The Help

Kathryn Stockett's book, The Help, is a wonderful, funny, insightful, entertaining read.  This book is an amazing accomplishment.  It is an important work, one that everyone should read.

The book is written from the perspective of three different women in Mississippi in 1962.  Aibileen, a black maid who has lost her own family, but has spent her years raising white ones.  She follows the orders that she is given, but inside, it is starting to leave her bitter and broken.  Minny, Aibileen's friend and another of the maids, has never been able to hold back her thoughts and has gone from job to job because of it.  And Skeeter, a white woman who has returned from college with a degree in journalism and a desire for a very important story to be told.  These three women unite on a journey that they hope will change the landscape of the south in the 60s.

There are other notable characters too - the white socialites these maids work for, and Skeeter is supposed to be a part of, but doesn't really fit in with anymore.  These women who think that they are above everyone else, who can have the black maids raise their children and clean their homes, but not use the same bathroom.  And one white woman who is from the other side of the tracks but married into the socialite circle, who can't seem to get it right and has a secret to protect.

This book was wonderful from the start.  Sometimes it was hard to read, because of the nature of the story being told.  I loved some of the characters and hated others.  I cheered for them and held my breath waiting to see what would happen.  I laughed out loud, seethed at the injustices and cried.  This novel will end up a classic.  For sure, it will be on my favorites list this year.

Happy Reading!

The Kitchen House

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom is a gripping historical fiction novel about a young white girl raised on a plantation.  This story is deeply touching, suspenseful, sweet and heartbreaking.

Lavinia arrives in America from Ireland an orphan.  Her parents died during the journey and since she has no one to claim her, she and her brother are separated and she is sold to a plantation owner.  She is a white girl who is now to live with the slaves on a tobacco plantation as an indentured servant.  She lives and works in the kitchen house with the owner's illegitimate daughter as her caretaker.  She bonds with her new family and lives life as they live it, but eventually gets accepted into the "big house" to help care for the master's wife who is hiding her own depression and psychological issues with an opium addiction.

As a white girl, who was raised as a slave, she is placed into a difficult position.  She loves and misses her "family" from the kitchen house, but also understands the advantages that living in the big house afford her.  She is forced to make decisions and choices that put everyone in danger.

This is a riveting book full of characters that the reader cheers for and those that the reader loathes, and some that the reader hopes until the end will somehow redeem themselves.  Written from the perspective of Lavinia and Belle (the master's illegitimate daughter) provide the reader with a more full picture of the story.  This was a fantastic read that became one of my favorite books.  Highly recommend.

Happy Reading!

The Book Thief

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is one of the best books I have ever read.  This novel gripped me from the start and has yet to let me go.  The characters are unforgettable, and the story is at once heart breaking, humbling, humorous and even life changing.

The book is set in Germany during Hitler's reign.  The main character is a little girl named Liesel who has lost her family.  On her journey to her new home where she will be cared for by a foster family, she steals her first book.  Even though she cannot yet read, she realizes the power of words.  The story is told by one of the most interesting narrators I have ever come across, Death.  As Death goes about his work, and he is very busy during those years in Germany, he tells Liesel's tale and a bit of his own.  Liesel adapts to her new life, learns how to read, continues to steal books and uses those words during times of crisis.

The cast of characters in this book have imprinted on my soul.  Rudy, Liesel's best friend, Hans and Rosa, Liesel's foster parents, Max, the Jewish man Liesel's family hides in their basement, and Death himself.  They each teach the reader about humanity.  There are real heroes in these pages, characters who faced such peril and rose above, characters who put their lives on the line to help another human being.  Even Death, who took such care with the souls that were his charge. 

The author uses words very powerfully in this book, so fitting for a book about the power of words.  It is itself a work of art.  The subject matter is so heavy, but there is humor thrown in at just the right moment to lighten that heavy load.  Zusak is an artist with the English language.  This is a book that everyone should read.  I will never forget these characters and this story will remain with me always.

Happy Reading!

The Rose Labyrinth

The Rose Labyrinth by Titania Hardie is billed as "a riddle to unravel, a legacy to unearth, a heart to mend." It appears on the bookshelf as a beautiful novel with a mystery to it that is very much like The DaVinci Code.

The plot of the book, if I could try to summarize it, is about a family that has the sole responsibility to protect a secret. As the secret is revealed to them, they try to unravel the riddle to discover why some dangerous people want to get their hands on the documents that have been handed down through generations.

Take my plot summation with a grain of salt, though. Because I don't think I understood this book, and I slept through part of it. At first I thought maybe it was just that the obscure alchemy, mythology, literature, and religious references were beyond me. But after finishing the book (which has no real resolution) and reading the reviews of other readers, I have found that it was not just me.

The story is very disjointed. So much so that I lost the thread more than once. The mystery is poorly constructed. If there was a climax to the story, I failed to realize it. The first few chapters grabbed my interest and the book had real promise. After that, it fell flat and it never redeemed itself. At the end of the book, the reader is at least hoping for the mystery to be solved. I don't believe that it was, or if what was revealed is the mystery I don't understand why it had to be kept secret under threat of life and limb for generations.

I finished the book for two reasons. The first being that it was a book club pick, so I had a duty to finish the book for book club discussions. The second being that I don't like to quit on books. It was very difficult to get through. I couldn't stay awake for more than a few sentences in the last third of the book. I really feel that this was a waste of my precious reading time, and I am anxious to pick up something light and fun after completing this boring, disappointing read.

Happy Reading (just not this novel)!

Catch Up

It has been two months since I have posted. Life got too busy, and I have not had time to journal what I have been reading. I did not keep a record of those books either, so I will try to recount to the best of my knowledge what I have read. I can only come up with three books, in addition to the one I am currently reading, though, and I believe I am forgetting something.

I read Happily Ever After, by Nora Roberts, which completed the Bride Quartet series. It was a fun, quick read, like the others in the series. Nothing of significance to note.

I read Home Again, by Kristin Hannah. This was a book that was offered at a deep discount for the nook. Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Hannah before, I purchased it. It was not as good as the other novel of hers that I have read. But, it was enjoyable. Family drama and romance are at the heart of this novel, and I finished it quickly.

Eat Pray Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert, was a book club pick. Based on the hype of this book from numerous sources, I thought (as did the rest of my BC girls) that this one would be a true winner, a favorite pick of the year. The book was a real disappointment. I expected some sort of "a-ha" moment while reading it. Sadly, I didn't have any, and I think my review of it would be better if there had not been so much hype surrounding the book.

Eat Pray Love is a non-fiction work, based on Elizabeth Gilbert's quest to find balance in her life, between the pleasurable and the spiritual. She deals with a difficult divorce, travels to Italy for pleasure (Eat), to India for spiritual (Pray) and to Indonesia to find balance and happiness (Love).

I am sure there were themes and messages in this book that eluded me. There must have been for it to be so critically acclaimed. I didn't get it. I enjoyed the first third of the book that took place in Italy. I liked her character, and her writing style which was very casual and much like she was just talking to you as her best friend. But there were things that occurred during her spiritual quest in India that I could not get past. She studied meditation and yoga there. She struggled immensely with the meditation. But then went from struggling terribly one day to having the ultimate Godly experience, achieving the ultimate goal of meditation, the next. I didn't buy into it, and I think the author never truly got me back after that. The last third of the book took place in Bali. The setting was portrayed beautifully, and I guess I enjoyed this part of the book almost as much as the Italy portion. In Bali, she finds friendship, romance and ultimately happiness.

My overall opinion of this one was that it was a disappointment. I expected more. I am glad that I read it, however, because now at least I know what everyone else is referring to, even if I do not share the viewpoint of those who are paid to know about such things. I will say that the overall opinion of our book club matched my own. We were all unsure of why there was such critical acclaim surrounding this book.

Happy Reading!

The Sugar Queen

What a sweet, mouth watering, indulgence this book was! The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen is a heartwarming, intriguing, fanciful novel about how one woman finally finds her voice and chases her dreams.

Josey Cirrini has always lived under the thumb of her mother. As a child, she threw horrible tantrums and acted out, adoring her father and never pleasing her mother. As an adult, she romanticizes her father, since passed, and tries to redeem herself with her mother, seeking acceptance and forgiveness for those childhood misdemeanors, and is secretly in love with her mailman. Her mother is ailing, or at least pretending to, and Josey (at the age of 27) is her 24 hour nursemaid, gofer, driver, and whipping post. Josey has a secret though...a place she goes for solitude and indulgence. When a local waitress shows up in Josey's closet, Josey's secret is revealed. But this stranger will lead her on a path to discover that she deserves her own life and that she should reach out and grab it.

The characters in this novel are so loveable. I adored Josey and her friends. My heart ached for them, leapt for them, yearned with them. Each character has a special ability or talent that makes the book engaging and fun. I could relate to Josey's relationship with her mailman on such a deep level that I physically ached at certain points in the book. So much so, that at one point I put the novel down and quietly wept for my younger self.

I simply loved this book. It was fast, fun, and heartwarming. An easy read that has substance. Highly recommended, this one will most likely make my favorites list for the year.

Happy Reading!

Cold Sassy Tree

Cold Sassy Tree is a novel about a small southern town written by Olive Ann Burns. The novel takes place in the early 1900s. It is a funny, heartwarming and at times sad portrayal of life in the South.

The story is set around several generations of one family in the town of Cold Sassy. They are a prominent family in that small setting and go through their trials and tribulations in front of the entire town. This is a town where everyone knows your business and will talk about it behind your back. The patron of the family, Mr. Blakeslee puts the town, and his family, into a fit when he marries a much younger woman just weeks after his wife passes. As his daughters learn to deal with this new member of the family, and his grandson tries to find his own place, Mr. Blakeslee goes through some changes of his own.

Every character in this book, while flawed, has redeeming characteristics and is lovable. The reader cheers for each and everyone, and while we many not understand or agree with choices made, we hope that all turns out okay. In addition, there is a look into the Southern mindset when it comes to economics, the Civil War, slavery, and the changes that technology brings around the turn of the century.

Overall, this book was a very good read. I would recommend it. Happy Reading!

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre

Amanda Grange is the author of the Pride & Prejudice spin off novel, Mr. Darcy, Vampyre. This was a book club pick, directly following Pride & Prejudice. I enjoyed it almost as much as I enjoyed it's inspiration.

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre picks up where Pride & Prejudice leaves off. Elizabeth and Darcy are married and begin their wedding tour. Things start smoothly, but very soon Mr. Darcy's strange behavior concerns Elizabeth. They travel far from home, into some pretty scary places. Adventures ensue, and eventually Elizabeth learns the truth. What will become of her marriage and her future?

A lively, fun tale. I recommend it as the perfect follow-up to the original novel. When I finished Pride & Prejudice, I wanted more. This novel answered that call in a very original way. I am intrigued by the whole industry created by the desire to know "what happened next" to Elizabeth and her family. This will not be the last P&P follow up novel that I read. I plan on devouring Amanda Grange's other spin off novels soon.

Happy Reading!

Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, was our latest Book Club pick. Surprisingly, not one of us had read it (one of our rules on our selections is that no one can have read it before). Upon picking the book, I expected it to be a heftier volume. It is not as long as I thought it would be; my version was just over 350 pages. I thought that it might take us the better part of the summer to read it, but I finished it in just a couple weeks.

The book is set in the English countryside, around the turn of the nineteenth century. It gives a good look into what life was like then. This is an aspect of the book that I found fascinating. The way people related to one another, the customs and the way the relationships were formed and maintained was very interesting. Typically, I am not interested in books with this setting, but I found that this book was the exception to that.

The genre of the book is definitely romance. Originally, I thought that if it were written in modern times it might be considered fluff. However, after finishing the book, I can truly appreciate the depth that Austen added to the romance. This book was also a statement of the times in which it was written.

Austen does a remarkable job with her character development. The characters are created in such a way that the reader has feeling for them, whether positive or negative. The reader begins to hope for the characters, and to feel with them. At least, that is how I felt when I read the book. The main character, Elizabeth Bennet, is a wonderfully strong woman who defies the times by speaking her mind more often than is deemed appropriate. But at the same time, she is vulnerable, making her a heroine that the reader can instantly like and identify with even though the setting is so far removed from our own.

By the end of the book, I was rooting for Elizabeth and her sister, Jane. As I have said before, any author that can evoke an emotion has done his/her job. In this book, Jane Austen made me care about her characters. There is something to be said for that considering that I don't typically prefer novels written in this era or even this genre. Austen has made me reconsider that, and has made me a fan. I would recommend this book, as long as you can read through the language barrier. Being written in 1796 and published in 1813, the language is very different and I needed to concentrate to get the gist of what was being conveyed. This is the only Jane Austen novel I have read, but I plan on picking up another of her novels in the future.

Happy Reading!

The Shack

The Shack by William Paul Young is a thought provoking read. It leaves you wondering, and maybe hoping for truth in its pages, about God and about what happens after death. This novel is not a light one. It is not one that can be read without using your head, or your heart.

In The Shack, a man who has suffered a horrible tragedy goes on a remarkable journey of understanding and forgiveness. He returns to the place where this tragedy took place, the shack. There he embarks on a trip through his own spirituality and faith. He meets God and gets to ask some tough questions and hear some even tougher answers. But at the same time, he finds beauty and understanding, and eventually some peace.

I personally found this book to be quite cerebral. I had to re-read several passages to make sure I was fully understanding what was being said. This is a novel that requires thought, a quiet space and time to reflect on what is being read. I truly loved the view of God and the ideas in the book regarding God's love of all of his children. There were parts that were very difficult to read, and parts that I myself just can't buy into. Reading this book as a parent of young children, I was at times very saddened and at times very angry. I never got to the forgiveness that the main character was able to reach. I hope and pray that I am never in the same circumstance, but if I ever find myself there, I question whether I would find the forgiveness he is able to find in his heart.

This was an inspiring and hopeful read. One that will not be forgotten, and one that deserves a lot of discussion. I highly recommend reading this one with someone else. I read it with my book club and personally can't wait to discuss it with my them!

The Expected One

The Expected One by Kathleen McGowan is a novel that makes you think. It makes you think about what you believe about Christianity. It makes you think about your own faith. It makes you think about "what if."

This book is about Maureen Paschal's journey to find the gospel of Mary Magdalene. Maureen Paschal is a professor and an author. She believes that the history that we have all been taught is not the truth, that those who were responsible for capturing that history changed it based on their own biases and politics. Along her journey she learns about secret societies, blood lines, and her own family's history. There are secrets buried at every turn and behind every painting. It is a fascinating look at the constant search for some sort of proof of what really happened in biblical times. It is reminiscent of The Da Vinci Code, but without the action.

Part of the book then becomes the gospel of Mary Magdalene. You read about her life, the life of Jesus and the influential people that surrounded him and his disciples, all from her perspective. It was very interesting, and this part of the book was just as much of a page turner as the rest.

There are people that may say this book made them question what they believed or shook their faith. I did not find myself in that position. However, I did think a lot about what I was reading. It was an entertaining book, that makes you wonder, "what if." What if history really happened differently than historians have noted in history books? What if some of the key players in the gospels, as we know them, really acted differently? What if we their true intentions were different than what we believe them to be? What if a gospel written by Mary Magdalene really existed, or one by Jesus himself? What if the life of Jesus was lived a little differently than we have all been taught?

Kathleen McGowen's second book in this "Magdalene" series came out this month - The Book of Love. It is a search for the gospel written by Jesus himself. I have that on my list of books I want to read. And I would recommend The Expected One.

Happy Reading!

The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood, was a fascinating novel. I didn't expect to be as enthralled with it as I was. It is at once horrifying, funny, shocking and thought provoking. Full of symbolism and political commentary, it was a page turner until the very end.

The Handmaid's Tale is set in some future year that is not specified. There have been natural disasters, and a government coup of sorts, that change life as people know it. It is a gripping diary of one woman's journey through a new society where everything isn't as it should be. Families are torn apart, rights stripped away, new roles mandated and punishments given that are reminiscent of a less civilized time. As this woman makes her way through this new society in her new role, she must figure out the politics of the relationships between her and those she serves, with others in the household, as well as the relationships between the other household members themselves. She must also learn to deal with devastating loss and decide whether to continue on as instructed, fight, or give up and die.

It was a fascinating novel, filled with horrific things that don't seem so far fetched. This book makes you realize how fragile a society can be and how quickly things can change. It was especially appropriate to be reading it during our election process. I read this with my "book club girls" and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. We had more to discuss from this book than we have in a long time. I would highly recommend this book.

Happy Reading!

Next Pick

I have to take a break from the Vampire Hunter novels. I think it is time. My next pick is a Book Club book. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. I have to finish it quickly, because we meet tomorrow night! From what my friends have told me, it should be a quick read, the kind of book you can't put down.

Happy Reading!

Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral

I literally just finished Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish. This book was not what I expected. I thought it would be a fast, fun romp. Just goes to show you that you should not judge a book by it's cover. That doesn't mean that it was not a fabulous book...quite the contrary. This book will be added to my list of favorites. It is one that I will probably read again.

The book is beautifully written, and was a fun romp. But I found that it was not fast. Part of that was because I wanted to savor it. Part of that is because you have to pay attention when you are reading this book. It is a very intelligent and thought provoking book, that uses a lot of symbolism and imagery, and you can miss the point of some of it if you aren't paying attention. I found that I needed to slow down and let myself think about my own life and situation.

The characters are instantly likable and memorable, even the sub characters. The plot involves five women who have one friend in common that has passed away, Annie Freeman. She leaves them with instructions to spread her ashes in places, all across the country, that had significance to her. She has planned the adventure, made their reservations and all other arrangements. They are to figure out what to do with her ashes at each different destination. She trusts that, together, they will know what to do. At each destination they must figure out what made that place special to Annie through the people that they meet and the adventures that they encounter. The traveling funeral becomes a real living thing. It has a life of its own and along the way, the women meet people that will become life long friends and learn some very valuable lessons. Lessons that help them change their lives. I found that I needed to slow down, look at my own life and learn the lessons right along with the five women in the book. Which is exactly what Annie would have wanted!

I must caution the prospective reader not to pick this book up if you have an open wound from the loss, or potential loss, of a maternal figure in your life. There are several references to losing mothers, terminally ill mothers, sick and dying mothers that were very difficult for me to get through given that my mother is terminally ill with breast cancer. There were times that the ache in my chest was too much and I had to put the book down. That being said, it is a book that I think would help people heal that open wound, as long as it isn't too fresh. I think I may need to read this book again at that point in my life.

It is another one that I would highly recommend. I say that a lot...I love books and rarely find one that I wouldn't want to share. This is definitely one that should be on a must read list. And I can't wait to read another Kris Radish book.

Happy Reading!

Next Pick

Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral by Kris Radish.

This is our next book club selection. It was my pick this time. We went to the bookstore, picked up several books that looked interesting, voted on them and this was the winner. Since it was my pick, I had the right to veto the group's vote and choose something different. I don't think this was my first choice, but it was in the top three and it looked like a fun read. We needed something fun after The Kite Runner.

We will be reading about halfway through the book before we meet again next week. Then we will probably finish the book for the next meeting.

My Love of Reading

I decided that I wanted a place to journal what I have been reading. I hope that this blog can be used as a place for people to get suggestions for a good read.

I love books. I love everything about books. I love to just look at them and touch them. I know it sounds weird, but I am passionate about books. I am a busy mom, so I don't get as much time to read as I want. When I do have time, reading is what I choose to do. I read almost anything.

In addition to reading on my own for pleasure, I belong to a book club (made up of my three best friends). These three other wonderful, intelligent women and I started a "book club" over ten years ago. We were meeting on a regular basis for coffee and dinner in a local bookstore. What started as a whim became one of the most enjoyable parts of my life. Because we all love reading and wanted to share that passion with each other, we decided to each buy a copy of a book and read it together. Our first book was The History of Danish Dreams. We each take turns choosing a book, we all buy it, read it and get together to discuss it. We have read books of all types from the silly and frivolous (Flaming Iguanas) to the serious and thought provoking (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn). We have read somewhere around 40 books now, for better or worse, and had a wonderful time doing it. We marked our ten year anniversary this January and I can see us celebrating many more anniversaries. For anyone out there who knows someone else who loves to read, I suggest that you start a book club. Having someone else to discuss a book with, as you are reading it, is so enjoyable. I believe it makes the experience of reading the book more enriching, as well.

When I read a book, I will post my thoughts about that book on this blog. I hope that those that come across this blog will gain something from it.

Happy Reading!