catching up with bookish matters

I feel like I shall never catch up. *sigh* I kept track--77 hours on homeschool stuff this past week. And of course, there's still three sweet munchkins that need me for all the normal things unrelated to school. Not to mention laundry and cooking and cleaning. Oops--scrap cleaning...I didn't really do any of that. ;)  I know, I know...what a whiner I am!!!! And I hate being this way. I really do. After all, who isn't busy?!! We're all busy. All the time. So why I am feeling so utterly depressed and out of sorts these days is beyond me. And I apologize for all the bitching and complaining.

Anyway, I figured if I didn't soon do a bit of book babbling, I'd never get around to it. So, the quick, itty bitty version:

Where the Wild Things Were by William Stolzenburg.

There are so many issues in this world to care about, so many things that deserve our attention. So many things that literally cause me to lose sleep at night as I tumble them around in my head. But for me, the loss of biodiversity stands near the top of the list. And because of this, I want to thank William Stolzenburg for writing this book, a book that captures a piece of the story of biodiversity. I already had a halfway decent understanding of ecology and already understood the concept of trophic cascade. I already knew about many of the examples Stolzenburg discussed in this book, and yet I still found this book so very worthwhile. It was engaging, and it was heartbreaking.

Why do we need these predators we've historically been so eager to eradicate? The answers go so much deeper than many people realize, or care to admit. Honestly, I wish everyone would read this book. Everyone.

 Monsters are Afraid of the Moon by Marjane Satrapi.

Okay, as silly as it sounds, this book sort of relates to the one above. It's the story of a little girl who "changes nature" by stealing the moon to scare away monsters in her room and the catastrophic consequences that occur. It is such a cute little picture book! Here's what Max had to say:

Me: Verdict? Did you like the book?

Max: Yes.

Me: Care to elaborate? What did you like most?

Max: Cats! And monsters.

Me: And monsters are good?

Max: Well, I like monsters.

Me: Did you like everything about the book?

Max: NO!!! I didn't like it when the cats got hurt! Or that the rats took over the town. I wish the cats had taken over the town instead!

Me: Anything else you want to say about the book?

Max: I like the pictures! And the Cat King.

Green Angel by Alice Hoffman.

Been weeks since I read this (back during the read-a-thon), but it has stuck with me. I absolutely adored this book. Everything about it. It had a very fairy tale quality about it (well, I thought so anyway). It was dark and sad and unsettling. And it was beautiful and hopeful and human. It is the story of a somewhat introverted, somewhat solitary teenage girl who looses all she ever knew and loved in the world. It's the story of how she tries to lose herself as well, but finds that she has more strength and courage and life within her than she ever could have imagined.

Really, I loved this little book so much that I'm already eager to read it again.

Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott.

Whew. This one is about as far from a "happy" book as you can get. If I had to choose one word, it would have to be "disturbing." But please don't think that I'm equating that with a judgment call of bad or good...I'm not. To be perfectly honest, I can't even decide if I liked it. I thought that maybe time would help me sort it out, but I read it back during the read-a-thon, which was weeks ago, and I still haven't got a handle on my feelings. I can say this without question--it was compelling! It most definitely kept me turning the pages.  And a different ending (while I really "wanted" it to end differently!) would have ruined it entirely. I think the ending was the only realistic ending possible. Actually, I guess there's another ending that would have worked, but it would have been even more depressing. Gee. I'm oh-so-helpful, huh?

Anyway, I am definitely not one to keep Annie from reading books she wants to read. And I wouldn't stop her from reading this one either. But honestly, I won't recommend it to her. I know it would upset her. And while I sometimes "assign" her books for school that I know will upset her, there's always a reason or something to be gained from it. With this book, I'm just not sure what that might be.

*****
Well, crap. I've been trying to get this post finished for the past two days. I still haven't caught up on my book babbling. And I still have a bit of blame to dole out. But I fear if I don't just post this, it may never get done. But we'll just try another post later, I suppose.

The Best of John Bellairs...random thoughts

The House With the Clock in Its Walls.

Me: What did you guys think? Did you like it?

Max: Yeah.

Gray: Me, too.

Me: Enough to try the next one?

Gray and Max: Yes!

Gray: Can we start it now?

Me: Maybe. What did you like most about it?

Gray: It was spooky.

Me: How spooky would you say it was? Too spooky? Not enough spooky? Or just right spooky?

Gray: Just right spooky. Too spooky equals scary. And scary gives me bad dreams.

(I personally have to agree with Gray. It really is "just right spooky"! Actually, I was afraid at times it might be too much for them, but they loved every second of it.)


The Figure in the Shadows.

Me: Verdict? Was this one as good as the first one?

Max: They were almost the same good.

Gray: I liked The House With the Clock in Its Walls more. But that was a really hard decision, because they were both really good.

Me: I liked this one, too, but for me I definitely liked the first one better. So, who's your favorite character?

Max and Gray, enthusiastically and in unison: Uncle Jonathan!

Max: No, wait. I liked the ghost in the last one.

Me: You did, huh? Would you like him so much if you had to meet him?

Max: No!

Me: So why Uncle Jonathan?

Max and Gray, again in unison: He's so funny!

Gray: Yeah, and it doesn't hurt that he's a wizard.

Me: Yeah, that is a bonus, isn't it? My favorite character is Mrs. Zimmerman. She's a spunky one. And she's always bringing everyone homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Max: Can you make some chocolate chip cookies?

Me: Hmmm...I sort brought that one on myself, didn't I?

Max and Gray: *grin*


The Letter, The Witch, and the Ring

Me: Okay guys, for me, this one was by far my favorite!!! What about for you?

Gray: Tie. This one and the first one.

Max: Mostly the first.

Me: This book had some pretty scary moments, but there were also some times when you two monkeys were giggling away. What made you laugh in this book?

Gray: Gert Bigger!

Max: The chicken! (We can't discuss this avenue any further for fear of spoilers.)

Me: Gert Bigger was a mean old bag, wasn't she? But sometimes you did just have to laugh at her. What parts did you think were the scariest?

Gray: Gert Bigger!


*****
Okay, so we didn't give you much of a review here. ;)  But let me just say how much all of us enjoyed these three books. They were perfectly wonderful!!! Definitely a bit scary (especially the last one, in my opinion). At times humorous. With a bit of an old-fashioned feel (and I mean that in the very best of ways). Filled with wonderful characters, all of whom are slight misfits...the adults (Uncle Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman) content and truly happy in their oddity, while the children (Lewis and Rose Rita) struggle a bit with not fitting in. Truly, I love them all.

And you know what, it might sound silly, but I really think that The Letter, The Witch, and The Ring is a great book for the Women Unbound reading challenge. :D  This book focuses mainly on Mrs. Zimmerman, a wonderful role model, and Rose Rita, a girl just reaching those teen years, struggling because she doesn't feel she fits in. She'd rather play baseball than date the baseball players. But she learns her inner strength, and becomes a bit more confident and trusting in who she really is. Yep, I love both these ladies!

Jar of Fools...random thoughts

Jar of Fools by Jason Lutes.

This was a total impulse pick up at the library a couple weeks ago. Had never heard of it and didn't know what to expect from it. But it turns out that Nymeth bought this book at about the exact same time as I stumbled across it in the library...so if I hadn't stumbled upon it on my own, it soon would have made my wish list...that's just what happens nearly every single time Ana reviews a book! ;)

Anyway, I read Jar of Fools during the read-a-thon. And as I told Ana, I honestly couldn't figure out if I even liked it or not as I was reading along. At least not at first. But it wasn't really that I was actively disliking the book either. Yeah, I know, I'm totally not making myself clear here, and I apologize. See, it's not a happy book. But you know, I usually don't mind a sad book. In fact, I usually love sad books...when there's a glimmer of hope mixed in somewhere. And I think at first, I wasn't catching any glimmers here.

It's the story of Ernie Weiss, a down-on-his-luck, stage magician. He is haunted by the death of his brother. Ernie wants to understand his brother's death...in fact, this overpowering need to understand really sits at the root of the disintegration of all the other pieces of his life, from his career to his relationship with his girlfriend. And all the people that touch Ernie's life have problems of their own...from his ex-girlfriend, Esther, who struggles with their break-up as much as Ernie himself does...to his escaped-from-the-nursing-home mentor, Al, who is facing a life slipping further into senility...to a con man, Nathan, who sticks to this life of petty crime to provide for his daughter. For a short time, this sad little crew form a sort of a family.

Okay, so I said that at first I couldn't figure out if I liked this book. By the end of it, however, I knew. I knew I loved it. Yes, there were eventually a few of those glimmers of hope. But ultimately, I'd have to say that it remained a very sad book. A book about these very human people, people with flaws, people who hurt, people who love.

I wish I was better able to tell you about this book; I feel like I'm stumbling all over my words here. But I do feel better knowing that Ana will surely be reviewing it soon, and then you all will be able to get a better feel for what a wonderful book this is. Edited to add: Ana posted her totally fabulous, and much more insightful, review today, too. :D

All Quiet on the Western Front...random thoughts

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque.

You know all that complaining I do about how much work it is homeschooling Annie? How about some counter-argument? Well, aside from the joy it is to get to spend so much time with her as she's growing up, and the blessing it is that we're able to give her an education suited to her needs, there is the added bonus for me personally of getting to learn and/or relearn so many things, experience new things, and read books I likely never would have read otherwise. All Quiet on the Western Front is the perfect example. I know for many people this is required reading in high school, but it never made any of my assigned reading lists. And while I've long wanted to read it on my own, if I'm being honest, I have to admit that I likely never would have gotten around to it. If not for homeschooling.

And I really can't tell you how grateful I am that I finally did read it. While it is certainly one of those books where using the word "enjoyable" to describe your reading experience doesn't seem quite appropriate, I can definitely say that I think it is a wonderful, powerful, important book.

Many times I found myself reminded of Band of Brothers (the mini-series, not the book which I haven't yet read). Yes, I realize we're talking different wars, different times, and even different "sides," but in part, I think that was part of what made it so powerful to me. While All Quiet on the Western Front is a fictionalized account, Remarque did himself serve in combat in WWI, and was in fact, wounded several times. And yet despite the differences, there are some undeniable, and horrifying, similarities. Because both are told from the perspective of the soldier.

All Quiet on the Western Front is told by Paul Baumer, who at the time he enlists with his classmates, is a  mere 18-years-old. He and his friends did not enlist in the war because they believed in it, but because it is what they're expected to do. It is the older generation, in particular, their teachers, who deliberately make them feel that it is their only choice, that to not enlist would be disloyal.

For us lads of eighteen they ought to have been mediators and guides to the world of maturity, the world of work, of duty, of culture, of progress--to the future. We often made fun of them and played jokes on them, but in our hearts we trusted them. The idea of authority, which they represented, was associated in our minds with a greater insight and a more humane wisdom. But the first death we saw shattered this belief. We had to recognize that our generation was more to be trusted than theirs. They surpassed us only in phrases and cleverness. The first bombardment showed us our mistake, and under it the world as they had taught it to us broke in pieces.

And as the war goes on, as their experiences in the trenches become their new norm, they come to realize that even if the war eventually ends and even if they survive it, they will never, ever be the same.

Albert expresses it: "The war has ruined us for everything."

He is right. We are not youth any longer. We don't want to take the world by storm. We are fleeing. We fly from ourselves. From our life. We were eighteen and had begun to love life and the world; and we had to shoot it to pieces. The first bomb, the first explosion, burst in our hearts. We are cut off from activity, from striving, from progress. We believe in such things no longer, we believe in war.

This is such a completely human book. I know that I can never, ever possibly understand, or come anywhere close to understanding, through books or documentaries or anything else, what it feels like to live the life of a soldier in combat. But as with others whose shoes I've never had to walk in...those living in complete and abject poverty, those persecuted simply because they were born, etc....I don't want to shy away from their stories. There are vivid images in this book that I fear will haunt me...a scene involving wounded horses, a scene of a battle fought in a cemetery...and to me, they are but scenes in a book. What must scenes like this, viewed with one's own eyes, do to a person? I realize that empathy is still far from experience, but I still think it brings us closer as people to at least try to understand the lives of others.

This book though, while obviously very sad, and sometimes gruesome, does have lighter moments. Moments that even bring a smile to one's face. It's as if you come to very much appreciate the little things, as these soldiers must. And the closeness that the soldiers feel with one another is a very strong, and beautiful, part of this book.

We sit opposite one another, Kat and I, two soldiers in shabby coats, cooking a goose in the middle of the night. We don't talk much, but I believe we have a more complete communion with one another than even lovers have.

You may have noticed in the passages quoted, that the language is not fancy and flowery. It is certainly well-written and easy to understand. And I found myself very much appreciating its simple beauty.

Monotonously the lorries sway, monotonously come the calls, monotonously falls the rain. It falls on our heads and on the heads of the dead up in the line, on the body of the little recruit with the wound that is so much too big for his hip; it falls on Kemmerich's grave; it falls in our hearts.

Like I said, I am very thankful that circumstances finally "made" me read this book. I can definitely see why this book is considered a classic. It's a book that will stay with me. And though I know I've already inundated you with passages, I'm going to leave you with just one more. It is taken from the time when Paul receives two weeks leave and returns home to visit his family.

My mother is the only one who asks no questions. Not so my father. He wants me to tell him about the front; he is curious in a way that I find stupid and distressing; I no longer have any real contact with him. There is nothing he likes more than just hearing about it. I realize he does not know that a man cannot talk of such things; I would do it willingly, but it is too dangerous for me to put these things into words. I am afraid they might then become gigantic and I be no longer able to master them. What would become of us if everything that happens out there were quite clear to us?

*****
What others had to say:

*Fyrefly's Book Blog
*Book PSmith
*Shelf Love
*Reading Matters

If I've missed your review, feel free to leave a link in the comments, and I will happily add it here. Thanks.

Dangerous Angels...random thoughts

 Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block.

Is it silly to say that I just want to hug this book and carry it with me always?  Well, in a sense, I will...for these books have settled down inside of me. I believe they may be the most life-affirming books I've ever read.

(Dangerous Angels is actually a collection of five short books: Weetzie Bat, Witch Baby, Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys, Missing Angel Juan, and Baby Be-Bop. Each of them could easily be read as a stand-alone...but seriously, you don't want to do that. Because each book adds so much to the richness of the others.)

When I said above that these books are life-affirming, I hope I didn't sound misleading. I don't say that to mean that these books are simply full of sunlight and butterflies and unconditional love. They are full of these things, but they are also full of sadness and loneliness and confusion. There is joy and there is heartache. There is acceptance and intolerance. There is life...in all its glorious and painful realities.

This collection of stories centers around this group of people who have come together as a family. Some share the same DNA, most don't. What they all do share is love for one another. They have names like Weetzie and Witch Baby and My Secret Agent Lover Man and Duck...and as odd as it sounds, it never seems odd. Francesca Lia Block has this way of making the "strange" seem not just normal, but perfectly perfect.

The Rose & the Beast is the only other book I've read by Block. I loved it as well, but in many ways, it has a very different feel. That collection of retold fairy tales was a bit more haunting and gritty. But her magic with words is apparent in both. I know not everyone agrees, but I find her writing utterly enchanting. I hesitate to use the word quirky, because I sometimes, perhaps unfairly, view "quirky" as forced. As trying too hard to be different. But there is nothing of that feel to Block's writing. Her uniqueness feels so genuine, as if she is just pouring herself onto the pages. (I can imagine no one else on earth who could make me feel the urge to go around calling things "slinkster-cool.")

But back to the stories. I think she says it best herself in Baby Be-Bop:

Stories are like genies, Dirk thought. They can carry us into and through our sorrows. Sometimes they burn, sometimes they dance, sometimes they weep, sometimes they sing. Like genies, everyone has one. Like genies, sometimes we forget that we do.

Our stories can set us free, Dirk thought. When we set them free.

 Oh my, but what are the stories about. Everything. Coming of age, coming out, holding on too tight, and learning to let go, making mistakes, and learning from them, birth, and death, and listening to your own voice. You know, I have like fifty little slips of paper stuck in the pages of this book...so many beautiful passages and things I wanted to mention. But bottom line, I just can't think of any way to put all these swirling thoughts into a coherent form.

So I will just say "Dangerous Angels is a celebration of life" and leave it at that.

*****
Other thoughts:

Nymeth at Things Mean A Lot
Becky at Becky's Book Reviews
RaiderGirl3 at An Adventure in Reading (Weetzie Bat)
Valentina at Valentina's Room (Weetzie Bat)
Valentina at Valentina's Room (Witch Baby)
Valentina at Valentina's Room (Cherokee Bat and the Goat Guys)

I'm sure I've missed some reviews. I apologize. But please feel free to leave a link in the comments, and I will be happy to add it. Thanks.

*****
I guess I'm out of hiding. Shouldn't be...that damn to-do list is nowhere near tamed yet. But I couldn't help it...how could I resist the premier of Ana's vlog?!!! I couldn't, and I'm glad I didn't! Ana, you are sooooo AWESOME!!!!

Anyway, I'll probably still be a bit scarce over this coming week, but I've been missing you all so much that it will be good to see what you're all up to.

Happy week before the read-a-thon to everyone!

Bone...random thoughts

 Bone: One Volume Edition by Jeff Smith

Okay, I should be strung up by my toes...or perhaps baked in a quiche :D ...for never having talked about Bone. I finished it weeks ago, and just completely forgot to mention it. And it deserves to be mentioned!

Chris said, I believe it was when he reviewed the first of these books, that he had sort of avoided Bone for a while. I was the same way. I think I had the idea that they were too cutesy or simplistic or something. ***Bad Debi! Stop making assumptions!*** Well, all that changed when I happened to pick up the prequel, Rose, from the library several months back. I read it, and loved it, and never even realized until I'd finished it that it was the prequel to Bone. At that point, I  ditched my reservations and immediately went and ordered this complete collection of Bone. But then, as often happens, it went to the shelf and languished due to the fact that I have so many damn unread books. Enter Nymeth. She reads it, loves it, writes one of her unbelievably awesome reviews of it. Back on the radar it goes. I became determined to get it read over the summer. And hey, determination (and a long vacation) paid off.

So, those preconceptions I had--cutesy and simplistic--was I correct? Well, no! In some ways, it definitely is cute...some of the characters simply beg to be picked up and cuddled. But no. The story, while humorous and fun and fantastical and delightful, is not pure fluff. Not at all. There is darkness, and there is evil. There is greed, and there is misunderstanding. There are difficult decisions, and there is war. And there is friendship and loyalty and courage and love.

The story starts when three cousins, Fone Bone, Smiley Bone, and Phoney Bone, are fun out of Boneville. They end up lost and separated in a land they know nothing about. But Fone Bone is befriended by a girl named Thorn, and comes to stay with Thorn and her grandmother, Rose. Rose is a tough, yet kind-hearted, woman. A woman with a world of secrets. Secrets that not only involve herself and her granddaughter, but really all the people and creatures of the land. And these secrets are about to come to light...

As I mentioned earlier, Bone is filled with wonderful characters. Characters I already miss dearly. I dare anyone not to fall in love with Fone Bone. And Rose is such a strong, loving, and complex woman, a woman that I wish I could be more like. And there's the wise, patient red dragon. And an adorable bug named Ted. And Bartleby. Oh how Bartleby stole my heart. I won't say more about him, because you'll want to get to know him all by yourself.

Hmmm...I really wish I could just read it all again right now.

*****
For more on the subject:
Nymeth of Things Mean A Lot
Chris of Stuff as Dreams Are Made On (Volume 1)
Beth F of Beth Fish Reads (Volume 1. Others are reviewed as well, so just search blog.)
Graeme of Graeme's Fantasy Book Review (Volume 1. Others are reviewed as well, so just search blog.)
Memory of Stella Matutina (fun post about fantasy gift recommendations)
As usual, I'm sure I've missed some. I apologize. Feel free to leave me a link in the comments, and I'll add it to the list. Thanks.

and the ride is over...for now

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness may well turn out to be my new favorite book. I'm going to give it a few more days or weeks to settle in before I finalize that proclamation to myself. But the fact that I'm even thinking that The Stand may be knocked from its #1 slot, a position its held for 30 years, is really saying something.

I've been talking about this book (here and here and here and here) throughout my reading journey. At the time I wrote that last post, I couldn't imagine that the experience could become any more intense. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. I could not been more wrong. Something happened about three quarters of the way through the book that took the already broken pieces of my heart and proceeded to shatter them into slivers.

Admitting that I cried doesn't really mean much, because honestly, I cry during a lot of books. But "cry" isn't really quite the right word here. I sobbed. Truly sobbed. And then, when I finally got it under control enough to continue reading, I found the tears just weren't going to end. I cried through nearly every remaining page.

I would be lying if I said this was a pleasurable reading experience. It wasn't. It was intense. It was dizzying. It was raw. And it was real. And that's why I loved it. I loved it so very much. I realize that I haven't said anything about what this book is actually about. I just don't know how, because even some of the simplest things are spoilers. But it's a book about life. Yes, it's dystopian. There's elements of science fiction. But really it's about being human. About fear. About truths and lies. About gender. About love. About sacrifice. About loyalty. About violence. About mistakes. What is civilization? What does it mean to be a "man"? Is hope enough?

*****
Read more opinions here:
Nymeth of Things Mean A Lot
Chris of Stuff as Dreams Are Made On
Renay of YA Fabulous
Amanda of The Zen Leaf
Vivienne of Serendipity
Becky of Becky's Book Reviews
Sheila Ruth of Wands and Worlds
Lenore of Presenting Lenore
Aimee of My Fluttering Heart
I know there are more reviews out there as well, and I apologize for not getting them all. If yours is one I missed, please feel free to leave a link in the comments and I'll add it here. Thanks.

blindsided

The Knife of Never Letting Go may well be the death of me. Okay, that's a tad melodramatic, huh? But I swear if this emotional gauntlet doesn't soon end...

I sat down last night with over an hour of time for "recreational" reading. Sounds heavenly, right? And yet I only managed about 20 minutes. Because I hit this scene that just devastated me. I just crumpled. Not outside physically crumpled. But inside, metaphorical implosion. And I just couldn't read on at that point. Just couldn't.

Yes, I'll be picking it back up today. Of course. I couldn't stop this ride if I wanted to. But it's got me thinking...why am I so emotionally invested in this book? Seems like a question that with a little self-knowledge I should be able to answer. But I can't.

Yes, I care about the characters. I do. But there have been plenty of other books in which I care deeply for the characters and still yet don't have this kind powerful reaction to reading.

Yes, the story is fast-paced and suspenseful. But I used to read "thrillers" on a regular basis. Every bit as fast-paced. Definitely suspenseful. But I never had this type of personal connection.

Yes, there is a big chunk of the picture missing. I'm anxious to find out the "why" of everything that is happening in the story. But I don't think that is the ultimate grip on me either.

Is it a massive combination of these and other factors? Or is it some intangible that I'll never quite understand? And does it really matter? Do I need to understand my reaction to somehow give it more credibility? I'm not sure that I do. The experience is real whether I can define it or not.

What about you? Have there been books that have just turned you into an ball of nerves? Where your emotional experiences with the book have felt nearly suffocating? And if so, could you even put your finger on why?

Maybe I'm just going off the deep end...

a hodge podge and a half

We're out of here tomorrow as soon as the boys get home from school. Going to surprise Rich's mom. So much I've been trying to get done before we go, as I know I won't get much accomplished over the weekend. One of those things is finally, finally, finally getting caught up with everyone's posts. "Caught up" just never seems to happen anymore though. But I did the best I could. Certainly has been a fun week around here, huh? Thank you Amy, for all your dedication and hard work in pulling it off...and well, for being the sweetheart that you are! And thanks to all those who helped her with BBAW as well!

*****
School is already kicking my butt, so I've had very little time for "recreational" reading this week. I'm only about halfway through The Knife of Never Letting Go. I'm hoping to be able to finish it in the car tomorrow (note to self: don't forget book light!). Seriously can't get over how much I'm loving this book. Honestly don't know if it's just me, or if it's entirely the book, or if it's some combination of the two...but this book just has my emotions in overdrive. It's so raw and powerful and compelling...and I don't even know entirely what the hell's even going on yet!

There was this paragraph that I read this morning that just hit me. One of the saddest things I've ever read in a fictional work. I found myself reading it again. And then again. Like I somehow didn't believe that something could be this sad. I'm so curious, to any of you who have read the book, did this passage hit you as well? I don't think it gives away anything about the story to share it here:

Maybe our story will turn out differently if we take the left fork, maybe the bad things that are waiting to happen to us won't happen, maybe there's happiness at the end of the left fork and warm places with the people who love us and no Noise but no silence neither and there's plenty of food and no one dies and no one dies and no one never never dies.

*****
Oh my gosh...I can't believe I almost forgot to tell you. Yes, I'm beaming with pride at myself. See, the best, and man, I do mean the very best, library sale in the county is going on this week. And I didn't go. Rich and Annie went. But not me. Any freakin' idea how hard it was to say no?!! But I did it!!!

I think the willpower involved in this book buying ban ranks right up there with the willpower it took to quit smoking all those many years ago. Oh shit...I gained almost 50 pounds in the year following quitting smoking. I gain one lousy pound and this ban is history! ;)

haunting shorts

I never got a chance to read Carl's short story post from last Sunday until Friday morning, but when I did, well, I was instantly itching to pick up a couple volumes of scary short stories and hide away in the library for the day. But we had a trip to the local zoo on slate for the day, so that just wasn't an option.

But...I did the next best thing I could think of...I grabbed Scary Stories Treasury to take along with us. This is actually a collection of three books, books in which Alvin Schwartz has collected and retold numerous scary stories from folklore. The stories are rather short, and we all took turns reading them aloud (well, except for Rich, as he was driving). It was really great fun! And we managed to finish the first two sections of the first book. Schwartz called the stories in the first section "jump stories," the kind of stories you can tell your friends and make them jump. Our collective opinion--they were o.k. But the next section contained ghost stories, and these ones we all loved! There was a story about a ghost wolf (Annie's favorite, of course), a story about a mysterious house, a story about a mysterious creature and the aftermath of getting too close to it, a story about lovers torn asunder, and my favorite, a story about a ghost seeking justice for her murder.

The art in this book is by Stephen Gammell. And it is fabulous! Fabulous! It's beautiful and haunting and sometimes downright creepy. But don't take my word for it:



One slight problem. I knew all along that this would be a book we needed to read during the daytime, for no way would Gray ever be able to sleep if we read these at bedtime. Well, turns out the whole "just read them in the daylight" strategy wasn't enough...guess who's had to sleep in the boys room with them the last two nights. Oh well.

Last evening, I decided I really wanted to dive into a nice RIP short just for myself. So I grabbed The Best of Roald Dahl (thanks again, Ana!) off my nightstand and finally cracked it open. But I'm afraid to say that the first story, "Madame Rosette," was a disappointment. In fact, I didn't really like it al all. But it wasn't really fitting for RIP anyway. So today I started the second tale, "Man from the South." Holy crap...it was sooooo good!!! And so very, very fitting, with all its delicious creepiness, for RIP. It drops this little bomb near the beginning, and this left me squirming inside and out throught the rest of the story. I was reading as fast as I could to find out how it would turn out, yet by the time I got towards the end, I was afraid to turn the page for fear of what might happen. And no, the ending did not disappoint!



And finally there's Pemba's Song: A Ghost Story by Marilyn Nelson and Tonya C. Hegamin. Which really isn't a short story at all. But I swear that's sort of how it felt. In fact, when I listed this book as a possible RIP read, Eva commented that she wished this book had had more complexity to it. After reading it, I know exactly what she meant by that. I wish this book had been three or four or five times as long as it was. And I wouldn't say that if I didn't like the story. But I did...there was a lot I liked a great deal about this book.

Pemba, a teen forced to move from Brooklyn to the small town of Colchester, CT, is having a tough time. She's had to leave her best friend and her boyfriend behind, and she's not particularly happy with her mom about it all. Pemba feels very authentic to me, and frankly, I adored her. And I felt for her. Because, as if things weren't bad enough, strange things start happening to her. She wakes up in the dusty old attic of their new house and has no clue how she got there, she starts getting horrible headaches, she sees someone else's reflection in an old mirror. And she's afraid to talk to her mom about these things because of what happened after her father died.

I don't want to give away any of the story, so I'll stop there, but I will say this worked well for RIP. It wasn't actually scary, but well, as the title says, it's a ghost story. :D

itty bitty book babble

It's hopeless. I'm never going to get around to writing individual posts about the books I read on vacation. But since I'm counting most of them for challenges, I feel like I should say something. Even if it's just to say, "Read this book!!!"...because that's definitely how I felt about a few of them. Hadn't realized I went so heavy on the non-fiction. Anyway, in the order I read them:

College-Prep Homeschooling: Your Complete Guide to Homeschooling through High School by David P. Byers, Ph.D. and Chandra Byers.

Since there are nearly as many reasons for homeschooling as there are homeschoolers, no book about homeschooling is going to be perfect in every way for every person. While the authors try not to inject their personal philosophy into this book, it's still there in subtle ways. And their reasons for homeschooling definitely don't align completely with ours. But that's okay. It did mean that certain parts of this book were not as relevant to us as they may be to others. I do think this book has a lot to offer. Both to people who are not sure if homeschooling through the high school years is something they want to attempt and to those who have already made the decision. There are sections on learning styles, on teaching methods, on creating a high school curriculum, and more. Personally, the section that I found most helpful (and honestly, the reason I bought the book to start with) was about preparing for the end. It included things such as keeping transcripts, what to include in a portfolio, and writing course descriptions. Bottom line, while much of the book was about things we already know or things that don't particularly apply to us, I think I got my money's worth from the book, and I will definitely be referring to it from time to time over the next few years.

Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog: The Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences by Kitty Burns Florey.

You know, this is a case where the title pretty much sums up the book. Jean lent me this book a long time ago, and I decided it was about time I got it read and returned to her. Thanks again, Jean! This really was a fun read. Kitty Burns Florey is quite an engaging writer, and she had me chuckling on many an occasion. However, if you don't know what diagramming sentences really is, if you didn't have to do it in those middle school years, I'm not sure if it would be nearly as entertaining. (Of course, I could be wrong there...as she definitely talks a lot about grammar, and writing in general, as well.) I guess it says something that she has me wanting to relearn some of the intricacies of sentence diagramming and pass it along to the kids, huh?

The Body of Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci.

Okay, this is one of those books that I really want to say, "Just read it!" This book first came to my attention because of Becky's review. And then when I mentioned I bought it, Renay threatened me with bodily harm if I didn't read it strongly urged me to read it. Damn...am I glad I took her advice! I actually read this one aloud to Rich while we were traveling. And yes, he loved it as much as I did. In fact, at one point he said, "Damn. I really need to be reading more YA!" :D I'm really struggling here to try to find the words to describe this book. There's mystery. There's family problems. And friend problems. There's stereotypical characters...yeah, to be honest, they really were stereotypical...but dammit, I loved them anyway, probably because they reminded me so much of me and my friends in high school (Torey, our main character, privilege personified, who does a lot of growing; Ali, the cheerleader turned school slut; Bo, the thug with the heart-of-gold he keeps hidden from the general public). I know I've seen people claim that their high school was not clique-ish, and it's not that I don't believe them. But mine was. And this school very much had the feel of my high school (yes, I really can remember back that far ;) ). And though it may sound contradictory, I found the story to be both unique and still a bit predictable. Yes, predictable...but dammit, I still loved it! :D

Death: At Death's Door by Jill Thompson.

This is sort of an offshoot of the book Season of Mists, the fourth book in Neil Gaiman's The Sandman series. In Season of Mists, the Endless come together for a meeting, and then we follow Dream through the events that follow. In this book, Thompson takes a look at what Dream's sister Death, as well as siblings Delirium and Despair, are doing during this time. To be perfectly honest, I had sort of mixed feelings about this. It's not that I didn't enjoy it...I really did. It just doesn't come close to the love I had for Season of Mists. At Death's Door has a much lighter, humorous tone. It was playful and simply didn't have the depth of Season of Mists. But then, it was wasn't meant to. Even as I was reading it, I was trying to figure out how much someone would understand if they hadn't read Season of Mists. I'm not sure I came up with a real answer. I think having read Seasons of Mists would give one a lot more insights. But then again, not having read it would free one from the constant comparing that I couldn't seem to avoid. Oh whatever. I do want to say that the art in this manga-style book totally charmed me!

Normal: Transexual CEOs, Crossdressing Cops, and Hermaphrodites With Attitude by Amy Bloom.

Another one of those books that I just want to scream, "Read this!" I just want everyone to read it, and not just because it is so good, but because I think nearly everyone could learn something from it. I found myself constantly talking with Rich about it as I read. At one point while I was reading the last section, he said, "Yeah, male/female is simply a false dichotomy." But yet it's still such a prevalent notion. We just had to wonder if the intolerance and the hatred could finally be eradicated if people just learn that gender is a continuum. What can I say...I can't stop hoping... Anyway, it's a wonderfully written book, and it's fascinating...so fascinating that it nearly killed me to put it down. Okay, I know this is a total cop-out, but I'm going to direct you to Eva's wonderful review, which is what led me to pick up this book in the first place, because I pretty much think I agreed with her on everything she said. :D

A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge by Josh Neufeld.

In graphic novel form, A.D. tells the story of seven New Orleans residents in the days leading up to, during, and after Hurricane Katrina. Josh Neufeld went to MS after to Katrina to help. I imagine it was impossible to not be changed in some way by that experience. And he was ultimately compelled to bring some of the stories to the world. The people who so graciously shared their stories with Josh Neufeld came from different walks of life, lived in different parts of the city, and chose (or were forced) into different actions in the advent of the hurricane.
While each of these people survived (obviously), most of them experienced a great deal of loss. It rips your heart out to read. And of course, it's overwhelming to think that there are thousands upon thousands upon thousands upon thousands of personal stories that we haven't heard. I bought this book while I was in New Orleans, and Chris bought a copy, too. I imagine our reading experiences will be drastically different. For I will never know, can never know, what it was truly like to be there. To live this. But that is why I think books like this are important. And I think all the people who suffered, in New Orleans and in Biloxi and in Gulfport and in countless other places, all deserve to have someone listen to their stories.

Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic by John De Graaf, David Wann, and Thomas N. Naylor.

Another "Please read this book!" book. The reason I happened to pick it up right now was because I was hoping it would be a good supplemental read during our population and consumption unit for environmental science this coming school year. Well, not only is it perfect for school, it was just a damn good read. My only complaint: while it wasn't actually repetitive, it did at times feel repetitive (if that makes any sense at all). But it was still so very worth the time it took to read it. It's a somewhat humorous look at a very serious subject...our passion for acquisition. It compares our overwhelming consumerism with a disease...discussing symptoms, causes, and treatments. And its approach was one of common sense. It was powerful, but I didn't find it to be preachy. And I do have to say it was motivating...while we're not terribly materialistic people to start with, this book has had me looking for ways to minimize our consumerism. But you can guess where that's leading, huh? Yep...I'm be announcing my new book buying (my biggest weakness!) "sort of" ban tomorrow...and I'm hoping you'll all help keep me in line.

*****
Read more:
C.B. James of Ready When You Are, C.B. (Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog)
Rebecca Reid of Rebecca Reads (Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog)
Becky of Becky's Book Reviews (The Body of Christopher Creed)
Renay of YA Fabulous! (The Body of Christopher Creed)
Amy of My Friend Amy (The Body of Christopher Creed)
Bibliovore of Confessions of a Bibliovore (The Body of Christopher Creed)
Nymeth of Things Mean A Lot (Death: At Death's Door)
Fyrefly of Fyrefly's Book Blog (Death: At Death's Door)
Megan of Working Title (Death: At Death's Door)
Diana Dang at Stop, Drop & Read (Death: At Death's Door)
Eva of A Striped Armchair (Normal)
C.B. James of Ready When You Are, C.B. (Normal)
Kathrin of Secret Dreamworld of a Bookaholic (Affluenza)

--I apologize for any reviews I may have missed. If you've reviewed one of these books, please feel free to leave a link in the comments and I'll add it. Thanks.

Rapunzel's Revenge...random thoughts

Rapunzel's Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale (who are wife and husband), with artwork by Nathan Hale (who is no relation to the authors).

So, could this book be any more wonderful? I'm honestly not sure that it could. It charmed me completely!

*The story: Adventurous. Humorous. Delightful. Incredibly unique fractured fairy tale.

*The heroine: Believable. Endearing. Always strong, and it was wonderful watching the way she grew to believe it.

*Other characters: Jack--despite his thieving ways, it was impossible not to love him. Gothel--the perfect villian...so easy to hate. Multiple minor characters that I adored.

*The art: Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous.










(Just a taste.)

*Miscellaneous:
1.) Unsurprisingly, finding out Rapunzel's birth name warmed my heart.
2.) This book was from the library, but I definitely want to buy it for Gray for Christmas!
3.) Definitely a feel-good, but not saccharine sweet story.
4.) I've loved every book I've read by Shannon Hale, so why haven't I read more?!!

*Other opinions:
--Kailana at The Written World
--Shelley at ChainReading
--Becky at Becky's Book Reviews
--Puss Reboots
--Alison at So Many Books, So Little Time
--Robin at A Fondness for Reading
--RaiderGirl3 at An Adventure in Reading
(I'm sure I missed some. Feel free to leave a link in the comments if yours was one, and I'll add it to the list. Thanks.)

Janes in Love...random thoughts

Janes in Love by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg.

It's always a bit hard to talk about a sequel, isn't it? Or that could just be me, I suppose. But Janes in Love pretty much picks up where The Plain Janes left off. We're still following the exploits of P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art In Neighborhoods), a group of somewhat misfit high school students who perpetrate "art installations" in their town.

As I sat reading this last evening, Rich interrupted and said, "That sounds like quite the amusing book." Until then, I hadn't realized how often it had me giggling. And yes, humor does play a part. But really this book is so much more than that. It's about so many things, really. Dealing with fear. Taking chances. Following your dreams. The difference that art, and creativity, and beauty can make. Falling in love. Sticking with those you love. And friendship. The ups, the downs, and real gift that friendship is.

The thing about having a good, true friend is that it's ok if you cry so hard that snot runs down your face. Because their arms are strong and their heartbeat is loud...and you can be your smallest and ugliest in front of them.

I loved this book! I'm tempted to say that I enjoyed it even more than the first, but I'm not sure that's quite true. I think it might be truer to say that I loved the first book even more than I did previously because of this one. Honestly, I think you need to read both. They really belong together.

*****
For more opinions:
--Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings (The Plain Janes)
--Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings (Janes in Love)
--Dewey at The Hidden Side of a Leaf (The Plain Janes)
--Eva at A Striped Armchair (The Plain Janes)
--Amanda at Zen Leaf (The Plain Janes)
--Amanda at Zen Leaf (Janes in Love)
--Susan at You Can Never Have Too Many Books (The Plain Janes and Janes in Love)
--Kailana at The Written World (The Plain Janes)
--Lenore at Presenting Lenore (The Plain Janes)
--Alison at So Many Books, So Little Time (The Plain Janes)
--Alison at So Many Books, So Little Time (Janes in Love)
(If I missed your review, please feel free to leave a link in the comments and I'll add it here. Thanks.)

The Jungle...random thoughts (very random)

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair.

*I first read this in high school. Didn't remember it all, but definitely remembered the gist. I believe that love it, hate it, or fall somewhere in between, once you read it, parts of it will always stay with you.

*Many will probably think I'm cruel for making Annie read this for school this year, as I know many complain that they were forced to read it in school, but it honestly is such an amazing, if horrifying, look at the U.S. during the early 1900s. I just spent weeks putting together a unit on this period of time, using multiple videos, non-fiction books, etc....and all of it, to varying degrees appears in The Jungle. As part of our study of 20th century U.S. history, we will be reading various works of fiction. I think that seeing history through literature is incredibly valuable. And there is no denying that this book allows one to vicariously live history through its pages.

*There was extreme racism in parts of this book. Part of the times? Sure. Still despicable.

*Personally, I think the first three-quarters of the book is much more interesting than the final chapters. The end is where Sinclair really got up on his socialist pulpit. And it's not that I personally have a problem with socialism (how many enemies did I just make for admitting that?), but reading page after page after page of socialist speeches just ended up boring me nearly to tears. I definitely found the portions more directly about Jurgis and his family far more compelling.

*I thought the way Sinclair sort of beat the reader down throughout the first three-quarters of the book was brilliant. Not pleasant, mind you. But, and maybe it's just me, I couldn't help but feel that he was wearing me down, sucking the life out of me, in just the same way that, as poor immigrants in the early 1900s, the life was being sucked out of Jurgis and his family. At the beginning of the book, there were scattered beautiful, tender moments. But those moments became fewer and fewer until they ceased to exist at all. It had a truly powerful effect on me.

*Probably goes without saying, but yeah, I was definitely grateful to be a vegetarian while reading this.

*And for some much less "random" looks at The Jungle:
--Inkweaver Reviews
--Charley at Bending Bookshelf
--Lauren at Wading Through 1001 Books
(Okay, so I actually couldn't find that many. I'm guessing there are more out there, so if you've reviewed it, feel free to leave a link in the comments and I'll add it here.)

Pedro and Me...random thoughts (and then some rambling)

Pedro and Me: Friendship, Loss, and What I Learned by Judd Winick.

Pedro, being Pedro Zamora. Me, being Judd Winick. Both of whom appeared on MTV's The Real World: San Francisco. I have to admit, I've never watched a ton of MTV. (Factoid which proclaims my ancientness: MTV didn't even exist until I was a senior in high school.) And I never watched much more than a very occasional episode of The Real World. Until that year, 1994. I still by no means watched every episode, but something about that year drew me in far more than any other season. That something was Pedro. I honestly cannot imagine that anyone who watched didn't fall in love with Pedro. Pedro Zamora was special.

And this book is special. It's a story of friendship. Of courage. Of incredible giving. In graphic novel form, Judd Winick brings Pedro back to life and shares with readers the undeniable gift he was to this world. The book begins with chapters about Judd's and about Pedro's childhoods...two childhood's that could not have been much different. Judd was born and raised in a middle-class family on Long Island, New York. Pedro was born in Cuba. At the age of eight, his family boarded a boat and came to the U.S. Well, part of his family did...at the last minute, passage was denied to his five oldest siblings. And this was not the only tragedy of his young life. But you can read about it all yourself, and I strongly recommend you do read this book!

The rest of the book focuses on their lives once they arrive at the house in San Francisco, where they will spend six months getting to know one another, and growing to love one another in a powerful and beautiful friendship. I love so much that Judd didn't paint himself out to be some sort of "perfect" guy without fears and doubts. I appreciated his honesty about the fact that he was nervous and unsure when he found his roommate was HIV positive. In his own words:

Of course I'd be fine. I'm liberal boy and had decided that I was okay with this. Problem? Not me. I'm okay with this.

I'm informed. I subscribe to both Rolling Stone and Spin. I've seen An Early Frost and Philadelphia. The very special episodes of Thirtysomething.

I'm okay.

Well, I wasn't okay. In truth, I was terribly uninformed; but no AIDS hotline or doctor could begin to tell me what I was going to learn in the next six months.

Pedro learned he was HIV positive at age 17. He died at age 22. How many lives he saved in between those two events, I can't say. But I'm guessing it was many. Because after the initial shock and denial, Pedro spent his time educating people. And that is what led him to apply to be on The Real World in the first place...what a better way to reach millions of people all at once. And he did reach millions. He touched the lives of countless people. And of course he touched the life of Judd Winick and his other housemates in a very profound way. This is that story. It's no surprise that it's heartbreaking. But ultimately, it's a book brimming with love.

*****

I have a point of blame (a.k.a. thanks) to award for this one. Part of our health education this school year is going to focus on the human stories of HIV/AIDS, and I had this book on a list of possible reads. After reading Amanda's review, I knew this one would definitely be one of the books we would end up reading.

I do have other points to pass out as well. I really need to get on that. As well as trying to catch up on my blog reading. I'm sooooooo far behind. :( Since we're heading out on vacation in a week, I've been trying to get a bazillion things done. Especially for school...it seems like the new school year is barreling down upon me at tremendous speed.

But I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about our trip!!!! Not only are we going to get to see Jean again (giddyness abounds!) and finally meet her guys...not only are we going to get to spend a couple days with some wonderful friends that we haven't seen in a few years...but guess what...I get to actually meet, in person, two of the most amazing bloggers, two of the most amazing people period, I've ever had the privilege of calling "friend." We're heading to New Orleans...and I'm sure you all can guess who's going to be our own personal tour guide! Of course, we'll be hanging out with Chris!!! At least until he gets sick of us. ;) And as if that isn't already the treat of a lifetime, I then get to meet Renay!!! I'm so hoping some of her sheer awesomeness will rub off on me! You know, I'm somewhat surprised I'm managing to get anything done around here, because I am so overwhelmingly excited about this trip I can hardly think about anything else! Ana, you know what could make this trip even better...if you flew over here and went with us!!! We have room in the car...I'm so not kidding!!! And Eva, are you sure you and your mom can't make it?!! Of course, I really do understand, but man, did I have my hopes up!!!

Okay, before I hurt anyone with the overuse of exclamation points (though certainly you can see the necessity of such punctuation), I suppose I'd better sign off here. Hope you all are having a fantabulous weekend!

because every special occasion should involve books

Thank you all so much for the lovely anniversary wishes! We had a fairly uneventful, but relaxing day. Which, of course, involved books. :) We headed out to B&N during the afternoon. Each of us grabbed a huge pile of reading materials to look through and then headed to the cafe. The kids sat at one table drinking juice and reading, while Rich and I sat at another drinking coffee and perusing. For some reason, it just felt so utterly decadent to be whiling away a couple hours doing nothing productive. And of course, we couldn't escape without buying books. All of us. We may just need professional help. Of course, Rich had given me a gift card for our anniversary, and to not spend it would have been just plain rude, don't you think? ;)

I love the wonderful little assortment of books I got, and believe it or not, I don't have a single point of blame to award. (Never fear though, I've received quite a pile of books in the last week, some that do have points attached...but I'll save those for another post.) Anyway, here's what I bought:

Elf Realm: The Low Road by Daniel Kirk. I should probably be embarrassed to admit that I've never heard of this one before, as it was published last year. But when I saw it, I was helpless to resist. It not only sounds like a very fun read, but it's full of beautiful full-page pencil drawings. Done by the author.







Panic in Level 4: Cannibals, Killer Viruses, and Other Journeys to the Edge of Science by Richard Preston. I've been wanting this book since it came out last year. Finally just broke down and bought it. No idea why I am fascinated by this kind of stuff, but I am. Annie on the other hand, picked up this book and after reading a bit, stated, "You know, maybe I don't want to work for the CDC after all."




Science Under Siege: Defending Science, Exposing Pseudoscience edited by Kendrick Frazier. This is a collection of essays, divided into three main sections: Science and Skeptical Inquiry, Critical Inquiry and Public Controversies, and Understanding Pseudoscience, Investigating Claims. So many of the essays sounds incredibly good...can't wait to dive in!







How to Be an Explorer of the World by Keri Smith. Another book I've wanted since it first came out last year. I absolutely love her! And her books. She's just so inspiring. I have Living Out Loud: Activities to Fuel a Creative Life, and the wonderful, oh-so-creative herself, Jean, bought me Wreck This Journal for Christmas. I hate admitting that I've spent far too little time nurturing creativity the past few years. If this book doesn't help, it will be solely my fault, not the fault of this lovely book.



Ah yes, I'm so very happy with my lovely new pile. :D


I'm also happy with the reading I did last evening. I imagine you're quite sick of my bitching about how I can't seem to finish a book. I've been laboring through these same 7 very long, slow books for far too long. And while I'm enjoying every one of them, I just feel so bogged down by them. So last night, I decided to just push them all aside. Instead I grabbed Blueberry Girl, The Day I Swapped My dad for Two Goldfish, and The Wolves in the Walls off the shelf. Now, we all know that Neil Gaiman is a freakin' genius, but I feel I have to say it anyway! This was the most relaxing little bout of reading I've had in a long time!

I've read Blueberry Girl several times before. And I read it a couple more times last night. I think I could read it several times every day and still never tire of it. And still get those tears of sweetness and joy in my eyes with each reading. As much as I've enjoyed everything I've read of his thus far, this may well be my favorite book of all. As if the words are not perfection enough, Charles Vess adds the most beautiful drawings. It's perfection times two.


This was the first I'd read either of the other two, however. Both of which are wonderful. Both of which are delightfully silly. Both of which are filled with Dave McKean's incredible art. Both of which have cameos by the Queen of Melanesia. And both of which I positively adored!

Nation...random thoughts

Nation by Terry Pratchett.

Where does one begin?!! Yeah, it's a gushfest book for sure. Definitely straight to the favorites list.

Okay, since I've given up on stressing so much over this book babbling thing, and writing a brief, non-spoiler glimpse at the book is always so hard for me, I'm just stealing these lines from the jacket flap:

Mau is the Only one left after a giant wave sweeps his island village away. But when much is taken, something is returned, and somewhere in the jungle Daphne--a girl from the other side of the globe--is the sole survivor of a ship destroyed by the same wave.

Together the two confront the aftermath of catastrophe. Drawn by the smoke of Mau and Daphne's sheltering fire, other refugees slowly arrive...

A few of the many things I loved:

*The questioning. This aspect of the book spoke to me so much. I loved watching Mau deal with matters of faith he'd always taken for granted. I think this must be a fairly universal process when one is raised in a faith, whatever the beliefs might be. It seems everyone must reach a point where they need to question the things they've been taught as fact. For many their faith stands up to their questioning, and for others, like me, it just doesn't. But what I think is important, no matter which outcome is reached, is that the questions were asked in the first place. Due to the abrupt and catastrophic events that completely change his life, Mau is almost forced to deal with these questions. And yet his questioning never feels rushed. It feels so authentic. At first, the questions, and doubts, pop into his mind unbidden. But soon they become a second tidal wave to Mau. I won't tell you how things play out there, but I just had to say how very much I loved this part of the story.

*The writing. Okay, I admit it...I don't notice "writing" as much as I think many people do. I'm more of a tell-me-a-good-story-with-good-characters type of gal. There are exceptions...I think I could happily drown in a sea of Ray Bradbury's words. But for the most part, I'm pretty oblivious. So what was it about Terry Pratchett's writing in this book that made me take notice? I'm not sure I know exactly how to answer that. There was a simplicity that somehow managed to contain such power. He made me feel so deeply with so few words. I could literally pick out dozens and dozens of little snippets that did this to me. Just a few examples:

It rained. It was heavy rain, muddy rain, full of ash and sadness.


There were two dogs, too, and that almost broke him. The people, well, the horror was so great that his mind went blank, but the twisted bodies of the dogs twisted his soul.


They didn't know why these things were funny. Sometimes you laugh because you've got no more room for crying. Sometimes you laugh because table manners on a beach are funny. And sometimes you laugh because you're alive, when you really shouldn't be.


...And now it was two weeks later, and a lot had happened. The most important thing was that time had passed, pouring thousands of soothing seconds across the island. People need time to deal with the now before it runs away and becomes the then.

*The world. This is my first experience with a story in such a setting. It is set in the 1800s on Earth, and yet Earth is not really Earth. A parallel universe. I realize that most of you are quite familiar with this type of setting, but still being new to fantasy and science fiction, this was a fun new adventure in reading for me. The island is in the Great Southern Pelagic Ocean, which seems as if it must be in the area in which the Pacific Ocean lies. But it is not the Pacific that we know. But we are, it seems, at the same time really on Earth, because before the tragic shipwreck, Daphne went to meetings of the Royal Society with her father and met people such as Charles Darwin. As I said, I realize that many of you are probably quite used to this kind of merging of realities, but for me it was quite new. And I absolutely loved it.

*The science. And if you haven't read it, and aren't big on science, please don't let that scare you. No, this wasn't full of scientific facts and figures. But without beating one over the head, it beautifully emphasized the importance of science. And that's just something I feel passionate about. (Brief unimportant note: Though I thoroughly love Daphne, I am going to have to disagree with her a bit on her ranking of scientists. ;) )

*The humor. My goodness, but Sir Pratchett is a gifted man. Understatement, I know. As I was reading this, Rich asked me if it was a funny book. (He still has the experience of his first Terry Pratchett book to look forward to.) I tried to explain to him that, yes, it definitely was, but at the same time it was so deeply meaningful. He said, "So he's like Vonnegut?" I hadn't linked those two in my mind before that, and while they are very different writers, I was immediately drawn to the comparison. I know my reading experience is not nearly as broad as it is for many, but there are no two other authors I've read who so effectively use humor to express the most profound truths, to dig through the layers and get to what matters in this life.

*The depth. Yes, I found myself smiling, even giggling, throughout this book, I also found myself awed. I don't want to say too much and give anything away, but wow...this book just gets to the heart of being human. And while I smiled, I also cried. Sometimes over things so big it's hard to shrink them into mere words. Other times, what I cried over was easier to grasp. There was one short passage that so simply, and yet so heartbreakingly, conveyed the tragedy of colonialism that I just had tears streaming down my face. I guess what I mean to say is that if you read this book, be prepared to feel.

Hmmm...I just read over what I've written here. And while I stand by everything I've said, I know I haven't conveyed the sheer awesomeness of this book. Know that that is my fault, not the fault of the book itself.

And for other perspectives:

*Nymeth at Things Mean A Lot
*Valentina at Valentina's Room
*Chris at Stuff As Dreams Are Made On
*Dewey at The Hidden Side of a Leaf
*Kailana at The Written World
*Bart from Bart's Bookshelf
*Shelley at ChainReading
*Anastasia at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog
*Melissa at Book Nut
*Darla D at Books & Other Thoughts

If I missed your review, accept my sincere apologies. And then leave me a link in the comments, and I'll add it above. Thanks.