Happy Friday! Can you smell the weekend yet? I can! It smells like freshly-baked bread and freshly-laundered sheets.
Can you guess the novel these famous last words belong to? Leave your guesses in the comments! This week I’ve got a brand new copy of A Moment in the Sun by John Sayles for the first correct guess.
love,
melanie
A few patrons of the library recommended that I read, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards. Ya’ll know I haven’t been much of an adult fiction person lately– young adult is more of my bag– but I was feeling a bit whimsical, so I thought I’d give this book a try.
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter spans almost a quarter of a century and follows the lives of the Henry family. The book opens on a rare, snowy Kentucky night in 1964. Mrs. Norah Henry is pregnant and goes into labor. The roads are treacherous from the storm, so Norah’s husband, Dr. David Henry, an orthopedic surgeon, must deliver the child at his practice with the help of his nurse, Caroline.
Unexpectedly, Norah delivers twins. The first child, a boy, is healthy. The second child, a girl, is born with Down syndrome. In a split second decision that changes everyone’s life, David tells Caroline to take the girl to an institution and tells Norah that the child passed away. Since Norah was under the influence of laughing gas, as was typical of the birthing process in the ’60s, she has little recollection of the birth.
Caroline drives the baby to the institution, but can’t bring herself to leave the child. So, the story of the next 25 years of the family’s life begins.
The premise of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is a fascinating one. Very few fiction books I am familiar with address Down syndrome before current times. In the not-so-far-away past, Down syndrome and mental disabilities were viewed as a death sentence– this book sheds light on this unpleasant part of the past.
The characters of the story are rich and unforgettable, but the language of the book can be overly descriptive. It took me weeks to get through the 400 page novel and at times, I must admit to skipping through the flourishing, mundane details.
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is worth a read for those that enjoy realism, historical fiction and books about chromosomal conditions.
Did you read The Memory Keeper’s Daughter? Did you enjoy it? Let me know in the comments.
love,
melanie
It is upon us! Wedding season! For many of you wedding season has already begun, but for George and I, the majority of our wedding activities are beginning this weekend. The dresses, and devotions, and drinks will kick off with a trip to a friends’ wedding in West Virginia. Then, we’ve got two more weddings in September and our own wedding in December.
Questions always arise about a gift when one is playing the role of wedding guest. The majority of the weddings we will be attending do not have a registry– which can be a blessing or a curse. The idea of a gifting on such a momentous occasion has inflicted a little bit of worry in my mind, but going registry-less can also be exciting. It gives the chance to show-case talents or give the people what they really want– CASH.
With registry-less weddings, I like to give a thoughtful book with money inside. Picking out books is my talent. And yes, I’m spoiling the surprise. Oops! Here’s some of my tips and favorite books for wedding gift-giving.
1. If the couple is going somewhere exotic on their honeymoon, a phrase or guide book is a helpful and entertaining choice. For our friends who were going to Italy on their honeymoon, we got them a Dirty Italian phrase book stuffed with cash. I hope they stunned the Italians with their knowledge and dirty-word skills.
2. I think marriage help or marriage advice books are way too personal to give at a wedding. Those types of books may even send the wrong message to the happy couple. But a book of other people’s love letters? Well, that just sounds divine.
3. Have the bride and groom expressed interest in learning a new skill or do they have a collective hobby? Now would be a great time to give a book on canning, gardening, or homemaking skills– if your couple is into that sort of thing. I particularly like Canning for a New Generation: Bold, Fresh Flavors for the Modern Pantry. It’s filled with hi-res pictures and makes canning look surprisingly hip.
4. Does your couple like fiction? Classic love stories like this illustrated Bronte Sisters collection would be fitting. Personally, I would prefer a few lovely classic novels to start a personal library in our home together. I’ve been swooning over this classic novels box set for over a year and would love to receive it as a wedding gift. Hint, Hint!
Do you have any tips about wedding gift giving? Have you ever given a book as a wedding gift? Let me know in the comments!
love,
melanie
Am I the only one who didn’t love Persepolis? There were aspects of the book that I appreciate, but overall I give it a big, fat meh. I appreciated the portrayal of a girl living in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. The Islamic Revolution is a topic rarely discussed in Western literature. I also appreciated the accessibility of the graphic novel format. This book could easily fit into a high school World History course. I just didn’t love it, ya know?
I didn’t like the main character, Marji. Although she and her family had their fair share of struggles, their hardships seemed much less severe than the realities of their neighbors and friends. Their family is rather well-to-do and I would have appreciated a story of those who experienced the harsher realities of a revolution. Does that make me a bad person? I’ve never experienced the harsher realities of war or a revolution myself. Am I a hypocritical critic?
I know this is her memoir, and Marji lost her uncle and many people she loved which is insanely awful. To me, Marji just gave off that spoiled teen vibe– something I can’t stand and one of the reasons I did not become a YA librarian. (I suppose in some ways the spoiled teen vibe was rightful, she was a young teenager during the novel– I just hate it!)
I also wasn’t crazy about the graphics. The drawings were a little simplistic for my taste, but one could argue they represented the simplicity of childhood and all that jazz.
This book was often compared to Maus. Maus was better. I still might read the second book in the series, Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return. I wasn’t happy with the ending.
Did you read Persepolis? What did you think?
love,
melanie
Sometimes I think I’m the only book-lover in the world who has luke-warm feelings towards Pride and Prejudice. I know, I know, it’s a sin. Don’t shoot me, but I’ve always thought Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy were snotty, boring and terribly pretentious. I need a heroine with… excuse my expression… balls! I’d take Hester Prynne over Elizabeth Bennet any day.
I always feel guilty about my dislike of Pride and Prejudice, and I guilt myself into reading mash-up P and P novels in the hopes that Elizabeth will grow on me. She never does. My taste is appalling. I know.
When we got the audiobook of Death Comes to Pemberley at the library, I felt obliged to pop it into my car stereo. Alas, if I didn’t listen to this book in audio format, I don’t think I would have finished it. The best part for me about the experience was listening to the glorious accent of the narrator, Rosalyn Landor.
Ms. Landor had a fabulously matriarchal British accent. She might just be the real-life Mary Poppins. AND she had different voices for each one of the characters!
Unfortunately, Ms. Landor was the best part of the novel. The characters I found dull, and the plot, although it involved a murder, had me dozing off at the wheel.
Although this book was a total flop for me, I’ll definitely be on the lookout for audio books narrated by Rosalyn Landor in the future.
Did you read Death Comes to Pemberley? What did you think?
love,
melanie
I’m a crazy-list-maker and not afraid to admit it. Making lists makes me feel good, accomplished even. It makes me feel that I did something for the day, even though maybe I only made a list. Whoops.
Reading lists are one of my favorite lists to create. They’re the nerdy, yet fun-loving cousin of To-Do lists. Let’s call my reading lists, Gertrud. Since this weekend is Memorial Day, which generally marks the start of summer-time, Gertie and I are (reluctantly) whipping out our bathing suits, slathering on our SPF 100, and sipping cocktails poolside.
Summer Reading List 2012 (a.k.a. Gertie.)
Treasure Island!!!
Sara Levine
Although this book gets mixed review on Amazon, I’m going to take a chance and put Treasure Island!!! on the list because the premise is just so weird. And I heard about it on NPR, whom I trust with book reviews.
In this suburban comedy, a recent college grad with a lack-luster job history reads Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and decides she should live her life by the core values of the book: namely, boldness, resolution, independence and horn-blowing.
Sounds mildly crazy, huh? Maybe just as crazy as naming your Summer Book List, Gertie.
Fifty Shades of Grey
E.L. James
I’m jumping on the bandwagon for this one. Generally, books about passionate, physical relationships written in (what I have heard to be) graphic detail, don’t really interest me. I prefer a little magic with my “trash,” a la the Sookie Stackhouse novels. But I feel as a librarian sometimes it is my duty to read books with big hype. And I’m not afraid to admit I want to know what all the hype is about!
Let’s Pretend This Never Happened
Jenny Lawson
Since it is summer-time, I want something to tickle my funny bone as I sip on a boozy, cool drink. So, I chose another book from the humor genre. This time, the book is a “mostly-true memoir” from Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess. In Let’s Pretend this Never Happened, Jenny writes about the most embarrassing and traumatic experiences of her life, you know, the ones you wished never happened, and spins them into a hilarious tale. Or at least I hope she does.
Wildwood
Colin Meloy, illustrations by Carson Ellis
Ya’ll know I had to put a YA novel on here. I’ve been wanting to read this one for a long time because of, you guessed it, the cover. It’s beautiful, right? The book is illustrated by Carson Ellis, Colin Meloy’s wife. Colin Meloy is the singer/songwriter for The Decemberists. Her Majesty, the Decemberists was the soundtrack to my sophomore year of college.
Even the plot of Wildwood sounds oddly-beautiful. Prue McKeel’s baby brother is kidnapped by a murder of crows, so she adventures into the uncharted Wildwood to save him.
The Introvert Advantage: How to thrive in an extrovert world
Marti Olsen, Psy.D.
I’m an introvert. I know it is a cliché for librarians to be introverts, but I can’t help it. Introverts get an undeserved bad rap. Through this book I hope to learn how to better use my introverted personality to my advantage, instead of trying to hide it or “fix” it.
Want more of my “To-Read” lists? Follow me on Goodreads!
What are ya’ll reading this summer?
love,
melanie
I’m on a Young Adult literature kick right now. I guess I’m making up for reading almost no YA lit. as a “young adult.” (I still consider myself young adult, although I’m technically out of the bracket.)
I have to admit, I picked Please Ignore Vera Dietz because of the cover art. I’m terrible about judging books by the cover, but I can’t think of one instance where a book I love has a crappy cover. This book was no different. Great cover, great story.
Vera, a high-school senior, is haunted by her dead-ex-best-friend, Charlie. Charlie wants Vera to tell the truth surrounding the circumstances of his death. But Vera is conflicted. She loved Charlie and she hated Charlie. She loved him because he was charming, dangerous and her childhood best friend. And she hated him because he spread her ugly family secret around their high school.
Please Ignore Vera Dietz is an easy, but edgy read. The book has a storyline that jumps through time and through characters to keep it interesting. I’d recommend this book to any and all wallflowers with a free afternoon.
Has anyone else read this book? What did you think about it?
love,
melanie
I hate that I kept comparing this book to Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? And Other Concerns. But I couldn’t help it. Mindy even mentions in her book that the comparison is obvious and Bossypants is better. But I actually felt like I could relate much more to Mindy. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? was so relatable, we’re now on a first-name basis.
Bossypants may be relatable for moms living in NYC, but I’m a 20-something that has lived in LA. I was an overweight child who has been on “hobby-diets” my whole life, dated too many “boys” and I online shop more than is healthy– so does Mindy.
The relatablity of a memoir often determines how much I will enjoy it. I just didn’t enjoy Bossypants as much as I thought I would. Sometimes I can’t be unbiased with book reviews.
If you are going to read Bossypants, I would highly recommend the audio book. I enjoyed hearing the book read by Ms. Fey (we’re not on a first-name basis) because she does a few voice impressions and she has a strong, clear, sometimes theatrical voice.
Did anyone else read Bossypants? Did you have lukewarm feelings about it, too? It seems that I’m the only one that didn’t adore it. Maybe my expectations were too high?
oh well,
love,
melanie
Rebel Angels and The Sweet Far Thing, the second and third novel in the Gemma Doyle series, made me sincerely wish there were more strong, leading female characters in the novels I read growing up. Sure, I had Hermione Granger, but she was far more of a supporting character than a leading lady.
Gemma Doyle is the best kind of girl– a relatable one. She is strong, independent, curious, and imperfect. Gemma trusts the wrong people, crushes on the wrong boys and wants the unobtainable. She is pretty, but not beautiful. She is smart, but not a genius. She embodies the confusion of young adulthood and well… life. In these last books, I most enjoyed seeing Gemma grow, stumble to find herself, and become a confident woman. It’s what kids young adults everyone goes through– with or without magic.
Although, I completely underestimated the time it would take to read the 800+ pages in the final book. In fact, I neglected my blogging duties last week because I was trying to finish it. Don’t get me wrong, reading wasn’t a chore. It was quite enjoyable, but I definitely think the final book in the trilogy, The Sweet Far Thing, could have been divided up into at least two books. And then maybe made into an HBO series. And then edited a bit.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and I’ll be the first in line to see the movie… if it ever gets made.
Have you read the Gemma Doyle trilogy? What did you think?
love,
melanie