Books I Have Read » Four Against Two

BlogHer Book Club Review: Where She Went

Books I Have Read, Reviews No Responses »

May 172012

As always, I was delighted to get a new book to review. When I received Where She Went by Gayle Forman from BlogHer Book Clubs, I read the back cover and realized it was a sequel. I was ready to read though and had no time to hit the library. This is when I really love having a Kindle! I bought, read, absorbed and adored If I Stay. I didn’t want it to be over, and was so intensely happy to have the sequel ready to be devoured.

I cannot review Where She Went without reviewing If I Stay. So I will do a double review here and try not to give out any spoilers. I loved this book set so much I want everyone to read them for themselves and not hear it secondhand.

If I Stay Tells the story of seventeen year old Mia. She is a talented, young musician who plays the cello, has a wonderful, yet quirky family and a boyfriend, Adam, who literally rocks. The story has a unique way of backtracking through her memories seamlessly, so that you really get to know the family, their history and how much Mia loves them and loves Adam. After a terrible accident, Mia, has an out-of-body experience that shows her world from a different perspective. As a nurse, I especially loved how Forman portrayed the nurses and hospital staff. She nailed it, from caring to cranky – nurses do make the hospital experience what it is!

Where She Went continues on three years later with Adam being the storyteller. I have to say I missed Mia’s narrative at first, but gradually settled into hearing Adam’s voice. Adam is so vulnerable after his experiences with Mia, but to the world he is a rock star. He is not allowed to show his feelings of loss and therefore his anxiety is sky-high and he is very skittish, and appears arrogant and standofish to those who try to get to know him. Spoiler alert here in that Mia does show up again in the story, though not exactly how I wanted her to. It all makes perfect sense in the end and it doesn’t leave you hanging. Along with the rock and roll theme throughout the book, there are lyrics at the end of the book that are great to read and tell more of the story which is awesome.

I will stop there. It’s hard, but I will stop. Go read this book series! It is rated 14 and up. High schoolers will like it and I think if you read it first and talk about a few things, seventh and eighth graders would like it as well. Check out the BlogHer Book Club discussion page and find out what others are saying about this amazing book!

The book trailers can be found here and I predict a movie to be made. It’s that good of story and what is so great about it, is that it is realistic, it could happen. I’m off to mourn now that I have finished these books.

Any suggestions for a good read?

(Disclosure: This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own.)

I’m High From Book Giving!

Books I Have Read, Stuff 1 Response »

Apr 232012

Earlier this year I saw World Book Night on Facebook and had to check it out. I quickly liked what I saw and applied to be a giver, not thinking I had a chance.

Then I was picked! I had 30 books to choose from to give out and my number one pick was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, not thinking I had a chance with my first pick.

Then I got The Hunger Games! Whooo-ooo. Did I feel lucky!

So today, Monday, April 23rd, I got to giveaway twenty copies of The Hunger Games with special covers to my local high school students! I worked with the librarian to pick the twenty lucky kids. I really wanted kids who may not like to read, but liked the movie enough to maybe want to try to read the book . She helped me find 20 kids who are reluctant readers.

Now I did deliver the book at to-darn-early-in-the-morning instead of at night, due to the fact I had a young adult book and my target population is held captive during school hours! I do think I stayed in the bounds of the World Book Night theme though.

I love to read. I want others to love to read. Reading makes us smarter, gives us levity and takes our imaginations to amazing places. April 23 is UNESCO’s World Book Day, chosen due to the anniversary of Cervantes’ death, as well as Shakespeare’s birth and death. World Book Night started and is celebrated in the UK. This is the first year for the US and I hope it catches on and I get another chance next year to pass along some more books!

If this sounds like fun to you, check out the World Book Night website and make a note to apply next year to be a giver. I am so happy and pleased that I was apart of this!

How To Save Your Dr. Seuss

A Mom's Job, Books I Have Read, Education, Moments with Elle, Parenting, Stuff 1 Response »

Apr 102012

If you have young children in elementary or pre-school most likely you know that the celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday was a couple of weeks ago.

Which means right about now your child’s backpack is full of the cutest art projects you have ever seen! Projects that you don’t want to toss but cannot realistically keep on your fridge or in a scrapbook either. Unless this is your first child. Then you will keep everything for years until your basement or garage is full and realize that something has to hit the recycling bin or you have to buy a bigger home.

After having Meg fill 5+ bins I started to realize that with four kids, the bin thing wasn’t happening. So three years ago I started making school project photo books on Shutterfly (tons of other sites, but Shutterfly is my fav). I take the pictures of the projects and save them for the next book. This makes it so much easier to toss the projects. I don’t enjoy junking them, but it is a necessary evil of motherhood. I have also made thank you cards and notecards out of some of the projects.

So back to Dr. Seuss. Elle came home with a few really cute things that I cannot throw away. Maybe it is because she is my baby and I’m realizing that this may be my last Dr. Seuss birthday bonanza, maybe it’s because I’m tired of taking out the recycling. Who knows? What I do know is that an idea popped into my head that I am happy with and thought I would share.

As a reading family there are some books that will never be donated or passed on. Dr. Seuss books are those sorts of books. Elle has fallen hard for the rhyme master and has even read me Green Eggs and Ham backwards before (a realllllly loooonnnggg story btw!). So I merged the two and have not lost any space.

I simply added her art work to the insides of the books and now the books mean even more to me than before. I can imagine Elle’s kids opening the book and seeing mommy’s artwork from when she was a girl….ahhhh. Tears. Sniff. Sniff.

Awesome.

They better appreciate this stuff!

Book Review: If Only

A Mom's Job, Books I Have Read, Reviews No Responses »

Apr 012012

I was goofing off on Facebook the other day. Yes, I know I shouldn’t admit that, but I was. I am so very over TV and still kinda building up my stamina so I do have lots of sit down time. Anyway, I was looking at a post from one of my favorite places, Scholastic. They were talking about a book named If Only by Carole Geithner. The cover showed a girl looking out a window. It was simple, pretty and immediately drew my attention. Then I read the plot and was most definitely engaged.

If only is about the first year a thirteen year old, Corinna Burdette, goes through after her mother dies. It is told from her character, and is aimed at tween/teen girls, but will keep adults interested as well. Corinna has to go to school and be surrounded by her friends who don’t know what they should say or do. Who sometimes say or do the wrong things. The book goes through the seasons and focuses on her feelings and her relationship with her grieving dad as well.

It has all the normal developmental things such as body changes, boy crushes and drama over the little things plus is a great way for young people to learn about grief. Most of us don’t know what to say or do when someone looses someone. It’s tough. I’m not very good at it really, but I am learning. I wish I would have learned earlier in my life and having a book such as this one could have been a big help.

I am encouraging Meg to read it and review it on her blog from her point of view. I hope Mita will read it as it may help her know that the feelings she has about loosing her mother in Ethiopia are normal, that loss is a messy, nasty thing that never goes away. It does change though, into something that softens and doesn’t sear all the time. Someday Enu will be ready to read it as well and I think she will respond to the character well. Though our situation is different, there is still grief to be dealt with.

I must mention that Geithner has worked as a clinical social worker who has worked with children and adults who have lost a parent while they were growing up. She is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at George Washington University School of Medicine. This is her first book and frankly I think she did a spectacular job. As a mom of two girls who have done counseling, I know when someone gets it. Geithner does.

The book If Only definitely has a niche in the grief community to give girls who have lost a parent a tool to work through thier loss. It also belongs in the mainstream middle school library as a tool to help students learn about grief in an non-stressful way and how to treat those who are grieving.

(Disclosure: Scholastic sent me a copy of the above book at my request to read and review on my blog. No other compensation was given.)

Movie Review And Rant: The Hunger Games

A Mom's Job, Books I Have Read, Moments With Meg, Moments with Mita, Reviews, Teendom 1 Response »

Mar 262012

Okay. So I wrote that this is a movie review and a rant. I will rant first. I know I am not the coolest mom ever. Or the coolest mom. Or a cool mom. But I am a mom and I did fork over close to $50 yesterday to take my two oldest darlings to see The Hunger Games. Nevermind that I would have seen it anyway if they hadn’t wanted to watch it because I am in love with this book series. Gas, tickets, popcorn aren’t cheap. You would think I would get one lousy picture of my girls having fun at the movies…..noooooo. Not one picture of them in front of the movie poster, in the theater, posing with tickets. Nothing. I took a picture of my lonely little ticket to remember the day. Maybe when Catching Fire comes out I’ll not take them unless they sign a contract saying they will pose for one picture. Don’t they know that these events are the memories of their childhood? Don’t they know that they need to have them documented in photos so they will have hundreds of Shutterfly books to look through with their own children, my grandchildren, to show what an awesome ~~mom~~ childhood they had? Enough of the rant and on to the review.

I’ve read enough book series turned movie franchises to know that it is impossible to put everything from the book on the screen. The movies would be five hours long. I would still pay to see it, but apparently the movie people don’t know how die-hard readers can be! The Hunger Games the movie was close enough to the book to please me. I can excuse the few missing characters, though I miss them.

If you have not read the books and only seen the movie the way Katniss gets her Mockingjay pin is not correct, and it loses some of its value I think in how she obtained it. In the books Cinna is one of my favorite characters, he is very flamboyant, yet supportive. The movie Cinna is certainly supportive, kind and him and Katniss work well together, but he was lacking in some of his charm. Except for his eyeshadow, he wasn’t that WOW as he was in the book.

What I loved about the movie. Woody Harrelson as Haymitch was great, I enjoyed his portrayal. Katniss was the Katniss from the books, I think she nailed it. Peeta was perfect, Gale had a small part in this first film, but I feel he is going to be perfect in this role. I hate the whole Team Gale/Team Peeta thing. This is about Katniss! She is not a prize to be won, she is a stand alone person. Trying to tell this to my giggly girls is aggravating.

The violence in the movie was PG-13 for sure. It was really hard to watch children kill children. The books can be hard to read, but as I am a visual person, it was hard to watch. I questioned letting Mita and Meg see it on the screen. They had read the books, I’ve tried to discuss the issues with them as they read them. I still don’t know if they get the entire picture, but I feel they are on the right track. I would be hesitant to allow a young tween/teen see this film if they hadn’t read the books and started digesting the whole fight to the death theme of the books. I don’t think murder should be glorified.

The theme of The Hunger Games being a reality TV show is very important for this upcoming generation especially. It shows how real live human beings can be turned into mearly characters to play with. Watching the behind the scenes people come up with dogs, fires and darkness to add to the games appeal is reprehensible and yet it rings a bit to close to home. Reality TV is not reality. We see people turn into diva monsters all the time for a few minutes of cheap fame. A great discussion starter with the kids about the realities of reality TV and how human lives should not be treated lightly.

I encourage parents to read this series if they have kids reading or watching them! If you want to learn more about them Scholastic has a great site to check out. Have you read the books and seen the movie? Did you allow your tweens or teens to see the movie? What are your thoughts.

Here is Meg’s blog about the movie. Notice how much time she spends on Peet and Gale! Arghh!

Book Review: When The Black Girl Sings

A Mom's Job, Adoption, Books I Have Read, Family, Reading Challenge No Responses »

Jan 242012

The second book I choose to read for the 2012 Adoption Book Challenge is a fiction one titled,When the Black Girl Sings, written by Bil Wright, published in 2008 for young adults and picked as a Junior Library Guild Selection.

I hope that Mita and Meg will read this book as it speaks to their age and I think Mita can identify with the main character, Lahni. Of course I can not push it on them to forcefully or it will come right back. The joys of having twelve year old girls!

A quick plot review: Lahni is a tranracially adopted, only child who is fourteen years old. Her parents are white and she goes to an elite private school where she is the only student of color. It seems her main goal in life is to not be noticed and she ends up being put in the spotlight without her asking to be. Along the way she deals with divorcing parents, an older boy who is threatening, dealing with normal school issues and trying to find her voice. She also developed some new relationships with adult African Americans and this makes a big impact on her.

As a mother to two trans-racially adopted children there were a few parts of the book that made me feel triumphant, as I am a much more open and affectionate mother than Lahni’s mom. Here are a couple of lines where I felt this:

“Do you think I have a decent voice?”

“Of course I do. God knows where you get it from. Certainly not your father or me.”

How could she be saying this. It is not as though she knows more than I do if my real mother or father were good singers. But it was something my mom always did. Speak as though were were really one family, instead of me being apart of someone else’s.

The family dynamics demonstrated in the book showed that Lahni was very loved by her parents, but that they were distant enough to Lahni to sometimes think that they thought the adoption was a mistake. While reading the book I would get irritated at some of the interactions of the family, but I do acknowledge that her younger memories show a happier, close knit family. The strain of the divorce and Lahni becoming a teenager may be a couple of factors for the emptiness felt in this family. You can see both parents struggling and so can Lahni.

I have to wonder though, if the author is showing his experience or lack of experience with trans-racial adoption in this story, or if in fact this is just how he envisioned the story. I would love to talk to him and ask him. I hope that people don’t assume that trans-racial adoption, or any type adoption at all for that matter produces lack-luster affection in families or families who don’t address and celebrate their differences.

Any thoughts on this book if you have read it? I really enjoyed it. I even sat in a Sears parking lot today reading it, because it was driving me nuts having it in my purse while I was running errands and I couldn’t finish it! I love it when a book gets into me that way.

(Disclaimer: I was not asked to read or review this book, I just wanted to for participation in the 2012 Adoption Reading Challenge hosted by Jenna. Links are Amazon Affiliates.)

DVD Review: To Kill A Mockingbird

Books I Have Read, Entertainment, movies, Reviews No Responses »

Jan 212012

Every once in a while you just have to watch or read a classic. New stuff is always fun, but the classics are time-tested lessons the whole world has shared. I was so pleased when Universal sent me a preview copy of the To Kill a Mockingbird 50th Anniversary Edition [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy] starring Gregory Peck to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of Universal.

I have not watched To Kill A Mockingbird since I was young and was anxious to watch it again as an adult to glean more of a message. I am also inspired to re-read the book, and have put it on my library list.

Mita and I cozied up on an icy day when the rest of the family were on a snow hike. We popped some popcorn and watched the movie together. I love watching old movies with the kids. Being a black and white film, long beginning credits and the length of the movie itself are a history lesson.

To Kill A Mockingbird is a movie filmed in 1962 and was based on the novel of the same name that was written by Harper Lee. Set in the deep south in the 1930′s Atticus Fitch, a single father, is appointed to be the defense attorney for an accused black man. The story is shown through the prospective of Atticus’ children, and covers far more than the racial divides of the day. For example the topic of a neighbor with a mental delay/illness shows us how people with special needs were treated and feared in that time. The poverty of the depression is shown throughout as is the mourning a family without a mother is noted upon.

I will not give away the story as it is such a powerful one, I do recommend watching this movie and reading the book if you have never done so before. A great movie to watch with your older children. It was great to watch with Mita and point out how things were just 100 years ago. The jury in the courtroom consisted of twelve, white men. The courtroom only allowed blacks in the balcony and the use of the n word and calling grown black men boy was very noticeable.

To Kill A Mockingbird hits the stores January 31st in DVD and Blu-ray. The extra features include a conversation with Gregory Peck, and his Academy Award acceptance speech for Best Actor. I enjoyed watching the Scout Remembers feature and seeing Scout all grown up and learning the story of how she was chosen to act in the film. The book,To Kill a Mockingbird: 50th Anniversary Edition is now available at Amazon.

(Disclosure: I was provided with a preview copy of To Kill A Mockingbird from Universal Home Entertainment for my honest review. No other compensation was received. Amazon links are affiliate links.)

In One Ear And Out The Other: An Idiom And My Children’s Listening Skills!

A Mom's Job, Adoption, Books I Have Read, Education No Responses »

Jan 112012

One of my goals in homeschooling Enu this past semester was to help her with her English. That may surprise some who have heard her speak, as she is very much fluent in her conversation and has no accent. When we first brought the girls home I read that it took 7 years for a child to become fluent in English. I scoffed at this (as I did many, many other things I read about!) and thought they were fluent after just two years. They needed no extra school help and understood everything.

Or did they? I have slowing gleaned that while they seem conversationally fluent, if they don’t know something they fake it, or guess the meaning by the context of the conversation. I have learned we need to work on vocabulary, tone, sarcasm and idioms. They are still very literal in many ways.

Enu and I have worked a lot with word ladders. This has improved her spelling and vocabulary and they are fun to do. I found two other books that helped with her language skills:

In A Pickle And Other Funny Idioms by Marvin Terban

Ever wonder where the expression “To let the cat out of the bag” came from? This book will tell you along with other idioms like “He got up on the wrong side of the bed” or “Keep your shirt on.” I learned some things reading this and I know Enu did as well.

How Much Can A Bare Bear Bear? by Brian P. Cleary is a book on homonyms and homophones. “A bee can be.” ” A horse can get hoarse from talking of course.” An easy read that shows kids how to learn our complicated English in a fun, silly way.

I would love for Mita to read these books as well, as I know she too struggles with some of these things as Enu does. Of course a fifth grader is not always open to such suggestions from mother ;)

I wanted to share these books to help out the fellow homeschooler and the parents of newly adopted older kids who are learning English. They are helpful and fun and free if you get them from the library as I did. I did get the word ladder of Amazon, but it was totally worth the few bucks it cost.

(Disclosure: I was not asked to review these materials, nor do I make money on the links. I should do something about that shouldn’t I!)

Book Review: No Biking In The House Without A Helmet

Adoption, Books I Have Read, Reading Challenge, Reviews No Responses »

Jan 102012

After participating in last year’s Adoption Reading Challenge, I was delighted to know that Jenna is hosting one for 2012 as well! I knew immediately that my first adoption themed book would be No Biking in the House Without A Helmet by Melissa Fay Greene. I have been wanting to read this book since I heard it came out, I just needed a kick in the pants to get started.

Before I start with my review I have to tell you that Melissa Fay Greene is a part of my adoption story. It was her article in Good Housekeeping that I read sometime in 2004 (while pregnant with Elle) that I fell in love with Ethiopia and got my dormant adoption feelings going again. It was also her book There Is No Me Without You that tugged at our hearts so dearly when we were doing the paper chase in 2006 and 2007. It must be said that in tough times she has been blamed for this! After reading her newest book, I know she doesn’t think ill of us for those blaming thoughts. No Biking In The House provides some back story to my situation. We used the same agency, so reading about Layla House and AAI, well it’s like reading a prequel.

Greene does a nice job in combining this biography of how her family of eleven came to be with anecdotes of daily life with her children. As a fellow mom who adopted after having biological kids and who twinned two of her kids, I could really relate in some of her stories, thoughts and fears.

This book is a must read for large families and adoptive families and for families who dream of becoming large and adoptive. All mothers can relate to this story just with the hilarity that motherhood can be at times. I loved reading how her bio kids and adoptive kids became closer, how she maintained her Ethiopian children’s heritage and languages and found the biological mother for her Bulgarian son. She bulks against have a group home effect, and in that I can totally relate. There have been times that I feel I am the maid in a bed and breakfast. Families have to work at being families sometimes, and that is okay. She gets International Adoption for what it is. Not a solution for poverty, but a way to build a family for parents who want to parent a child who has no family that can care for them.

The feelings that ran through me while reading No Biking In The House Without A Helmet, ranged from sadness, joy and knowing to jealously. Yes, I said Jealously. When reading about Helen’s disobedience over a can of Coke and how it led to an hour-long holding her violent little body I could wholeheartedly relate. I’ve been there, many, many times. When she ended that story with “That was the only tantrum we ever had out of Helen.” I was envious. One time! I’ve been spit on, bitten, kicked, pinched and hit so many times that we do not do the “holding therapy” anymore. They are just to big. Her bout with post-adoption depression resonated in me as well. It’s not all roses and rainbows, those first few months.

I am also acutely aware that we do not live in a diverse, metro area as she does in Atlanta. She was able to hire an Ethiopian babysitter who spoke Amharic to her kids and could make Ethiopian food. Her town also offers many different schooling and recreation opportunities that my rural town doesn’t offer. I wonder how my lack of access to these things have effected my girls and if that could have made the difference with some of our issues.

Melissa Fay Greene has written a thoughtful, funny and lovely book that speaks of the truths of adoption while not being to heavy of a read. Go and read this book and laugh out-loud!

Reading in 2012

Books I Have Read, Reading Challenge 1 Response »

Jan 032012

I was very tickled to have completed my three Reading Challenges for 2011. I accomplished my Good Reads goals of 75 book in one year. I actually made it to 81 books! I completed my Goals in Jenna’s Adoption Reading Challenge 2011 as I read six adoption themed books, 3 fiction and 3 non-fiction. I also read my five classics I had wanted to complete.

That was a lot of reading and I enjoyed 98% of it so I look forward to my new goals.

1) Reading 3 adoption themed books at the Adoption Reading Challenge 2012.

2) I wish to keep my reading goal at 75 books at Good Reads this year.

3) I want to explore poetry, a type of writing that I have never spent much time on. I hope to read at least three different poets this year.

4) I would love to do an online book club. I would adore having a in-real-life book club, but with schedules so crazy I don’t think this will be possible for many years!

5) I want to continue to write book reviews on my blog and host more book giveaways.

You may have noticed that my goals are not higher or the same as they were last year. I wanted a more relaxed approach as this year is going to be a busy one! If you have any book suggestions or a Poet you think I should read please let me know.

What are your reading this year?

BlogHer Book Club Book Review: The Magic Room

Books I Have Read, Reviews No Responses »

Dec 282011

I was thrilled to be chosen to be a part of the BlogHer Book club! If you read my blog you know that I’m all about reading a book. I have been thinking about my reading goals for 2012 since I met all my 2011 reading goals. One of those goals is to be in a book club and to review more books on my blog, so being apart of a BlogHer Book Club so early in the new year is perfect!

The book sent to me was The Magic Room: A story about the love we wish for our daughters by Jeffrey Zaslow. It goes on sale January 2, 2012. Zaslow is the bestselling author of The Girls From Ames and The Last Lecture. I read parts of The Last Lecture but for some reason never read the entire book. As a general rule I adore non-fiction, especially when it hits upon history and culture. I was excited to read this book and to participate in the discussion.

A quick synopsis of The Magic Room:

The author spends time getting to know the owner of a well-known bridal shop in the middle of no-where Fowler, Michigan. This bridal shop has a mirrored room with a tile pedestal that brides go into when they think they have found the dress. Zaslow tells the stories of several different brides and their families.

From the first few chapters I had memories flood my mind of trying on a wedding dress for the first time. I was at a fancy-smanzy department store in Columbus. I was newly engaged and giggly. We stopped by the bridal section just to look and the bored sales lady talked me into trying on a gown. I picked a gorgeous, heavy silk gown that I know I could never afford. I put it on, stepped on a pedestal and looked at myself in a mirror. I bawled like a baby. There was something so amazing about seeing myself dressed in the traditional life changing dress.

Unfortunately after the first few chapters, the book started to wear on me. Instead of following the title of the book , A story about the love we wish for our Daughters, I feel it was more a look at the societal changes of the past few decades and I must say the tone was a bit to judgmental for me. While I am a sap at a good old-fashioned love story, I don’t presume to believe the only love is a traditional love.

All in all it wasn’t a bad book, just not what I had hoped it would be. If you enjoy reading non-fiction books with discussions of societal changes this would be a good book for you or if you are a wedding planner by trade or by hobby I think you too will like to read it.

Check out the discussion at the BlogHer Book Club page!

(Disclosure: I received a copy of the above book and will receive compensation for participation in the BlogHer Book Club discussions and my review. All opinions are my own.)

Scholastic Book Thanksgiving Weekend Giveaway!

Books I Have Read, Giveaways 16 Responses »

Nov 252011

Books under the Christmas tree?! Have you ever heard of such a thing? At our house it is the NORMAL to get at least one book for Christmas. Books are my favorite gift to give I must admit.

My friends at Scholastic are giving me two books to give away in time for Christmas. Whoo-hoo and yeah!Look at the books we are giving away:

Book #1

Can You See What I See? Toyland Express written and illustrated by Walter Wick and published by Scholastic. The Can You See What I See? books are great for pre-readers and early readers and are both boys and girls seem to really like them. They are fun, colorful and full of life. I have to admit that when Elle was at the peak of her Can You See What I See? books I would hide them occasionally, just every once in a while, mind you ;)

Book #2

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo and published by Scholastic

I have yet to read War Horse, but I cannot wait to read it as the description sounds great:

“In 1914, Joey, a beautiful bay-red foal with a distinctive cross on his nose, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. With his officer, he charges toward the enemy, witnessing the horror of the battles in France. But even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey’s courage touches the soldiers around him and he is able to find warmth and hope. But his heart aches for Albert, the farmer’s son he left behind. Will he ever see his true master again?”

Scholastic.com is having a great sale right now! Use the coupon code HOLIDAY for an extra 20% already great prices :)

To enter just leave a comment telling me what book you would like to win. Mandatory!

*Extra entries:

1) Like Scholastic on Facebook and leave a comment telling me you did so.

2)Follow @Scholastic on Twitter and leave me your Twitter Handle so I can follow you as well! I am @FourAgainstTwo btw…

Winners will be chosen on Cyber Monday at noon by random.org and US addresses only please (sorry). Good luck!

Movie Review: Breaking Dawn

Books I Have Read, Entertainment, Hubby, It's all about me!, Mom's Free Time 1 Response »

Nov 212011

I saw Breaking Dawn on Sunday with Hubby. Please don’t tell my friends because I went without them. If said friends are reading this I will go with you and see it again, so please don’t hate me!

Breaking Dawn is the fourth and final book in the Stephanie Myers Twilight Saga, just to bring you up to speed if you are not up on the sparkly vampire series. This book is being split into two different movies (a la Harry Potter 7) and what just came out was part one. My review is more of a book made into a movie review than a movie review, as the books are usually my first love. If you have not read the books the rest of this will have spoilers, just to warn you. If you have read the book, I won’t give away any movie secrets. Though I will tell you they threw something in the beginning that was so book one I was a bit miffed, but I think it was done for the non-readers to catch them up a bit.

The movie begins with the wedding. This wedding has to be the best movie wedding I have seen in a long time…if not ever. The wooded scene with simple white flowers, the way they said their vows like they were the only people in the world, the silly and sappy wedding speeches were all perfection. I did not cry by the way, but I did hear some sniffling in the theater.

Of course Isle Esme was as beautiful as I imagined in my mind, though the white room wasn’t as white as it should have been. The honeymoon went pretty much per the book and I will not go into detail..ahem.

Bella’s pregnancy through the delivery was portrayed quite well. They really made Bella look sick and emaciated. The house (which I adore) was a big part of this movie as they spent a long time in it. It is not set up how I imagine it in the book and my mind kept thinking the rooms could have been more dramatic and kept the family closer, but that’s just my mind playing tricks I guess.

Edward looks better in this movie than the other three. All of the vampires have lost some of the ultra-heavy makeup and don’t have that startled look they once had. For those of you that don’t know me, I am Team Edward, but the book Edward, not the movie Edward (sorry Robert Pattison, but you will always be more of a Cedric Diggory than an Edward Cullin). In the movie I find Edward to be more human than ever. His character has grown and he seems less demanding than the first few books/movies. He seems to be more angry at Bella than himself in the movie, while in the books he is angry more at himself and what he has allowed to happen.

Jacob. Poor, dear Jacob. The film did well with portraying the book Jacob. The wolves were more involved in the movie than ever and it was done well. I won’t go into details but there was some changes from the book, but they were done to make the movie more action packed and the changes didn’t bother me.

I adored this movie. It made me happy. Yes. I know it seems lame to some, but oh well! Some people watch reality/tabloid TV and I enjoy sparkling vampires…life goes on for all of us!

I will give you Hubby’s review. Hubby has seen all the movies now, just because he kinda likes me ;) He didn’t like this one as much because he said it there was too much time in the house and not as much action. Then there was the imprinting part… he laughed. Out loud. In the theater. I think if there was any chance he would ever enjoy the series, it was lost at that moment. He doesn’t get it!

There is more blood and gore this time around, not horrible, but enough to warn you!

Go and see if you are so inclined and tell me how you liked it!

Photo

Hermione, Bella and Katniss

Books I Have Read, Entertainment, Parenting No Responses »

Nov 192011

I received a thought-provoking comment on my Hermione post from By Word of Mouth Musings last week. She mentioned that her daughter admired Hermione from the Harry Potter series, but didn’t identify with Bella from the Twilight series. This got me thinking about the two characters that I have fallen in literary love with and then I had to throw Katniss from The Hunger Games into the mix. What characteristics would I like my daughters to look up to and which ones do I hope they pass over?

Hermione

Years before I read Harry Potter I had had a mom at the hospital name her daughter Hermione and I thought she was a little weird to do that, I must confess. Then when I started reading the series and actually got to know her character a bit more I became to admire her greatly and totally agreed with the name choice of the mother I had met years before! Who doesn’t want their kid to be Hermione-Amazing?

Hermione is extremely intelligent and she is not apologetic for it in the least. Along with her smarts, she is brave and clever and can always come up with a plan. She has patience (poly juice potion takes a long time to make you know) and grit and can rock a Yule Ball dress. Her cause of championing the enslaved house elves showed she is a pure at heart.

Born a witch she could have gone to Hogwarts and aced the OWLS and NEWTS and become one successful professor. She, however, stood by Harry and Ron and kicked some butt! It is hard for me to find a criticism about Hermione. She was a bit precocious in her younger days, but who wouldn’t be with that brain?!

Bella

I first read Twilight after the first movie came out. I had not heard of the Twilight Saga, nor had I seen the movie, but my friend Julia gave me the book to read and I finally read it. I fell head over heels with the series and though I agree the writing could be better, the story was an intriguing one. I liked Bella. She reminded me of me a bit. Quite, not wanting to bring attention to herself thinking of others.

While I liked Bella, I made Meg wait until the sixth grade to read the first two books. I then let her read Eclipse, the third book, with some pages off-limits. I did this for a few reasons. One the sex, or I should say the topic of sex was a little too much for her to read. Also I didn’t like how Bella was so intently dependent on Edward, how he was so possessive to the point of controlling of her. As an adult I can handle this of course, but I didn’t want Meg to think this was a healthy relationship to have.

Through the series, Bella has gained confidence, courage and she has grown in to her character. Unlike Hermione, she was pure human, a muggle if you will, and got to choose her future. Bella is steadfast, determined and brave. Those are good qualities that I would love my girls to model.

She is also unable to be alone and that is not a good trait at all, that scares me a bit actually. I want my girls to be independent and I want them to find love of course, but not to have to have it.

Katniss

The Hunger Games was a thrilling read for me. My heart immediately went out to Katniss and her plight. Even before she was put in the spotlight, she was a tough provider for her family. Brave and unwavering with amazing nerve in a crisis I can only hope I would act as cool as her.

She does have a sadness about her that goes so deep I don’t think she will ever recovery fully. I certainly hope my girls can recover from any sadness they have or will encounter. Like Bella, she is totally human with no super powers or magic to aid her in her quests.

Her self-sacrifice is genuine, but unlike Bella it comes from a need to protect her family and not the need to not be alone.

So there you have it. My thoughts on the three most popular young women in young adult fiction. I know the world was waiting for my synopsis!

What do you think of the ladies I spoke about. Do you let your daughters read the books and use them as a jump off point for discussions?

DVD Review: Water For Elephants

Books I Have Read, Reviews 1 Response »

Oct 112011

I read Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen earlier this year and I so enjoyed the book I told everyone they needed to read it. It was #1 on The New York Times bestseller list, so apparently a lot of people also loved the book! I then found out that it was about to come out in a movie. My heart sank…I wasn’t sure if I wanted this amazing, well-written and original book to be messed with.

The movie was released in the theaters, I didn’t see it because I rarely get to the movies anymore. As a Harry Potter fan I’m ashamed I haven’t even see movie seven part two yet (pathetic I know). I’m not in the time of life where it is easy to get out to see a movie and I accept that.

When I was offered a copy of the movie to review on my blog I jumped at the chance. I have been movie starved lately and my mind needs a romantic love story to combat all the serious stuff I have been reading lately.

The DVD came at the perfect time. I was home with the kids all weekend without Hubby and my friend Julia needed a break as well. So I put the kids to bed, Julia came over and we watched Water For Elephants with a bottle of wine (Moscoto) and chips with sweet onion salsa….hmmm yummy.

Julia had also read the book and was as skeptical as I was…we loved it though. It held true to the book, keeping the unique storyline and characters. The cinematography was great with the animals and the train scenes. If you enjoyed the book I am willing to bet that you will like watching the movie. If you haven’t read the book, the film lets you in and tells the story well and stands up on its own. Of course I say read the book first, but I won’t yell at you if you don’t!

Starring Robert Pattison as Jacob and Reese Witherspoon as Marlena with a host of other well known actors, Water for Elephants tells the story of a young veterinary student, Jacob, who has just lost his parents and his home during the Depression starts wondering on the train tracks. He meets up with the Benzini Brothers’ Circus and meets Marlena -the shows star performer, while working with the animals. They are attracted to each-other though Marlena is married to the man who owns the circus. Along the way an elephant named Rosie makes her way into the story. I refuse to give spoilers!

This is the first movie I have seen Pattison in since the Twilight Saga. After the first few scenes I was able to watch the movie without thinking about him as an Edward and thinking of him as a Jacob!

Rated PG-13 I think I will let my older two watch the movie with me if they want to. There is one sex scene I would fast forward through, but the other not so kid friendly things will be a great discussion starter for me and my older girls. The movie also gives insight into the Depression era and Prohibition and I think the girls will like the fashions of that time in the movie.

Read the book or see the movie on DVD/Blu-ray on November 1st, 2o11!

(Disclosure: Thanks to Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (@FoxHomeEnt on Twitter) for the preview copy of Water For Elephants I received. No other products or compensation was given and my review is honest!)

Book Suggestions For Kids (And You!)

A Mom's Job, Books I Have Read, Education, Entertainment, Reading Challenge 1 Response »

Sep 292011

I am always up for book suggestions. Last year I met a retired reading teacher and she wrote the names of some authors she thought my then ten-year-old would like. She was so passionate about reading she wrote the suggestions on the back of the event’s program and we talked for a long while. She was not a fan of Harry Potter, but I liked her anyway and quickly requested the suggestions from our library. She was right, they were great books and I will pass them along to you as well as a few others I adore. I cannot mention all the books, but I will try and touch on ones I haven’t written about before.

Preschool/Young Readers

Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel- You cannot beat these simple stories that stress friendship, kindness as well as having an ease about them that makes reading fun.

Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson- Given to Meg when she turned two from her beloved great-grandpa Pap Pap. These verses bring out the adventure of being in a child’s imagination as well as build vocabulary skills with the old time language the book has. Elle is very fond of this book right now.

Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel - I started reading this book to Meg when she was about three years old. She quickly had it memorized and years later can still say his whole name! This is a favorite to read out loud in the class room as well. The illustrations are classic and introduce kids to the Asian culture a bit.

Early Elementary Students

The American Girl books are great (for girls!) as they have adventure, good morals and history in them. I like reading these books with my girls as I can add some historical tidbits and the books promote great discussions. Reading Addy was hard for me as I cried a few times, but those tears lead to great conversations with Meg. Kit made me mad when she hopped the train, but I was able to talk with Meg about listening to parents, making good choices and the like. Mita liked reading about Josephina and Enu enjoyed the Kit books best.

Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown is a fun and easy to read series that has started a phenomenon with the post office! We created our own Flat Stanley that Grandma and Grandpa took with them across the country and took pictures. Talk about inter-active! A great way to mix geography and reading.

Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park is Enu’s favorite. I do enjoy reading about Junie B. and hearing her language miss-haps are great learning tools for Enu. The way her mind works reminds me of another great series Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish. I’ve always adored Ameilia Bedelia being read out loud. Funny.

The Little House On The Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder is one of my all-time beloved books. I read them and feel at home. That said, they are wordy and Laura does love to get into her descriptions so if your child gets distracted easy I would pick the easy reader Little House books as the chapters are shortened a bit. Meg never really got into these books as I had hoped, but I think she does appreciate that they mean a lot to me. Meg is my dragon lover when it comes to books and the Prairie doesn’t have enough fire-breathers for her liking!

The Magic TreeHouse by Mary Pope Osborne books are Elle’s favorites. She loves to read about going back into time. I really like the non-fiction reference books the series has as well. This is a fun series to listen to on CD in the car as it takes the kids’ minds of the drive and into history.

Middle School

This is my favorite reading level thus far with my kiddos. Of course you have Harry Potter (a given) but The Hunger Games Trilogy is my new suggestion as well! With a series plot that could turn people off if they don’t read the book and just hear about the story line (a reality TV show that has kids killing each-other, just doesn’t sit well with most of us) I urge parents to read these books so they can help the kids process what they are reading.

Another set of books with a futuristic 1984ish plot is Shadow Children by Margerate Peterson Haddox. Wow. Heavy stuff, but great ways to get us all thinking, discussing and preventing problems in the future. If your child has anxiety issues I would stay away from these books for a while. Enu will not be reading them anytime soon!

I just recently finished The 39 Clues Series. Meg made me read them. I really enjoyed this book set and number 11 made me want more books as the plot is thickening. The story line hold the older kids interest but the books are at an easier reading level for fourth and fifth graders. Fun.

A few more for middle schoolers:

Shakespeare’s Secret and Masterpiece by Elise Broach

Mandy and The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards (yes, the Julie Andrews!)

Obviously I could go on and on…and I will with books I hope my kids will read as they get older but in another post! The selections above may be heavy on the girl side, but I am partial and lacking the experience of raising boys!

I hope you will add some suggestions to my comments so I can get cracking at those books as well.

Kids Book Review: You Read To Me, I’ll Read To You

A Mom's Job, Adoption, All you need is love!, Books I Have Read, Homeschooling, Moments with Elle, Moments with Enu, Parenting, Reviews 3 Responses »

Sep 142011

Yesterday on our weekly trip to the library I found a fun new book that I thought Elle and I would enjoy. It turns out that Enu is in love with it and *bonus* it is a great bonding tool. The book is called You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You: Very short stories to read together by Mary Ann Hoberman and illistrated by Michael Emberly.

Elle is an emergent reader, reading on her own a bit, but still needing help. Reading with her can be fun or can be tedious depending on her level of stubborness at the time! What is so great about this book is that we are reading short lines together, which keeps her (and me) from getting bored. There are mostly rhymes which is great for new readers and writers and the book gets silly which means fun! Fun while reading is so important when they are young. We can’t make it a chore.

As I mentioned in a previous post, one of the reasons for homeschooling Enu was to give her some one on one time that she missed when she was little. This book offers a fun and easy way to spend that precious time with her. She missed the fairy tales and rhyming books. She missed the silly reading stories. She adores this book. We have reserved the other titles in the series: Very Short Fairy Tales and Very Short Mother Goose Tales and I am hoping to get them in time for vacation.

I get happy when I find something with multi-uses and this book fits the bill. I encourage all parents of emergent readers or parents of older-adopted children to check this book out at your library and give it a try.

Have you read this book with your kids? Is reading time bonding time for you all as well?

(Disclosure: I recieved no compenstation for reviewing this book, nor was I asked to review it. I borrowed my copy from the library. Amazon links are not affiliate links and I will not get any money from them.)

Art Credit

Archery…Just Call Me Katniss

A Mom's Job, Books I Have Read, It's all about me!, Mom's Free Time, Sports, Stuff 4 Responses »

Sep 122011

I have found my sport. I may be 36 years old and non-athletic, but archery is for me I tell you. I like it. It is fun. It does have some competitiveness if you like that sort of thing (which I don’t -why can’t we all just win?!) but it’s not all about the competition. I must add that I have only done it twice, but I’m telling you that I love it. I became an instruction simply so my Girl Scouts would have a local opportunity to do some archery, but it turns out I really like it.

I may go professional.

Okay, maybe not but the fact that I like participating in a sport is pretty mind-blowing in itself and requires some ahhhs from the people!

Does anyone know of local archery resources for me and my girls?

If you don’t get the Katniss reference you need to go read The Hunger Games series, quickly. It rocks just like archery.

Art by Budotty

I Met Two Of My Reading Goals!

Books I Have Read, Reading Challenge 2 Responses »

Aug 272011

Goal Met!!!

I am happy to announce that I have met my Reading the Classics Goal of five classics this year and my Adoption Reading Goal of six books (3 fiction and 3 non-fiction)!

The classics I choose to read this year were:

1)Dracula

2)The Great Gatsby

3)Uncle Tom’s Cabin

4)Around the World in Eighty Days

5)Sense and Sensibility

Out of these five I recommend everyone would read would be Uncle Tom’s Cabin with Dracula a close second. I hated The Great Gatsby (sorry lit lovers) and Around the World in Eighty Days bored me a bit, but I do think younger readers would appreciate it more.

Completed!

My choices for the Adoption Reading Challenge were:

1)All The Broken Pieces

2)Adopted:The Ultimate Teen Guide

3)The Girls Who Went Away

4)Betti On A Highwire

5)The Forgotten Garden

6)Love You More

I have to say that the fiction selections won out as my favorites in this challenge, but all of them were well worth the read except for the Teen Guide. I was disappointed with that one. If you have a child ages ten and up I really recommend them reading Betti on A High-wire and for adoptive parents of older children please read All the Broken Pieces.

Now with those goals met, I still have one other reading goal this year. My GoodReads goal of reading 75 books in 2011. This is achievable. We will see!

So how are your reading goals going? I marvel how our reading patterns change through our lifetime. Going from reading all the time as a teen, to only have time to read required reading in college and then the babies come around and you feel like you will never hold a good book again. I am pleased to be in the time of my life where I can read for pleasure again everyday. I am only more pleased that my girls are showing signs of being avid readers.

Please don’t forget to enter my Hallmark card giveaway! Ends 8/29 at noon.

Book Review: Sense and Sensibility

Books I Have Read, Reading Challenge, Reviews 2 Responses »

Aug 262011

Sense and Sensibility I just completed my first Jane Austin book. I must say it feels good to say that as I have been ashamed of not having any of her books before. Why? I have no idea, but it just seems wrong of my to profess being an avid reader and not having read one of her books. I’ve seen a few movies of course, but it is never the same.

It can be stated quite clearly that my reading experience in this book was lovely. How is that for a sentence? Reading this inspires me to be more creative and descriptive in my writing.

For those of you who haven’t read the book (was I the only one?) the story line consists of two sisters and their first experiences in love. The book has all the emotion, despair, misery and happiness a good love story needs. While I had to re-read some sentences over again to understand what was going on, once I got into the rhythm I really enjoyed reading Austin and I will be reading more of her books in the future.

Congratulate me on my accomplishment! This has completed my Classic Reading Goal for 2011!

Book Review: Around The World In 80 Days

Books I Have Read, Reading Challenge, Stuff 2 Responses »

Jul 242011

I recently finished my fourth classic of the year. My goal is to read five classics this year. As I have mentioned before I do this every so often and by the time I am one hundred years old I hope to have somewhat of a good handle on classic books (lofty goals maybe but oh well!).

Around The World in 80 Days by Jules Verne annoyed me. I’m hopeless, I know. It was such a great idea for a book and if I would have read it out loud to my kids, I probably would have enjoyed it more. I just couldn’t get into it on my own. I’m not sure why I felt this way. The main characters have so much potential to be loved, it just didn’t happen with me.

The theme of this book is simple. A boring, but very smart and honorable man is challenged to travel around the world in 80 days. He hires a valet (my favorite character) to accompany him and he rescues a lady along the way who stays with him for the journey. Their travels are aided by his wealth of a money bag he brought on the trip and they go from elephants in India to trains in the wild west. A lot of adventure that should have been fun, but I think after reading about Harry and Voltemort I’m spoiled for normal adventure.

I will encourage my kiddos to read this book. Maybe I’ll see the movie and like it better! I have one more classic to read to meet my 2011 goal. Any ideas? I need some!

(Disclosure: I was not asked to review this book, nor is the link worth anything to me!)

Reading With Meg

Books I Have Read, Moments With Meg, Stuff No Responses »

Jun 132011

I love this picture of her. Her face is just like when she was a baby. Serious.

Once upon a time. A long time ago. I was an idealistic mother who couldn’t wait for her daughter to grow up and read all the books her mother loved so we could sit around and talk about them together. I made a list of books I wanted her to read, categorized by age appropriateness and reading level.

Fast forward ten years later and some of the list has been read by Meg. I have discovered a few things along the way. One is that Meg is Meg, not me. Two is kids like to talk, a lot, but not about things you want to talk about. Three is that Meg has given me my own list of books to read.

While Little Woman and Little House on the Prairie will always hold dear to my heart I have fallen in love Harry Potter. I recently read a fun book entitled Schooled. I read The Hunger Games trilogy and am discussing it with Meg as she completes it herself. The 39 Clues series is on my reading list as she really enjoyed them.

She likes adventure, mystery, strange languages and hard to pronounce names. I like history, clean and fun romance and moral courage throughout the pages.

Watching her read a book reminds me of me at her age as I would read all day long, switching positions (Chair. Floor. Hanging upside down off couch.) just as she does now. She will read for hours until a book is done, just like I can. She gets twitchy if she doesn’t have a book, like me.

Having a child is such a mystery. She is so Hubby. She is so me.

I’ll read what she recommends any day!

Wordless Wednesday Is Witchy

Books I Have Read, Stuff 1 Response »

Jun 082011

(A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness)

Classic Book Challenge: Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Books I Have Read, Reading Challenge No Responses »

Jun 052011

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin has been on my to read list for a very long time. I started to read it earlier this year and just finished it the other night. It took me a while. Not because it was a long, dry book that I was trying to get through, but because I wanted to give this masterpiece the attention it deserves.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin is an often quoted and talked about piece of work. I also think that many of us take for-granted because we have heard the stories of slavery before. We have seen the movies, been to the museum about the Underground Railroad and feel we have a knowledge of what went on so we don’t read the book.

You have to read the book to know. To feel. To be horrified and saddened. You have to go through the roller coaster of emotions such as shame, regret and humbleness to get just a little piece of the history that wasn’t so long ago.

The story line follows Uncle Tom and his family as they go through the experience of being sold and separated from each other as well as another family from the same plantation. Both story lines go separate ways yet tangle together and meet at the end. This tells us how small the world can be. Stowe’s writing is strong, sentamental and encompassing. I got to know her characters; loving some and hating others.

The greatest impact the book had on me wasn’t just the stories of the slaves, but the stories of the slave owners. The Christians who struggled with tradition and law. Harriet Beecher Stowe was a hero for writing this during the time of slavery, for educating others, shining a light on the wrongdoings of a land.

This book is full of racism. Of terms and descriptions that are hard to stomach. When reading the words please remember what the world was like when the book was written.

This is my third classic book for the year. My goal is 5 so I am getting there! YEAH me.

Have you read Uncle Tom’s Cabin. At what age would you let your kids read it? I’m thinking 7th or 8th grade for a mature reader.

Book Review: Love You More

Adoption, Books I Have Read, Reading Challenge, Reviews 2 Responses »

May 102011

Author Jennifer Grant contacted me via Twitter and asked if I would read her new book Love You More: The Divine Surprise of Adopting My Daughter. It is set to be released August 9th of this year. I was so excited to get a sneak peak of a new book written by an another adoptive parent.

I cannot tell you how many times while reading this book I said to myself Yes! My thoughts exactly! When talking about adoption so many resources discuss it either as a child saving event or a sugar coated spiritual journey. I either get nauseous or mad. Grant is real in her writing and feelings, yet authentically spiritual as well. Her and her husband felt God’s calling to adopt but as a way to build a family, not save a child.

She recognizes that the reasons countries are open to International Adoption are political and practical, yet not a solution for the overwhelming problem of parent-less children. Her writing shows respect to the birth families and the birth countries. Love that!

Love You More is also a candid look into motherhood with funny stories of mommy failures (store bought cookies for the school functions, the horror!) and loving stories.

The most important point in the book for me is the reminder that the adoption process/wait/coming home is just the beginning much like the fact that a wedding is just the beginning of a marriage.

A great read for waiting adoptive families. It is an easy read that is a nice break from the heavy reading that we tend to do when in the adoption process. Book mark this to read come August!

Book Review: The Forgotten Garden

Books I Have Read, Reading Challenge, Reviews No Responses »

Apr 182011

I stumbled upon another book to read pertaining to adoption. I didn’t try. I wanted a break, I really did. Yet this book found me. It was recommended by my Hubby’s Aunt through GoodReads.com. If you are not familiar with GoodReads you need to be. It is a great way to find books and keep up with what your friends and family are reading.

My aunt-in-law recommended The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton to me. This is Morton’s second novel and I must go find her first one as this one consumed me. I did not want to finish it I wanted it to go on forever, it was so bewitching. From the first few chapters I considered this a quasi-adoption themed book because it was dealing with abandonment and identity issues. After a while I decided I would not review it as one of my fiction choices for the Adoption Reading Challenge, I didn’t want to look at it through the eyes of an adoptive mom. I just wanted a good read. Well, after time (it is a lengthy book at 549 pages) I realized that though the word adoption does not appear in this book, the themes of it have adoption, (in)fertility, surrogacy and loss are so prominent I couldn’t pretend any longer.

The book spans three generations, actually it goes back a bit farther at times. The bewitching part of the book is that every chapter is at a different time period. It goes from 1907 to 2005 to 1975 and so forth and so on. I must say that the first few chapters this annoyed me. Not because I dislike books written in this way, I was just not in the mood to stay that focused. I soon fell in love with the characters from all generations and fell into hate with a few as well! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about generations, the ocean, gardens, family secrets and fairy tales. The fairy tales in this book are wondrous.

Okay, a quick plot review without giving away the particulars! Four year old Nell, is found on a ship alone on the coast of Australia. She is raised by a loving family and told when she is an adult about her true origins, at least the little information they had of her origins. This puts Nell in a tale spin that takes decades for her to recover from. Her granddaughter then picks up the tale and goes deeper into her grandma’s history. Through deaths, books, letters and trips to England the pieces fall together making an incredible truth that is heartbreaking as well as amazing. To give away to much would ruin this book for you so I’m keeping mum about most of the twists and turns.

The adoption themes that I dealt while reading this book are heavy. Since Nell’s story begins in 1913 there is a lot of secrecy going on. Current thinking was to give no details about an adopted child’s life before the adoption. While in Nell’s case this was not an adoption in the traditional sense, I still see it as such. Children need to know age-appropriate truths early on. To find out major life details all at once after you have lived your life thinking one way is very traumatic, makes one question who they really are. Being adopted can be difficult enough to handle sometimes, let alone when it is surrounded by secrecy and lies. There is also has a infertility story line as well as a surrogacy-like theme that makes you think deeper on those losses as well.

The book helps you think about these deep topics and yet you are still entertained by the story. I loved the book. It stayed with me for a while and I couldn’t shake it. I have actually gone back to it and read a few things over again. I could easily read it again and pick up on things I had missed before, and I may someday.

I would love to ask the author how she went about writing this out of order time-lined story. Did she write the story chronologically, then split it up afterwords or did the story come to her in the order that the story was published? How difficult, yet fun, to try and keep all the dates and stories straight!

Have you read this book? What were your thoughts? Do you think I was right in deciding this was an adoption themed book? Check out other adoption book reviews at the Reading Challenge Jenna is hosting.

Book Review: Betti On A High Wire

Books I Have Read, Reading Challenge, Reviews No Responses »

Apr 102011

I know I swore off adoption books for a while, but this one came in from the library and being fiction I thought I’d dive into it right away. This is my second fiction book from the Adoption Reading Challenge hosted by Jenna at Chronicles of Munchkinland. This makes four of my six I have pledged to read this year. In other words I am kicking butt in this challenge! Yeah me.

The book is Betti On a High Wire written by Lisa Railsback. It is classified as a Young Readers book and I agree. First an overview of the story:

Babo is around ten years old and is living in an unnamed war-torn country. She is the eldest of a group of orphans who are all stained from the effects of the local violence. Some have missing arms, legs and fingers others have mental deficits. The author’s descriptions of the kids, the old circus camp they live in and the surrounding area is rich in detail, but leaves you room to imagine as well. Babo is adopted by an American family with one other daughter (younger than Babo) and comes to the states with another one of the group, a younger boy George. George is in love with his new home and family and Babo (who’s name is changed to Betti) doesn’t feel the same way. The story shows us the twists and turns of bringing an older child home through adoption, but shows them through the eyes of the child, through Betti.

The biggest reason for my enjoyment of this book is that is showed me the perspective that Mita and Enu must of had when they first came home to us. The easy confusion with words and meaning, the overwhelming thoughts that can come from a closet full of new clothes. The bath tub! A lot of memories of the girls’ early days came flooding back to me when reading this.

As some of you know I am not a fan of changing older adopted children’s names, and by older I mean about two and up. I think it adds confusion to the child’s identity and tells them that they are not good enough as they are, that they need to change. The fact that they changed Babo’s name to Betti rubbed me the wrong way as is was changed “to make things easier as an American.” My thoughts are this: People can learn how to say an unusual name, it may take a bit of time, but let them deal with it, not the child. Okay, a bit long winded there, you can probably tell that the naming things is a hot-button issue for me!

I have given it to Meg to read and have told Mita that she may enjoy it as well. She isn’t sure if she is going to read it and that is fine. I will ask both girls to write a review if they wish, to give you an idea on what eleven year olds with adoption links think about it. I’ll post them when they have them done (or should I say if?!)

This is a definite read to adoptive parents of older children, especially if they are not English speaking. It gives you your child’s perspective to think about and learn from. It is a fun and easy read. Railsback does an excellent job getting into and older-adoptive child’s mind. I wish more people were this pre

Book Review: “The Girls Who Went Away”

Adoption, Books I Have Read, Reading Challenge, Reviews 1 Response »

Mar 222011

It may seem like I am on a roll in my adoption book challenge and I guess I am, if not by choice, by the fact the library had the last two books in and sent to me at the same time! I hate waiting on books, so I wanted to read these while I had them. I do have to say that back-to-back non-fiction adoption books can be a bit heavy and I have promised my self some time off the heavy reading for a while. I need some fluff – mind numbing fluff!

The title of this book says so much, The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade . Written by Ann Fessler, and adoptee, this book’s heart-wrenching stories and startling facts make it a difficult book to read at times. The book was published in 2006, so it is fairly recent and very much tells a story that one of your (or my) own family members could have lived through.

I have listened to my mom talk of having to wear skirts to school because pants on girls where not allowed or how my mother-in-law was on a basketball team that organized themselves becauses schools didn’t have athletics for girls. These stories make me shake my head. So much has changed in just a few decades it really is like two different worlds in many ways.

Fessler points out that it was the post WWII years of conformity that brought about this time of adoptoin coersion. I don’t even know if coersion is the right word as deceit and unlawfulness was the normal to unwed mothers and there children were basically stolen from them. I’m sure that not all adoptions were this way, but after reading this book you cannot help but see the similarities of the stories. So many girls were told that their baby was going to a new family of a “Doctor and stay at home mom” or were asked “Do you want your child to be called a bastard on the playground?”. As one birth-mother said in the book, it was as if they had a script on how to get a pregnant woman to give up her baby.

I am not surprised that the parents of the pregnant women were upset. I do find it reprehensible that so many went way passed upset and were just plain mean and cruel to their own daughters and grandchildren. Socital pressure was that strong? Unbelievable. This again reaffirms to me that there has never been a time of “good old days” that people look fondly at.

Hearing these stories from birth mothers and adoptees reinforcess how imperative it is that there is more openness with adoption. If not fully open adoptions, medical histories, photos, letters and for heaven sake OPEN RECORDS.

It is 2011 the age of at our fingertips is mind whirling and yet there are people who have been told they have no right to find out who and where they came from. If more people would just stop and think about this issue, I dare to say that records wouldn’t be closed anymore. It just makes sense.

While the numbers of “girls” who disappear for an unplanned pregnancy have diminished, there is still a lot of ethical problems with adoption. You don’t have to look hard to find articles of pregancy distress centers working with adoption agencies or authority figures telling pregnant moms that their baby deserves better. As sick as it sounds adoption is big business and when there is big business there seems to be a flourish of ethical issues.

It is imperative that adoptions are ethical. I have heard so many comments of how adoption is to complicated, that adoptive parents have to wait to long, that if a child needs a home she should have it now and not have to wait for paperwork. I have personally felt all of those things during my adoption process, but I can honestly say that knowing that my adoption was ethical is so comforting to me now. If there had been any doubt in my mind that my girls’ family was coerced, paid, bribed or even worse my conscience would forever be marked.

If you know of a family member or friend who has had a “quiet” adoption in her past I encourage you to read this book, try and see the experience she is having and be a very good friend to her. This is also an informative book for all members of the adoption triad.

Book Review: “Adopted: The Ultimate Teen Guide”

Books I Have Read, Reading Challenge, Reviews 1 Response »

Mar 182011

For my second book on the Adoption Reading Challenge I choose Adopted: The Ultimate Teen Guide by Suzanne Buckingham Slade. This book is apart of the It Happened to Me series for teens. As my girls are getting older I have found myself looking for books they may need/enjoy as they age. It is very scary, by the way, to watch your kids growing up so fast that they will soon be entering the teen world.

I tried to come to this book as a teenager would. Full of questions of my adoption, maybe some anger and hurt. I cannot, of course, ever know how it feels to be adopted, but I hope that three years into being an adoptive mom I have discovered some insight and wisdom on the subject.

There are several true stories, quotes and heartfelt tales that could be helpful to read weither you are an adoptee or adoptive parent. The book validates teens questions and feelings as normal and productive. There are also several resources noted for further help and therapy is suggested wisely to the teen who is struggling.

Chapters on international adoption, older child adoption and trans-racial adoption have good information and I would encouraged my girls to read those chapters as most of the chapters are not relevant to our story. Most of the book refers to children who were adopted at or near birth.

A line in the books mentions that birth mothers get extensive therapy before the adoption. Unfortunately this is untrue for most adoptions, even in our modern world of adoption professionals. Also a quote at the beginning just scream wrong at me:

“Our children need the benefits that a two-parent home can give. Birth parents can place their child for adoption and go on to live happy, fulfilled lives.”

Ruth A. Mark Adoption Resource Services

I find it wrong to suggest that all adoptive homes are two-parent homes and would be more stable than a single parent home. We know that adoptive parents are not perfect and they do get divorced and have the same problems that all families have. Also suggesting that birth parents can simply place their child and go on to be happy appears very flippant to birth parents. Relinqishment is not a easy thing to “go on” from.

It is my hope that this book will get a major editing job soon and then again in another decade or so. I say this because it needs to be updated now with new pictures and format and it lacks current subjects such as ”friending your birth mom on Facebook”. An update in a decade would be great as I hope that open adoptions will be the normal and they will not have to focus so much on finding your birthparent or wondering about your heritage.

I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.com and feel it is an okay read for adopted families, but not the only book they should rely on.

(Disclosure: I checked the above book out at the library and did not recieve any compensation for the review, nor was I asked to review it.)

Book Review: The Great Gatsby

Books I Have Read, Reading Challenge, Reviews 5 Responses »

Feb 152011

IMHO (in my humble opinion) The Great Gatsby is not so great! It was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1925. In my challenge to read the classics I chose this book because it is one I have heard referenced many times. The only thing I knew about it was that it was set in the flapper-prohibition time and that Gatsby was a man.

I struggled to finish the book. I read two other books while reading this book, just for entertainment. I thought about tossing it (okay, taking it back to the library) several times, but did finish it just yesterday.

The plot per me: A young man narrates the meeting of his neighbor and the social life of the well-to-do people of his time. Gatsby, the neighbor, is a filthy-rich man who loves to throw parties but has ulterior motives to become reacquainted with an old flame. There is a bit of sex, drinking and violence; but pretty tame compared to today’s standards.

Because Gatsby is not the narrator, you never get to know him. In fact his character is so detached I find myself wanting to hear more about the narrator, Nick. I had a hard time connecting with all of the characters, which is unusual for me, especially with being based in a earlier time. I normally love period books.

Dry and tight are two words I would use to describe the writing, thus making it hard to read. Sorry classic lovers, I just didn’t feel it.

Feel free to argue with my review and tell me how lousy a literary person I am!

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