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

The Mark

A friend suggested this book to me, and I am glad she did. It was a great way to start off my summer reading. An easy read that help my attention, but didn't require too much deep thinking. A little love story, some action, mystery. Wow, it really had it all!

It is about a girl in high school who discovers her birthmark has a funny design to it, and then after some random encounters with a few people she realized when they touched them (certain people) she felt a connection. Soon she and those few who she felt connected too discover they have similar marks. Weird huh? They are probably government experiments...or are they? They soon find themselves on the hunt to learn about their marks and in doing so learn a lot more than they bargain for. AND in the process fall in love. **Sigh**

I really did like this book. It was clean, foul language free, and enjoyable to read. The Prologue was just confusing and it drove me nuts until the end of the book when it all came together. And the characters all seemed to act older than a bunch of seniors in high school should normally act and at times the love story was just a little too cheesy for me...but then again they were in high school so maybe it was fitting.

Favorite Quote: "How ironic would it be for us to look eagerly toward graduation, only to then spend the rest of our lives looking longingly back to what we were trying so hard to move on from?" and " We were still laughing as we climbed into my car. I put the key into the ignition, started the car and then adjusted my rear view mirror. That's when I saw him. The man from the sandwich shop was sitting in my back seat. I immediately turned to look behind me, thinking 'we should be able to jump our of the car before anything happens. or i could call the police, but that would take too long. I ended up confronting him. "What are you doing in my car?"

Grade: B+

Bossypants

Doesn't the cover alone make you want to read this biography? It is what first drew me to the book and the fact that I think Tina Fey can be so funny. I honestly knew that there was a BIG chance for foul language in this book, along with dirty jokes and the like. I mean seriously she was on SNL...here is your sign right? But I hoped and hoped that instead of Tina Fey the SNL star it would be more like the Tina Fey on Baby Momma (have you watched that movie? So great) But alas it is the SNL Tina Fey. Within the first few pages she hit her swear word quota (once I hit so many naughty words I am done with the book), I was so sad. This was obviously going to be a funny book. But a rule is a rule...especielly when they are there to protect my innocent mind.

I did flip through the rest of the book and picked parts that I figured would be clean...I found a few and enjoyed those. Like Secrets of Mommy's Beauty, Remembrances of Being Very Very Skinny, Remembrances of Being a Little Bit Fat but it didn't take long before I realized that was probably it. Sad I know.

So if you don't mind too much swearing and some dirty jokes (at least I think that what they where...I didn't get them) then read this book. But if you want to keep it clean...avoid this one and just look at the cover and enjoy it.

Favorite Quote: "Ah, babies! They're more than just adorable little creatures on whom you can blame your farts. Like most people who have had one baby, I am an expert on everything and will tell you, unsolicited, how to raise your kid!"

Grade: D (for language and jokes I didn't get and am glad)