Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

Another book club read from awhile ago. A story about three orphans growing up in a home without any money. They go to a ballet school and look forward to turning 12 so they can get jobs and earn money.

I was excited to read this classic, especially since it's famously referenced in one of my favorite movies (You've Got Mail), but I was a little disappointed. It was kind of a boring book. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen, but the story cycled through the different jobs the girls were able to get and how they could cope with limited funds.

3 stars

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

I read this one forever ago--last fall--and didn't write about it then so this post will be short.

I liked the idea of this book but hated the ending. Though, I spoke with my friend who recommended it and she liked the ending because it was more realistic, which I understand. But I'm a lover of idealistic endings, so this one wasn't exactly my cup of cocoa, but that doesn't mean other people won't like it!

3 stars

Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee Ilibagiza

I don't post on this blog much anymore. I've started a new one where I choose books from affiliated reading lists (giving me a chance for a small income!) and it keeps me busy. But I had to post here today because I just finished an absolutely incredible book that I need to share.

My book club chose "Left to Tell" for our book this month. I was hesitant to read it because it's one woman's experience surviving the Rwandan genocide. I saw the movie Hotel Rwanda about 10 years ago and it remains one of the most terrifying movies I've ever seen. What happened in Rwanda was horrifying. Seeing it played out on the big screen was difficult (albeit important) to watch. I was worried this book would be a similarly difficult experience. Now that I've finished, I am so grateful I read it. "Left to Tell" is the single most inspiring thing I've read in years--possibly forever.

The real bathroom where 8 women hid for 91
days during the Rwandan genocide.

Immaculee is one of four children growing up in a small village in western Rwanda. When the genocide begins, she hides in a tiny bathroom of a local minister for 91 days along with 7 other women. This bathroom was so, so small. From the photo included in the book, it looks to be narrower than my kitchen table and a similar length. Aside from her oldest brother--who was attending graduate school out of the country when the genocide began--Immaculee was the only member of her family to survive the slaughter.

This book deals with horrific events, but the story is more centered on her spiritual development. Sitting silently in a bathroom for 3 months left lots of time for meditation and prayer. Immaculee shares how God gave her strength, answered her prayers, and eventually showed her how to forgive the killers who murdered her family. It is an intensely spiritual and inspirational story, not to mention written in a way that is gripping from page one until the very end.

If you are nervous about the heavy subject matter, I understand. I felt that way too. But this is a book that everyone--and I mean everyone--should read. It is inspiring; it strengthened my own personal faith in God, and helped open my eyes to the conditions some people must live in. It put into perspective the problems our country faces right now. Suddenly bathroom laws seem completely insignificant when compared to a government that was actively encouraging neighbors to massacre one another.

Go read this book. You'll be inspired and changed and want to make the world a better place.

5 stars

The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor

This was recommended by a long-time friend's mother who is especially interested in Ireland (because they're Irish) and the Titanic. This was a fascinating perspective of the Titanic disaster of 1912. It follows an Irish teenage girl named Maggie Murphy and a group of fellow travelers from her parish as they embark on the Titanic headed for America. She is one of only 2 survivors of her companions. The story is told partially from Maggie's time from both her and a couple others' perspectives, and Maggie's great-granddaughter's point of view.

The story of the Titanic has been told and retold countless times. It is a tragedy that has captured the attention of generations. The Girl Who Came Home was told in a fresh and heartfelt way. I connected with Maggie and her great-granddaughter. I was so concerned with who was going to survive and so heartbroken that most did not. It is truly a tragic story and this book will make you experience some of the emotions felt by the world as they experienced the sinking of that great ship.

If you enjoy historical fiction you will love this book. It was a little slow in parts, but perhaps that's just because I knew the climax I was waiting for. Good read!

4 out of 5 stars

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

I have been neglecting this blog. I've started a new one that will hopefully result in a little extra bling (fingers crossed!) but I will try to keep this one updated with the books I read on the side.

I read The Language of Flowers, by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, probably 6 months ago or more, so the specific details are fuzzy. The main character is a ward of the state who has gone from foster home to foster home until turning 18. Unable and unwilling to get a job, she spends her nights sleeping in a local park across the street from a flower shop. Her one true passion is flowers and the hidden language they possess. After convincing the shop owner of her knowledge and skill, she gets a job doing what she loves and eventually opens up her own business. Things seem to be going well, but she is unable to get over the demons of her past. Can she learn to love when she has never felt loved by anyone in her life?

Good story, interesting to learn about flowers. I got irritated with the main character because she kept making choices that I felt were either irresponsible or totally contrary to her overall well-being. But I enjoyed the book and would recommend it!

4 out of 5 stars

The Sweetheart Deal by Polly Dugan

I recently got to take a solo trip to my home town in California for the wedding of an old friend. The most exciting part about this trip was the solo part--no kids! No husband either, so that was a bummer, but it was nice to be able to just focus on myself and do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it. Plus I did a bunch of stuff all weekend that my husband would have no desire to do, like visit all my old schools and drive past my old house and neighborhoods and visit old friends. He'd have been bored to tears. In any case, one thing I was most excited about was my flight. Being alone, I would be able to read in the airport and on the plane and actually be able to focus on my book. I wanted the perfect book for a mom's weekend away. I chose The Sweetheart Deal by Polly Dugan.

This is a partial description listed on Amazon: Leo has long joked that, in the event of his death, he wants his best friend Garrett, a lifelong bachelor, to marry his wife, Audrey. One drunken night, he goes so far as to make Garrett promise to do so. Then, twelve years later, Leo, a veteran firefighter, dies in a skiing accident.

This little blurb sums up the book fairly well. Sounds like there's tons of potential, right?? I figured this would be the perfect story of re-falling-in-love for me to read on my weekend alone. Unfortunately, the book happens exactly how you might think it would happen after reading the short book description. There was exactly zero surprise or sense of thrill because it was so, so predictable. In theory, the idea for this story is great. I was really excited to read this book, but ultimately it was a disappointment. It might be a good read if you are looking for something easy to read by the side of the pool on vacation, just don't expect a whole lot.

2.5 out of 5 stars

The Diary of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas

This was our book club choice for May and I mostly enjoyed it. It is very similar to These Is My Words but not as good, in my opinion. It didn't have enough likable characters, and there was an insane amount of horrific things that happened. Mattie is a girl who believes she will never marry, and then one day a very handsome young man she has had a crush on for years asks her to marry him. The catch is that he has bought land in the Colorado territory and the wagon trek across the plains can be perilous. The other catch is that he asks her because she is a strong, practically-minded woman and he thinks she can endure the hard life that will be required to live in indian country. Plus the woman he really wanted to marry turned him down. She accepts, they make it across the plains, and build a home miles away from any neighbors and the nearest town.

I liked Mattie, but it annoyed me how ignorant she was when things got bad with her husband. She put her blinders on and ignored all the signs. She had good neighbors and a decent support system of good men she could pick from, but instead keeps going back to her worthless, cheating, jerk of a husband. The husband made me mad; I think he had good intentions in the beginning, but he continually took advantage of his wife's goodness and forgiving nature. The fact that this was a fictional story kind of annoyed me too; because it is fiction, the author could have chosen for more joy to be present in the story. I know horrific things happened to the early western settlers, but I'm a little skeptical by the sheer amount of awfulness that happened to basically everyone in Mattie's life. And the author could also have manufactured a satisfying ending. The journal ends before there is any sense of resolution. There is an epilogue told by Mattie's great-granddaughter that suggests her husband turned things around and they lived a long and happy life together. I think the ending was a huge cop-out. The author had the opportunity for a great redeeming story, a chance to show the husband's journey and change of heart, but instead gives us that information in a couple paragraphs. So disappointing. I definitely like These Is My Words better; similar setting, way better characters and more fulfilling.

It was a good read; I was interested the whole time, wanting to know what happened next. Mattie's voice is easy to read and pretty entertaining. There was plenty of action (arguably too much, somewhat unrealistic) so I was never bored. But there were too many despicable main characters. There were 2-3 that I really loved, but things didn't work out the way I wanted them to with them in the end.

2.5 out of 5 stars

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Let me start by saying how much I adore this movie!! I've made my husband watch it with me once or twice and it was fun to watch him squirm in the girly parts. I love it in all it's cheesy glory.

Now, moving on to the book, which is a completely different beast. Ella Enchanted in it's literary form is far more serious than it's movie counterpart. It still has lighthearted, silly moments, but Ella's struggles are more severe. She is under a fairy curse that makes her obedient to whatever anyone tells her to do. Her spiteful stepsister discovers this weakness and exploits it, making Ella do things like give up her deceased mother's necklace and end her relationship with her best friend. Ella eventually gets herself out of those situations by running away from the boarding school she attends with her stepsisters. She heads off in search of the fairy who gave her this "gift;" on her journey she gets captured by ogres, runs into long-time friend Prince Char, and with his help, manages to avoid becoming dinner. Ella in the book is far more empowered and strong than her movie self. She solves her own problems and makes hard choices. The final conflict in the movie where Ella is battling internally trying to defy an order to kill Char doesn't happen. Instead, a less dramatic scene occurs where Ella has the same internal struggle that leads to her breaking the curse, but it is over whether or not she will marry Prince Char. Not quite as exciting as how the movie does it, but the same ending is accomplished: Ella and the prince live happily ever after.

I very much enjoyed this book. More serious than the movie, but still a lot of fun. Though, I think I might like the movie better. You can't get better than cheesy, all-cast musical numbers. Dancing ogres? Yes, please!

4 out of 5 stars

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

Another book chosen by my book club, Esperanza Rising is set in the 1920's and 30's, post-Revolutionary Mexico and the Great Depression in California. After 13-year-old Esperanza's wealthy father is killed and her home burns down in a mysterious fire, she and her mother must flee Mexico to escape a dangerous and powerful uncle. They go to California with a few friends and get jobs as farm workers. Many workers feel that their conditions are unlivable and strike for better wages. Esperanza and her family, and many others, are too frightened to strike because they don't want to lose their jobs to the people coming from Oklahoma who will work for less. During this period of many transitions, Esperanza must forget about the life of luxury she would have had before her father's death, and learn how to work hard and take care of her family.

This was an interesting story for me. I grew up in California and there is still today lots of bias and prejudice toward the Mexican community. I enjoyed reading about Esperanza's experience and really getting in to her side of the story. I also really liked how the chapters were all divided by the seasons and the produce they were harvesting at the time. It was fun to brush up on some Spanish words that I haven't heard since high school. Anyway, good read!

4 out of 5 stars

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Every November, on the little island of Thisby, the Scorpio Races are held. On the backs of wild water horses, riders compete in a deadly race. The legendary capaill uisce are bloodthirsty and can never be fully tamed. Each year there are casualties of the race. Kate "Puck" Connolly races to save her home and keep her family together. Sean Kendrick, 4 time race winner, races to win the money to keep his best friend--his horse, a capaill uisce. Together they help each other train for the race, knowing that only one can win. Assuming, of course, that they even survive.

I really enjoyed this book. It was dark and compelling. The story moved a little slowly in the first half, but after awhile I was hooked and couldn't put it down. The legend of the water horses is one I've never heard before. They are violent and dangerous, fast and wild and free. I was simultaneously intrigued and revolted by them. I loved the two main characters, Puck and Sean, and enjoyed both of their stories, particularly when they joined. Definitely would recommend this one!!

4.5 out of 5 stars

Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

It's been a few weeks since I read this delightful book so some of the details may be sketchy. This was recommended by my good friend, a recommendation for which I am grateful because otherwise I probably would never have found this story. I love getting good suggestions from people so if any of you readers have a book you loved I want to hear about it!

Bernadette is an eccentric, middle-aged woman living in Seattle with her husband and daughter, Bee. Her husband is a big shot working at Microsoft and their daughter attends a small private school. Bernadette is a famous architect, though she hasn't worked in years, since before they moved to Seattle. She hates Seattle, all the parents of the kids at Bee's school, and her neighbors, and pretty much everything about life at the moment, except for her family. One day, after a confrontation with her husband and a shrink, Bernadette goes missing. This book is a compilation of letter, emails, observations, and journal entries, all put together by Bee in an effort to find her mother.

I very much enjoyed this book. It was different; the characters were all interesting, Bernadette is especially endearing, and the method with which the story is told was refreshing. There were parts that rambled on a bit long and lost my attention, but for the most part this was a very fun read!

4 out of 5 stars

Labor Day by Joyce Maynard

I read this one back in January so a lot of the details are kind of fuzzy. I heard about Labor Day from a list of books that were being made into movies in 2014. From the synopsis, I thought this sounded like my kind of book: lonely single mom meets a handsome escaped criminal, a bit of romance, add a splash of danger, mix it up with a mother-son family relationship, and you have a potentially great story. Sadly, things didn't play out like I hoped they would.

First off, the whole book is told from the perspective of the 13-year old son, which immediately eliminates any possibility of experiencing the falling-in-love aspect that drew me to the story in the first place. It's not like I'm looking for steamy romance or anything (I'd read cheap romance novels if that's what I was hoping for), but I like to be inside the head of the person falling in love. Hear their thoughts and feel their emotions. Without that, what's the point??

So, given the fact that the entirety of the story is viewed through the male 13-year-old lenses, it wasn't a bad book. The characters were decent; you quickly grow to care for the escaped convict and hope for the happiest of endings for him and the mother, and the son is fairly relatable. I mostly was just disappointed because I had high hopes for a really juicy and satisfying love story and it certainly wasn't that. Ah well...maybe the movie version will spice things up a bit. After all, it does star Kate Winslet and she's amazing.

3 out of 5 stars

Children of the Promise series by Dean Hughes

I wish I could have found a better picture of these books because I absolutely love the cover art for each one. These are some of my favorite books. I first read them when I was in high school and fell in love with the Thomas family. I have since read them a few times all the way through.

Children of the Promise follows a family, the Thomases, through World War 2. We learn of the experiences of a paratrooper fighting in Europe, a prisoner of war in the Philippines, a nurse in the navy, a German family fleeing their country, and life at home during the war.

One thing I really love about these books is how historically accurate they are. Dean Hughes did a ton of research when writing and I liked knowing that the circumstances surrounding the fictional characters were true. As someone who gets bored extremely quickly when it comes to history, I'm always excited when I find entertaining ways to learn about the past, particularly a war as interesting/disturbing as WW2. There is also a strong Christian influence in these stories which I find uplifting, though I think it's fair to warn someone who might not be expecting religious books. There are some bits that get a little cheesy but overall I find the story to be inspiring, entertaining, and educational. I definitely would recommend these books!

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

Another book recommended by my friend Stephanie and it was definitely another success. In fact, this might be the best book I've read in months...

The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton, introduces us to a little girl who is left alone on a ship sailing from London to Australia in 1913, sent with nothing but a small suitcase containing a new dress and a book of fairy tales. She is taken home by the dock master and his wife and, unable to learn of any family, is raised as one of their own. On her 21st birthday, "Nell" learns the truth and her sense of identity is shattered. She begins a quest to discover who she is: where did she come from? Why was she abandoned? Who is her family? Nell is lead to the Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast and begins to uncover the secrets of the Mountrachet family. Unable to solve the mystery in her lifetime, the search is continued after Nell's death by her granddaughter Cassandra, who is finally able to put all the pieces together.

It has been a long time since I've read a book that is as intelligently crafted as this one. Each chapter contains vital information to the story. To make it even more complex, the chapters are not chronological and are pieced together in the way only a truly gifted storyteller can. The mystery unfolds for the reader gradually by following 3 primary storylines: Nell--abandoned in 1913 and sets off to England in 1975 to find her history; Cassandra--granddaughter who picks up the mystery after Nell dies in 2005; and Eliza Makepeace and Rose Mountrachet--cousins in the late 1890s whose stories hold all the information Nell needs to find out who she is.

I found the characters to be richly detailed and authentic, each with a vibrant personality and voice.
-I loved Cassandra and her personal journey to not only discover her grandmother's past, but to find peace and healing for things that had happened in her past.
-I also loved Eliza; she was an incredibly strong and imaginative individual, the kind of person I would be lucky to be friends with. Though she was also kind of an idiot when it came to those she loved, allowing her affection to blind her to the behavior and feelings of others and getting hurt in the process.
- I like Nell and understand her need to know her past, but I was mad at her when she tossed her adoptive parents and siblings aside when she learned she was abandoned as a child. She became so focused on what she had lost that she was completely blind to all that she had.
-At the beginning of the book I liked Rose well enough but by the end I despised her. She used the people closest to her to get what she wanted. Manipulative and cruel and the worst kind of selfish.
-Though I suppose Rose gets is from her mother, Adeline, who is essentially the reason why there is any mystery story at all. Adeline came from humble beginnings and is obsessed with fitting into society and being a proper lady. This results in an irrational need to cover up anything that might cause the slightest scandal. Her perceived inferiority makes her spiteful and bitter and makes life extremely difficult for those around her, particularly Eliza.
-There aren't as many male characters. Linus, Adeline's husband, is a total creeper and I'm glad there weren't too many details about his incestic obsessions.
-Christian is the only truly respectable central male character and becomes the love interest for Cassandra. Woohoo!

I feel like I could write a pretty thorough essay on the characters and themes of this book. I won't, for all your sakes, but I could. It's that great of a story. I tend to read books that I can breeze through in a few days so I had to remind myself to be patient and allow myself to get truly invested in the characters and the delicious mystery. I absolutely, whole-heartedly recommend The Forgotten Garden! It took a few more chapters than normal to get hooked because of all the year/character jumping, but I got there and I know you'll love this book too.

5 out of 5 stars!