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!