I kind of feel like I dominate this space but I've just read some great books lately. Sorry!
Sarah's Key -Tatiana De Rosnay
This was a book that I had passed several times before I actually picked it up to see what it was about. It centers around the Vel'd'Hiv' round up of Jews in Paris on July 16, 1942. Sarah is awoken in the early hours of the morning by the French Police pounding on her apartment door. She is eleven years old. It is just her, her four year old brother and her mother as her father has gone into hiding. The police tell them to pack a bag and to come with them. Her brother hides in a secret cupboard and Sarah locks him in, thinking she'll be back soon to let him out. Her father comes out of hiding to so the family can stay together. With more than 13,000 Jews, Sarah and her family are packed into the Velodrome d'Hiver stadium for several days without food or water. Those that survived were then shipped to Drancy internment camp outside of Paris. There the men were immediately sent to Auschwitz. The mothers and children were later separated - the children left in Drancy to fend for themselves. The children were then shipped to Auschwitz and immediately sent to the gas chambers. Sarah manages to escape from Drancy and is taken in by an elderly couple on a farm in Orleans.
The driving character of the story is Sarah but you actually don't spend much of the narrative specifically on her story but rather how her experience during WWII changes the life of Julie Jarmond, an American Journalist living in Paris sixty years later. Julie has a unique connection to Sarah and her family that she is completely unaware of until she is assigned a story of the anniversary of the Vel' d'Hiv' Roundup. Sarah's story is absolutely tragic as are most Holocaust survivor stories but it's how Sarah's life and the mystery of her life affect Julia and her family that is interesting. Julia is completely changed by what she learns about the round up and Sarah specifically and it sends her life on a completely different trajectory. It's as if de Rosnay is saying that no one who truly understand the horror, despair and tragedy of the Roundup could ever possibly be the same again.
De Rosnay uses the uncertainty and mystery surrounding Sarah as a beautiful and tragic metaphor for the thousands of nameless Jewish children that were rounded up that night, separated from their families and later shipped to Auschwitz and immediately sent to the gas chambers. No one knew who Sarah was - not even her husband or son. She died crippled under the knowledge that her parents were killed in Auschwitz and her younger brother starved to death in Paris. When her son finally discovers the truth about his mother and his heritage, he, just like Julia, is completely changed.
It was wonderfully written and beautiful in it's tragedy.
Showing posts with label A++. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A++. Show all posts
Monday, April 19, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts
Founding Mothers: The Women who raised our nation.
By Cokie Roberts
As you can probably tell this book is about the women behind the men known as the Founding Fathers of our nation. Abigail Adams, Martha Washington, Betsy Ross, Dolley Madison and Mercy Otis Warren just to name a few. Roberts thoroughly explores the maxim - behind every great man is an even greater woman. By using excerpts of letters to each other, family members and their husbands, Roberts is able to paint a portrait of vivacious, intelligent, caring, ardent patriots that made the work of their more famous husbands possible. At one point Roberts states that if it hadn't been for their husbands, history would have forgotten or never known these women. Her point being, they didn't do anything out of the ordinary for their time and yet their lives were extraordinary. In a time when women were not expected to do much of anything by societal norms, these women and hundreds - thousands of women like them - defended their homes from the British, ran business, plantations/farms, supported the Revolution in spirit and physically in the form of donations of money, time, supplies and on more than one occasion by joining in the fighting. My favorite person is by far Abigail Adams. As her husband was off signing the Declaration of Independence, in Paris working on the peace treaty, being Vice President and then President, she kept the home fires burning. She managed their financial matters and often advised her husband on political matters. She often understood the political climate and events better than her husband (the President) and could predict quite reliably what would happen. She wasn't afraid to tell her husband what she thought and let him know she was upset with him. On more than one occasion in letters to anyone who would listen, Washington, Jefferson, Madison, her husband, she advocated the education and equality of women. She was feisty, independent and deeply loved her country and her husband.
If you have any interest at all in women's history or even early American history this book is a must read. Roberts' style of writing is easy to read and entertaining. It's more like talking to a good friend who happens to know quite a bit about early Revolutionary women.
By Cokie Roberts
As you can probably tell this book is about the women behind the men known as the Founding Fathers of our nation. Abigail Adams, Martha Washington, Betsy Ross, Dolley Madison and Mercy Otis Warren just to name a few. Roberts thoroughly explores the maxim - behind every great man is an even greater woman. By using excerpts of letters to each other, family members and their husbands, Roberts is able to paint a portrait of vivacious, intelligent, caring, ardent patriots that made the work of their more famous husbands possible. At one point Roberts states that if it hadn't been for their husbands, history would have forgotten or never known these women. Her point being, they didn't do anything out of the ordinary for their time and yet their lives were extraordinary. In a time when women were not expected to do much of anything by societal norms, these women and hundreds - thousands of women like them - defended their homes from the British, ran business, plantations/farms, supported the Revolution in spirit and physically in the form of donations of money, time, supplies and on more than one occasion by joining in the fighting. My favorite person is by far Abigail Adams. As her husband was off signing the Declaration of Independence, in Paris working on the peace treaty, being Vice President and then President, she kept the home fires burning. She managed their financial matters and often advised her husband on political matters. She often understood the political climate and events better than her husband (the President) and could predict quite reliably what would happen. She wasn't afraid to tell her husband what she thought and let him know she was upset with him. On more than one occasion in letters to anyone who would listen, Washington, Jefferson, Madison, her husband, she advocated the education and equality of women. She was feisty, independent and deeply loved her country and her husband.
If you have any interest at all in women's history or even early American history this book is a must read. Roberts' style of writing is easy to read and entertaining. It's more like talking to a good friend who happens to know quite a bit about early Revolutionary women.
Monday, February 22, 2010
The Big Burn by Timothy Egan
In March, my Social Studies book club will be making selections for the next year's books. And this is my pick. In fact, I intend to lead a full-scale campaign for this one to be chosen because it sort of puts the "A" in Awesome.
Timothy Egan's The Big Burn tells the story of the beginnings of the National Forest Service and the fire that "saved" its very existence. Did you know Teddy Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, and John Muir basically started the entire conservation movement in the United States? Did you know a lot of people were against conservation and the National Forest Service? Did you know that in 1910 hundreds of people died or were injured in a crazy giant wildfire that wiped out most of the Lolo National Forest in Idaho? Did you know that Roosevelt's chief forrester, Gifford Pinchot, maintained a spiritual love affair with a dead woman for most of his life? You could learn all this, and more!, if you read Egan's book!!
Egan's writing style is fast and fluid--reminding me a lot of David McCullough's narrative style; he includes a lot of interesting details that add character and life to the story. The historical tale itself is amazing and much of it seems like the stuff of movies--but its all true! And its crazy to me--a history teacher--that I had never even heard of most of this stuff before I picked up the book. And really, you should pick up the book. Fabulous.
A
P.S. What do you think? Will I convince the others to make this one of the book club picks?
Timothy Egan's The Big Burn tells the story of the beginnings of the National Forest Service and the fire that "saved" its very existence. Did you know Teddy Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot, and John Muir basically started the entire conservation movement in the United States? Did you know a lot of people were against conservation and the National Forest Service? Did you know that in 1910 hundreds of people died or were injured in a crazy giant wildfire that wiped out most of the Lolo National Forest in Idaho? Did you know that Roosevelt's chief forrester, Gifford Pinchot, maintained a spiritual love affair with a dead woman for most of his life? You could learn all this, and more!, if you read Egan's book!!
Egan's writing style is fast and fluid--reminding me a lot of David McCullough's narrative style; he includes a lot of interesting details that add character and life to the story. The historical tale itself is amazing and much of it seems like the stuff of movies--but its all true! And its crazy to me--a history teacher--that I had never even heard of most of this stuff before I picked up the book. And really, you should pick up the book. Fabulous.
A
P.S. What do you think? Will I convince the others to make this one of the book club picks?
Monday, January 11, 2010
Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela
I've finished a number of books recently but not felt a great need to review them here. This one, however, was different. Maybe it was the massive length of my copy--625 pages!--or maybe it was just the amazing nature of this story, but I do think everyone needs to take some time out of their lives and read the story of this extraordinary man's life.
Nelson Mandela is a Nobel Peace Prize winner and former president of South Africa. He is also a former anti-government terrorist and prisoner of South Africa. And it was that second part of the story I didn't know as much about. Long Walk to Freedom is Mandela's own retelling of his remarkable life. He doesn't shy away from much and the story is really fascinating. Scattered in between the facts, Mandela shares his own insights into leadership, politics, and life in general. One reviewer on Amazon.com referred to it as "a Manifesto for life!" and though I wouldn't gush that much, I was inspired by much of what I read. The sacrifices Mandela made, the trials he went through, the choices he made--good and bad, and how he came out of all of it in the end--make for a truly fascinating story.
I give it a solid A--even though it is a mighty long book to read.
Nelson Mandela is a Nobel Peace Prize winner and former president of South Africa. He is also a former anti-government terrorist and prisoner of South Africa. And it was that second part of the story I didn't know as much about. Long Walk to Freedom is Mandela's own retelling of his remarkable life. He doesn't shy away from much and the story is really fascinating. Scattered in between the facts, Mandela shares his own insights into leadership, politics, and life in general. One reviewer on Amazon.com referred to it as "a Manifesto for life!" and though I wouldn't gush that much, I was inspired by much of what I read. The sacrifices Mandela made, the trials he went through, the choices he made--good and bad, and how he came out of all of it in the end--make for a truly fascinating story.
I give it a solid A--even though it is a mighty long book to read.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom by Louis Sachar
Its just so fun to reread books from your childhood!! And its also sort of amazing to see how your new/older perspective can entirely change the message of the story. Thus was my situation in my recent reread of Louis Sachar's There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom.
Bradley Chalkers is a bully. He was left behind so he's a year older than everyone else and he generally epitomizes the label "Problem Child." But that's the real problem--he's been labeled as a problem and does his best to live up to it. He has no friends and he's okay with that. Kids are scared of him because he beats them up and he's okay with that too. Or at least...he was. But when a new kid, Jeff, moves in and seems to want to be his friend, and when the new counselor, Carla, begins to work with him and be his friend...Bradley begins to think it might be worth trying.
As a kid, I loved this book because it was about this funny boy, Bradley who goes into the girl's bathroom accidentally and later two other people went into the wrong bathroom too! Yep. Awesome. But reading it now, as a teacher, the heartstrings were seriously given a workout. I totally felt for this kid who was limited by the labels put upon him. And his struggles to make friends and deal with things that were totally new to him--even something as simple as a birthday party!--brought me to tears. Literally. Let's just say its a great book. If you've read it before, read it again. Fabulous.
A
Bradley Chalkers is a bully. He was left behind so he's a year older than everyone else and he generally epitomizes the label "Problem Child." But that's the real problem--he's been labeled as a problem and does his best to live up to it. He has no friends and he's okay with that. Kids are scared of him because he beats them up and he's okay with that too. Or at least...he was. But when a new kid, Jeff, moves in and seems to want to be his friend, and when the new counselor, Carla, begins to work with him and be his friend...Bradley begins to think it might be worth trying.
As a kid, I loved this book because it was about this funny boy, Bradley who goes into the girl's bathroom accidentally and later two other people went into the wrong bathroom too! Yep. Awesome. But reading it now, as a teacher, the heartstrings were seriously given a workout. I totally felt for this kid who was limited by the labels put upon him. And his struggles to make friends and deal with things that were totally new to him--even something as simple as a birthday party!--brought me to tears. Literally. Let's just say its a great book. If you've read it before, read it again. Fabulous.
A
Saturday, October 17, 2009
A Few Works by Austen
In the last couple weeks I've plowed through three different Jane Austen novels. Rather than post three times, I thought I'd just do a mini review on each of them and give you three for the price of one. Woohoo!
Emma. I'd give this one a solid A. The story is of a young gentlewoman who tries her hand at matchmaking with somewhat disastrous results. Things all end up for the best, of course, but the journey is full of mixups and general mayhem that make for an entertaining read.
Mansfield Park. This earns a B in my book. Its very different from other Austen novels--the tone is more serious and there's a real sense of social commentary that I find absent from a lot of her others. (Well, the others do have social commentary but its carried off in a much lighter manner.) The story is about Fanny Price--a young girl sent to live with her wealthier cousins. Thrown into a world with morals much unlike her own, Fanny must stand fast against the onslaught of the negatives that wealth can bring.
Northanger Abbey is also a B book, though its much different from Mansfield Park. The writing style is different than any other Austen book I have read--even just her approach to telling the story--but its still a good time all around. And short! On another site I read that scholars have called this book Austen's "Gothic parody" and I see where that's coming from. Catharine Moreland is enraptured by Gothic novels and when life seems to throw her into the middle of one...well, read the book and find out how it all goes. Oh, this was also the only Austen book with a character I just hated. I think the reader is supposed to, but STILL. Boo on John Thorpe.
Emma. I'd give this one a solid A. The story is of a young gentlewoman who tries her hand at matchmaking with somewhat disastrous results. Things all end up for the best, of course, but the journey is full of mixups and general mayhem that make for an entertaining read.
Mansfield Park. This earns a B in my book. Its very different from other Austen novels--the tone is more serious and there's a real sense of social commentary that I find absent from a lot of her others. (Well, the others do have social commentary but its carried off in a much lighter manner.) The story is about Fanny Price--a young girl sent to live with her wealthier cousins. Thrown into a world with morals much unlike her own, Fanny must stand fast against the onslaught of the negatives that wealth can bring.
Northanger Abbey is also a B book, though its much different from Mansfield Park. The writing style is different than any other Austen book I have read--even just her approach to telling the story--but its still a good time all around. And short! On another site I read that scholars have called this book Austen's "Gothic parody" and I see where that's coming from. Catharine Moreland is enraptured by Gothic novels and when life seems to throw her into the middle of one...well, read the book and find out how it all goes. Oh, this was also the only Austen book with a character I just hated. I think the reader is supposed to, but STILL. Boo on John Thorpe.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
I picked up Ender's Game at the library after my little brother--who doesn't have much good to say about books--strongly recommended it. Its a book I've heard lots of people talk about, but I actually didn't know anything about the storyline, characters, etc. I was in for quite a surprise--and a treat!
Ender's Game takes place in a future time when desks are mini-computers, space colonization is possible, and the world has become a truly international society. Earth is in danger, however, from an alien world known only as The Buggers. Humankind has beaten them twice in the past, but a third attack is imminent. To combat the Buggers, the government breeds military genius kids to train in combat. Ender Wiggins is the genius--and hero--needed to lead the attack on The Buggers one last time.
I personally loved the story. Its science fiction--not usually a favorite--but I thought Card did a great job describing and explaining scienc-y things in a way I could picture and understand. And the story is gripping and got me reading and reading and not wanting to put my book down. And the end?! I totally didn't see that coming. Want to know what I'm talking about? Read it yourself.
A
Ender's Game takes place in a future time when desks are mini-computers, space colonization is possible, and the world has become a truly international society. Earth is in danger, however, from an alien world known only as The Buggers. Humankind has beaten them twice in the past, but a third attack is imminent. To combat the Buggers, the government breeds military genius kids to train in combat. Ender Wiggins is the genius--and hero--needed to lead the attack on The Buggers one last time.
I personally loved the story. Its science fiction--not usually a favorite--but I thought Card did a great job describing and explaining scienc-y things in a way I could picture and understand. And the story is gripping and got me reading and reading and not wanting to put my book down. And the end?! I totally didn't see that coming. Want to know what I'm talking about? Read it yourself.
A
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull
I've seen this book floating around my school for a while now. And then one of my best friends--a 3rd grade teacher himself--gave it a strong recommendation. So last weekend I bit the bullet and cracked the cover. AND LOVED IT! The Candy Shop War is a fun, creative addition to the fantasy genre...even as the genre seems to be getting a bit out of hand or even overdone.
The Candy Shop War takes place in a nondescript Anywhere USA. Four elementary-aged friends stop by the new candy store in town and are recruited by the owner, Belinda White, to go on a variety of errands on her behalf. The errands start out normal but become increasingly bizarre each time. In exchange for their efforts, she rewards them with magic candy that allows them to become weightless, become unbreakable...etc. Pretty awesome stuff. The kids begin to get suspicious though, and they soon find themselves caught up in a mixed up magical war with consequences more severe than they imagined.
The book is a funny, quick read that will capture your imagination instantly. Obviously written for the young adult audience, I think all ages can enjoy this book. The "unexpected" twists and turns never feel formulaic and you will never predict the ending...which is a good thing in books like this.
A
The Candy Shop War takes place in a nondescript Anywhere USA. Four elementary-aged friends stop by the new candy store in town and are recruited by the owner, Belinda White, to go on a variety of errands on her behalf. The errands start out normal but become increasingly bizarre each time. In exchange for their efforts, she rewards them with magic candy that allows them to become weightless, become unbreakable...etc. Pretty awesome stuff. The kids begin to get suspicious though, and they soon find themselves caught up in a mixed up magical war with consequences more severe than they imagined.
The book is a funny, quick read that will capture your imagination instantly. Obviously written for the young adult audience, I think all ages can enjoy this book. The "unexpected" twists and turns never feel formulaic and you will never predict the ending...which is a good thing in books like this.
A
Friday, April 3, 2009
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
The Killer Angels is historical fiction, but I've heard a number of people say it teaches the history of Gettysburg better than any nonfiction account of the battle. I must admit I've never read a straight up history of this Civil War battle, but I found this book fantastic. And it really has given me a good understanding of what happened at Gettysburg in 1863 in an entertaining and captivating way.
The Killer Angels recounts the story of the "turning point" battle of the US Civil War. Shaara tells the story from various perspectives--Generals Longstreet and Lee of the Confederacy, General Chamberlain from the Union, for example. Over the course of the three-days battle, we go with the major characters through the day-to-day, and the major events. As you come to know the characters, you really grasp the heartbreaking reality of a battle--even a war--wherein one side technically "wins," but everybody really loses.
I loved this book. I found it a fast read, and I was hooked into the story right from the beginning. It gave me a new perspective on Gettysburg, and I especially came to better appreciate the difficult situation all Americans were put in with this war. One thing I really liked about Shaara's writing style---he didn't repeat any part of the story when switching narrators. He just used the historical figure who made the most sense at the time so we heard the story once...not three or four times like you find in other multi-narrator stories.
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in a fascinating look at one of the more well-known events in US History.
A
The Killer Angels recounts the story of the "turning point" battle of the US Civil War. Shaara tells the story from various perspectives--Generals Longstreet and Lee of the Confederacy, General Chamberlain from the Union, for example. Over the course of the three-days battle, we go with the major characters through the day-to-day, and the major events. As you come to know the characters, you really grasp the heartbreaking reality of a battle--even a war--wherein one side technically "wins," but everybody really loses.
I loved this book. I found it a fast read, and I was hooked into the story right from the beginning. It gave me a new perspective on Gettysburg, and I especially came to better appreciate the difficult situation all Americans were put in with this war. One thing I really liked about Shaara's writing style---he didn't repeat any part of the story when switching narrators. He just used the historical figure who made the most sense at the time so we heard the story once...not three or four times like you find in other multi-narrator stories.
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in a fascinating look at one of the more well-known events in US History.
A
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Finding the Love of Your Life: Ten Principles for Choosing the Right Marriage Partner by Neil Clark Warren, Ph.D.
I was wary of posting a review of this book—people might get the wrong idea. Then I remembered not to care what people think. So let me highly recommend this book! An old college roommate suggested this title to me almost a year ago and its taken me almost a year to procure a copy, and then find motivation to read it. What? Its not just the READER’S of this Blog who might judge me. I’m my own judge, thank you very much.
Dr. Neil Clark Warren is a therapist who seemingly specializes in marriage relationships. His tongue-in-cheek writing style is fantastic and very accessible to the lay reader. His Ten Principles for Choosing the Right Marriage Partner are straight-forward, and his explanations are sprinkled with real-world examples from his office. All of this together makes for a very interesting—and highly practical “guide.” As I read I found myself thinking about things I had honestly never considered when it comes to looking for The Right One.
Even for one not currently in a relationship—this book rocks. For someone in a relationship, I might even label this a Must-Read. Good stuff all around.
A
Dr. Neil Clark Warren is a therapist who seemingly specializes in marriage relationships. His tongue-in-cheek writing style is fantastic and very accessible to the lay reader. His Ten Principles for Choosing the Right Marriage Partner are straight-forward, and his explanations are sprinkled with real-world examples from his office. All of this together makes for a very interesting—and highly practical “guide.” As I read I found myself thinking about things I had honestly never considered when it comes to looking for The Right One.
Even for one not currently in a relationship—this book rocks. For someone in a relationship, I might even label this a Must-Read. Good stuff all around.
A
Monday, July 21, 2008
The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex (A)
I want everyone to read this book. Can I just leave my review at that? Since about page 42 I was positive this was a winner and I've spent the remaining 380 pages wracking my brain for a good way to review it when I wasn't laughing out loud. How do you do such a strange, randomly hilarious book justice in a short review? I'll give it my best shot...
The True Meaning of Smekday begins as a school essay assignment and then moves into an extended memoir by our heroine, 11-year old Gratuity "Tip" Tucci. She's assigned to write about the true meaning of Smekday--the day aliens invaded earth in the year 2013 and renamed the planet Smekland. Her story begins with her mom being abducted by aliens, and ends three different times (with her original essay, her rewritten winning essay, and then her longer "unpublished" memoir). After Mom gets abducted, Gratuity has to make her way to the well-named Happy Mouse Kingdom in Orlando, FL, and then on to Arizona...where all humans are being forced to move because the aliens like Florida too much to give it away. Along the way, she picks up her very own Boov--an alien named J.Lo who's in trouble with his fellow aliens, and who proves to be a useful road trip companion. If you keep reading, you'll meet the people of Area 51, a Clark Kent look-a-like, and stereotypical G-man named Mitch.
The adventures in the story never stop and that's one good reason to read. The real selling points, however, are all Gratuity Tucci's. The author's ability to write through a snarky 11-year old's voice is awesome, and her asides and comments will have you laughing out loud. Literally. Don't read this one in a library. And don't let the fact that its about aliens taking over earth put you off picking this one up. This book is hilarious and you'll be recommending it to everyone you know before long.
I give it an A.
And after you read, you'll probably enjoy visiting the official website of Smekday where the hilarity only continues.
The True Meaning of Smekday begins as a school essay assignment and then moves into an extended memoir by our heroine, 11-year old Gratuity "Tip" Tucci. She's assigned to write about the true meaning of Smekday--the day aliens invaded earth in the year 2013 and renamed the planet Smekland. Her story begins with her mom being abducted by aliens, and ends three different times (with her original essay, her rewritten winning essay, and then her longer "unpublished" memoir). After Mom gets abducted, Gratuity has to make her way to the well-named Happy Mouse Kingdom in Orlando, FL, and then on to Arizona...where all humans are being forced to move because the aliens like Florida too much to give it away. Along the way, she picks up her very own Boov--an alien named J.Lo who's in trouble with his fellow aliens, and who proves to be a useful road trip companion. If you keep reading, you'll meet the people of Area 51, a Clark Kent look-a-like, and stereotypical G-man named Mitch.
The adventures in the story never stop and that's one good reason to read. The real selling points, however, are all Gratuity Tucci's. The author's ability to write through a snarky 11-year old's voice is awesome, and her asides and comments will have you laughing out loud. Literally. Don't read this one in a library. And don't let the fact that its about aliens taking over earth put you off picking this one up. This book is hilarious and you'll be recommending it to everyone you know before long.
I give it an A.
And after you read, you'll probably enjoy visiting the official website of Smekday where the hilarity only continues.
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