This amazingly wonderful book is why I read. Such a tender heartwarming and yet heart aching book, but I suppose one needs to have a mild understanding and love for C. S. Lewis and his Chronicles of Narnia. Probably one of the best book I've read this year.
I finally was able to convince Rebekah to listen to this audio book with me. We started it on the way back from Tennessee and once she got about an hour into it she was hooked. At the time I am writing this she is in her second time. It's a beautiful story well worth the read.
This one started intriguing and then went to okay but went downhill from quickly there. So not worth it. Even got crass at the end.
An astonishing account of Clemantine's growing up in war, refugee camps, and eventually the US; but it's so much more than that. Highly recommendable. And important: I think some may not understand this happens during our modern life time.
The first one was short and fun so I tried the second. I won't be reading any more but they're light and even fun at times - especially for a "murder" mystery.
I absolutely loved her "One Upon a Wardrobe" so when this book appeared on my audio shelf and it was the same author I was extremely excited. It's good. I'm not as in love with it as the former but it is a thought provoking story.
This would be my second Brandon Sanderson. My brother suggested I read this one. It's not bad, and so yes, I can see the pull. It has a good plot / storyline, however I feel it's not as cool as it should be for all the hype. People say Sanderson is a modern day Tolkien. I wonder if these people have even read Tolkien. And frankly its just so large I ponder if it's worth it.
This told the story of how Irena Sendler saved thousands of Jewish children. It also told the story of a high school teacher who inspired his students to learn and share history and the stories of three young students, their lives, and what they learned about life through their project. A great read.
Middle grade fiction about Japanese interment camps. Well done and a very worthwhile introduction.
Historical fiction concerning slavery memories and the Great Depression. It is Christian literature but it's not overly preachy in the sappy intruding way some Christian fiction can be.
Completely fascinating. I'm definitely listening to this again at some point. A lot of this was current history - 1800's the today. Much about the world wars but not just the Western Europe area history that is so familiar. There's entire other areas and so much history to learn! Highly recommendable.
An interesting read about the history of African Americans, written by African Americans. So much pain and hate. Hard to read but I feel its worth while to hear what people are saying and how they are saying it to know where they are and from whence they are coming. I'm a fan of Ibram X. Kendi, I feel his book Stamped from The Beginning was one of the best I've read upon BLM, however he is not the author only an editor.
I do love Grace Lin's book. It's historical fiction concerning Asia written by an "Americanized Asian." I like the bits of Asian folk lore she puts in her stories. This is the third I've read and they are all highly recommendable.
While reading this one I came across one of the folk lore stories she tells which made me stop and ponder. I then called my mom to read her that section. She wanted a copy of it and while I was just going to take a picture I realized my mom would need something better than that, so I wrote it out. I have since purchased the book so I don't really feel like I'm breaking any copy write laws. However I wanted to put the story someplace I could find it, and so:
Finally, one night, during a fitful slumber, WangYi had a different dream. In his dream, an old man sat cross-legged in front of him, as if waiting. As WangYi approached, the old man stood up and began to walk away, gesturing WangYi to follow.
The old man guided WangYi across a flat stone land, completely empty except for two palaces side by side. The palaces were splendid and magnificent, with blue tiles that shone like theh sunlit sky and walls as smooth as polished jade. Both palaces were exactly the same, except for the gold signs above the doorway. One sign said MISERY and the other said JOY.
The old man led WangYi into the palace marked MISERY. When they entered, they found themselves in a grand dining room where a lavish banquet was served. A rich, savory aroma filled the air from platters spilling over with food. The long table was hidden by all the delicious delicacies – bamboo shoots finely cut like plucked chrysanthemum petals, slices of duck with crisp amber skin, golden soup, and pieces of deep red pork shining as if lacquered – and the abundance was overwhelming.
However, the room was filled with shrieks of frustration and fury, and all the guests were gaunt and thin. They all had five-foot-long chopsticks, and because the chopsticks were so long, it was impossible for the food to reach their mouths. When they tried to eat using something other than the long chopsticks, the food disappeared – it was obvious that the food could be eaten only with the chopsticks. So the guests stretched and bent, trying to maneuver food from the long sticks but always failing. They screamed and raged, whimpered and wailed, all of them starving and taunted by the plentiful feast before them.
As WangYi watched with horror, the old man beckoned him out of the palace. Without a word, the old man led WangYi into the palace marked JOY. There, they again entered a grand dining room with the same abundant feast on the table. But instead of angry wails, the room was filled with laughter. The guests here had five-foot-long chopsticks, but they were plump and healthy, joking and smiling. WangYi was puzzled. How could they eat with those long chopsticks? Then he noticed the difference.
The guest in this palace were feeding one another.
Starry River of the Night, pages 188-190, Grace Lin
This is a book Rebekah had to read in her 4th grade class. It was taking her way too long to read it (she had it home for months and put it to the side most of the time preferring to read other books rather than finish this one) so I got involved. In an attempt to find out what the issue was I asked her find out questions with learning nothing much except she didn't seem pleased with the book. I offered to read it to her to know avail. I finally suggested she turn it in and start another and she quickly and vehemently informed me her teacher would not let her do that. I finally decided on the rip-the-bandage-off approach and asked her if I put it on my audio book (giving up one of my borrows for her - true love there) and we listen it together on a longer drive, maybe at a faster speed, would that help to finish it? So we did that. It took me only a few chapters to understand the relationship she was having with this book. Parents are fighting a lot, marriage heading towards divorce, kid really taking it hard. Ironically for the last few months (the time she's had this book in her possession) Rebekah's been asking a lot about divorce and when Don and I are mid discussion about something she will come from no where and tell us to not argue, etc and so forth. I thought it was odd but didn't realize she apparently was internalizing this book as she does much of what she sees in life. So, at that point I stopped the audio book to tell her I would talk to her teacher about why and I will take the consequences but she did not have to finish this book. We were so close to the end that she decided to just finish.
But back to the book: it was an okay book but not something I would recommend - either for kids going through and kids not going through this type of situation. It seems like a book for adults but written at a much younger level. Not a fan, but I may be tainted by the situation.
I have heard the name but didn't know much about him, however knowing he is from the founding era I chose to read. It was fascinating to learn about his life. He did much with education and medical training. It sounds like he pioneered care for mental diseases. He did much to cement friendships. He wrote letters profusely from which so much of the information in this book is based. A well done book.
Middle grade fiction about a boy, wolves, shadow creatures, other mythical creatures, and the stars. Full of fable lore and the such. It was fun at times and a very interesting premise, however I felt the writing was juvenile at times. Still good though.
And just like that the year is over. I unofficially made a goal of 200 and I just made it, however it was almost stressful to slam that much info in my head.
Some of my favorites over this year:
Fiction
Stay, Catherine Ryan Hyde
Anxious People, Fredrick Backman
Set the Stars Alight, Amanda Dykes
Once Upon a Wardrobe, Patti Callahan
History
Lady Bird and Lyndon, Betty Boyd Carroli
Abe, David S. Reynolds
American Colonies, Alan Taylor
Into the Waves, Rachel Lance
My Remarkable Journey, Katherine Johnson
Historical Fiction
Words on Fire, Jennifer A. Nielsen
Nowhere Boy, Katherine Marsh
The Girl with the Louding Voice, Abi Dare
Middle Grade Fiction
Once Upon a Marigold, Jean Farris
Squint, Morris & Brown
Willa and the Whale, Morris & Brown
Poetry / Other
An American Sunrise, Joy Harjo
How to Read and Understand Shakespeare, Marc Conner
As I said, 208 was a bit much for my intellect. At times I had to look back on my blog to remind myself what some of these books were about. My goal for next year? Maybe not to count and just enjoy and learn. I'm currently listening to a lecture series about great explorations / voyages. The author suggests that one voyage often inspires another. I feel that way with books. Most inspire me to read another or to find out more on a certain subject or person. There is so much to learn.
