Review: Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell

Does anyone know where my motivation and drive have taken off to?  I swear I've lost it somewhere and I don't think it's coming back!  This has been a crazy school year and I'm eager to get the year wrapped up.  Somehow I need to make my work burn out not translate to my blog, because I'm still reading all the time, but just can't muster up energy for anything outside of the basics.  Time to get with it!

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Many think of 1776 as the defining year of American history, when we became a nation devoted to the pursuit of happiness through self- government. In Unfamiliar Fishes, Sarah Vowell argues that 1898 might be a year just as defining, when, in an orgy of imperialism, the United States annexed Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam, and invaded first Cuba, then the Philippines, becoming an international superpower practically overnight.

Among the developments in these outposts of 1898, Vowell considers the Americanization of Hawaii the most intriguing. From the arrival of New England missionaries in 1820, their goal to Christianize the local heathen, to the coup d'état of the missionaries' sons in 1893, which overthrew the Hawaiian queen, the events leading up to American annexation feature a cast of beguiling, and often appealing or tragic, characters: whalers who fired cannons at the Bible-thumpers denying them their God-given right to whores, an incestuous princess pulled between her new god and her brother-husband, sugar barons, lepers, con men, Theodore Roosevelt, and the last Hawaiian queen, a songwriter whose sentimental ode "Aloha 'Oe" serenaded the first Hawaiian president of the United States during his 2009 inaugural parade.

With her trademark smart-alecky insights and reporting, Vowell lights out to discover the off, emblematic, and exceptional history of the fiftieth state, and in so doing finds America, warts and all."

Review:  I'm going through some major Hawaii withdrawals since my mother moved back to the mainland, so I was eager to pick up a book that would put me  back into Hawaii and its issues.  Hawaiian issues and tension surrounding statehood was something I was pretty unfamiliar with until I spent a chunk of time there.  How does an island paradise retain its cultural integrity while welcoming outsiders?  Does it have any choice?  In Vowell's book, there is an interesting overview of Hawaii's colonizing history.  Everyone from missionaries to militarys found Hawaii to be the perfect, fruitful field.  The opportunities in the island were too many to pass up, and the location in the Pacific made it an ideal home base for a variety of groups.  It quickly becomes obvious that as with most colonization, this was about money and power.

One thing I liked about Vowell's history-heavy narration of the development of modern-day Hawaii was her personal and sometimes snarky modern perspective behind the history of the islands.  It's not as though these tensions are foreign to the people of Hawaii, at least from my experience.  In the few years that my mother lived in Hawaii, we had many conversations--from day one--about the love and hate, give and take relationship that native Hawaiians have with outsiders and tourists.  There is money to be gained from Hawaii's exploitation, and yet there is sorrow each time another step is lost in its preservation.  

Overall, I have to say that I really enjoyed the reading experience I had with Sarah Vowell's Unfamiliar Fishes.  Having read Jamaica Kincaid's enlightening book A Small Place (on the beaches of Hawaii, ironically enough), I began to realize how complex the issues are that surround the consumption of these beautiful places.  Told from a more historical perspective, Unfamiliar Fishes is a great read and an approachable way to learn more about the complicated history of our 50th state.

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

Sunday Blatherings: Aloha & Madness

This has been a strange month so far!  Although there are many great things going on, I'm also feeling like time is slipping by and I don't know where it's going!  My school has a three-day weekend because of a planned "snow day" that we didn't ever take, which is now a quick breather.  Thank goodness!  I can always use a three-day weekend that is a non-holiday to get things done around town.  Besides, it's March Madness time again, and a three-day weekend is the perfect opportunity to gear up for this week!

Let me just give a brief overview of what's going on my world and what I'm thinking about today, otherwise I'll ramble!

• Of course I'm thinking about Japan today.  My heart goes out to the people there.  It all feels very surreal.
• Thanks to everyone who texted me early Friday morning to check on my mom, who has lived in Hawaii.  Sadly, she moved home about two weeks ago.  Yes, I've been pretty quiet about it because I was really, really sad.  Maybe I'll explain sometime soon.
• If I could remember my password, I honestly think I'd delete Facebook.  This past week there was a horrible debate about unions that left me flabbergasted by the insensitive things that supposed "Friends" I allowed into my life would post.  I'm not saying how I feel about unions, one way or the other, but to make random statements like, "Teachers are lazy and are the reason this country's educational system is going down the toilet.  They don't need more money; they need to work harder," really threw me for a loop.  Once I restrained myself from verbally throttling him, I had to take a step back and evaluate how much vitriol I allow into my world.  I think Facebook should be the first to go.  Sorry, but it's true.  I appreciate conversations and respectful debates, but I'm wondering if they exist anymore?
• I really like my job.  Yes, after that last bullet point you'd think I wouldn't, but I still do.  Outside of all the debates going on about education, my students really seem to be getting it this year, so I'm excited!
• We're heading into the last 8 weeks before the AP Exam.  It has started to invade my dreams/nightmares.  Enough said.
• I'm still reading fourteen books right now.  What's wrong with  me?  I need to learn how to enjoy one at a time, but I doubt that will ever happen.
• Spring feels like it's here, but I know it's not quite yet.  Nearly 60 degree weather doesn't help me restrain my glee much though, so  for today, I'm loving this gorgeous weather and have every window and blind open to the beautiful sunshine today!
• 
  Last, but not least--I'm SO excited that it's Selection Sunday for NCAA Basketball!  Here is a nice bracket (...although I'd check back to see if they plug in the teams and time for the printable version.  I wasn't thrilled with the CBS version, so I think they are just updating these for now.)  I might go a little Jayhawk crazy over the next several weeks, so my apologies ahead of time.

 I wanted to end my Sunday Blatherings today with a funny video I took a couple of summer ago in Hawaii when we were watching the turtles out in the ocean.  The video speaks for itself, but what I thought was a couple of turtles ended up not being the case!

Christmas 2010: Mele Kalikimaka

Merry Christmas everyone.  What a nice holiday break this year!  Instead of two weeks that involved a quick transition straight into Christmas as soon as I arrived, we had this nice week leading up to it.  My best friend Doc arrived on Monday and although we like to lay around and enjoy the downtime, we've had a chance to get out and do some kind of outdoorsy sort of stuff.  Yes, I can hardly believe it myself.  I think that the downpour of rain for several days really gave us the push to get out and enjoy the sunshine.  Below are some of the pictures from our escapades over the last couple of days.

 

As you can see in this picture, the storms pushed all sorts of debris up onto the beach.  In one sense it's nice to know that the junk isn't out in the water, and on the other hand, it's a little freaky to see what comes out to land on the beach!  Once you got over the wood and stuff stacked on the beach, the sand and water were beautiful.  (Temple & Hukilau Beach)

 

Here's my friend "Doc," who wanted to be in the picture as "proof" of her Christmas holiday.  My mom wasn't quite as eager to be on camera.  

We decided to take advantage of the day and drove down to hike to the lighthouse. We hadn't ever done it before, so we thought it was as good a time as any!  On the way, we stopped off at the Pali Lookout, which looks down over Kaneohe Bay.  It's really breathtaking.

Below are the pictures from the top of Makapuu Lighthouse Trail.  The hike actually killed all three of us, which it really shouldn't have, but we're not exactly up to snuff this time of year.  I'll tell you, I sure made a New Year's Resolution to hit cardio a bit more after hiking up that trail!  We're all hobbling around, which is pretty funny to see, but the hobbling was well earned, right?  You can see the view we were able to take in.  

It's kind of fun to be sunburned and sore from all of the hiking we've done.  Now we're going to settle in for a nice Christmas Day.  To everyone out there, I hope you have a wonderful, Merry Christmas!

Review: Strange Relations by Sonia Levitin

Let me begin by saying that I didn't finish this particular young adult novel.  I learned this evening that setting matters more than I could have imagined.

Synopsis in Brief:  A young girl flies to Hawaii (Oahu) to stay with her religious aunt and her large family.  While there she falls for a surfer, and learns more about faith and family.  (See Goodreads synopsis of Strange Relations for more information.)

Review:  I actually picked this book up at our local library here in Kahuku.  The book was standing along the top of the bookcase holding the YA fiction, and not with the Hawaiiana fiction, which should have been a big clue to me.  Neither here nor there at this point, I picked up the book and thought that I'd read a YA book set in Hawaii for the fun of it.  In an effort to clear out the last of the books I checked out here for the summer, I started reading this quick-paced novel this evening, but quickly realized it was nothing like I thought.

Although the novel is not necessarily claiming to be representing anything Hawaiian (which it doesn't), it was a little deceptive.  The inside cover says that the story is set, "against Oahu's lush backdrop."  That's really about it, and that's about all I saw.  In brief, it is a story that uses the Hawaii of a screensaver or Hollywood movie, and uses that as the setting.  That's totally fine!  Honest. I just had to pull myself back from my initial reaction of offense.  I will admit that the Hawaii that I know, is not really Waikiki centered.  The Hawaii I know has more to it than beautiful scenery and breathtaking sunsets; there is a culture that permeates and moves everything on the islands.  It was the energy and the life-style of Hawaii that was missing, and I had to resign myself to the island being a "backdrop" and nothing more.  Once again, that's fine, but one has to be ready to know that.

Lest I make this book sound shallow, I have to back up and say that there seemed to be a great message about reconnecting with the young protagonist's Jewish heritage that she had lost.  There also was a story of grief and loss that drove her to Hawaii to heal that was building steadily.  Overall, it is a book that had a message and story to deliver, and the setting was merely meant to charm the reader along the way.  If you're interested, check it out.  In any other circumstance, not bewitched by Hawaii in a pretty personal way, I would have read the novel in a very different way.

Have you ever read a novel that was set somewhere you loved?  What happened if they didn't capture it for you?

Avoiding the Inevitable End to My Summer

As much as I love my home, my job, and my life back on the mainland, I can't help but have a little anxiety about leaving Hawaii.  I've done this every summer, so I should be ready for the inevitable freak out, but it popped up this weekend!  Here's how I solved it:

A lady in our neighborhood had a big bunch of bananas that another neighbor was trying desperately to get rid of, since they had ripened and were just too much for one family. How could I resist?  These were, actually, my first "off the tree" bananas for this summer.

My mom asked me to make a family get-together favorite, Easy Banana Pudding that I picked up when I lived in Mississippi.  Here is the pudding bit, just waiting for the vanilla wafers and banana slices.

Here's the final product.  This isn't rocket science to make, but a real sugar overload, and yummy to boot.  I made this with the mini Vanilla Wafers and will NEVER do that again.  They were too little, and I didn't like the look of them.  As my mom said, "Who cares!  It will still taste good."

Here's the recipe if you're interested:

1-2 bananas, sliced (depending on how many layers you make)
1 large box of instant vanilla pudding
2 C. milk
1 large whipped topping
vanilla wafers (It usually only takes 1/2 a box or less)

Directions:  Mix the pudding mix with the milk, until there is a slight set on the pudding.  It will be fairly stiff.  Fold in the whipped topping until the mix is incorporated.  Slice the bananas & reserve for the layers.  In a bowl, make small layers of pudding, vanilla wafers, pudding again, bananas, and then repeat, leaving the top layer as the pudding.  You can then decorate the edge of the bowl with vanilla wafers if you like.

I actually did a lot of reading this weekend.  I finished:

I'm also just finishing up:

One more week in paradise!  Yes, I'm a bit late posting this for the weekend, but what have you been up to?  Does anyone else cook when they're anxious, or am I a horrible stereotype gone awry?!?

Review: No Footprints in the Sand by Henry Kalalahilimoku Nalaielua

As I mentioned in my previous post, I tend to use books as a way of researching something I'm interested in.  Lately, that interest has been more centered on learning more about locations and their cultures.  As part of that, I did a little research on books about or set in Hawaii and found No Footprints in the Sand available in an ebook format, read a sample of the book, and became even more interested in reading Henry Nalaielua's life story.

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "When Henry Nalaielua was diagnosed with Hansen's disease in 1936 and taken from his home and family, he began a journey of exile that led him to Kalaupapa--the remote settlement with the tragic history on the Hawaiian island of Moloka'i. This is Henry's story--an unforgettable memoir of the boy who grew to build a full and joyous life at Kalaupapa, and still calls it home today. No Footprints in the Sand is one of only a few memoirs ever shared with the public by a Kalaupapa patient. Its intimacy and candor make it, in the words of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet W.S. Merwin, "a rare and precious human document." Nalaielua's story is an inspiring one; despite exile, physical challenges and the severing of family ties, he has faced life -- as an artist, musician and historian -- with courage, honesty, hope and humor."

Review:  For anyone who has ever watched the classic movie Ben Hur, there is this gut-wrenching moment in the film where Ben Hur goes to this rocky canyon to visit his mother and sister, who have been afflicted with leprosy.  They have been cast out by society, with only basket deliveries of food being let down into their valley.  This scene has stuck with me for a very long time, and I've always thought in the back of my mind, "How did they get sick, and do people get sick like that today?"

The answer to this question is a definite yes, as people continue to be diagnosed with Hansen's disease, or leprosy, as it has been known for centuries.  As Henry mentions in his autobiography, leprosy is an inflammatory term that continues to be confusing and frightening to most people.  In fact, reading the autobiography caused me to do a bit of a search into the ways one would get "leprosy," and I have to say that even the World Health Organization doesn't seem to be exactly clear on how you actually get the disease.  They do seem to know that it's a virus, caught through a bacteria, but not the exact ways in which you actually would pick it up, so you can avoid them.  It seems then that the not knowing is the scariest part of the disease, since it can not only shorten one's life with painful disorders, but also marginalize them in any community.  The good news today is that there are medications that can dramatically improve the lives of those with Hansen's disease.


Henry Nalaielua's autobiography was a captivating read, and one that I could hardly put down at night.  In the partial pidgin voice of Henry, himself, the story develops in a straight-forward sort of way that showed his bright personality, and positive outlook.  You couldn't help but love Henry right away. As a young boy on the Big Island, Henry contracted Hansen's disease and was sent away from his family to Honolulu to the hospital, and later to the leper colony at Kalaupapa on Molokai.  This famous colony was established by the famous Catholic Father Damien, who also fell to the disease there.  Throughout his life, Henry seemed to not let his disease keep him from having a life of his own.  He held multiple jobs, married twice, had two daughters, and traveled to many places in the United States and around the world as he worked to improve his own health, and to forward the education of others on the disease that affected so many.  


This autobiography is full of heart, culture, and spirit.  The life that Henry led is amazing, and I found everything about him intriguing.  There is a good amount of Hawaiian culture and spirit in the entire story, and Henry really captured the spirit of the people in the islands.  His drive and endeavor to live his life and take it for what it was, without too much self-indulgent pity was inspiring to me.  From his early experience as a young boy paraded in front of doctors to show the stage of his disease, to his later life traveling to Father Damien's later beatification as a representative of Kalaupapa, all made for a most amazing and interesting life story.


This autobiography is short, less than 200 pages, but full of heart and substance.  The bulk of the text bounces from standard English to pidgin, reflecting Henry's voice and that of his writer.  Although casual and informal in its presentation, I found No Footprints in the Sand to be a captivating read that has me searching out additional books about Kalaupapa, Hansen's disease, and the amazing Hawaiian culture.


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

Reading as Research

Over the past month, I've been interested in reading more about these beautiful islands that make up Hawaii.  At my conference this past week, the participants came from mainly the Big Island, as well as Molokai.  In visiting with them about the cultures and landscapes of their islands, I was intrigued to learn a bit more. 

 I started off this summer reading Between the Deep Blue Sea and Me, which was an excellent book that delved into one woman's reconnection to her Hawaiian heritage.  After reading that award winner, I switched gears and read No Footprints in the Sand, which is a really great autobiography of a man who was sent to Molokai after his diagnosis of Hansen's disease, or leprosy.  It was a great read, and has left me wanting more. 

As a follow up to No Footprints in the Sand, I've started to read Moloka'i by Alan Brennert.  Although fiction, the set up of this 1800's story of a woman diagnosed with leprosy and sent away from her family to Molokai is compelling.  I'll have a hard time putting it down. 

Last year, Brennert also put out another acclaimed novel, Honolulu, which has received great reviews.

There are a lot of great books out there that explore Hawaiian culture and history.  I'd like to finish reading House of Many Gods, and also Song of the Exile, both by Kiana Davenport.

I have a list of other books categorized as Hawaiiana, but this is a great starting list. 

Have you used reading as personal research, and have you read any of the books listed here?   

Review: Between the Deep Blue Sea and Me by Lurline Wailana McGregor

Here in Hawaii, there is a lot of talk about "aina" or land.  Aina is what gives life to all that we love about this place; it gives life to the culture, to the food, to the people, and obviously to the beauty that is Hawaii.  Because of the amazing beauty of this place, there really is this wonderful, calming spirit that people here tell me is the very real spirit of Aloha. 
 
For all of the welcoming Aloha spirit one feels upon arrival, there is a battle here among many native peoples to protect and preserve the land.  This struggle is seen among many native cultures today, and one that is fiercely debated.  I have always really loved Native American literature, and have tried to follow a few blogs that highlight Native American appearance in literature and film.  One blog, American Indians in Children's Literature, has been a great resource for me as I continue my interest in Native American cultures.  In fact, it was from this blog that I first noticed Between the Deep Blue Sea and Me as a winner of the Third American Indian Youth Awards List by the American Indian Library Association.  I instantly decided I had to locate this book and read it while I was here in Hawaii over the summer, so I could combine the place, with the novel's themes and ideas.

Here in Hawaii, they have sections in the library that are dedicated to "Hawaiiana."  Generally, you can find great books of history, language, and nature, with a scattering of novels either set in or directly related to Hawaiian culture.  I've looked at a few, but have to say I was most excited to get my hands on this novel by McGregor after learning it was put out by Kamehameha Publishing, which is dedicated to the Kamehameha Schools here in Hawaii.  These schools focus on the preservation of the language and culture of the Hawaiian people, and in educating Hawaiian youth.  In our small neighborhood, we have several girls who attend, as well as families that come from the mainland to bring their children to summer programs run by the Kamehameha Schools.  They are prestigious, and are an integral part of the Hawaiian community here.  As such, I knew that McGregor's book would be an excellent choice in furthering my interest in Hawaiian culture from a literary standpoint.

Synopsis:  From Goodreads, "Moana Kawelo, PhD, has a promising career as a museum curator in Los Angeles. The untimely death of her father - and the gravitational pull of Hawai'i when she returns home for his funeral - causes Moana to question her motivations and her glamorous life in California. Between the Deep Blue Sea and Me is the story of Moana's struggle to understand her ancestral responsibilities, mend relationships, and find her identity as a Hawaiian in today's world."

Review:  Moana's struggle with her life in California, separated from her Hawaiian heritage, land, and culture, bring her to a critical juncture in her life where she must decide what she most wants.  In this short novel, we get the sense that cultural identity is critical to one's happiness.  As with most native stories in literature, Moana has found that her denial of her land and people has brought about a disruption in her world; her ancestors are unhappy, can't be at rest, and Moana herself is unable to move forward without putting things right with the land.

I have to say that I really loved this short little book.  There was such a sense of "ohana" or family, and "aina" or land, that I grabbed my book and headed down to the beach.  In that place, it felt natural to read Moana's story about the spiritual connection she had to this land.  There are many spoken scenes in Hawaiian, as well as prayers all written in the language, that I had no clue what was being spoken.  I know enough phrases to understand greetings, apologies, and foods, but struggled with conversations and prayers (as mentioned).  Even without knowing what they said (and I did have a Hawaiian language dictionary I used in some scenes), it was easy enough to get the gist of what was being expressed.  Also, the use of the language was a nice technique to show how cut off Moana felt without having ever learned it herself, before she took off to be educated on the mainland.  We, like Moana, can then feel like outsiders, and long to reconnect with the culture that is in the islands.
 
I loved the single thread of discovery that ran throughout the entire novel.  There are not the traditional chapters you find in most books, but sections and dividers that forward the story either with a look back at Moana's father or to something mythical that was explained to both Moana and the reader.  Also, as with many native stories, we find references to the experience of the colonized, and their feeling of being overrun and used by the colonizer (generally the white man).  With this also comes the environmental concerns that all native cultures feel, as they cherish their lands and the sacredness of its beauty and power.  These themes are definitely seen throughout McGregor's story, and are made easier to understand as we watch Moana's struggle with her own identity.

Between the Deep Blue Sea and Me is actually not a young adult novel that is told to relate to teens, but Moana's adult struggle and the method of the storytelling here are readily accessible to teen readers on up.  I really loved the beauty of this story, and the Hawaiian culture that is imbued throughout the novel.  If I were teaching English here in Hawaii, I think I would definitely put this on my list, and even though I'm not teaching here, will suggest it back home.  I highly recommend checking out this small gem of a novel for its more serious look at Hawaii's struggle to protect and preserve their culture and "aina."


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


This novel counts as my final book in the 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge, and is 12 of 12.  Another challenge bites the dust!

Summer Spotlight: How to Party

This has been a wonderful summer so far, and except for one nasty sunburn that's peeling away, I've enjoyed sun and surf.  We've had two sets of visitors here over the last two weeks, so reading has been a little sporadic.  Here's a little bit of what we've been up to.

Close by along the North Shore is Waimea Bay, and up the valley behind it is the Waimea Valley Audubon Center.  The Center has beautiful gardens, natural vegetation, Hawaiian archaeological sites, and a waterfall at the end of the trail that runs whenever the rainfall is high.  

For those of you who are Lost fans, this is where Kate and Sawyer had a bit of a frolic in the pool at the base of the waterfall and end up seeing dead people in the water.  I believe that it was in Season 1? Well, this is that waterfall.  Don't let it fool you though.  Five of the seven times I've been up there, it was dry!  This was a real treat, and I was glad my friend got to see it flowing.

On Friday night we went to a neighbor's 75th birthday party, and can I tell you, that was some party!  I've now decided that our Polynesian friends know how to celebrate.  There was a wonderful luau, with enough food to eat yourself into a food coma, an amazing singer who sang island music, and beautiful, spontaneous hula dancing by several ladies in our community who are amazing to watch.  Below are a couple of video clips of the entertainment.

This last video was the grown children of the birthday girl, dancing the hula to a local song they used to sing when taking tourists down to Laie Bay (Hukilau Beach Park) for a traditional hukilau.  Last year I blogged about a hukilau we went to, and this was a little song that went along with it.  The clip is short, only about half of the song, but is a fun snapshot.

 I want to throw parties like this, where I set up giant tents and haul out the eats.  Why don't my friends, family, and neighbors bust out in cool songs and dance?  Okay, so I don't know that I really want them to, but wouldn't it be cool if it WAS normal?

Author Highlight: Mia King

I've never done an author highlight before, but thought it would be a great new addition to my blog. I should start off by mentioning that I don't generally go after authors, as I'm much too star struck and amazed at their talents to bother them (since I genuinely do think that by contacting them, that I'm bothering them). However, after getting more involved in book blogging, going to a book signing, and having a couple of authors contact me for reviews or posts I've written, I now feel a bit more confident that they really are people who are excited to have people read their books and who let them know it. Interesting, right? Why would anyone enjoy hearing good things about their work, right? Such a bother! Just kidding--we love it. So, this has led me to post this initial "Author Highlight" to share.

Who--Author: Mia King
Where--Resides: Big Island, Hawaii
What--Books Written: Good Things (Feb. 6, 2007); Sweet Life (Sept. 2, 2008); & Table Manners (Aug. 4, 2009)
Blog/Author Site: National Bestseller Mia King
Social Media: Mia can also be found on GoodReads, LibraryThing, Twitter,...see Contact Page for more details.
Where I Come In: About a year ago, I ran across a copy of Good Things perched on an easel set up on the "What's New" shelves at my local library. The cover looked interesting, and I wondered what were the "good things" the title hinted at. The fact that the book is about a professional woman whose life crumbles about her, sounded like something I could wrap my head around. The main character went from being a TV lifestyle guru, to a woman without a job or prospect. I know the premise sounds familiar, but I have to say that the protagonist's age (40), the fact that she cooks amazing delights (recipes included in the book), and that there is a good bit or real-life angst to keep you reading, really grabbed me.

From the first moment, there was something about Mia King's writing that grabbed me. I still haven't quite put my finger on it, but I can say that she has this writing voice that is so clean and crisp, that it really grabbed me. The teacher side of me wants to grab a pen and sit down with her writing to see if I can figure out how she's managed to write with such clarity! For me, it was refreshing (possibly because I can't write that way and would like to), and it kept my focus on the story. Needless to say, I loved it and passed it on to my best friend, who also really enjoyed it. The only bad part...my non-cooking best friend asking, "So, would you make these scones???" (Yes, there's a scone recipe in the book, among many others!) I also just bought another copy to give to my trainer here in Hawaii, who told me she doesn't read (gasp). The tables turned for once, and I scolded her about not reading and told her I'd bring her a book. Now my trainer will have "homework" to complete!

I've since read her next novel, Simple Life, which was gut wrenching in a lot of ways. This second novel is very true to the heart of women, and gets at all we sometimes sacrifice in a marriage and as mothers. Although I'm not married, and I don't have any children, King's writing style grabbed me again and kept me reading. As a side note, this is the only book so far that is set in Hawaii. I actually thoroughly enjoyed watching the character in the novel adjust to the "real" living she had to do. Outside of resorts and the tourist experience, it is quite different, which I absolutely love, but it is different than what you first experience upon arriving!

Table Manners comes out in one week from tomorrow, on August 4th. I'm delighted to say that I entered a giveaway on Mia's blog, crossing my fingers that I would win (it was the one I MOST wanted), and actually did come up the winner! Mia had also asked in a blog post about what you most like to see in a giveaway from an author, and I'm not sure how many of you feel about it, but I'm just thrilled to get the book! I have had lovely little notes stashed in the package before though, and those mean the world to me. She was so nice, had read my post on that blog entry, and sent the most lovely card. So, as part of my author highlight, I wanted to thank Mia King for this lovely giveaway (picture of the prize below--signed copy of Good Things, signed ARC of Table Manners, and various pens, bookmarks, key chain, and candy). I am just in the process of reading Table Manners, and can't wait to review this follow up to Good Things. I definitely recommend reading Mia's books!


So, in the heart of Mia King's wonderful giveaway in anticipation for Table Manner's release, what do/would you like to see tucked away in a giveaway from an author? Also, do you visit author sites, blogs, etc., and if so, have you contacted an author before?

Rejuvenate & Renew Challenge Update: 7/6 to 7/12 and a Giveaway!

No new, real progress for me this week. I have been happily trying to find my way back into reading after HOURS a day working on the online classes I teach. Thankfully, I have finished a few books this week, and am feeling a bit more chipper about life again. :) Hopefully, I can finish my second book in the challenge, soon!

On another note, I would like to announce a giveaway associated with the challenge. Some of you might recall that I'm an avid fan of Bravo's hit show, "The Real Housewives of _______" (fill in blank w/ location). Yes, I've watched them all, and yes, I can tell you about any and all of these ladies (and a few husbands/boyfriends). I'm in good company being hooked on this show, as Anderson Cooper has admitted to his own love of the show, so I feel much better! Having said that, one of my favorite "housewives," Bethenny Frankel (of "The Real Housewives of New York City"), is a chef and writer who put out a new book about dieting, Naturally Thin. As part of the challenge, I have one signed copy of her book to give away at the conclusion of the challenge on September 1st.

To enter the giveaway:

1. Join the challenge! There is a small handful of us working on this, but I'd like to limit the giveaway to those who participated with me. So, if you would like to join in, check out the Rejuvenate & Renew Challenge for more information.
2. Read at least one book for the challenge, and then review it with a link here to share it with the rest of us! We're reading three, but if you can even get through one, that would be great!

That's it! I've got her signed copy with me here in Hawaii, and unless something horrible happens in the transport back to the mainland (please no!), then I will do the drawing on September 1st!

For more information about Frankel's book see: Naturally Thin: Unleash Your SkinnyGirl and Free Yourself from a Lifetime of Dieting

***One last reminder. Don't forget to stop by and make a guess as to the origin of the Jane Austen film clip I've included in my Everything Austen Challenge introductory post. I'll be drawing one winner on 7/10 to win the cutest wooden Hawaiian bookmark. I buy them at the gift shop in Waimea Valley, which is this awesome natural and archeaological site. They are awesome, and I thought I'd share one for fun. Aloha!

Back to the Mainland

I'm off to the mainland for a two day conference. I know I'll be back here soon, but there is a strange sadness sinking in as I say, "Aloha" until Thursday. So silly, I know, but it's a second home!

In the meantime, I'm going to be reading on my flights. I know I'll be well on my way to desperately needing the Bloggiesta over at Maw Books Blog! Since I'm off to catch a flight, I don't have time to post all the details about it, but you can check the links above if you'd like to join in this great blog-a-thon going on this next weekend. Well, off to catch my flight. Until later--Mahalo!

48 Hour Marathon, Travels, and Moving

I'm loving the Portland Airport, with its free WiFi! I haven't been connected in a couple of days (other than my beloved Blackberry), and it has really driven me crazy. Yes, I sense an addiction here. Anyway, I am on my way to Hawaii for the summer, and CAN'T WAIT to get there, to see my mom, and also to finally have that much-anticipated time to read on the beach. Ah! I feel skin cancer lurking around the corner...must pick up that extra SPF!

Besides traveling to Hawaii, I have to say that I've been frantically moving out of my rental house, all in the last two days! Did I know I had to move that soon? NO! It has been so incredibly stressful, but I am now officially homeless, my furniture and possessions are (for the most part) all housed in a nice little storage shed, waiting for my builders to get their financing so that they can get going on my new townhouse. I so can't wait for a new house (I even got to go pick out materials for it...just in case they start while I'm away). I'm excited for the new place, but not excited about the frantic move pushed on me by my landlord. At least he let me know THREE DAYS before I left for Hawaii. Getting back here before my lease was up would have been really difficult, so thanks to Kyle, my aunt & uncle, a great teacher friend that I work with, and several neighbors for helping me make it all work somehow.

Now on to the exciting 48-hour Challenge! I'm actually really excited to participate, and after the week I've had, really eager to spend this weekend blogging, reading, and reviewing other blogs. It should be great. I hope you're joining in as well? If not, check out the information about the Fourth Annual 48 Hour Book Challenge over at Mother Reader's Blog.


Also, don't forget to join me in my "Rejuvenate & Renew" Challenge going on all summer! I'm excited to read some of those "self-help"/how to books that I have kept pushing aside for all those other great books in my pile. :) Please, check it out and join with us! Our numbers are small, but we are eager and excited to learn some new, helpful things this summer.

Well, until I hit the sunny shores of Oahu, Mahalo!

Sunday Salon: The Curse & The Challenge

What a glorious last day of May! I've been down with "The Curse," as I've come to call it. EVERY YEAR I get sick on or around the last day of school, and I fell to it once again. It's made it much easier to wander around in a cold medicine haze, reading books, eating Popsicles, watching TV (very bad TV this weekend BTW...nothing good on), and throwing everything on the floor to get to once I feel better. Oh, you mean like tomorrow or Tuesday because you fly out to HAWAII on Wednesday?!? Yes, I'm panicking that I'm sick and trying to just get rid of illness before I hop in a plane and scare someone with my hacking cough! Although, it would be a bit funny too. (Sorry, that's my devious side.)

May for me was an interesting month. I read more than I thought I would, with my minuscule eight books. I keep thinking that's great, until I read how some out in the reading community are hitting 20 to 30 books a month! How?!?

Right now, I'm in the middle of finishing up Abigail Reynolds Impulse & Initiative: What if Mr. Darcy had set out to win Elizabeth's heart? (Pride & Prejudice Variation) In fact, I took it with me for a very slow, rambling walk out in the beautiful sunshine today. (Yes, I wandered out, looking semi-homeless due to being sick, with book in hand.) Since this is another take on Pride and Prejudice, and I'm a real sucker for anything Regency-esque/P&P, I've been giving it a spin. Well, I had an epiphany today and now realize why we love Austen. Maybe I'm the only person who didn't figure this out a long time ago, but every male hero in her novels does something self-sacrificing for the woman he loved. He didn't do things to posture, pose, or position, in fact, he did something so unselfish for the woman (without any indication that she would ever know it was him) that it is almost breathtaking. I don't think we want to believe that a man could be so unselfishly romantic, making a gesture we might never know about, for the basic reasons of compassion and love. So sweet! (Does Darcy do that in the one I'm reading now? You'll have to stay tuned...)

I'm also trying to cram in a few other library books before I cart them all back before leaving for Hawaii. I then get to go over and torture their library staff! :) Honestly, I do think it's torture for them to see me coming. The lady who works at the library knows my mom and I think wonders if she's really reading all those books I check out on her card! Anyway, I'm also mailing about two boxes of books over, since I'll be there from the 3rd of June until the 10th of August. WooHoo!!!

Before I wrap up, if you get a chance, join me in my first reading challenge, "Rejuvenate and Renew." (By the way, the button for the challenge comes from a picture I took on the North Shore of Hawaii, in Haliewa.) The challenge is all about reading those educational, self-help, how to books you've been wanting to read. I'd love to have some others to share this challenge with.

Mia King

I just wanted to post a shout out to a couple of contests/book giveaways available right now. I have Lenore's book give away posted in the left hand column (from last week), and also Stephanie's Written Word, two book give away posted today. They are awesome for posting these! Go check them out...links on the side.

One really big giveaway is at one of my new favorite adult authors, Mia King's web site. I discovered her this past summer when I did a search on Hawaiian authors. I've posted a book review on each of her two books, and really like the freshness of her writing style. I have to admit that I really loved her first book Good Things, to which there will be a follow up book Table Manners, coming out in August!


Starting April 1st (although I jumped the gun and sent an email in yesterday...oops), she is hosting a HUGE book and Hawaiian, beach read package that includes 8 signed books and 30 gifts. It's an amazing package! She'll also be announcing an ARC of her newest novel Table Manners. Can't wait to hear about that one, and will be making a mad dash to her site when it's offered!

Anyway, let everyone know about this great offer, and head on over to her site! If you post about this on your blog, maybe make a link back to my blog to let them know I've reviewed both of her novels...granted, you would have to really search to go back and find them.

Good luck, and Mahalo!

Reading Impaired

Why can't I read??? I feel as though I've been body snatched by some non-reading body snatcher, and find that all I want to do is stare aimlessly at surf, sand, wall, floor, etc. It doesn't matter what it is, I just sleep or stare. I hope this isn't a trend, and that reading comes back to me soon! I feel like Rose in "Titanic"... "Come back!" :)
Okay, that was a really cheesy thing to say. Off to go for a walk and then see if I can't force myself to read and fall into something great. Mahalo!

Aloha!

Yay!!! I made it to Hawaii after a hellish couple of weeks leading up. I literally had spent 12 to 16 hour days at work, preparing lesson plans for this week off, grading projects, and getting my final grades figured out. What a challenge, but now is TOTALLY worth it!

No, I haven't read a SINGLE THING in the midst of all this madness! I am feeling like both Les Miserables and Tess of the D'Urbervilles were a great success. That is a huge relief for me, as I hate making students dread a novel. Neither are perfect, chipper and happy novels, but both have amazing messages about culture and society. So, what could I possibly need to post about, since I haven't yet read a single thing??? Well, I didn't dare read on the plane--since I knew I'd get plane sick and end up freaking out whoever sat next to me--, but the plane from LA to Honolulu was really great, and outfitted with your own video screen filled with TONS of great, new releases. Having followed the Oscars, and it's nominees, I had heard a lot about the film "Doubt," which was offered for free viewing on the plane.


I clicked on it, and have to say that it was pretty engaging. I really liked it, although it's not a feel good film. Set in the 1950's or 60's, it centers around a Catholic school where Meryl Streep is the head principal. The lead actress from "Enchanted," Amy Adams, plays the classroom teacher who becomes suspicious of the attentions the head priest begins to pay one of her young, and only African-American, student. You get where this is headed! Anyway, Meryl Streep plays this amazingly tough-as-nails nun, who demands a type of strict discipline and adherence to a clean lifestyle, that she refuses to sit by and see one of her students suffer at the hands of one of her fellow members of the cloth. Standing up against her own superior, Streep confronts the priest, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, and while she has doubts, she puts the welfare of the student first and challenges the priest to be honest about his actions and behavior.

As you can imagine, it is a hard-hitting film. Based on a famous play, the filmography works amazingly well to propel the story, and not distract us from the dialogue and relationship between characters. I don't know if the film was edited for the plane, but it was gritty yet clean. Yes, I still agree that Kate Winslet's performance in "The Reader" was oscar worthy, I have to say that I TOTALLY see why Meryl Streep earned yet another Oscar nod for this performance!

Well, I'm off to finish preparing Sunday dinner! :) Doc went down to the beach to soak in some rays, and I'm sure mom and I will follow suit later this afternoon. I can't wait to sit in a beach chair, the ocean rolling in, and a nice book in my hands. Until later then...Mahalo!