classroom.  I especially think the "Stay Calm and Carry On," WWII era poster sends the appropriate message!  What do you think?

This last week I thought I'd have a little time to read and relax before the craziness began, but as you can see from my blog, that didn't completely happen.  My grandfather got sick earlier this year, and although he was doing better, he fell not too long ago and hasn't been doing well ever since.  I'd be lying if I said that hasn't had me on edge, especially since he lives across the country from me.  My mom flew out to see him and to be with family, but I really couldn't break away from work.  I've always worried about the "what ifs" with my family, knowing that if something happens during the school year, that I may not break away.  It's the same thing that most normal adults have to consider.  Right?

To switch gears a little, I do have a number of reviews to post soon.  I'm hoping that with a new school year and schedule, that I'll be back in my normal routine.  Here's what I have on the horizon or hope to get to soon!

 

  

 

And here's what I should be reading soon.  I can't wait!

 

 

Well, there we go for my little corner of the world.  What are you up to?

Saying Goodbye to Harry in My Own Way

Last month I posted a quick "Denial. Thank You." post for the final installment of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, pt. 2.  It took me awhile to figure out why I was so opposite to the crowd; why I ignored it all and refused to even think about heading to that final film.  Well, it finally felt right to go see it, and I finally understood why I reacted the way I did.

For just about every book and film, I've either stood in line or pre-ordered the newest installment.  When other people wanted to talk about it or cram themselves into a crowded place to have access to the newest release, I was right there with them.  That's what it was like for a decade, right?  This time, I wanted nothing to do with any of it.  Zip.  Zero.  Zilch.  Nada.

If I'd remembered back to when book seven was released, I responded pretty similarly.  Although I got the book on the day it came out, I didn't rush through it.  I took a week to read it, cherishing a couple of chapters at a time, in the hopes that I could extend that final book as long as possible.

So, this last week I finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows again and finally crept into the theater, with only about ten other people there, and settled in to say goodbye my way.  What can I say that others have not, except to say that I thought it was amazing.  Sure there were things that I wondered about or knew were missing (ie. Harry offering Voldemort a chance to change and repairing his wand), but it really was a great finish. 

Like many fans, I shed a tear or two.  The first was when McGonagall stepped in to protect Harry against Snape.  In fact, that scene brought more to the story for me than it did in the book.  Played by Maggie Smith, she really brought so much to that character, and I loved her for being the force for good that she was! 

On the flip side, Mrs. Weasley's famous showdown with Bellatrix was way more serious than I read it.  In the book, I laughed and cheered when she called Bellatrix a "Bitch" because she really was!  It was so out of character for her that I read it as the ultimate "step off" moment.  In the movie, it was just way more serious than I expected.

Of course, I got choked up when we finally got to see Snape's back story.  Who didn't fall in love with this character, for his complex set of traits and strength of character?  What kind of person can stay dedicated to their love for another in such a way that they become so self-sacrificing?  It kind of made all those Potter-torturing days endearing.

Finally, Harry's showdown with Voldemort was the obvious moment we'd all been waiting to see.  It was everything about magic that I loved.  The obvious message of good over evil, love over hate, is all over these films and this final scene.  Harry's own faith in this truth is what carried him to this moment and allowed him the courage to face Voldemort.  What more can be said?

Okay, so why couldn't I get all that with a crowd full of people, with friends or family by my side?  After I left the theater it dawned on me that it was my way of saying goodbye.  As an only child, books were my companion when no one else was around. I had read the books by myself, and experienced everything with Harry by myself, so I had to end it by myself.  It was perfect.  I let go of the denial, closed the book, and knew that I'd return to it again.

For those who find connecting to books and characters is weird, I suppose you'll think my stubborn streak was also weird.  For the rest of you who have ever loved a book or character so much that you were angry or sad when the story came to an end, I know you'll understand and have a story all your own.  This is just my story and my final tribute to a much loved series that I know I'll read again.