what happened to goodbye

I was in need of some very light easy summer reading this week so I went to my awesome local library and checked out a few newly published young adult books. Ahhh there is nothing better than teen love stories right?

What happened to Goodbye was supposed to be about a high school girl who moves around a lot with her father changing her name and identity with each move until she hits one town and she can't help be be herself...but at this point she isn't sure who that is anymore...until she meets the good looking neighbor boy who helps her figure it out. A love story AND a self discovery story. What can be better? Oh lets see, as it turns out this girl (Mclean) is a senior in high school her parents had gotten a divorce several earlier because the mom cheated and left the dad (awful). So the story was really about this poor girls struggle to deal with such a terrible divorce and a mom who wouldn't admit fault at all.

It was an nice story, I think I enjoyed the writing more than the actually story though. My favorite parts were when the narrator (Mclean) would mention that her knee bumped into the cute neighbor boy on the car ride and neither one moved their knee, or their hands touched but just a little, or his arm brushed her in the hall. squeal and giggle. I loved those parts the author put in there because it is so true to a girls thinking...so funny how excited a girl will get about something that a boy is probably not even thinking about. There were also times it was a little bit random, she would be in one moment and then the next paragraph should would be telling a memory from her past and then BAM just like that she is back in the moment. At first it was annoying, but then I realized that it is true to how a teenage girl, or any girl for that matter, is going to think and talk. So it seemed fitting.

This is a story about a girl figuring out who she is and where she really belongs, she is trying to forgive her mother for being selfish and leaving the family she made to create a new family. It is about making friends and sticking around to support each other. It was a nice story...nothing amazing or life changing, but an easy read with more to it than just a love story-in fact it is a very little love story but a HUGE emotional story.

Favorite quote: "I mean, it's not surprising really. Once you love something, you always love it in some way. You have to. It's, like, part of you for good" AND But in the real world, you couldn't really just split a family down the middle, mom on one side, dad the other, with the child divided equally between. It was like when you ripped a piece of paper into two: no matter how you tried, the seams never fit exactly right again. It was what you couldn't see, those tiniest of pieces, that we lost in the severing, and their absence kept everything from being complete.

GRADE: C

The Happiness Project

A few years ago I noticed this book had been published about the same time I noticed Eat, Pray, Love. I wanted to read both of them, but after reading Eat, Pray Love I was a little worried that it would be another woman's selfish search for "inner peace" or whatever it was called in that book. Finally this last year I picked up the Happiness Project and I am so glad that I did. It has taken me about 6 months to read...or so. But it has given me a lot to think about and I hope to eventually pick it up again and instead of just reading the book I want to work my way through the book.

Gretchen Rubin (the author) is already a happy person. She is married to a nice man and has two daughters, she wasn't searching for some lost happiness that she gave up when she married or had her kids, she was simply wanting to be happier and make sure she remained that way in the years to come living life to the fullest. As she did her research, made her resolutions (not goals-goals are something you reach and resolution is something you continue working and striving for) and implemented both she realized that happiness came when we focused on others. During the year of her project she had a lot of different areas of focus from Boosting Energy to Remember Love to Contemplating the Heavens. Through the whole project she tried to always "stay true to Gretchen" meaning that she didn't want to develop habits or resolutions that she wouldn't enjoy or make her happy, for example in the Contemplating the Heavens chapter she was encouraged to meditate but she knew that it would have driven her nuts and she would have hated ever minute of thus creating an unhappy Gretchen.

I am excited to eventually revisit this book, hopefully making a project year for myself. Mine probably wouldn't be as intense-but I like the thought of focusing on something new each month. Although this book is all about her experience it will be easy to apply the chapters and ideas in my own life staying true to Angela instead of Gretchen. It is worth a read, or a skim at least. I will admit that there were times when I read this book thinking "if was reading the Ensign or The Book of Mormon I bet it would have the same results (maybe even better)." It is a good book, thoughtful and encouraging and realistic. Also in the back is a list of books Rubin used in researching for her project and book. I can't wait to read some of those.

Take a look for yourself...and then go read the Ensign.

Quote: The Year is over, and I really am happier. After all my research, I found out what I knew all along: I could change my life without changing my life. When I made the effort to reach out for them, I found that the ruby slippers had been on my feet all along; the bluebird was singing outside my kitchen window.

GRADE: B

Silver Sparrow

A few weeks ago I did a search online for good books to read during the summer time. On a few different lists Silver Sparrow was there. So I figured it must a be real nice summer read. And it was written in 2011 and for some reason it has been very appealing to me to read book just barley published (who knows why). This book is on the wrong lists. It is more of a fall/winter book. It is not light and airy and fun, it is serious and deep and really sad.

It is about two sisters growing up in the 70s and 80s in the south. Dana knows they are sisters, Chaurisse has no clue. How does this happen? James, their father married both their mothers! Is that legal? No. But doable apparently. Dana's mom was his second wife, they knew that James had a first family and they were the secret family. Dana grew up feeling second best always to Chaurisse. Dana has to make sure they don't end up at the same jobs, high schools, parties, and eventually colleges. This of coarse would make a giant impression on a young girl's mind about relationships. They knew it was wrong, but "at least she had a daddy, most black girls didn't even have that." I don't know how that makes it okay, but for them it did. In their senior year at high school the girls become friends (because Dana seeks Chaurisse out) and that is when it all comes tumbling down.

There is no happy beginning or end in this story. It is far to real for that. It is a story about sisters and the real bond that exists between them, and the destroying power of secrets. It is about making choices and living with the consequences no matter how great they are. What got to me was often the dad and his wives would say "this is between me and your daddy, he hasn't done you wrong" and that point of view is so wrong, so very wrong.

I might be painting this is an awful terrible book, it isn't. I am glad I read it (even though it did hit it's quota for swear words in the LAST CHAPTER). It showed me a time of life that I know very little about and what what going on in some of the homes. It reminded me the importance of choices, family and honesty. I am glad I picked this book to read, I just wish I had done so in the winter time when the weather would fit the mood of the book.

Quote: : "People say, that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger. But they are wrong. What doesn't kill you, doesn't kill you. That's all you get. Sometimes, you just have to hope that's enough."

Grade: B-

Dream When You're Feeling Blue

What a beautiful story. I had read one of Elizabeth's books a while back (one I was too shocked to share...not good at all.) But a friend said she was amazing so I figured I had just gotten a lemon the first time around.

This is for sure a love story. Be ready for that. But the kind of love story might surprise you.

This book follows three sisters during the end of WWII. Louise had sent off her fiance, Kitty her boyfriend and Tish sent off whatever boy she met at the dance that weekend. They correspond with their men and try to be something uplifting to them. Over time their relationships change with the boys they love and their relationship with each other grows deeper. I also love stories with wonderful dads-and the father of the girls in this novel is a great dad with wonderful words of advice. It is a wonderful story about falling in love and taking care of family and complete sacrifice.

I really don't want to share too much, it is a story worth reading...even though there is this one page. It isn't dirty (I mean was anything dirty about that era?) but it isn't necessary for the story and I don't know why she put it in. The three sisters are talking about the wedding night in a very innocent way by using terms like "wang wang doodle." But just in case skip page 61.

I am glad that I read this story...I don't know much about this time in life, and it was nice to read from the perspective of the women who stayed home and what they dealt with. What a time of great music, great manners, beautiful clothes, and classy men and women. If I was in a crying mood I probably would have cried at the end.

Favorite Quote: "But Kitty, over there is where those boys want and need to be. If it doesn't start out that way, it ends up being that way. Men in combat love one another, and although they hate war, they love it, too. I experienced it myself. A soldier needs to believe with all his heart in his commander and his mission, and he needs for us to believe in him. How do we show him that we do? Not by mourning the fact that he's there but by celebrating the life we are privileged to lead on account of his sacrifice."

Grade: B

The Witches

You read it right...I just finished a children's chapter book! And it ROCKED! Think about it...do you remember a book from when you were a kid that you loved or even just enjoyed. Read it now and you will love every page of it. I loved this so much that I decided to read The Indian in the Cupboard too (although my sweet daughter has hidden it somewhere).



The Witches is a book about a very wise grandma that educates her son about the reality of witches in the world. But even though her grandson is educated he still finds himself in the worst possible position a little boy can be found in...A ROOM FULL OF WITCHES WITH THE DOORS LOCKED. eek I know. If you have read it, do so it is great. Read it to your kids too! If you have read it then re-read it. As it turns out it is just as great 20 years later.



Quote: "The third one was little Birgit Svenson," my grandmother said. "She lived just across the road from us. One day she started growing feathers all over her body. Within a month, she had turned into a large white chicken. Her parents kept her for years in a pen in the garden. She even laid eggs."



Grade: B

flashback: The Help

I read this December 7, 2010:

I am probably one of the last people on Earth to read this, so I don't need to tell you that it's wonderful. BUT since this is my blog and not yours I will anyway. THIS BOOK IS WONDERFUL! It is a story about Black maid who decides that it is time to help change things and how they are done and viewed her town. A young white woman about the same time finds a story worth writing and together they write a book of stories about a dozen or so maids and what it's really like working for a white woman. It also follows three women and their lives before, during and a little after they met each other. I am always amazed at what people had to go through, and I probably always will be. I am amazed at the strength some people have as well as the courage that these women had to have to move forward.
If you haven't read this book yet (lame - it came out last year or something) READ IT. You won't be able to put it down which means that in a week or so you will be done, so it's not a huge time commitment!
ALSO in my search for a picture of the book I found this - made me pretty excited.

*I just re-read it this week...and guess what? It was just as great the 2nd time!

Peter Pan

We all know the story of Peter Pan. The boy that looses his shadow in Wendy, Micheal, and John's nursery. We all know that he came back to retrieve his shadow and when soap didn't get it to stick he started to cry waking Wendy. We know that after that, he taught them to fly and guided them to Neverland. But did you know that Tinker Bell tricked the lost boys into shooting Wendy and when they did they thought they got her...but she was saved by a kiss (a button) that Peter gave her? Did you know that the mermaids where pretty stuck up and that Peter Pan is annoyingly cocky? Did you know that Smee the pirate was more lovable than anyone could have thought? Did you? NO! Well, then you need to read the book, because I left a lot more stuff out!

What a great story. I have always enjoyed the different versions of Peter Pan in the movies, but reading the book has become a favorite. It is written in such a fun way, it is almost as though it is written for adults but through the eyes of a child or something. Neverland is made up of all our dreams in one...such a fun story. Another plus is that it is pretty short, so you don't have to dedicate ALOT of time to it! So, if you have a moment, sit down and read it...you will find yourself smiling at some parts, gasping at others, and giggling out loud. It really is that fun.

Favorite Quote: After giving short summaries of a few of the adventures that the lost boys had gone on while Wendy, Michael and John where there the narrator said, "Which of these adventures shall we choose? The best way will be to toss for it. I have tossed, and the lagoon has won. This almost makes one wish that the gulch or the cake or Tink's leaf had won. Of course I could do it again, and make it best out of three; however, perhaps fairest to stick to the lagoon."

Grade: A