Top Ten Tuesday #5

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Posted on May 28, 2013

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke & the Bookish. It’s awesome. Every Tuesday, the lovely ladies over there give us book bloggers wonderful and fun topics to create our lists! Check out what others have posted by going over there! http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com

This week is a freebie, and I wasn’t sure what to do. There are so many great ideas out there, but I decided to something a little more personal. As summer approaches, my kids-two teens- are starting to make plans-lots of which does not involve their Dad or I. I am starting to long for those summer days when it was just us handing together, so I picked this topic for my freebie-

TOP TEN BOOKS I LOVED READING TO MY KIDS WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE

1. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown- “goodnight nobody….

2. How Do Dinosaurs Say goodnight? by Jane Yolen

3. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

still can make me teary eyed…

4. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuess

5. Put Me In The Zoo by Robert Lopshire

6. Moo Baa LALALA by Sandra Boynton

(first book my son ate)

7. Caps For Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

(a fav from when I was a kid)

8. The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein

9. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

(every kid has these kinds of days-adults too)

and of course…

10. Fox in Sox by Dr. Seuess

“When beetles fight these battles in a bottle with their paddles
and the bottle’s on a poodle and the poodle’s eating noodles…
…they call this a muddle puddle tweetle poodle beetle noodle
bottle paddle battle.”
― Dr. Seuss, Fox in Socks

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #5

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Posted on May 27, 2013

Its Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly bookish meme held on Book Journey by Sheila. It’s a great place to discuss your week in reading and see what others are reading too.

Books I finished~

Orphan Train by Cristina Baker Kline

The Way Back to Happiness by Elizabeth Bass

Reviews posted~

Maya’s Notebook by Isabel Allende – https://turnthepagereviews.com/2013/05/22/mayas-notebook/

The Way Back to Happiness by Elizabeth Bass- https://turnthepagereviews.com/2013/05/23/the-way-back-to-happiness/

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline – https://turnthepagereviews.com/2013/05/24/orphan-train-she-reads-may-book-club-selection/

Currently Reading~

The Bookman’s Tale by Charlie Lovett

Up Next~

The Book of Secrets by Elizabeth Joy Arnold

I would love to hear what you are reading!

Orphan Train-She Reads May Book Club Selection

7 Comments

Posted on May 24, 2013

Orphan Train

by Christina Baker Kline

published by HarperCollins

2013

Summary

The author of Bird in Hand and The Way Life Should Be delivers her most ambitious and powerful novel to date: a captivating story of two very different women who build an unexpected friendship: a 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as an orphan-train rider and the teenage girl whose own troubled adolescence leads her to seek answers to questions no one has ever thought to ask.

Nearly eighteen, Molly Ayer knows she has one last chance. Just months from “aging out” of the child welfare system, and close to being kicked out of her foster home, a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping her out of juvie and worse.

Vivian Daly has lived a quiet life on the coast of Maine. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past. As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly discovers that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance.

The closer Molly grows to Vivian, the more she discovers parallels to her own life. A Penobscot Indian, she, too, is an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past. As her emotional barriers begin to crumble, Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life – answers that will ultimately free them both.

Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, of unexpected friendship, and of the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are. (from Goodreads)

My Review

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. I love historical fiction, but this seemed like a strange premise. As I started reading, however, I realized that this was a part of history that I had not heard of before-the Orphan Trains. I knew nothing about thousands of orphaned or destitute children from New York were shipped to the Midwest to be taken in and hopefully adopted by families. This book seamlessly weaves together the story of Vivian and Molly. Molly is a 17 year old foster child who has been bounced around the system for years. She is almost aged out, and is looking at a very uncertain future. When a small misstep almost lands her in juvie, she accepts a community service sentence to help clean out 91 year old Vivian’s attic. While working together, she learns Vivian’s story. As a young girl, Vivian immigrated to the U.S. from Ireland in the late 1920’s. When a fire claims the lives of her entire family, the Children’s Aid Society steps in and places Vivian along with other orphans onto trains bound for the Midwest. There, they will hopefully find families that want to adopt them. Unfortunately, more often than not, these families were looking for free labor. The story alternated between Molly in the present day, and back flashes of Vivian’s experiences.

I really loved learning about the orphan trains and seeing history unfold through Niamh/Dorothy/Vivian’s eyes. I also learned quite a bit about the Penobscot Indians. I thought this was a very well written, engaging story and would strongly recommend reading it. I am so glad She Reads picked such a great selection for the May Book Club. Please stop over there and see what others thought of this book.

http://www.shereads.org/2013/05/may-book-club-selection-4/

Rating 5 out of 5

“I love you,” he writes again and again. “I can’t bear to live without you. I’m counting the minutes until I see you.” The words he uses are the idioms of popular songs and poems in the newspaper. And mine to him are no less cliched. I puzzle over the onionskin, trying to spill my heart onto the page. But I can only come up with the same words, in the same order, and hope the depth of feeling beneath them gives them weight and substance. I love you. I miss you. Be careful. Be safe.”
― Christina Baker Kline, Orphan Train

The Way Back To Happiness

1 Comment

Posted on May 23, 2013

The Way Back To Happiness

by Elizabeth Bass

published by Kensington

2013

I received this as an ebook from Net Galley in return for an honest review.

Summary

Fourteen year old Alabama Puttman has been raised all alone, haphazardly and lovingly, by her mother Diana. When she returns from her one and only ever week at sleep away camp, Diana has been killed crossing the street, and Alabama finds herself in the care of her Aunt Bev, who hasn’t spoken to Diana since Alabama was born. Alabama and Bev have a difficult time relating to each other. Over the course of the book, these two characters are going to have to find a way to live together, and just maybe be happy doing it.

My Review

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the author got the tone exactly right in the character of Alabama. Her angst, slightly warped sense of priorities, and rash actions, so show the mindset of a typical (not all) 14 year old girls. I felt the rocky relationship between Bev and Alabama was well established. Poor Bev, despite years teaching them, has absolutely no idea how to relate day in and day out to a teenager, thoughI am not sure anyone really does. I loved how Alabama grew up and mature as the story progressed. Also. those of us old enough to remember, will love all the references to the 80’s! I would recommend this book, and look forward to reading more from this author. This was the first time I have EVER read an ebook-I borrowed my daughter’s kindle.

Rating

4 out of 5

A fun, quick read!

Maya’s Notebook

6 Comments

Posted on May 22, 2013

Maya’s Notebook

by Isabel Allende

published by Harper Collins

2013

Summary

Isabel Allende’s latest novel, set in the present day (a new departure for the author), tells the story of a 19-year-old American girl who finds refuge on a remote island off the coast of Chile after falling into a life of drugs, crime, and prostitution. There, in the company of a torture survivor, a lame dog, and other unforgettable characters, Maya Vidal writes her story, which includes pursuit by a gang of assassins, the police, the FBI, and Interpol. In the process, she unveils a terrible family secret, comes to understand the meaning of love and loyalty, and initiates the greatest adventure of her life: the journey into her own soul. (from Goodreads)

My Review

Isabel Allende is one of my favorite authors. I don’t think I have read anything from her that I haven’t really liked, or more likely, loved. That being said, I did not love this book. The beginning was a little slow for me, I lOVED the middle, and the end sort of fell flat. I actually feel bad writing this, since I think I didn’t like it as much as I might have, if I hadn’t had such high expectations. Since I love all I have read from her, I expected Allende’s new book to be fabulous, when it was merely good- or ok to me.

The story started slow for me, as I had a problem warming up to Maya. I LOVED the middle so much, especially getting to know all the inhabitants Chiloe. Allende has an amazing talent for weaving the history of her setting, especially Chile, into her story. She makes the people and places come alive, inviting you in with such amazing descriptions. I wish most of the story took place in Chiloe, but it went back and forth, almost haphazardly, between Maya’s time in Chiloe, where she is laying low at 19 years old due to some bad living, and the times and events in the U.S. that led up to her “escape”. I especially like the other main characters in the story- Maya’s Nini, her grandmother that raised her, and Manuel, who opens his home to her in Chiloe. The end, for me, was unexpected. It was not in Allende’s usual style, but seemed like an attempt to wrap things up neatly.

Honestly, I would recommend this book- it was very well written, has very well developed characters, and is an interesting story. It just did not live up to what I had hoped for from one of my favorite authors.

Rating- a begrudging 4 out or 5

“It’s easy to judge others when we are not going through the same thing.”

-Maya Vidal

Chiloé Island, Chile (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Top Ten Tuesday # 4

9 Comments

Posted on May 21, 2013

This weeks topic is-

Top Ten Favorite Book Covers of Books I Have Read

1. Brave New World-creepy!!

2. Lost & Found– how can anyone look at that face and not love it- plus I have one that looks JUST like it 🙂

3. The Great Gatsby– the eyes follow you around…

4. Where The Wild Things Are– one of my favorites

5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows– he looks like he is ready to kick some Voldermort butt!

6. To Kill A Mockingbird–classic

7. The Last Letter from your Lover– look how close they are, like the moment right before or after kissing

8. The Thirteenth Tale– books on a book cover grab me!

9. Wicked- TWOO was my favorite growing up-going to see the play this weekend with my daughter!

10. Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil– that is one scary statue-I know, I visited this cemetery in Savannah.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #4

10 Comments

Posted on May 20, 2013

Its Monday! What are you Reading? is a weekly bookish meme held on Book Journey by Sheila. It’s a great place to discuss your week in reading and see what others are reading too.

Books I Finished~

Maya’s Notebook by Isabel Allende

The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard-which I received as a free giveaway from the wonderful folks at Goodreads!

15802753 16248114

Reviews Posted~

The Family Mansion by Anthony C. Winkler – https://turnthepagereviews.com/2013/05/15/the-family-mansion/

Let It Be by Chad Gayle – https://turnthepagereviews.com/2013/05/17/let-it-be/

What I am Currently Reading~

The Way Back to Happiness by Elizabeth Bass

What I am Hoping to Read Next~

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline- the She Reads May book club selection

http://www.shereads.org/2013/05/may-book-club-selection-4/

Let It Be

3 Comments

Posted on May 17, 2013

Let It Be

by Chad Gayle

published by Bracket Books

2013

Summary

After Michelle Jansen moves to Amarillo to get away from her abusive husband, she struggles to meet the emotional needs of her two children as she continues to rebuff the demands of her overbearing ex. She finds love and support in the arms of a coworker who is as much of a Beatles fan as she is, and she begins to gain the confidence and the strength that she needs to stand on her own, but her ex can’t bear to see her happy, and Michelle is blindsided by an unexpected betrayal as her ex turns her very own son against her. When this family that has already been split down the middle is thrown into chaos, it’s up to Michelle to find a path toward healing and forgiveness, a way to right the wrongs that have hurt them all. (from Goodreads)

My Review

This is the debut novel for Chad Gayle, a photographer and write originally from Texas. Let It Be is a complex story of a woman starting over after leaving her volatile husband. Michelle Jansen moves to Amarillo with her children Pam and Joseph. She is starting over, trying to find a job to support herself and the children, while having to continually push away her estranged husband, who is intent on getting her back. When she finally thinks things are going well- a new job, an interesting man- everything falls apart.

What I really enjoyed about this book was the author’s attempt to tie the story into the music of The Beatles, specifically their last album Let It Be. Each chapter is titled after on of the songs on the album, which I found interesting. The only problem was that I didn’t actually know ALL of the songs, so I just had to wing it for the ones I didn’t know. The author wrote the character of Michelle the strongest. I think she was the character I liked best, since I felt I knew who she was and why she did what she did. Joseph, the son, is also well written and defined, but I could not relate with him as well as I could Michelle. She struggled day after day to make a life for her and the kids, knowing it would be easier to give in and return to her husband-easier and wrong. At the end of the story, I was left with this ache of sadness for her, knowing and understanding too well how we make choices and decisions based on our love for our children.

Mr. Gayle’s debut work was a very enjoyable book that I would definitely recommend.

I received this book from Bracket Books in exchange for an honest review.

rating- 4 out of 5

Cover of Let It Be (1990)

The Family Mansion

1 Comment

Posted on May 15, 2013

The Family Mansion

by Anthony C. Winkler

published by Akaschic Books

2013

I received this book through Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.

Summary

The Family Mansion tells the story of Hartley Fudges, whose personal destiny unfolds against the backdrop of nineteenth-century British culture, a time when English society was based upon the strictest subordination and stratification of the classes. Hartley’s decision to migrate to Jamaica at the age of twenty-three seems sensible at first: in the early 1800s Jamaica was far and away the richest and most opulent of all the crown colonies. But for all its fabulous wealth, Jamaica was a difficult and inhospitable place for an immigrant.

The complex saga of Hartley’s life is revealed in vivid scenes that depict the vicissitudes of ninteenth-century English and Jamaican societies. Aside from violent slave revolts, newcomers had to survive the nemesis of the white man in the tropics—namely, yellow fever. With Hartley’s point of view as its primary focus, the narrative transports readers to exotic lands, simultaneously exploring the brutality of England’s slavery-based colonization. (from Goodreads)

My Review

We first meet Hartley Fudges, the main character, in England, where he bemoans his bad luck at being the second (and non inheriting) son of a wealthy aristocrat. Since he will not inherit anything from his father due to England’s primogeniture laws, his options for the future are limited-marry for wealth, join the clergy, or head to the colonies to make a living. After some very bad choices, Hartley does head out – to work at a sugar plantation in Jamaica. Once there, he immediately falls ill with Yellow Fever, which he barely survives. After his recuperation, Hartley works as a backra, one of six white men who run the plantation under the manager.

Mr. Winkler has written an amusing, at times satirical novel, while touching on important historical aspects, such as human rights, slavery, and colonization. There were times I felt it was almost too funny, but I never lost interest in the story. I especially enjoyed the way the author described Hartley’s surroundings-

“London in 1805 was a crowded, dirty city exploding with industry and people. The streets were jammed with horse-drawn carriages, and the pedestrians swarming everywhere had the pallor and bustling, scurrying energy of constant motion that might be found in a population of hungry marsupials. Everywhere the eye looked it beheld smokestacks, grimy working men, sidewalk butchers, shrieking hankerers, and peddlers against a backdrop of persistent staccato hoof beats made by overworked horses harnessed to carriages, hackney cabs, and drays.”

I would recommend this book, especially to those who enjoy historical fiction. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

Rating- 4 out of 5

Anthony C. Winkler was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1942 and is widely recognized as one of the island’s finest exports. His novels includeThe Lunatic (1987; adapted into a feature film), The Duppy (1997), Dog War (2007), and God Carlos (2012). He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.