Little Thoughts About Books and Stuff

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger Summary:   In the summer of 1932, on the banks of Minnesota's Gilead River, the Lincoln Indian Training School is a pitiless place where Native American children, forcibly separated from their parents, are sent to be educated. It is also home to Odie O’Banion, a lively orphan boy whose exploits constantly earn him the superintendent’s wrath. Odie and his brother, Albert, are the only white faces among the hundreds of Native American children at the school.      After committing a terrible crime, Odie and Albert are forced to flee for their lives along with their best friend, Mose, a mute young man of Sioux heritage. Out of pity, they also take with them a brokenhearted little girl named Emmy. Together, they steal away in a canoe, heading for the mighty Mississippi in search for a place to call home.      Over the course of one unforgettable summer, these four orphan vagabonds journey into the unknown, cro...

Currently Reading: Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor Date Started:  March 8, 2021 Goodreads Summary:  No matter what you eat, how much you exercise, how skinny or young or wise you are, none of it matters if you're not breathing properly. There is nothing more essential to our health and well-being than breathing: take air in, let it out, repeat twenty-five thousand times a day. Yet, as a species, humans have lost the ability to breathe correctly, with grave consequences. Journalist James Nestor travels the world to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it. The answers aren't found in pulmonology labs, as we might expect, but in the muddy digs of ancient burial sites, secret Soviet facilities, New Jersey choir schools, and the smoggy streets of Sao Paulo. Nestor tracks down men and women exploring the hidden science behind ancient breathing practices like Pranayama, Sudarshan Kriya, and Tummo and teams up with pulmonary tinkerers to scientifi...

Who thought it was a good idea for me to participate in FOUR book discussions? I do enjoy talking about books so it's not a huge deal.  This is one of the things I miss about working at a public desk in a small branch, everyone was always talking about what they were reading and recommending books.  Title: The Husband's Secret Author:  Liane Moriarty Rating: 3.5  of 5 stars Group:  For the Love of Reading Review:  [It was a fast read and didn't take a lot of focus.  That said, there were things that I didn't care for like the sterotypes, like the mother and daughter-in-law who didn't get a long, or the fat girl who loses weight and is suddenly beautiful.  I also didn't see a need for the Tess/Felicity/Will story line. Oh and let's not forget poor Polly! Title:  Normal People Author:  Sally Rooney Rating: 2.5  of 5 stars Group:  Ladies Night Out  Review:  I've seen this author compared to Jane...

These last few months I've done readings for four different book discussion groups. The only one I've done each month is the reading for the group at my local library.  I'll be taking over the group in 2020!  I'm so excited. We're currently going through our selection process to pick the books we'll be reading next year.  July Title:  Woman in Cabin 10 Author:  Ruth Ware Rating:  4 of 5 stars Group:  MCLS Tuesday Book Club (Facebook Group) Review:  It was a bit slow moving for me at first, but then it started to pick up and I found myself really pulled into the story.  In the discussion, since this was the kick off to the library system's online discussion group, it was mostly staff and as such we all had interesting takes.  One being for such a high end ship it's WiFi was pretty crappy! Title:  Saga, Vol. 1 Author:  Brian K. Vaughan Rating:  4 of 5 stars Group:  SLSG Book Club (Facebook Group) ...

Currently Reading: Title:  Wicked Girls Author:  Stephanie Hemphill Date Started: October 14 Note:  Bookclub selection Goodreads Summary:  A fictionalized account, told in verse, of the Salem witch trials, told from the perspective of three young women living in Salem in 1692-- Mercy Lewis, Margaret Walcott, and Ann Putnam, Jr. Check out my  Goodreads 2019 Challenge  to see what I've read this year.

So besides the library book club meetings, I also was able to make it to a Meetup group book club since I hosted it!  Title:  Orphan Train Author:  Christina Baker Kline Rating:  5 of 5 stars Review:  I loved this book, even though I felt it used too many stereotypes and the ending felt rushed.  The connection between Viv and Molly was great and the idea of portaging and Viv's pack rat attic was a nice device to weave the stories together.  I also liked how with each change in her live Viv had a new name, reminded me of The Girl with Seven Names. -- Title:  The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency Author:  Alexander McCall Smith Rating: 3 of 5 stars Review:  This was a bit too slow moving for me, even though it was a good reflection of the culture. I did like how the stories were about the people and not so much about the cases she was solving. I enjoyed the description of working in a mine, around the time we read thi...

I started going to a book club meeting at my local library. I never knew they had one and had been going sporadically to one held by a meetup group I'm a part of. Here's what we've been reading: Title:  Clock Dance Author:  Anne Tyler Rating:  3 of 5 stars Review:  Beautifully written but slow moving.  The story is broken into 2 parts, I liked the first part more than the second part. The second part, which was the core part of the novel just seemed implausible.  --- Title:  The Girl with Seven Names: Escape From North Korea Author:  Hyeonseo Lee Rating:  5 stars Review:  I really liked this book, it was an incredible story. There was a lot of discussion on how she didn't really want to leave North Korea, but due to a stupid teenage mistake she because a North Korean defector. Even with that we all had to agree, she is amazing for what she was able to do survive.  --- Title:  Brave New Worl...

When I was deciding to come back to the blog I was looking through all the blogging memes that the blogs I read follow. I had done Book Beginnings and The Friday 56 a handful of times, but over at  Mixed Book Bag , JC merged them together and I really like that idea.  So borrowing from her I'm going to start linking up to both Book Beginnings on Friday from  Rose City Reader  and The Friday 56 with  Freda's Voice . Clock Dance by Anne Tyler It Begins:   Willa Drake and Sonya Bailey were selling candy bars door-to-door. On Page 56: There were tumbling green hills resembling bunches of fresh parsley, and mysterious hollows already darkening in the late-afternoon shadows, and nearer to the highway little cabins sat surrounded by rickrack fences and ramshackle sheds, washing machines on their front porches, hound dogs splayed in the dirt yards, tractors rusting out back.  Verdict: My rating:  3 of 5 stars I recently le...

Weekend Cooking is hosted by  Beth Fish Reads The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer My rating: 4 of 5 stars The obvious choice for this meeting would have been for someone to make Potato Peel Pie, but if you've ever looked at the recipe or read reviews of the dish you would probably veto the option just like we did and stick with our normal choices of baked goods, picky foods, and wine. I felt like we needed to have something potato related to discuss this book and looked around online and found a number of mashed potato pie recipe ideas.  I picked this one : Ingredients  instant mashed potatoes  1 teaspoon garlic powder  2 eggs, beaten  1/2 cup Parmesan cheese or 1/2 cup Romano cheese  1 1/4 cups mozzarella cheese ( divided)  paprika  Directions  Make mashed potatoes according to package directions for 7-8 servings.  Stir garlic powder, eggs, Parmesan and one cup of the ...

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson My rating: 4 of 5 stars This summer's Adult Summer Reading Theme is Literary Elements.  We've taken a science/science fiction approach to the theme.  I decided that for July and August my book club would pick two classic science fiction books. I unfortunately had to cancel our July meeting but I wanted to share some thoughts on the novel.  I couldn't remember if I had read the book or not as part of a school assignment, but it's a story most people at least know the basics of, (at least I hope they do!). The only thing I really disliked about the book was the point of view Stevennson used to tell the story.  I would have liked to have been with Dr. Jekyll when he tried his experiments and been there after he had woken up from being Mr. Hyde. I think the story is a great discussion on the ideas of good and evil in humanity.  It was interesting to note that Mr. Hyde was smaller than Dr...

Tea and a Book: Palisades Park by Alan Brennert My rating: 5 of 5 stars Tea and a Book didn't meet, because no one showed up. I loved the book and was so happy I picked it as our June book.  I became invested in the characters and would get angry when my lunch breaks would end or it got so late I couldn't keep my eyes open to read even one more page. Mercer County Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot My rating: 4 of 5 stars We had a great discussion with this book, a lot of talk about ethical and moral standings with regard to science.  We also talked about how much has and hasn't changed since Henrietta's life in regards to medical coverage. We can't wait to see the movie (whenever it gets made). Forever YA: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater My rating: 1 of 5 stars DNF I just couldn't get into this story. It felt like I was dropped into the middle of the story and I just couldn't get ...

Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder by Arianna Huffington My rating: 4 of 5 stars Description: In Thrive, Arianna Huffington makes an impassioned and compelling case for the need to redefine what it means to be successful in today's world. Arianna Huffington's personal wake-up call came in the form of a broken cheekbone and a nasty gash over her eye -- the result of a fall brought on by exhaustion and lack of sleep. As the cofounder and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group -- one of the fastest growing media companies in the world -- celebrated as one of the world's most influential women, and gracing the covers of magazines, she was, by any traditional measure, extraordinarily successful. Yet as she found herself going from brain MRI to CAT scan to echocardiogram, to find out if there was any underlying medical problem beyond exhaustion, she wondered is this really what success feels lik...

Black City by Elizabeth  Richards My rating: 4 of 5 stars wow...that was some end to the book! That was my review when I read this book back in December of 2012. I read the book in two days and just loved how it ended. I recommended this book but sadly was not able to make the book club meeting. I was really looking forward to discussing the book but was hosting the Mercer County Girls Book Club that night. Description: A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war. In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-old Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other,...

Beautiful Ruins  by  Jess Walter My rating:  4 of 5 stars I originally read this book back in December for the Winter Book Club . Since we were moving Tea & A Book from Tuesday afternoons to Saturday mornings. I wanted to pick a popular book that I knew a lot of people had read, so patrons would feel more comfortable stopping in (you know in case they wanted to join us!). The switch didn't go smoothly. I thought I could get some computer updates done before our 11 am start time, but the last 3 computers were not updating nicely. Since just one person showed up, I apologized and asked if he wanted to stop back later and sit with me at the Ref Desk and discuss the book and he was okay with that (I love how flexible he is to changing book day/time).  At around 11:45 a woman came in and asked about the book club and we explained that we didn't really have it, but I could ask the other interested person and we could meet at 1. That worked for everyone and we held...

I just haven't been motivated to write reviews. I wrote a really brief one for CNJ JASNA and feel kinda bad about it. Here's what I read and a brief review of the books. First up Forever YA: The Tyrant's Daughter by J.C. Carleson My rating: 5 of 5 stars I wasn't 100% sure about this book since I wasn't there when they picked the book. I have to say it was a great book, one that has the reader asking a lot of questions.  I liked that we got to see her life, it's a life that most of us question a person living. We ask "How does (the person) not know what's going on around them?". This book shows us that even though Laila's father was a tyrant, she was brought up with lies and to her they were the truth.  Until she comes to the U.S. she lives in a carefully constructed world. While Laila is trying to fit in with a life that is so very foreign to her, her mother is trying desperately to find a way to fix their lives. For her, that's ...

Since I fell behind in my posts for March I missed posts for my various book clubs. Here's what I read and a brief review of the books. First up here are February and March's books for Forever YA: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell My rating: 5 of 5 stars I really loved this book. I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of Rainbow Rowell's work. The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson My rating: 4 of 5 stars I enjoy Laurie Halse Anderson's books, I think she writes some of the best YA fiction.  I enjoyed this book, but struggled a bit some of the plot. For our last Winter Book Club* meeting in March we read: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern My rating: 2 of 5 stars I could not get into this book.  I thought the plot was a great idea, but I just felt like everything dragged. For Tea & A Book** we read: Suite Francaise by Irène Némirovsky My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book is in two parts with the author originally pl...

My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book was a hit! We liked that it was about her life leading up to her appointment on the Supreme Court and not just a brief biography and then a detailed about her time on the bench.  We enjoyed being able to see similarities between our diverse backgrounds and her family, it really connects that no matter what the nationality/ethnicity families are similar. When the evening book club read this book, I heard a lot of comments like, "Wow, I can't believe how much she overcame" or "to think she grew up in the projects."  I was expecting a story somewhat similar to From Homeless to Harvard , but that's not really Sonia's story. As I read I realized, that if my family hadn't settled in the suburbs, portions of my life would have mirrored her life. In our discussion we talked about how it doesn't matter the where a person lives, they can accomplish great things with the right suppo...

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg My rating: 4 of 5 stars I have had this book on my To Be Read list since it came out, but because of all the mixed reviews when it came out I never got around to reading it.  This is one of the things I love about book clubs, I get to read books that I never would have picked up, or that I've put off reading. I didn't know how the book would translate into information I could use, I'm not on an upward climb to the top of the corporate ladder. I'm surprised at how much I was able to take from the book, just the idea of sitting at the table and leaning in, is something that can be applied no matter what job a woman holds. At the discussion I found that a lot of us were able to apply some of the basic concepts to our jobs. We all agreed that we liked the idea of work being like a jungle gym rather than a ladder.  The idea that we can make those lateral transitions and still have access to growth is a bet...

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman My rating: 3 of 5 stars Book Description: After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day’s journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby’s cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby. Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a “gift from God,” and against Tom’s judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them. I could ...

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green My rating: 5 of 5 stars I loved this book.  We had a great discussion (is it a discussion when it's only 2.5 people?). I say 2.5 because one woman had only read part of the book and was only there for part of the meeting. I have the Exclusive Collector's Edition from B&N that features a Q&A with John Green.  This really added to our discussion to have his answer to some of our discussion topics. We also used the questions to facilitate our discussion. For example in discussing the way Augustus misuses big words and how Hazel is wrong about infinite sets. I'm really excited for the movie too! View all my reviews