Girl With a Pearl Earring

I read a book of Tracy Chevalier's last year. See here. I enjoyed that book and so was expecting to enjoy this one as well. She did not disappoint.

The story is another historical fiction set in 17th Century Holland. The inspiration for the story is a Vermeer painting with the same name (see the cover of the book). I had heard of Vermeer because I read a kid's book a while ago called "Chasing Vermeer". I had never heard of him before, even though I took lots of art history classes in college. (At one time I wanted to get a Master's in Art History).

Anyway, Chevalier does a fantastic job of describing Dutch life at this time. In her fantasy world, the girl with a pearl earring is actually one of Vermeer's maid. Obviously there is no historical basis for this, and actually very little is known about Vermeer. Which makes him a perfect artist to write a historical fiction about because we really don't know who his models are and what the stories are behind the paintings.

I was intrigued from the beginning and Chevalier kept me gripped all the way to the climax of the plot. It's definitely not a page turner, but it's such an interesting setting and idea that you can't help but want to find out what happens next. Although I think a lot of the ladies in the book club didn't particularly like the book, it certainly caused a lot of discussion, which really made it endearing.

The Truth Machine

I actually read this book on Rusty's kindle. It's an older book (written in 1996 if I remember right), and so it was only $3 on the kindle. It was fun to read this way, especially considering the type of story this is.

Written by James Halperin, I'm not sure if it's truly a science fiction, but I would classify it as such because it deals with ideas of the future and technology. The author makes some outlandish assumptions and guesses as to how the future will be, but I suppose George Orwell did too when he wrote 1984. The problem with writing futurist books is that eventually the future becomes the present, and then the author is "wrong" about how it will be.

The main character is a super genius who has the idea to create a truth machine. This machine can detect a lie with 100% accuracy. As this machine is adopted into use in the United States, the affects are far-reaching. People can no longer lie in court. Partners can no longer hide infidelity. You get the idea. What would our world be like if everyone HAD to tell the truth? Read and find out what James Halperin thinks!

Anatomy of Peace

I have been reading in the last 2 months, I just never got around to writing about the books.

I'm in 2 book clubs now, but luckily, it hasn't been too hard to keep up.

The first book I read was this one: The Anatomy of Peace by the Arbinger Institute. I had never heard of it, but apparently this is a companion to "Leadership and Self-Deception". Neither of these titles are books I would typically pick up and read, but I really enjoyed this one.

It is written as a fiction story, but incorporates the philosophy of the Arbinger Institute. Basically, it's a way of looking at the world that allows you to deal with conflict in a more Christ-like way. Don't be mistaken though--it is not a Christian book. I just felt like what they describe were ideas Christ would support!

So, our lives are full of conflict. The book is not about avoiding conflict, but simply how to cope with it in a more healthy way. Ever have arguments with your husband? children? parents? Reading this book will help you look at them (and yourself) in a whole new way. I wish I could say I have fully implemented the ideas in my own life. I'm trying, but a refresher read would be good for me already!

Half Broke Horses

I just finished reading this story today. I really enjoyed it and was sorry (again) that it sat on my bedside table for so long. The author, Jeannette Walls, is the author of "The Glass Castle". My mom told me about The Glass Castle a couple years ago, but something about it has made me not want to read it.

When she brought me this book, I was hesitant. She said, "It's not like The Glass Castle at all. This is about the author's grandmother". So I said I'd give it a try. I liked it so much it has made me want to read The Glass Castle.

Anyway, Lily Casey (and then eventually Smith) is Ms. Wall's grandma. She was born and raised on ranches in Texas and New Mexico. She leaves at a very young age to teach in a one room school house (after going to boarding school herself) in Arizona. That's how the story starts out. I won't bore you with details of the plot.

I'll just tell you why I liked the book.

1) It is organized in short vignettes and sections within the book. This was perfect for me because I was able to read little bits at a time and wasn't feeling like I was missing anything.

2) It's told in 1st person and you really get a sense of who Lily Casey Smith was (at least how her granddaughter remembered and interpreted her). She was quite the character and becomes endearing in her own little way. She's exactly how I picture a woman of the west in the early 20th century to be. I didn't know Rusty's grandma very well, but from what I hear, Lily Smith reminds me of her. I don't know if it's a generational thing or more like a rancher thing, but it's interesting.

3) The book had a "These is my Words" feel to it, but it was clearly more realistic. Not because These is my Words was unrealistic, but because I knew Lily Casey Smith actually existed and much of the story could be verified. I don't know why that was important to me, but it was.

4) It made me wish I had asked my own grandmother questions about herself before she died. I was too young to care or understand how important this would become to me, but I never really knew my grandmothers on either side. I think that's sad, and wish I had cared more.

I highly recommend the book. It's entertaining, fun, light and a quick read.

Remarkable Creatures

My mom gave me this book to read. She bought it at a shop in Cabo San Lucas when she was down there in May. I had never heard of it, or the author, Tracy Chevalier. She told me it wasn't the best book in the world, but an enjoyable read. I agree with her.

Set in 19th Century London, this is a story of a unusual but lasting friendship. Elizabeth Philpot is a spinster whose brother marries and so she and her 2 unmarried sisters are forced to relocate because the sister in law doesn't want them living in her house. She is given 150 pounds a year as "salary", which doesn't sound like much, but she is still part of the upper class. They relocate to Lyme Regis, a small village on the sea.

Mary is a young girl who was struck by lightning when she was young and has always been a little different. Her father is a cabinet maker and so she comes from the lower, working class.

Mary and Elizabeth meet on the shores of Lyme Regis and become friends, tied together by their love of fossils. You have to remember that at this time there wasn't much known about Natural History. I'm not quite sure if Darwin was before or after this time, but I think he was after. The common scientific belief was that everything was created by God and everything you see today is how God created it.

Mary finds a fossil that is unlike any they have seen before. They call it a "crocodile", but it doesn't look like one. There were terms used in the book that I never looked up, I just kind of used my inferencing skills to determine it was probably some kind of dinosaur. Anyway, this find makes Mary somewhat famous and people come from all over the country to find fossils with her. A series of events happen that cause Mary and Elizabeth to have a falling out. But after some years, Elizabeth helps Mary in a way that buries the hatchet.

I enjoyed the setting immensely. The author did a great job creating imagery throughout the book. The idea of being a part of cutting edge science as a woman at that time was interesting to me. Of course the modern woman looks back at that time with disdain, but I have to wonder if I would have gladly accepted the limits placed on me, or if I would have fought them. Not sure?! Although it took me a little while to get into the book, it kept my interest, which is a feat these days!