Rebecca

A colleague of mine gave me this book last year, thinking I might enjoy reading it. Well, I finally got around to reading it and I did really enjoy it. Daphne du Maurier wrote it in 1939 I believe. She also wrote "The Birds" (movie by Alfred Hitchcock). Apparently, Alfred Hitchcock made Rebecca into a movie too, so I'm going to have to check it out on Netflix.

Anyway, I just knew this book was considered a classic. I didn't know anything about it. Don't let the Alfred Hitchcock connection throw you; it's not scary at all. There are definitely suspenseful parts, but it's not a scary book. I think it's considered a romantic mystery.

It's a story of a young girl (her name is never mentioned in the book) who meets a fellow Brit while in Monte Carlo. This gentleman is much older than she and had his wife die about a year before. He was very wealthy, living on an estate called Manderley. I pictured Manderley like Mr. Darcy's estate in the most recent Pride and Prejudice (except a little warmer). Having lived in England, I saw a couple old estates myself (from the gate of course, we weren't allowed in!). But the concept fascinates me--having so much wealth and servants to do everything. Anyway, Maxim (the man) falls in love with the girl and marries her. He takes her home to Manderley. She thinks it'll be wonderful there, but quickly realizes that she is nothing like Maxim's first wife. The house is still run how Rebecca would have run it. Rebecca was this and Rebecca was that. She is constantly comparing herself to Rebecca, although she never talks to Maxim about it.

There are tons of things that happen, but basically, there is mystery around Rebecca's death that doesn't really get solved til the end. I won't say what happens, but I will say this: I should have expected the outcome, but for some reason I didn't. I think du Maurier is that good of a writer. She just had me reading and reading to find out what would happen next. I loved the book. It was an excellent book and I highly recommend it!

The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood was an excellent book. I told someone the other day it's like "The Giver" for adults. Atwood's writing style was refreshing to read. I guess I hadn't read a really good author for a long time. Her use of metaphors and description were fantastic. Although it was easy to read, I didn't rush through it because there was a lot of thinking involved.

The setting is somewhere in the U.S., (although at the end, you find out it's probably Maine) in the future sometime. The book is kind of a mystery, in that you don't really understand what's going on, or how the society they live in got to that point. To be honest, you really don't know even by the end. She just gives you some clues throughout the book and you have to piece it together.

The main character is Ofglen (although this is not her real name). The handmaids in this society are called a name that relates to the men they are with. (So I would be Ofrusty). The men are not their husbands. The handmaids are sort of like concubines. Their sole purpose is to reproduce. The men have wives, but for whatever reason, the wives aren't able to have kids, so they get handmaids to do the job for them. It's very strange, but the whole point of the book is to get you thinking, "what if life were like this? What if I lived in a society like this? Would I be like Ofglen, or her best friend Moira (who chooses a different role in the society).

Atwood is making a statement about so many things in this book: women's rights and feminism, nuclear waste, terrorism, religious fanatics, etc. It's a compelling read that will get your wheels spinning about the society we DO live in.

If you're looking for a book that will make you think, but at the same time entertain you with exceptional writing, this is one for you! I highly recommend it.

Once Upon A Quinceanera

Ok, so I challenged myself and read a non-fiction again. Sometimes I wonder why I do this because I really don't enjoy them. I don't know why, but I guess when I'm reading, I just want a story!

This book did give valuable insight into what quinceaneras are all about and a glimpse into the Latina culture. The format of the book was not to my liking. I couldn't figure out how it was organized. The author just seemed to ramble on, tending to be redundant and then threw in some of her personal story as well. Actually, it was the author's story that I found more intriguing than the girls' quinces she was writing about.

Basically, she tries to discover if quinceaneras are a good thing or not and doesn't really come to a conclusion. The statistics are there--about 25% of all Latinas drop out of high school and quite a few get pregnant in their teens (can't remember the statistic of that one). Anyway, she points out that as nice as the quinces are, they don't seem to be helping the Latinas prepare for a successful future (at least successful in the American view--perhaps being pregnant by the time you're 16 is successful in their view).

Not being a minority and really not know what it would be like, I found this book helpful in trying to understand their culture. The struggle to exist in 2 worlds and cultures must be daunting, and maybe that's why some just aren't successful in adapting to the American one.

Interesting read, but definitely not one of my favorites this year.

The Thirteenth Tale

I'm on a role! I can't believe I read another book in only a week. It's nice to be in a reading groove again--I don't think I have been since before the baby.

Anyway, this book, written by Diane Setterfield, is a very interesting read. It was gripping, mysterious, and dark. There were many turns in the plot that kept you guessing and captivated. Perhaps that is why I was able to read it in a week!

Basically, it's about a very famous author in England (fictional of course) who is a recluse. No one knows where she came from or who she really is. She offers many interviews a year and in each one she tells a different story, so everyone knows it's not true. This author, Vida Winter, is dying, and decides to finally tell her story. She chooses someone to write her biography for her. The book is the biography that she wrote, except it's not your typical biography. Margaret, the biographer, is trying to figure out the truth within the story and as she does, she discovers things about her own past as well.

I know this is a pretty ambiguous summary, but there are too many details to include! I highly recommend this book. It's got the feel of something like Wuthering Heights, I'm not quite sure why, but it just does for me. Definitely two thumbs up!

Sarah's Key

Sarah's Key, written by Tatiana De Rosnay, is a book that switches from 1942 Paris to contemporary Paris. In July of 1942 there was a round-up of French Jews by the French police. They sent the Jews to camps in France and then ultimately to Auschwitz. Anyone sent to Auschwitz didn't come back alive. What was alarming about this round-up was the number of women and children involved. It was so sad to read about.

The main character in the book, Julia Jarmond, is an American who had been living in Paris for 25 years. She married a French man and had a daughter. She was a journalist for a magazine that asked her to research the round-up for the 60th anniversary of it. While doing her research, Julia discovered the story of Sarah, hence the title "Sarah's Key".

I will not lie--the first 1/2 of the book was so depressing I could only read a couple pages at a time. I have read many Holocaust books in the past, but for whatever reason, this one was especially hard to take. Maybe it's because I'm finally a mother now. I always thought the idea of families being ripped apart was terribly sad, but now that I can imagine someone doing that to me and Jack, I can barely stand it.

The second 1/2 of the book was not nearly as depressing, but the switch from 1942 to current stopped and it just stayed in the current time period. I found myself missing the point of view of Sarah. I wanted to read more of her story, not Julia's. Julia becomes a little obsessed with Sarah's story and I found it a little unrealistic.

It was an interesting book, but I'm not sure I'd consider it a fave. Too sad at the beginning, too unrealistic at the end. But you'll have to read it to see if you agree!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

This was a fantastic book! Once I realized I wasn't going to finish The Art of Happiness, I decided to pick up this one that my mom recommended. (She always has great recommendations!) I read it in just a few days, after trying to trudge through the Dalai Lama's book. It was fun, entertaining and easy to read.

Written by Mary Ann Shaffer, this book is set in England just after WWII. The format of the book is letters and telegrams written back and forth between the characters. I thought this was a very creative way to tell the story and I didn't feel like I was missing any information in between letters. I'm sure that was a difficult feat to accomplish.

This was different from other post-WWII books that I've read. Maybe it was the geography (mostly set on the island of Guernsey), but I think it had more to do with the author's approach. I loved it and I highly recommend it! I'm so sad that the author didn't live to see the fruits of her work (she passed away in 2008).

I won't give too many details, but the main character is Juliet and I just love her personality! She was a strong willed woman who knew what she wanted in life. She had a witty sense of humor and seemed like the kind of person who would make any gathering more fun just by being there. She starts a correspondence with a man who bought a book with her name and address in it. He lived on Guernsey and was part of a book club during the war. You'll have to read it to find out the rest!

The Art of Happiness

I really shouldn't be writing about this one, seeing as I never finished it (besides the fact that I should be mopping the kitchen right now). But I thought you should know what I've been reading for the last 5 weeks and why it has taken me so long.

With this book I realized that although non-fiction is educational, I need fiction! Non-fiction just doesn't grip me in a way that makes me want to pick up the book and read, and so I seldom got around to it! When there are so many other things that demand my time, the book has to pique my interest to take it away from those other things.

That being said, I really did enjoy this book. The Dalai Lama spoke a lot of truths in his conversations with the author, things that we could all do well to learn and heed. I truly believe that truth is truth no matter where the source. I don't know a whole lot about Buddhism, but I know that a lot of what the Dalai Lama tries to do is what we all should do.

The premise of the book is that the purpose of man's existence is to find happiness. How we go about trying to attain that usually doesn't work because we're searching for happiness outside of ourselves instead of within. If you are looking for an interesting read and are in need of some self help--this is a great book for you!

Murder At The Opera

See, I told you it takes forever for me to read a book anymore! I just finished the book "Murder at the Opera" by Margaret Truman. This is the next book in our ward's book club. I have no idea who recommended it, but I think Margaret Truman is the daughter of Pres. Harry Truman. Anyway, I wasn't really impressed with the book to be honest. There were some things I guessed (which I can never do correctly with an Agatha Christie), and it just wasn't all that suspenseful.

I suppose the purpose of a book club is to get you to read things you woudn't normally read, so that was accomplished. I just think there are too many good murder/mystery authors out there to waste your time with a mediocre one.

The next book on the ward book club list is "The Last Lecture", which I've already read, so I think I'm going to read something else now! Trouble is, there are too many options. But I need to read something I can recommend to others, so I think I'll read "The Art of Happiness" by the Dalai Lama. Hopefully it won't take me a month, but it may!

A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN

I finally finished it! I have been reading this book FOREVER! It took me at least a month to read the first half and then I finally got into it and read the last half in about 2 days. I have no idea why it took me so long to get into it. I think it had more to do with me than the book.

Written by Betty Smith in the 40's, this book is considered a modern classic. There is nothing spectacular about the plot--it's just a story about a girl growing up in Brooklyn around 1914. I found the description of Brooklyn at that time fascinating. I've never been to New York, but I could definitely imagine it during that time.

The main character, Francie, grows up in poverty. Her parents are children of immigrants. Her father is an alcoholic and ultimately dies from it, although she absolutely adores him. Her mother works as a janitoress and wants her children to be educated so they don't end up like her. The division of classes in the country during that time seemed inescapable, yet somehow, poor people managed to get an education and make better lives for themselves.

I think one of the themes from this book is that education is the key to a better life. I have to agree. We are so lucky to live in a country that has student loans, grants and other ways to fund education. I think Americans totally take for granted the opportunities they have. Of course, I still think there is somewhat of a class system; how many Harvard grads have at least one parent that was a Harvard grad? I'm sure the percentage is something they don't want published! (Watch the documentary "Born Rich" for some interesting insight into that world!)

Anyway, I did enjoy the book, but just wish it hadn't taken me so long to get into! Let's hope the next one doesn't take that long!

The Lion's Game

I finished Octavian Nothing early last month, so I thought I'd squeeze in a Nelson DeMille before I started on the next book. Usually these only take me a few days because they're quick reads and captivating. Not anymore! With a new baby it took me forever to read! I think it was about a month and it should have taken a week. Oh well! Now I know. I will definitely not finish A Tree Grows in Brooklyn before book club, but I can try.

This book was written in 2000 and is about a mideastern terrorist who kills over 300 people on a plane. Kind of scary that Nelson DeMille wasn't that far off. Obviously 9-11 killed over 3000 people, but the fact that planes were involved indicates to me that it was known our airlines weren't that safe from terrorists and that they could easily use them.

That aside, it's a book with a recurring character, John Corey, an NYPD dectective that now works for an anti-terrorist organization of the government. Corey is a crass male chauvinist, but it works and you like him for it. For a Nelson DeMille, this book didn't have too much language or sex. They can get pretty explicit sometimes, but this one was good.

I enjoy the mystery and the chase, but this book was slow for me, not just because of Jack, but I think it was because of the writing. DeMille usually keeps the books from Corey's perspective (written in first person), but in this book each chapter went back and forth betweent the terrorist in first person and Corey. I don't think it worked as well. There are other Corey books I have enjoyed more.

So, I won't ruin the story for you by telling you how it ends, but I will say this: if the CIA is anything like its portrayed in this book, I don't trust them and don't think they should get away with the things they do. Let's just leave it at that!

Octavian Nothing

This was our book club book for this month. Apparently it is a young adult fiction, but there were so many vocabulary words in it that I didn't know, I can't imagine how difficult it would be for kids to read. Anyway, it's written by M.T. Anderson. It's a historical fiction set at the time of the American Revolution in Boston.

Octavian Nothing is a slave that was bought by an academy of professors. Actually, his mom was bought and she was pregnant with him. He and is mom are treated like royalty and given a royal education as an experiment to see if black people can have the same intelligence as white given education. He doesn't even know he's a slave until he's 7 or so. The professors are very scientific in their approach to him, but since he doesn't know any better, he thinks this is normal. He even has to weigh his bowel movements!

Anyway, it was an interesting book, but a little slow moving for me. I generally enjoy historical fiction, but I just wasn't buying it from this author. I'm not really sure why. I think historical fiction requires a ton of research, and maybe he/she just didn't do enough. There was a part when the philosopher makes a comment that included the word "atom" and I noticed right away that atoms weren't even known about during that time period. I guess things like that bother me and then I don't enjoy the book. I'm too much like my mom in that way. Oh well!

MY NEW BLOG

I've been wanting to do a blog about just our family and finally set it up! I doubt I'll update it as often as I'd like to, but I wanted a safe place to post pictures and happenings of our home for people to see. It is private, so if you weren't invited to read it and would like to, just email me and I'll invite you!

BABYWISE

I told you my next post was going to be about Babywise! I'm sure this is no news to many of you, but this is THE book for parents as far as getting kids on a schedule. Now, Jack is only 4 weeks old, so it hasn't really proven itself worthy yet, but I'm hoping if I stick to the book, I'll get him sleeping at least 6 hours at night by the time he's 8 weeks.

Everyone has their different parenting philosophies, which you quickly learn once you become one yourself. This book operates under the premise that you as the parent set the schedule for your child (eating, sleeping, etc.) Now, that doesn't mean that you must absolutely stick to the schedule and have no flexibility. It's just a guideline. I found the book to be extremely helpful to me, being a first time mom. Jack pretty much eats on a 3 hour feeding cycle; which means he eats somewhere around 3,6,9 and 12, give or take. Last night he sleep for 4 hours (between 9 and 1). It was so nice to get that extra hour! It won't be healthy for him to sleep longer than 5 hours at night until he's about 8 weeks or so. Most Babywise babies sleep through the night on their own, but some need a little help. I'll let you know if Jack is one of those! ;-)

Speaking of feeding, Rusty has agreed to help me with one night feeding a week (Saturday or Sunday), so I can get a longer stretch of sleep on those days. I have borrowed a pump from my sister (thanks Jel) and so have a storage of milk in the freezer. Rusty just defrosts one of those and feeds it to Jack in a bottle. He takes the bottle no problem, and I just pump the side I would have fed him with when I wake up. We've only done this twice, but it's been nice that Rusty has agreed to help me out. I never thought he'd do something like this. Diapers, on the other hand, are a different story!

My Life At The Moment

Ok, so I finally had my baby and I don't know how I'm going to fit reading into my day! :-) I know he's young and doesn't sleep very long, but even when he's sleeping, I find a million other things to do besides read. I know I'll get into a routine and be able to fit it in, but it may be a while before I post about a book I read. (Except I am reading one right now--Babywise--a must for new mothers!)

Maybe I'll start blogging about the awesome board books I'm reading Jack. This could become Nancy's Kids Reading Corner. That might be easier to stay on top of, but I'm not sure too many people would care!

Anyway, I am really enjoying the motherhood thing and Jack is just an awesome baby. He seldom cries, and when he does, it's because he's hungry, needs a change, or needs to burp. I've been very blessed to have such a great child. Cross your fingers it continues this way!

Just wanted anyone who reads this blog to know that I'm alive, doing well and really happy. I will get back to posting about books, but I'm not sure exactly when. I'm contemplating doing a blog about our family, but Rusty is very particular about pictures and info about Jack just out on the web. (He'd probably get mad at me for including the picture in this post.) If I do a family blog, it will be private, so I'll let you know!

The Way to Paradise

Ok, so Keisha updated her blog today and said that I needed to as well. I haven't finished the book yet, so I wasn't going to write about it until I did. But seeing as we already had book club about it, I guess I can.

This book was originally written in Spanish by the Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa. Ana, one of our book club members, is Peruvian herself, so she exposed us to some foreign literature. I, of course, don't read Spanish, so I read the translated version.

This is a very interesting book. I would classify it as a historical fiction. Llosa alternates chapters between 2 characters: Flora Tristan and her grandson Paul Gaugain. If you haven't heard of either of them, Flora Tristan was a feminist in the 1840's working in France to create a Worker's Union and Paul Gaugain is a very famous French artist. (I believe it is one of his paintings on the cover of the book). I remember reading about Gaugain in Art History in college. I didn't know much about him other than he moved to Tahiti where he created his masterpieces (late 1800's).

Flora Tristan is a captivating character and I love how the author tells her life story through flashbacks she has while she's working the circuit in France trying to get the Worker's Union organized. She was a very strong woman (very unusual for her time and place). I suppose that's why I like her. I'd like to hope I'd have the guts to do what she did.

Paul Gaugain, on the other hand, was crazy. I don't know what it is about artists, but it seems like they're all a little crazy in the head. He had syphillus and didn't mind spreading the disease all over Tahiti with girls as young as 13. He "married" a couple of them, even though he had a wife and children living back in Denmark. He was a terrible father and husband to his first wife (essentially abandoning her). And the syphillus eventually drove him crazy. I do have to say though, it was interesting seeing life from his point of view, however distorted it may have been.

I will finish this book and thank Ana for expanding my exposure to foreign literature! Thanks!

Brisingr

I finally read the 3rd book in the Inheritance Series by Christopher Paolini. Fantasy has to be my all time favorite genre, and I have enjoyed reading this series. I was too cheap to buy the hardback, and so I was waiting for it to come out in paperback. But my mom was returning it to my nephew Caleb, and I snagged it up before she had a chance. Originally there was only going to be 3 books in the series, but apparently the author had too much to say, so it became 4.

This book was a little like Harry Potter 5 for me, in that it seemed to be a bridge or segway between books. It was kind of anti-climatic. There was a lot explained in the book, but not a lot of action. It was definitely kind of slow in the middle, which is probably why it took me so long to finish. That being said, I really enjoyed it and look forward to the last one coming out. (I'm not going to hold my breath though, because I'm sure it'll be a while).

My favorite fantasy author of this kind is Terry Brooks. I think he's a lot less wordy and does just as good a job as painting a picture for you. Terry Brooks' books have druids and magic, elves and dwarves, just like Christopher Paolini, but I prefer them. If you like fantasy, try the Shannara series.

Now I'm on to another book. I think I might try the classic "Rebecca". We'll see!

The Translator: A Tribesman's Memoir of Darfur

This book, written by Daoud Hari, was our book club book for this month. It's a really quick read and gives just a little insight into what is happening in Darfur, Sudan. We have heard things on the news and know that there is genocide occuring, but very few of us probably really knows what's going on. This is just one man's experience and what he has seen there.

I'm so glad my friend Keisha suggested this book. I think it's so important that we strive to understand current events that affect the entire world. With all the talk of government bailout and stimulus packages, lost jobs and homes, it's good to get a global perspective of things.

I met a man from Sudan at the Department of Education last summer as I was applying for my reading specialist endorsement. He was applying for a substitute certificate. He earned his bachelor's degree from ASU in political science and is going to school for his MBA. We struck up a really brief conversation and I knew we were going to read a book about Darfur in book club, so I asked him about it. His name is Deng Atem and he runs a non-profit organization to help the Sudanese (see www.s4sf.org). Anyway, I kept in touch with him and invited him to come to our book club discussion last Friday night. He agreed and it was so interesting!

If you know anything about Sudan, you have heard of the Lost Boys. Deng was one of these. His village in Southern Sudan was destroyed when he was 6 years old. He, along with many others, walked to Ethiopia to live in a refugee camp for a few years. Through a series of events, he lived in different refugee camps in different countries and even served in the military until he was 17 years old. He ended up in a camp in Kenya where the U.S. took some of these boys and brought them to America. Deng ended up in Phoenix. His stories were compelling, and although he had a different experience than Daoud, it still helped us see what life in that part of Africa is really like.

Needless to say, it really got me thinking about the blessings we all have. I know many people are losing their homes and their jobs and it's a scary time for our entire country. But we really don't understand what losing our home could be. For these people, entire villages are being burned down, women and children are raped and killed, 10 year olds are joining the army. Deng hasn't seen his family since he was 6. Even if we lose our homes or jobs, we still have our families, friends and people we can turn to. These people have no one. I really had a sense, after talking with Deng, that we still have so much to give! With our budgets tight and people living pay check to pay check, how many of us would be able to find extra money if we just cancelled cable or Netflix; went out to dinner one less time a month; or didn't get a pedicure that month. We live in a land of plenty and perhaps this downturn in the economy will help us see that we're all a bunch of spoiled brats. Maybe we need a piece of humble pie to help us acknowledge all the blessings we've been given.

Now I don't mean to undermine the serious nature of the economy. I know there are many people really struggling, so I don't want to sound insensitive. But 7.6% unemployment is nothing compared to the devestation other countries see for decades. I highly recommend reading this book, not only so you can see how blessed you are, but maybe you'll find a way to help out someone in need!

SELF-MADE MAN

WARNING: CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT!

This is the book club book I chose for this year. I saw this book in the bargain section at Borders and it reminded me that I had seen the author on a TV show (like Oprah or something like that). It intrigued me, so I bought it. Normally I am not one for non-fiction, in fact, I very seldom read it by choice. But this book was a very interesting non-fiction read and I highly recommend it.

The reason it's controversial is because the author, Norah Vincent, is a lesbian. She disguises herself as a man for 18 months as a social experiment. She wanted to infiltrate the man's world as a man and see what it was like. She makes it very clear in the beginning that she is not a transvestite or a person who desires a sex change. She just wondered what it was like to be a man.

There were many lessons Norah learned through her experience as "Ned" (her alter-ego). So many that there's no way I'll try to expound here. Suffice it to say, I learned a lot about my husband just by reading this book. Norah explains at the end that she still doesn't know what it's really like to be a man because she isn't one. But there are definite ideas that our society and culture have about gender, gender roles and gender expectations. I find this subject especially intriguing after all the hoopla about Prop 102 and 8 recently. The book really doesn't have anything to do with being homosexual, but it does cause one to think about what gender really is. Is gender something you're born with? Is it something you learn because society makes it so?

Personally, I believe gender is something you are born with. (See the Family Proclamation). I have seen this with my niece and nephew (twins that are very much boy and girl individually). That being said, I do not think that gay people simply choose to be gay and are inherant sinners because of it. I don't know why people are gay and I'm not sure we'll ever know. There are probably a thousand different reasons. As Norah discovered, she is very happy being a woman, has no desire to be a man, but for whatever reason is attracted to other women and not men.

I encourage a read of this book, even if you don't agree with it, as a means of opening our eyes to other ideas, thoughts and experiences. She uses very crude language and does talk about what goes on in strip clubs, so if that will offend you, don't read it. I'm just about to go to book club now and can't wait to see what everyone else thought of the book!