Review: The Story Hour by Thrity Umrigar

What is the true power in a person's stories?  I'm not talking about the ones we make up or read to children before bedtime.  I mean OUR stories; the stories of our life that build the unique individuals that we really are inside and out.  There are the things that have happened to us, the things we have been taught, and then the things we tell ourselves about both--which really shape our perception of the world and who we end up being.  It was in this layering of identity that we get Thrity Umrigar's, The Story Hour.

Synopsis:  Our two main characters, Maggie and Lakshmi, come into contact with one another after an attempted suicide by Lakshmi, the lonely arranged wife of an Indian man running a local Indian restaurant and store.  The marriage was one of distance, hurt, misunderstanding, and distance.  Lakshmi felt so alone and so unloved or even seen, that she attempted suicide, which landed her in a state facility.  There, she met Maggie, the psychologist who came to learn the reasons behind her attempted suicide, and in the process crosses the boundary between doctor and patient to care very much about Lakshmi's "stories" that have built her life.

Review:  The Story Hour is one of those novels that sneaks up on you, and before you know it, you care deeply about the characters involved and want to sit with them to hear more about their lives.  Complex and yet quiet in its complexity, our two main characters, Maggie and Lakshmi, create a friendship out of a shared understanding of what it means to feel alone, feel overlooked, and/or even feel unheard.  Maggie learns about Lakshmi's past in India, and what brought her to the marriage that has left her so lonely; a journey that somehow feels relatable, regardless of where you're at in life.  Maggie, who has a spectacular marriage and husband, also feels that something is off-balance in her own life, but examines it more quietly, through her visits with her patient, Lakshmi.

The thing I found most appealing about this novel is the way that the story binds and connects the characters and readers to one another.  That is a powerful metaphor and symbol, throughout the novel, that represents and speaks for that lifeblood that connects us all as human beings.  While the characters were subtle, and not without their flaws, we can relate to them.  These are qualities which make me take their stories to heart.

There were moments in the story where I worried about the direction it might head, and I worried we would be left hanging at the end, yet there is a satisfactory conclusion to the problems and concerns our characters find themselves in.  Lakshmi is a woman of courage and deep emotion.  Maggie is a woman filled with conflicting emotions and a lack of foresight.  Together, their lives--stories, help to heal wounds they both carry, and help them to understand things about themselves they would have ignored had they not been bound together.

Overall, I was captured by the language and emotion of the "story" told.  It made me think deeply and to feel deeply.  In short, I walked away with a greater appreciation for the lives we lead and a respect for the journeys each person must take. 

Review: This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Genre:  Young Adult
Published:  2 April 2013
Pages: 406 
 
Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?"

Review:  Jennifer E. Smith knows how to write books that grab at you and makes you love her characters.  As the writer of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, I also got sucked in and cared about her main characters and wanted to follow them through from beginning to end, regardless of how "probable" the scenario they were put in.  

In this scenario, Ellie has met a movie star through a misplaced email, only she doesn't know that he is a movie star, nor that he has suggested her hometown for their movie set.  As the filming begins in her hometown in Maine, the loneliness and desperation he feels to meet this funny girl he has been exchanging emails with over the Internet has driven him to locate her and connect in real life.   Will the variables be too much for them, and will she be able to handle all of his fame?

The premise of this story was pretty out there, but still woven together so well because the characters had such interesting and quirky back stories, that you couldn't help but keep reading. Both were so vulnerable, and in weird ways!  I guess we don't always think that the rich movie star might be lonely and seeking validation and love, but that is exactly what Graham is doing.  All he really wants is to escape his Hollywood life to spend time with a nice, regular girl like Ellie.  How is it that he ends up being the one we feel so sorry for in the end?  Yet, Ellie also has a story that tugs at your heart strings, that unfolds over the course of the story that we all come to understand why she fears getting to know Graham.  In short--it's a little scary to date a guy who has paparazzi following him.  That, I do get!

I really loved this novel, almost as much as I did Smith's The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight.  Honestly, I just really love her fresh writing style that makes you feel as though you are in the story with her characters and helps you feel what they are feeling.  The story is more than going through the motions; it is about feeling all of their joys and fears with them.  I loved these characters and thought this was a fun premise to consider "what if" you fell for a teenage movie star?  Wouldn't it just be fun to test that out and see what would happen?!?  

This was a great, fun read.  If you're looking for a fun, clean, romantic YA read--this has a bit of it all, with a surprising storyline that you haven't quite seen before.  I really enjoyed it!  It's too cute.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a library copy of the novel. 

Review: The World We Found by Thrity Umrigar

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "As university students in late 1970s Bombay, Armaiti, Laleh, Kavita, and Nishta were inseparable. Spirited and unconventional, they challenged authority and fought for a better world. But much has changed over the past thirty years. Following different paths, the quartet drifted apart, the day-to-day demands of work and family tempering the revolutionary fervor they once shared.

Then comes devastating news: Armaiti, who moved to America, is gravely ill and wants to see the old friends she left behind. For Laleh, reunion is a bittersweet reminder of unfulfilled dreams and unspoken guilt. For Kavita, it is an admission of forbidden passion. For Nishta, it is the promise of freedom from a bitter fundamentalist husband. And for Armaiti, it is an act of acceptance, of letting go on her own terms even if her ex-husband and daughter do not understand her choices.

In the course of their journey to reconnect, Armaiti, Laleh, Kavita, and Nishta must confront the truths of their lives—acknowledge long-held regrets, face painful secrets and hidden desires, and reconcile their idealistic past and their compromised present. And they will have to decide what matters most, a choice that may just help them reclaim the extraordinary world they once found."

Review:  As my first Thrity Umrigar read, I was well aware of the number of novels she had already written, and I don't think this will be my last.  In short, the writing was robust and touching, but often in such subtle ways that the story snuck up on me.  

The story follows the story of four friends, three who live in India and one in America who is dying of a brain tumor.  The three in India want to travel to America to see her before it is too late, but one of their friends has married and converted into Islam.  Her husband, bitter from a number of circumstances both personal and political, has become a fundamentalist and has isolated his wife from her friends, and thus isolates her from us as readers as well.  It's an interesting thing to do with a character over the course of the novel, but serves to create a secondary problem that keeps us reading.

I thought the modern story set mainly in India very interesting.  Having read novels surrounding the partition of India, it's interesting to now look at how modern issues surrounding terrorism and racism reveals itself in a more modern India.  Obviously, fear is fear, but so is discrimination, anger, and bitterness, regardless of where you are in the world.  It's interesting though when you consider that country's history.  You have to feel for the Muslim husband, who has been discriminated against and been mistreated.  He really just fears for his family and wants to protect his wife and family, even if it comes out all wrong most of the time.  In the novel, we get to see a bit of both sides of the coin, even if in the end we do feel a bit more for the wife than we do for the husband.

Overall, I loved the subtle yet generous ways that Umrigar told the story.  While I don't often like stories that move from character to character in each chapter, this was one case where I didn't mind and got too caught up in the lives of these women to see the shifting story lines.  Umrigar is a beautiful writer and I will definitely be diving in to some of her other novels in the future.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on an advanced review copy provided by Amazon Vine.

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Time to get back to some reviews!  I've given up on a few, but I still have some books that I'd like to get around to sharing.  There's nothing like a Spring Break to put me back on my feet again!

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it."

Review:  At the end of 2012, I selected The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight as one of my top reads.  This was, for sure, a favorite of mine for its range of intense emotion, London setting, and likable characters.  All taking place within the course of just one day, Hadley Sullivan meets Oliver on a plane ride over from the US to London.  Hadley is not a happy camper on her journey though, as she is headed to her father's wedding to a woman who Hadley has yet to meet.  Oliver surely helps her take her mind off the journey and what waits on the other end.

I think that this story can be likened to other stories of two strangers who meet on a plane and share their lives, never to see one another again.  In this story, Hadley spills her story to Oliver, who tells bits of his own tale behind why he's heading home.  The two make a real connection, but at the terminal they head off in their own direction.  You know, however, that this can not be the end of these two characters.

This was an easy to love story, filled with emotion and well-rounded characters.  I think that Hadley's story with her father was tense and felt very real.  I wanted to like her dad and his new bride, but seeing it all through Hadley's eyes had me hating them for their insensitivity.  Her anger and sorrow at her father's choices gave the story a depth that I appreciated.  Oliver has his own back story that we learn about later.  On the whole, I think it all adds up to an angsty, romantic story that grabs you and forces you to read it all in one sitting.  What can I say?  If you want a quick, romantic read, then this is a perfect curl-up-and-read YA novel.  I can't wait to read more by Jennifer E. Smith! 

*FTC Disclosure:  This review is based on a library copy of the novel.

Review: Zombies Hate Stuff by Greg Stones

Does anyone else think that somehow zombies are becoming the new vampire?  Not that they are the romantic lead of a story, but they sure are the new "it" monster.  I can't say where I found this cute little zombie jewel, but it sure cracked me up!

What's the premise?  Well, don't you know that Zombies Hate Stuff?  This little book is a hoot and there's no other way of putting it.  What does a zombie NOT hate?  Well, not much.  Each page pretty much focuses on one item at a time.  The funniest has to be the juxtapositions the author included, from kittens to hippies.  Talk about a weird contrast of items, but it had me snickering the whole way through it.  Honestly, this was a wacky, fun zombie-party of a time. This makes me wonder if this author has thought about a series of these books featuring different monsters/paranormals?

By the way, this is a picture book, but I'm not sure if a hatchet carrying zombie is meant for small children.  Then again, Halloween is on its way!

Review: Searching for Pemberley by Mary Lidon Simonsen

Synopsis:  Set against Regency England, World Wars I and II, and postwar England, three love stories intertwine in surprising and fateful ways...

American Maggie Joyce, touring Derbyshire in 1947, visits an 18th century Georgian country house that she is told was the model for Jane Austen's Pemberley. More amazingly, the former residents of the mansion, William Lacey and Elizabeth Garrison, were the inspiration for the characters Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice.

Through letters, diary entries, and oral history, a couple in the nearby village share stories of the people they say inspired Jane Austen. They also tell their own love story, made difficult by their vastly different backgrounds—she was one of the social elite while he was the son of a servant. When their son, Michael, travels home from his RAF station in Malta, Maggie may have just found her very own Mr. Darcy..."

Review:  I really liked the idea of this novel, but will admit to having struggled with all that was going on.  Between the historical possibility that Darcy and Elizabeth might have been real people, to the relationships between Maggie and several other characters, it was about all I could keep up with.  The writing is good and solid, with a classical feel to it that lends itself well to this story.  You feel like you're reading about several different time periods and I think Simonsen manages to set the tone really well.

As mentioned, however, I did get lost a bit.  Maggie is not only dealing with her role in WWI & WWII, which would be overwhelming and daunting all on its own, but she is also dealing with the history that she is uncovering about Jane Austen's most famous couple.  I couldn't tell who I wanted to latch onto.  Was I supposed to be watching Maggie's reaction to finding out that Darcy and Elizabeth might be real, or was I supposed to be more concerned with her survival and relationships in the present?  I realized that they were supposed to mix together, but it did take me until about half way through the book before I really cared about both stories.

Overall, I thought this was a charming book, but one that takes a little bit of a commitment to stick to in order to get the story.  I do think there is a specific audience for this book.  If you're a fan of Jane Austen and like these stories that consider the conditions in which Austen wrote her novels, then you might check this out.

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

Triple Threat Sunday Post: Review, Paris In July, & Weekend Cooking.

Do you ever feel like there is a clock ticking in the background of your life?  That has been a strange, overwhelming feeling I've had this week.  I'm sure that having online parent-teacher conference with my online job & work meetings this week all led me to this feeling that summer is ticking along.  Someone slow it down!

I'm still in the game for the Paris in July challenge, even though I feel like I need another month or two to finish all that I've started! Thankfully though, I've finished a great book that was a great challenge read & a great foodie book for Weekend Cooking.  Paris My Sweet makes me want to cook, travel, and all the good stuff of life!

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Part love letter to New York, part love letter to Paris, and total devotion to all things sweet. Paris, My Sweet is a personal and movable feast that’s a treasure map for anyone who loves fresh cupcakes and fine chocolate, New York and Paris, and life in general. It’s about how the search for happiness can be as fleeting as a sliver of cheesecake and about how the life you’re meant to live doesn’t always taste like the one you envisioned. Organized into a baker’s dozen of delicacies (and the adventures they inspired) that will tempt readers’ appetites, Paris, My Sweet is something to savor."

Review:  Looking back on that first and only trip to Paris, I'm still kind of sad that we didn't get a chance to explore the treats that the city had to offer.  Thankfully, I was in the group that decided to walk down to Lauderee to try out my first French macaron.  First of all, the store was such a pretty site to see, with pastel colors and sweet smells all around, that my senses were in overload.  I still remember what macaron flavor I picked out and tried first--salted caramel.  It was heaven.  I purchased a small box of these jewel-box delights, with everything from pistachio to cherry, and went on my way.  It was a harried exchange of euros and mercis, with a fast-paced walk back to the opera house, but we had our goodies!

The author, Amy Thomas, dedicates a chapter to these ethereal delights and describes them to us:

Those crisp but chewy, light-as-air meringue cookies...They're delicate yet persnickety.  A feat of mixing, folding, stirring, and timing.  A delightful combination of powdered sugar, finely ground almonds, and egg whites and not much else, save for the luxuriously creamy ganache or buttercream filling that holds the two cookies together.  Firm but tender, shiny yet ridged, with ethereally light shells and heavy middles, they're miniature studies of contrast--and deliciousness.  (105)

What's left to say that she has not, other than the innumerable varieties of flavor combinations that bakers are coming up with.  While I stuck with some pretty classic flavors, these little confections are coming in bold and crazy flavors like green tea, lemongrass, passion fruit, and green apple.  The sky is the limit, and whether you can head to Lauderee in Paris or Kee's Chocolates in NYC, macarons are the much deserved, sweet-treat craze of the moment.  
 
For me, reading Paris My Sweet was a journey with someone living the life I would love to live.  Because of that, I loved her candor in the book.  You get a real sense that in the midst of her love affair with the cuisine and culture of Paris, she saw its flaws and how it compared to the life she had left behind in New York City.  For every travel story, there really does seem to be "grass is always greener" version that we're not being told.  In this case, the author is very candid about the difficult time she had making friends, meeting men, and missing family.  I really appreciated her candor and felt that her story was less of a fairytale and more about opportunity and vision; she looked for moments to be thankful.  With the bitter though, came the sweet, and that was an even bigger part of her story--the food.  She recognized the invaluable opportunity she had before her, of living in Paris, and she wasn't going to waste it thinking about her New York home for too long.

Mainly told as a personal exploration of sweet delights, we are introduced to the styles of cooking in Paris and New York.  We see the difference in macarons, cookies, carrot cake, cupcakes, and Madeleines & muffins.  What a sweet journey it is!  The chapter on cookies seemed to be the strongest dissimilarity of any of the treats, as Paris prefers a lighter, crunchier cookie to our American mix of buttery-crunch with the chewy.  She also talked about how much she missed French Toast (ironic, right?), which is an American standard and treat for breakfast.  In Paris, however, they enjoyed la pain perdue, an eggy, caramely, bread-soaked dessert served after dinner.  Both were similar in some ways, but very, very different in others. 

I could go on and on about the confections and treats that author, Amy Thomas, shares in her book Paris My Sweet.  If you are at all a foodie or love to travel and soak in the culture through its food, you have to read this book.  My only sorrow is that I didn't have this book last year before we went to France!  Now, I have to make a trip to New York and Paris before these shops and goodies disappear.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a review copy of the book.


As mentioned earlier, this post was done in participation with two great challenges I'm joining in on.  Stop by these sites to see some more great recipes and posts for Paris in July and Weekend Cooking!

Paris in July is a challenge being hosted by Tamara at Thyme for Tea and Karen at Bookbath.  See their sites for more information and great posts about all thing French.  They have posts up about books, food, music, culture, etc. 

Weekend Cooking is a great, weekly post run by Beth Fish Reads.  There are some really great food-related posts there.  Stop by to check out other great posts from this weekend.

Graphic Novel Review: Stitches by David Small

What a nice week!  Although my Goodreads Challenge tells me I'm 2 books behind, I've been reading a lot this week and will have several books finished in no time.  It has been a great, relaxing week with my family.  Besides one absolutely KILLER cold day yesterday, the weather has been beyond temperate.  It's delightful.

Thankfully, all this R&R has made me so much more eager to get online and get back to blogging!  It's time to catch up on reviews, so I have to share this amazing graphic novel I read last month. 

Synopsis:  In this graphic novel, we get the startling and touching memoir of David Small.  As a child, his well-meaning parents raised him with a starkness that left him unhappy and even angry.  Not understanding his parents' issues until he was much older, the story merely enters into the trauma and tragedy that young David experienced.

After developing cancer as a young boy, that resulted in him losing one of his vocal chords, he spent a lot of time growing up with an imposed silence and a scar that left him feeling tormented.  How do you talk back to clueless and sometimes cruel parents and family members when you can't speak? 

Review:  I've had Stitches on my shelf for some time, possibly intimidated by its ghoulish looking cover.  Thankfully I pulled it out and was completely absorbed in the story from the beginning.  Told from the perspective of the author as a little boy, his memories are clouded with the surreal and the stark.  The memories that stood out to him the most were those that shaped him and transformed his future.  His story was and is mesmerizing and one that I couldn't put down.

The writing and pictures in this graphic novel are superb.  They set this gray-about-the-edges tone to the piece that makes you feel an incredible amount of angst for this child.  I wanted nothing more than for him to triumph, which is hinted at by the fact that he has published this genius piece and been the finalist in multiple awards, including the 2009 National Book Award. 

His story is haunting, human, and humble.  In some strange way, those things that tormented David are the grand-size version of things that haunt all of us as adults.  Although I haven't experienced a fraction of what he has, his story touched me and reminded me of some of the isolation, fear, and anger that always go along with growing up--even if it's only minuscule.  His ability to create a life out of what appears to be some of the greatest horror, is inspiring.

Stitches is genius.  For graphic novels, this is definitely on the serious side, with dark tones and topics; however, it was one of the best stories I've read in awhile. 

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a library copy of the book.

Review: Habibi by Craig Thompson

School is out!  Believe it or not, I'm so busy that I've hardly had time to notice.  Between meetings, errands, and preparations for a presentation I'm part of next week and the start of summer school, I've been plowing forward.  Most of it has been exciting though, so I can't complain.  I already have plans for next school year, so I know I'm switching gears in a good way.  It was  good year.  Now I'm eager to get some rest after this next week!  Bring on the summer!

Did I mention that I have some amazing plants going outside in my own urban garden?  Love.  I can't wait to see how they do this year, especially since I managed to get everything in a month earlier than last year.  I'll have to post some pics soon.

As for reading, I'm terribly behind, but I now have more time for reading AND reviews!  For instance, here's one I read during the readathon, and I'm still thinking about it.  After reading and loving Blankets, how could I ever pass up Craig Thompson's newest graphic novel Habibi?

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Sprawling across an epic landscape of deserts, harems, and modern industrial clutter, Habibi tells the tale of Dodola and Zam, refugee child slaves bound to each other by chance, by circumstance, and by the love that grows between them. We follow them as their lives unfold together and apart; as they struggle to make a place for themselves in a world (not unlike our own) fueled by fear, lust, and greed; and as they discover the extraordinary depth—and frailty—of their connection.

At once contemporary and timeless, Habibi gives us a love story of astounding resonance: a parable about our relationship to the natural world, the cultural divide between the first and third worlds, the common heritage of Christianity and Islam, and, most potently, the magic of storytelling."

Review:   Habibi is a hard one for me to review.  I loved it, but know that it's not an easy topic or direction for many readers to take.  I love the way Thompson takes on challenging emotions and topics head on, making his characters painfully human and vulnerable.  This one was no exception.  Dodola learns early that to be a girl is a dangerous and powerful thing all in one.  Taken advantage of for her sexuality, we see a wounded character who tries to survive in a world that seems to only want her for what she can provide men physically.  Despite this, she tries to move forward in her life and to protect the little slave child Zam, who comes into her life like a child she never knew she wanted or needed.  Together, they try to piece out happiness.

There is a lot of tragedy and and edgy harshness that I didn't expect.  In that, it was haunting and and made its characters more beautifully flawed and intriguing than before.  I really felt pulled in by Habibi and have long considered its characters and themes.  Let me not kid anyone though.  This is a gritty story about two harshly treated characters.  If you're game, I highly recommend it.  The pictures were beautiful and really propelled the story.  For me, it was a story that made me think and feel, which I love.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a library copy of the novel.

Review: Les Belles Souers by Michel Tremblay

I had the good fortune to have a book blogger give me this play as a Santa exchange.  It has taken me a little time to get to it, but I'm so glad I finally got to it. 

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Germaine Lauzon has won a million trading stamps from a department store. Her head swimming with dreams of refurbishing and redecorating her working-class home from top to bottom with catalogue selections ranging from new kitchen appliances to 'real Chinese paintings on velvet' she invites fourteen of her friends and relatives in the neighbourhood over to help her paste the stamps into booklets.

Raucous, reckless and rude, the women shamelessly share their most secret hopes and fears, complain stridently about their friends and relatives, fantasize wistfully about escaping the misogynist drudgery of their lives and surreptitiously tuck most of the stamps into their purses and clothing, self-righteously appropriating what they consider to be Germaine’s 'illegitimate' good fortune."

Review:  Billed as representing French-speaking Quebec, with their own working-class culture being stamped on the play, I really was quite intrigued.  I can't say that I've read anything that was said to represent that culture, nor do I know much about it.  In short, this was a pleasure to branch out and give a go.

Germaine seems like an image of a 1950's housewife, with her desire to redecorate her home and do it all on the trading stamps she won from the local department store.  I suppose that I imposed my own cultural image on the play, as I pictured my own grandmothers and their green stamp coupon books.  In fact, I would bet that we could find a half-filled book or two stashed in boxes or somewhere in their homes.  Those stamps offered a payback to their loyal customers, and my grandmothers kept their own stash.

The one thing that I found interesting about this play, however, was the way that Tremblay gave a wider snapshot of these working-class women and their little neighborhood through the captured scene around the table as they filled books with stamps.  When one or another made a little dig or put on airs above their peers, that's when the passive-aggressive claws came out.  In the airs they put on, you could see the truths they were hiding of regret, misfortune, and unmet desires.  You had to feel for all of the characters.  And really, how cruel was it to ask these women to help her, Germaine, to fill all her coupon books with her mass winnings.  Of course they would be jealous and catty.

This was a fun, quick, and interesting little play.  It is deceptively light on the surface, with plenty of depth to keep you thinking.  If you haven't read a play in awhile, I definitely recommend you give this one a try.

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a personal copy of the play.

Review: Black Butler by Yana Toboso

Here is my effort to continue reading manga.  I still struggle to catch all of what's going on, or what certain things mean, but it's kind of fun mixing it up from time to time.  These books came my way by recommendation from a student at school, which is always fun.  I love showing them that I'm game to read what they read, or at least to give it a try.  Who knows what I'll find and what I'll love.

Synopsis:  In the opening two volumes we are introduced to Sebastian Michaelis, the Butler.  He works for a seemingly young child, Ciel Phantomhive, who spends his day drinking tea and being oblivious to the chaos going on in his home between out of control servants and daily mishaps.  To this, we add an abduction and Jack the Ripper, which our superhuman Sebastian must step in and save the day.  He might have the utmost decorum around those he works for and with, but underneath his stick-straight posture and coat tails is a man who has skills that would shock the baddest bad guy!

Review:  Admittedly, I struggle with manga.  These were cute, interesting, and fast-paced, so I could get through them easily.  I quickly learned that I could actually skip over the small inserted conversations in the mini pictures to keep with the main story.  This made it easier for me to keep trying to figure out who Sebastian was and why it mattered.  He is a sneaky character, and one that I'm guessing we learn more about through additional volumes.  He is not human (at least I think he's not), so it's fun to watch that moment when he breaks out of his butler stance to kick some serious bad-guy butt. 

Altogether, I would say that this might be more geared toward a younger audience, with its quirky staff and superhero-esque characters.  I really was hoping that we would get some sort of Victorian flair here, what with the butler and all.  Maybe I'm still too entrenched in Downton Abbey and was hoping for a graphic extension of that experience?  Although I did enjoy learning a bit more about manga, I think other graphic novels grab my attention a bit more.  I will, however, be sharing these with my students--who will be shocked that I read them!


*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on library copies of the books.

Review: I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder

Ready or not, here we go into another week.  Somehow, although I change my email passwords and account passwords once a year, my email was hacked.  Nice, I know.  I quickly changed all of my passwords, but I send my apologies if those lovely spam mailers went out!  Now I just need to continue through all the mail I've missed over the last week and a half.  At least it has all been settled with next to no damage, right?

As for what I'm reading, I wanted to share a book of "poetry" that was recommended to me on Goodreads, I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder.  I was looking for a book of poetry that would help me fulfill a reading challenge we're doing at school, so this fit the bill perfectly!

Synopsis:  This one is hard to explain without giving it all away, so I really need to allow Goodreads to share here:

"Ava can't see him or touch him,
unless she's dreaming.
She can't hear his voice,
except for the faint whispers in her mind.
Most would think she's crazy, but she knows he's here.

Jackson.
The boy Ava thought she'd spend the rest of her life with.
He's back from the dead,
as proof that love truly knows no bounds."

Review:  In an easy to read and follow free-verse style, the poetry behind the story of Ava and Jackson adds nicely to the tone of what's going on.  Considering that Ava is haunted, both literally and emotionally, by her boyfriend Jackson, the poetry adds to the haunting affect that is already established by her deep sense of grief.  What Schroeder captures in the story and poetry is sweet, tender, and deep.

Having experienced bone-jarring grief in my life, I readily related to the thoughts and feelings that Ava expressed.  Her confusion over what she should and shouldn't be feeling, at what point, and with whom was very real and poignant.  Adolescence is tough enough without adding the loss of someone you love to that volatile mix.  In short, Schroeder's story did it brilliantly.  Outside of exploring grief though, this is a nicely paced story that has a beginning and an end, with plenty in between to keep the reader going.  I have readily recommended it to all of my students and will continue to recommend this short little book.  If you're at all hesitant about poetry, let this little story ease you and fool you with its narrative style.
  
*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a library copy of the novel.

Review: Candy Bomber: The Story of the Berlin Airlift's "Chocolate Pilot"

Synopsis:  Based on the true story of a WWII pilot who served in Europe after the war was over, the book tells the story of the air force pilot who saw a need in the people and children of Berlin, and filled it.  Often not told are the stories of starvation and repression by Germans left in Berlin after the war ended, held impoverished and surrounded by rubble.  Blocked off from the allies by their Soviet captives, many of the citizens of Berlin suffered extreme poverty.  To this came the answered prayer of an American air force pilot, Lieutenant Gail Halvorsen and his comrades, who began to drop gum and candy over the city as a way of renewing hope to the children of Berlin.  Halvorsen was then flooded with pictures, cards, and letters from young children in Berlin, thanking him for his sweet treats and even giving him directions to their homes so he could drop more on his next visit.  Known as Operation Little Vittles, these missions seemingly affected American relations with Germany and gave hope to generations of children that has spanned the years. 

Review:  As far as historical non-fiction is concerned, this was one of my all-time favorite reads.  The mix of pictures, primary documents, and written background were a perfect mix to make this is quick read, but an informational and inspiring read.  Honestly, this story really touched me, and although I already knew it thanks to a college friendship with one of Halvorsen's relatives, it was nice to have the details of these candy missions to Berlin.  The idea of giving hope to those who should have essentially been our enemies was really touching.  Rather than just washing their hands of these German citizens, these soldiers saw a need and did all in their power to fill it. 

Halvorsen went on to keep in touch with some of the children that received his sweet treats, and has gone on to speak across the globe about his sweet-treat missions that brought such hope.  It's always amazing what true human kindness can do to break down walls of misunderstanding, despair, and anger between people or countries.  Reading this history and about the lives it touched, it is easy to see the good it has done for generations after the event.   

If you're looking for an engaging piece of history for young readers or adults, this short piece of nonfiction is a must read.  The positive message of the book will stay with you long after it is finished.  In fact, I walked away wanting to figure out a way that I could do something good for someone else!  


*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a personal copy of the book.

Fiction to Film to Fantastic Music Friday: My Fair Lady

Growing up, my mom played musicals in our home pretty much nonstop.  In fact, I almost feel as if it's a requirement to listen to the soundtrack of Camelot while you clean on a Saturday morning. I actually really love it and have to give my mom credit for pretty much educating me on every great film out there.  Now that I think about it, that's probably why I really am such a film buff.

One film that we watched three or four times a year was My Fair Lady.  I loved Professor Higgins, and maybe I was channeling my future profession as an English teacher, but I loved his passion for language.  He was snarky, pushy, and a little grouchy.  I loved him.  Add Eliza into his refined-world mix and it was just priceless.

Now as a teacher, I get the opportunity to teach and recommend plays for my students.  Although the actual play Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw, does not match up to the musical exactly, it is still a genius of a play.  When my students start to get down or feel as though all "classical" literature is a bummer, I point them towards a wonderful George Bernard Shaw or Oscar Wilde play and they brighten up.  I like a good tragedy or gut-wrenching drama, but sometimes we really need to have a laugh and a smile.  Thankfully, Shaw's Pygmalion does just that, and the film My Fair Lady fits the musical bill.

If you're unfamiliar with this glorious classic, let me include one that I love, "Without You."  Honestly, I could hardly pick one because there are so many great songs. Here is one of my favorites.

* 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: Marzi by Marzena Sowa

I recently started a new reading program with  my students at school and showed them how I help to reach some of my reading goals--diversity.  What I used to consider as taking a kind of cop out to reading long novels, I now know has opened up my eyes to a whole new variety of genres and forms.  Now, I can honestly say that I'm pretty sold on graphic novels, poetry collections, etc.  Having said that, I recently accepted a copy of Marzi by Marzena Sowa as part of  the Amazon Vine program.  Although not like any of the other graphic novels I've read recently, this was a great story and coming of age tale.

Synopsis:  Told in  series of vignettes in Marzi's life, we are introduced to the life of Marzena Sowa just ten years from the end of communism in Poland.  During this time, we see the family live through bread lines, worker's strikes, and the effect of Chernobyl to the east on their town in the west.  Throughout these tales of fear, poverty, and trial, we see Marzi's view of her own family living their lives day to day, as any little girl would view her world.  The things is, this isn't any day to day life; this is growing up near the end of communist rule.

Review:  Let me just say how much I loved little Marzi.  Her character is sweet, charming, and vulnerable, with a healthy dose of insecurity brought on by the culture of her environment and a mother who seemed to feel she had to bring Marzi up with an iron first.  Marzi was just a normal little girl, watching as her parents stood in line for simple food staples, went to school with friends who had goods her family seemingly couldn't afford, and spent time with her country relatives, learning to store up food for leaner times.  Marzi's life is what is not normal.  Although she is a little girl who wants to play, to learn new things, and to have her own puppy, the world she lives in is much too oppressive for a little girl to really understand.  Through her eyes, we really get to see how scary and challenging it was for the people of Poland to negotiate these last days under communist rule.

Overall, I really did enjoy this graphic novel.  The version I had was a little over 200 pages long, and with the vignettes,  it made it hard to stick with the novel in one sitting.  I found myself coming back to it, to read a few stories at a time.  One part of the story that I found especially interesting was the section after the accident in Chernobyl.  Although it was far away, the affect of the radioactive cloud that traveled to Marzi's town in Poland was huge!  The fears they had over the rain, the food, and even their animals sent a country already suffering for food and work into a greater tailspin.  I don't know that I'd ever considered the dramatic affect this event had on other nations, but we really do get a good first-hand account from little Marzi.

On the whole, this was a good graphic novel that I could see being used to help explain more about Poland's modern history and about communism.  Honestly, it has made me want to learn more about the author today and her thoughts on these events as an adult.  Not a short read, but a good one!

*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on an Amazon Vine program selection.

Review: Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "For the Kellehers, Maine is a place where children run in packs, showers are taken outdoors, and old Irish songs are sung around a piano. Their beachfront property, won on a barroom bet after the war, sits on three acres of sand and pine nestled between stretches of rocky coast, with one tree bearing the initials “A.H.” At the cottage, built by Kelleher hands, cocktail hour follows morning mass, nosy grandchildren snoop in drawers, and decades-old grudges simmer beneath the surface.

As three generations of Kelleher women descend on the property one summer, each brings her own hopes and fears. Maggie is thirty-two and pregnant, waiting for the perfect moment to tell her imperfect boyfriend the news; Ann Marie, a Kelleher by marriage, is channeling her domestic frustration into a dollhouse obsession and an ill-advised crush; Kathleen, the black sheep, never wanted to set foot in the cottage again; and Alice, the matriarch at the center of it all, would trade every floorboard for a chance to undo the events of one night, long ago.

By turns wickedly funny and achingly sad, Maine unveils the sibling rivalry, alcoholism, social climbing, and Catholic guilt at the center of one family, along with the abiding, often irrational love that keeps them coming back, every summer, to Maine and to each other."

Review:  I know it's a popular trend to change the narrator every little bit, both to change the pacing of a story and to create interest in a range of characters.  For whatever reason, I'm not thrilled with the constant shifting of narrators and stories.  Sometimes I feel as though I am just getting attached to a character, or even just starting to understand what's going on in a character's life, and it veers off into a new direction.  Having said that, Maine has a range of mainly female characters who direct the story.  Centered around the matriarch Alice, who has decided to leave some prime real estate on the coast of Maine to the Catholic Church.  Obviously, if her daughters and grandchildren knew, they would be up in arms, but Alice is determined to give it all to the church.

To this bit of family drama are a number of other personal dramas going on in each household.  I think I was most drawn in by 32-year old Maggie's story, the granddaughter.  Her relationship issues were so painful to watch that I had to keep reading to see what she would do.  Her boyfriend was ridiculously emotionally abusive and manipulative (in my humble opinion) and really did a number on Maggie.  You could see her struggling to figure out how to hold on to him, even though all readers must be screaming at the pages for her to kick him to the curb.
 
The other women have dramatic stories as well, but they sometimes take a number of circuits, through everyone's stories to really get there.  As with life, each woman is injured and trying to protect herself.  There are old grudges and pains that we only learn as the story progresses, that make their relationships to one another a bit easier to understand.  I mainly thought their insights into one another to be really telling, as they only saw things through their own experiences, missing all that was going on that no one ever saw.  In truth, isn't that what we all do?  The amount of misunderstanding and miscommunication because of our own issues that filter what we see could fill millions of pages.  I found that to be a great, poignant reminder of our misjudgments.  

Overall, I think this was an interesting story.  The narrative style wasn't my favorite, and I think that for readers who enjoy a cast of complex female characters and stories, this might be a good fit.  For me, it left me wanting more from just one or two of them.  This isn't an area of the country I've read many stories set, so for that I was pretty interested and would have loved more descriptions and details.  In short, nice story elements with a lot of complex characters to figure out.


*FTC Disclosure:  This review was based on a library copy of the novel.

Sunday Blatherings & Weekend Cooking

With the start of a new term, comes that ever-needed brief reprieve from the grading that haunts me.  Honestly, I have to say thank goodness for that, because I have been so burned out that it has frightened me a little.  I'm talking epic burnout that I usually don't experience until about April.  Thankfully, Thanksgiving is right around the corner, so I'm looking forward to those five days off to check out for awhile. 

Nothing new is really going on in my world.  I've just been relaxing this weekend, doing a little cooking and cleaning, and reading more than I have in quite awhile.  Although I'm having a bit of downtime this weekend, I did review a couple of cookbooks that I received from Netgalley, The Sweet Life and I Love Meatballs!  Digital cookbooks are really great once you get used to using a device like the iPad when you're cooking.  In a lot of ways, it has completely changed the way I cook and gather recipes!

The Sweet Life: Diabetes Without Boundaries is a great cookbook by Top Chef runner up Sam Talbot (although I kind of thought he should have won).  As with many health oriented cookbooks, Sam's cookbook encourages healthy eating that doesn't require you to give up flavor, taste, and enjoyment.  Many of his recipes center on foods that are high on energy and low on refined products, all in an effort to keep blood sugar levels steady and energy high.  Many of his recipes feature low-fat proteins like eggs and fish, but also utilize nuts, legumes, and beans; all of which will keep your body fueled and running properly all day long.  One of the recipes I'm dying to try out is his "Soft-Cooked Eggs with Yellow Squash and Broccoli Rabe Pesto."  Because I'm not very imaginative on how to include more vegetables in my day, and especially not in breakfast, this recipe sounds really interesting and delicious!  Although the recipes are aimed at demonstrating how to eat well with diabetes, he does still have foods that we might consider quick sugar burners, such as fruits and breads.  These foods though are used in small portions and are mixed with other foods that are on the low end of the glycemic index.

Much of the recipes in The Sweet Life draw on flavor profiles from around the globe, which we know add great flavor without the fat and sugar.  He has everything from Asian flavors like Ponzu and lemongrass, to south of the border tacos and grilling.  (The "Lemon Chicken with Lemongrass and Love"--love being this amazing marinade of basil, parsley, garlic, ginger, and rice vinegar--sounds amazing!)  Regardless of whether you have diabetes or not, I found his recipes to be so smart and unlike anything I'd seen before, that I know I'll be trying them out in an ongoing effort to eat healthy, eat fresher, and eat at home.

I Love Meatballs by Rich Rodgers is a nice look at all the ways that meatballs can be incorporated into various meals, and at all their varieties.  Obviously, meatballs can be eaten with pasta, but they can also serve as a nice protein to add to soups, as a nice appetizer, as a base in a sandwich, or as the main protein to a meal with sides.  The thing I most liked about this cookbook, to be honest, were the guidelines and suggestions at the beginning of the book.  I've cooked a lot of different types of meatballs, to freeze for quick meals and such, but have run into issues with meatballs that fell apart, dried out, or didn't cook all the way through.  The introduction really gives some great tips on binders, cooking, and preserving that will help me the next time I cook up a batch of meatballs.

Although I've cooked a lot of different types of  meatballs, I really want to try out some of the Asian meatball recipes in his cookbook, such as the "Braised Vietnamese Meatballs in Caramel Sauce."  The caramel bit freaked me out a bit, but once you read the recipe it all makes sense.  They are these great pork, ginger, garlic, and rice masterpieces, dipped in a sweet and sour type sauce of sugar, broth, shallots, lemongrass, ginger, chilies, and cilantro that sounds really good.  Who knows, I might have to try this one out of my family one night over Thanksgiving break. (Speaking of which, this cookbook even has a recipe for "Turkey Meatball Subs with Cranberry-Chipotle Mayonnaise" that is very Thanksgiving-ish.)

There are lots of different versions to the meatball that I find interesting and really enjoy in this cookbook.  You can eat a nice Greek-style meatball with a yogurt sauce, a Spanish tapas version with sherry sauce, a nice Asian-infused meatball with a sweet & sour sauce, or a simple escarole and meatball soup.  Whether you only like meatballs with your spaghetti or have fully embraced the meatball as a protein that can stand on its own, you really should check out the amazing variety of recipes this cookbook has to offer.  I can't wait to try some of these out!

Well, that's all for my great weekend.  I'm off to read the afternoon away before I have to hop online for my classes I teach there.  Hopefully you're eating well, reading well, and resting well!  Have a great weekend! 

For more weekend cooking, go to Beth Fish Reads.  You'll find all sorts of great food-related posts and recipes!

Review: The Professor's Daughter by Sfar and Guibert

Thanks for the web and great book bloggers, I get to hear about graphic novels that I wouldn't know about otherwise.  I recently saw Joann Sfar and Emmanuel Guibert's graphic novel The Professor's Daughter reviewed on the blogosphere and ran out to check it out.  To be honest, I struggle to find graphic novels on my own, so I sure appreciate seeing them reviewed elsewhere.  From time to time, a nice graphic novel can get me back into my reading groove!

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Joann Sfar and Emmanuel Guibert bring the true spirit of Victorian London to life in this witty, engaging, sepia-colored tale of a proper but mischievous young girl and the mummy who opens his eyes for the first time in 3,000 years and instantly falls in love with her. Will the love between Lillian and Imhotep IV survive when their fathers, the London police, and even the Royal Archeological Society are all determined to keep them apart?"

Review:  The Professor's Daughter is a quick piece of "what if" set in Victorian London.  Who hasn't looked at a mummy in a museum and wondered about Ancient Egypt or what that person was like in their time?  Even more interesting is to think about is what would happen if they perked up and rose from the dead?  In this graphic novel, Imhotep IV happens to be alive, all taped up, and out on the town with one of the curator's daughter, young Lillian.  They have a lovely day and in a very withheld, Victorian way, fall in love.  

I really enjoyed this short graphic novel.  The story develops really quickly, but has this lovely subtle development.  Honestly, I didn't catch the love story element and actually just thought Lillian and Imhotep were great friends and enjoying a day out in London!  There was a fun bit of tension in the story when Imhotep realizes they want to get him back in the museum, but it wasn't so supernatural or over the top that you couldn't kind of sit back and just watch the story unfold.  The sepia colors and subdued Victorian story were just a fun overlay on this tale.  It ended in a way that felt a teeny bit abrupt to me, but on the other hand, I'm not sure what else I wanted to happen.  On the whole, it was a fun diversion and nice idea for a graphic novel.

*FTC Disclosure:  Review is based off a library copy of the book.

Review: Ghostopolis by Doug Tennapel

It's been awhile since I read a fun graphic novel, and this past weekend during the read-a-thon was the perfect opportunity to check out Doug Tennapel's Ghostopolis.  I've seen this around on a few other blogs and really wanted to give it a try.

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Imagine Garth Hale's surprise when he's accidentally zapped to the spirit world by Frank Gallows, a washed-out ghost wrangler. Suddenly Garth finds he has powers the ghosts don't have, and he's stuck in a world run by the evil ruler of Ghostopolis, who would use Garth's new found abilities to rule the ghostly kingdom. When Garth meets Cecil, his grandfather's ghost, the two search for a way to get Garth back home, and nearly lose hope until Frank Gallows shows up to fix his mistake."

Review:  Despite what looks to be a light-hearted ghost story, with historical figures and skeletal remains of animals, this graphic novel had a few twists that gave it heart.  The story centered on the little boy named Garth, who also faced a sad future not counting his accidental trip to the spirit world.  In the spirit world, Garth got a chance to meet up with his grandfather, a man his mother never wanted to talk about.  Together, the two try to figure a way to get young Garth back to his mother.  

To this mix we add in a quirky, crime-fighter sort of guy, Frank Gallows, who asks his former sweetheart to help him go to the spirit world to save Garth.  There's only one problem, they used to be engaged and might just have unresolved issues!  

This fast-paced, action-filled graphic novel is light and fun to read, but has several funny messages tucked away in its pages.  We get to see problems resolved and relationships mended.  There are some funny historical figures inserted into the story that feel out of place but add a funny twist to the main action in the story.  After all, it's all about getting a young boy back out of the spirit world, so wouldn't he get a chance to meet a few historical figures along the way?  Altogether, this was a fun, comical ride through the spirit world and back again.

Review: The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall

After reading The 19th Wife this last year, it seems like everywhere I look there are novels that center on the theme of polygamy.  To some degree, I think we all wonder how in the world that works, which is also why I'm sure these novels have picked up popularity.  I don't really remember how I ran across The Lonely Polygamist, but I'm glad I had a different approach to the topic to try out!

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Golden Richards, husband to four wives, father to twenty-eight children, is having the mother of all midlife crises. His construction business is failing, his family has grown into an overpopulated mini-dukedom beset with insurrection and rivalry, and he is done in with grief: due to the accidental death of a daughter and the stillbirth of a son, he has come to doubt the capacity of his own heart. Brady Udall, one of our finest American fiction writers, tells a tragicomic story of a deeply faithful man who, crippled by grief and the demands of work and family, becomes entangled in an affair that threatens to destroy his family’s future. Like John Irving and Richard Yates, Udall creates characters that engage us to the fullest as they grapple with the nature of need, love, and belonging."

Review:  It was an interesting take to tell the story from the perspective of the polygamous husband.  Had this ever been done before?  If so, I haven't read one like this.  There was a humorous bent to the novel that had me really feeling for poor Golden.  As a character, he seemed like a giant oaf of a man that was being pushed from house to house, and wife to wife, with not even a "pot to pee" in (both literally and metaphorically).  There are some pretty hilarious scenes of his children creating non-stop chaos around the home, bathroom waiting lines because of all the family members, and awkward romantic interludes with wives that just didn't work (to put it mildly).  Through it all, Golden seems to go with the flow, trying to meet the needs of everyone and not succeeding.  In fact, he then comes last on the list, and he feels disconnected and unhappy most of all.  

Golden is just a funny character, and one you just can't help but feel sorry for along the way.  It seems as if a million bad things happen to him, which makes him an easy character to like.  I know it sounds odd, overall.  I have to give Udall credit for writing a novel, with all its humor and quirky mishaps, that he created a character and story that we could embrace.  Overall, I did enjoy this novel and liked it a lot more than I did some of the previous stories.  I suppose that I don't need to be hit over the head anymore with stories of corruption, so it was nice to have a character-driven plot, where polygamy actually seemed more like a device than a philosophical theme!