Book Review: Too Much and Never Enough

It has been a while since I've written a book review here. I've been reading a lot and blogging less. I hope to add more in the coming weeks. But this was worth writing about. This week, I read "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man" by Mary L. Trump. 

I had not been very aware at all of President Trump's past so when I heard about this book I was intrigued. Our childhood stories have so much to do with how we handle our current relationships and how we see life. Mary L. Trump is Donald Trump's niece and a psychologist so she carries some unique perspectives to his childhood and how that created the man we see today. I will say that the bias she carries as the daughter of Freddy Trump who died young and was seemingly the black sheep of the family is highlighted throughout her writing, but the relationship between brothers does reveal a lot about President Trump's character.

I jokingly told Chris, "If you need motivation to be a good parent (showing empathy and being present for your kids), read this!" Meaning it tells the story of what can happen when both parents are absent (physically, emotionally or mentally). Also, how dangerous it is to have a "favorite" or compare your children to each other.

Fred Trump didn't like what he saw in his son Freddy; he only spoke critically, offering no praise or support. Donald watched this and quickly learned how to be "the best" and ignore anyone who said otherwise. Although several years younger than Freddy, Donald saw himself as better than Freddy from early on. And very quickly became is father's favorite. 

The book goes on to describe how Fred ignored behavioral issues and essentially encouraged Donald to bully others to get what he wanted. His whole family believed that Donald got what he wanted, so there was no reason to stir the pot or disagree. And in his current role, he has surrounded himself with people who will agree with him or risk being fired for challenging him. He has been this way since childhood.

I was also shocked (and outraged) by how many millions of dollars he has lost in his business and how his father kept bailing him out. How banks supported his failing businesses because of the publicity it brought them with the Trump name. And how he and his family have gotten away with tax evasion for decades. And he sees nothing wrong with that. 

I wish no disrespect for our President; there are certainly things I wish would have been handled differently. Knowing his story (albeit from someone else's perspective) helps paint the bigger picture of why he makes the choices he makes. I will continue to pray for the decisions on his shoulders and that he would see those around him as equal, valuable humans. I wish his father would have seen his children that way.

It has been a while since I've written a book review here. I've been reading a lot and blogging less. I hope to add more in the coming weeks. But this was worth writing about. This week, I read "Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man" by Mary L. Trump. 

I had not been very aware at all of President Trump's past so when I heard about this book I was intrigued. Our childhood stories have so much to do with how we handle our current relationships and how we see life. Mary L. Trump is Donald Trump's niece and a psychologist so she carries some unique perspectives to his childhood and how that created the man we see today. I will say that the bias she carries as the daughter of Freddy Trump who died young and was seemingly the black sheep of the family is highlighted throughout her writing, but the relationship between brothers does reveal a lot about President Trump's character.

I jokingly told Chris, "If you need motivation to be a good parent (showing empathy and being present for your kids), read this!" Meaning it tells the story of what can happen when both parents are absent (physically, emotionally or mentally). Also, how dangerous it is to have a "favorite" or compare your children to each other.

Fred Trump didn't like what he saw in his son Freddy; he only spoke critically, offering no praise or support. Donald watched this and quickly learned how to be "the best" and ignore anyone who said otherwise. Although several years younger than Freddy, Donald saw himself as better than Freddy from early on. And very quickly became is father's favorite. 

The book goes on to describe how Fred ignored behavioral issues and essentially encouraged Donald to bully others to get what he wanted. His whole family believed that Donald got what he wanted, so there was no reason to stir the pot or disagree. And in his current role, he has surrounded himself with people who will agree with him or risk being fired for challenging him. He has been this way since childhood.

I was also shocked (and outraged) by how many millions of dollars he has lost in his business and how his father kept bailing him out. How banks supported his failing businesses because of the publicity it brought them with the Trump name. And how he and his family have gotten away with tax evasion for decades. And he sees nothing wrong with that. 

I wish no disrespect for our President; there are certainly things I wish would have been handled differently. Knowing his story (albeit from someone else's perspective) helps paint the bigger picture of why he makes the choices he makes. I will continue to pray for the decisions on his shoulders and that he would see those around him as equal, valuable humans. I wish his father would have seen his children that way.

Quarantine Reads

I'd love to say that the boys have read all the books in the house at this point . . . as we begin our 11th week being home for Shelter in Place -- but they decided early on that story time was no longer their favorite morning activity. Now they bolt out of bed and start playing with all the toys. Books are pushed aside and only for really "boring" moments.

Except for the audio books. Those have remained a favorite past time. Maybe become even more of a favorite in the last few weeks. The boys love to listen to "Geronimo Stilton" stories. That's it. That's all they want to listen to these days. I'm trying to add in new books, new stories and characters but with very little luck. As long as they are enjoying it, I'll let it be so.

But what about mom? What is she reading?

I've been reading a lot. I've been trying to read the books I have at home, preferring a physical book to my kindle reader and audio books just don't hold my attention much at all. But most of my books are parenting books or I've already read them! Our neighbor has a little lending library shelf near the sidewalk and I've picked up a couple of books there. But for the life of me, I can't remember the titles and already passed them on. Oh well, they were very much enjoyed.

Other titles I've read (and remember) are:
 - Hold on, but don't Hold Still, by Kristina Kuzmic
 - Surprised by Motherhood, by Lisa-Jo Baker
 - The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson (ebook)
 - The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn (ebook)
 - Chasing Vines by Beth Moore (Audiobook)

I'm so thankful that we have online reading options. That we really aren't stuck with the books we own on our shelves. I'm so thankful for the little "book house" (as we call it) around the corner that allows us to share books with neighbors. I'm thankful I get a few hours during the evenings/weekends and random moments during the week to enjoy a book!

What are you reading?

I'd love to say that the boys have read all the books in the house at this point . . . as we begin our 11th week being home for Shelter in Place -- but they decided early on that story time was no longer their favorite morning activity. Now they bolt out of bed and start playing with all the toys. Books are pushed aside and only for really "boring" moments.

Except for the audio books. Those have remained a favorite past time. Maybe become even more of a favorite in the last few weeks. The boys love to listen to "Geronimo Stilton" stories. That's it. That's all they want to listen to these days. I'm trying to add in new books, new stories and characters but with very little luck. As long as they are enjoying it, I'll let it be so.

But what about mom? What is she reading?

I've been reading a lot. I've been trying to read the books I have at home, preferring a physical book to my kindle reader and audio books just don't hold my attention much at all. But most of my books are parenting books or I've already read them! Our neighbor has a little lending library shelf near the sidewalk and I've picked up a couple of books there. But for the life of me, I can't remember the titles and already passed them on. Oh well, they were very much enjoyed.

Other titles I've read (and remember) are:
 - Hold on, but don't Hold Still, by Kristina Kuzmic
 - Surprised by Motherhood, by Lisa-Jo Baker
 - The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson (ebook)
 - The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn (ebook)
 - Chasing Vines by Beth Moore (Audiobook)

I'm so thankful that we have online reading options. That we really aren't stuck with the books we own on our shelves. I'm so thankful for the little "book house" (as we call it) around the corner that allows us to share books with neighbors. I'm thankful I get a few hours during the evenings/weekends and random moments during the week to enjoy a book!

What are you reading?

Book Review: The Middle Matters

Hi Friends! I have the privilege of being on another book launch team this summer! What is that? Well, its a group of people who are given an advanced copy of a book to read and review and share with the world. It sounds fun because it is! And YOU are my world! So I get to share this brand new book with you!

The Middle Matters: Why that (Extra)Ordinary Life Looks Really Good on You, written by Lisa-Jo Baker is a great read. It's not a self-help or how-to book at all, instead this book contains short essays on all the aspects of life that we might struggle to find value in -- the middle of parenting, the middle of marriage, the middle of your living room, the middle of (my favorite) your muffin top and the list goes on.

There is excitement at the beginning of an adventure and the end contains a lot of glory and praise -- especially if you finish well! But the middle of nearly everything can feel hard, mundane, maybe even boring or unimportant. And Lisa-Jo's stories tell us that isn't true. She finds the treasures in the middle of life and calls us to find ours too. She says "The middle is the place where our lives really live. This is the place where we have grown into the shapes of our souls even as we might have outgrown the shapes of our jeans."

I might not be the exact target market for this book (still technically in the early stages of marriage and parenting) but I enjoyed reading this book nonetheless. I found her voice and the truth she spoke to be that of a mentor telling me of whats to come and I appreciated that more than I can say. I so desperately need more mentors in my life!

I enjoyed reading her book. She writes in an almost poetic, storytelling style which made me slow down enough to enjoy the beauty of words and really grasp what she was saying. I loved reading the chapters she wrote to her children. Reading them felt like I was seeing into a mother's heart like never before and being reminded of the beauty of my own children. And looking forward to seeing them get older.

As I read, I kept thinking of people in my sphere of family and friends who would most definitely relate to Lisa-Jo's experiences and stories. My mom friends who run to all the sport practices and games; the parents who are raising the passionate middle schoolers with big dreams; the friends who find their marriages on a plateau-- not bad but not as great as they hoped. The sister who has moved nearly as often as the author and just wants to make a home. Lisa-Jo has a story for each of you!

This book isn't available yet, but you can preorder! There's a pretty sweet preorder package offered too, so it's worth checking out! http://lisajobaker.com/the-middle-matters-book/

Hi Friends! I have the privilege of being on another book launch team this summer! What is that? Well, its a group of people who are given an advanced copy of a book to read and review and share with the world. It sounds fun because it is! And YOU are my world! So I get to share this brand new book with you!

The Middle Matters: Why that (Extra)Ordinary Life Looks Really Good on You, written by Lisa-Jo Baker is a great read. It's not a self-help or how-to book at all, instead this book contains short essays on all the aspects of life that we might struggle to find value in -- the middle of parenting, the middle of marriage, the middle of your living room, the middle of (my favorite) your muffin top and the list goes on.

There is excitement at the beginning of an adventure and the end contains a lot of glory and praise -- especially if you finish well! But the middle of nearly everything can feel hard, mundane, maybe even boring or unimportant. And Lisa-Jo's stories tell us that isn't true. She finds the treasures in the middle of life and calls us to find ours too. She says "The middle is the place where our lives really live. This is the place where we have grown into the shapes of our souls even as we might have outgrown the shapes of our jeans."

I might not be the exact target market for this book (still technically in the early stages of marriage and parenting) but I enjoyed reading this book nonetheless. I found her voice and the truth she spoke to be that of a mentor telling me of whats to come and I appreciated that more than I can say. I so desperately need more mentors in my life!

I enjoyed reading her book. She writes in an almost poetic, storytelling style which made me slow down enough to enjoy the beauty of words and really grasp what she was saying. I loved reading the chapters she wrote to her children. Reading them felt like I was seeing into a mother's heart like never before and being reminded of the beauty of my own children. And looking forward to seeing them get older.

As I read, I kept thinking of people in my sphere of family and friends who would most definitely relate to Lisa-Jo's experiences and stories. My mom friends who run to all the sport practices and games; the parents who are raising the passionate middle schoolers with big dreams; the friends who find their marriages on a plateau-- not bad but not as great as they hoped. The sister who has moved nearly as often as the author and just wants to make a home. Lisa-Jo has a story for each of you!

This book isn't available yet, but you can preorder! There's a pretty sweet preorder package offered too, so it's worth checking out! http://lisajobaker.com/the-middle-matters-book/

Book Club: The Sisters Brothers & The French Exit

Last month our book club chose to read The French Exit by Patric DeWitt; they had previously read (before I was a part of the group) another of his novels called The Sisters Brothers and found his writing to be interesting.

I put both books on hold at the library and The Sisters Brothers came up first. You could probably categorize it as a Western novel; there's a journey west on horse back, and a lot of guns.  I honestly haven't read many westerns and I did find myself enjoying it -- once I got past the killing.

The Sisters Brothers are two brothers with the surname Sisters (I know, it took me a while to figure that out), who are hired as hitmen. Their next job takes them to San Francisco and along the way they find several people they deem unworthy of life.  It seems killing is just what they do to resolve any sort of conflict. One of the brothers is bothered by this and throughout the story weighs the pros and cons of getting out of the business and dreaming of what life could be like instead. His brother doesn't want out.

I wasn't sure about the book at first. It took a chapter or two to understand what was going on . . . and who the Sisters Brothers were. But after that I was hooked and it was a fast read -- and interesting! So, if you're looking for a Western that is a little different, you can check it out too!

_____

The French Exit is also by Patric DeWitt but is completely different from The Brothers Sisters. Not a Western. I actually don't know how to describe it. It read like a sitcom. You watch these characters (a 65 year old widow and her 30-something son) do some really absurd things and it just sort of unfolds before your eyes and you can't really understand the purpose of what they do. It's an odd story. Can I leave it at that? 

No? Okay. Francis and her son head to Paris because they are bankrupt. She has this idea of getting rid of all the cash she has left and then ending her life. It's a bizarre story, but within this one plot the author unveils much of their pasts too. Which is what makes it interesting. Nothing really "happens" until the very end but we get to see who people are and how they became that way.

It's a unique novel.

Last month our book club chose to read The French Exit by Patric DeWitt; they had previously read (before I was a part of the group) another of his novels called The Sisters Brothers and found his writing to be interesting.

I put both books on hold at the library and The Sisters Brothers came up first. You could probably categorize it as a Western novel; there's a journey west on horse back, and a lot of guns.  I honestly haven't read many westerns and I did find myself enjoying it -- once I got past the killing.

The Sisters Brothers are two brothers with the surname Sisters (I know, it took me a while to figure that out), who are hired as hitmen. Their next job takes them to San Francisco and along the way they find several people they deem unworthy of life.  It seems killing is just what they do to resolve any sort of conflict. One of the brothers is bothered by this and throughout the story weighs the pros and cons of getting out of the business and dreaming of what life could be like instead. His brother doesn't want out.

I wasn't sure about the book at first. It took a chapter or two to understand what was going on . . . and who the Sisters Brothers were. But after that I was hooked and it was a fast read -- and interesting! So, if you're looking for a Western that is a little different, you can check it out too!

_____

The French Exit is also by Patric DeWitt but is completely different from The Brothers Sisters. Not a Western. I actually don't know how to describe it. It read like a sitcom. You watch these characters (a 65 year old widow and her 30-something son) do some really absurd things and it just sort of unfolds before your eyes and you can't really understand the purpose of what they do. It's an odd story. Can I leave it at that? 

No? Okay. Francis and her son head to Paris because they are bankrupt. She has this idea of getting rid of all the cash she has left and then ending her life. It's a bizarre story, but within this one plot the author unveils much of their pasts too. Which is what makes it interesting. Nothing really "happens" until the very end but we get to see who people are and how they became that way.

It's a unique novel.

Book Preview: Have More Fun

I am on the "Street Team" for Mandy Arioto's new book called Have More Fun: How to be Remarkable, Get Unstuck and Start Enjoying Life. Which means I received an advanced copy of the book and need to tell all my friends about it!

Mandy Arioto is the CEO of MOPS International, which if you know me, you know how much I love MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and have been involved in the San Francisco group for over 4 years. That is how I came to "meet" Mandy. She blogged and wrote a lot of articles for MOPS and then last year she started a podcast called "Have More Fun." Which I listen to every few weeks. She asks all her guests two questions after the interview: 1) What is the best advice you never got? and 2) What is one way you are cultivating more fun in your life right now? I love it. And then my friend Beth and I went to MOMCON (MOPS Conference) in September where we actually got to hear Mandy speak and meet her in person!

I was super conscious of my height when I met her . . . she is much more petite than I had pictured. And in my effort to say something meaningful and rememberable I stuttered out, "Thank you for what you do. You make being a mom more fun." I walked away feeling totally lame . . . but you know what . . . In her book, Mandy confesses to feeling the exact same way (in a different circumstance) and deciding not to let it define her. 

"If I said something weird to you once when I was twenty, rest assured I spent every night for the next ten years thinking about it. . . This type of ridiculousness should not take up one moment of brain space, am I right?" Pg 116

So, I'm off the hook! No more brain space wasted on what I said to Mandy when I met her that one time. Whew!

Mandy is a great story-teller. She has such a great skill of weaving in stories from her own life, friend's lives and lives of people she has read about from long ago to drive her points home. And she is funny. Her writing is very much like her speaking style and most of the time I felt like I was just hearing her tell me the story over a cup of tea. And me interrupting with "Yep, me too!"

So what is "Have More Fun" really about? Well, just what it sounds like. She tells us how she rediscovered joy, creativity, imagination and fun. She tells us how we might relearn the same things. Being an adult is filled with serious matters, but there are also moments and people in our lives that we should actually be enjoying.

She has chapters that cover parenting, marriage, workspace, friendships, spirituality and even your body. I really the way she ended each chapter with a page of ideas of how you could have more fun in that specific area of life. For example, at the end of the parenting chapter she gives this tip:

"On the day you're already running late for school, go ahead and swing through a fast-food restaurant for pancakes." Pg 68

Now wouldn't that be more fun than huffing and puffing about how late you are and how upset that is making you . . . and wouldn't that be the best memory for your kid? A special breakfast with mom! I probably won't remember this when the time comes but I'm hoping I can stop feeling so upset about being late.

Have More Fun is a quick read filled with great stories and reminders of the things that really matter in life. Like "choose to enjoy your kids" . . . as a mom, I find it easy to get stuck in the mundane or worried about the little things that in the grand scheme of life don't really matter. Since reading the book, I have chosen to play trucks, go down the slide, and chase my kids around the park instead of be on my phone searching for a new rug or couch for our new home. I found Mandy's book really refreshing and full of really fun ideas.

If you'd like to get a copy, you can find it on Amazon!
Thanks for reading my review.

I am on the "Street Team" for Mandy Arioto's new book called Have More Fun: How to be Remarkable, Get Unstuck and Start Enjoying Life. Which means I received an advanced copy of the book and need to tell all my friends about it!

Mandy Arioto is the CEO of MOPS International, which if you know me, you know how much I love MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and have been involved in the San Francisco group for over 4 years. That is how I came to "meet" Mandy. She blogged and wrote a lot of articles for MOPS and then last year she started a podcast called "Have More Fun." Which I listen to every few weeks. She asks all her guests two questions after the interview: 1) What is the best advice you never got? and 2) What is one way you are cultivating more fun in your life right now? I love it. And then my friend Beth and I went to MOMCON (MOPS Conference) in September where we actually got to hear Mandy speak and meet her in person!

I was super conscious of my height when I met her . . . she is much more petite than I had pictured. And in my effort to say something meaningful and rememberable I stuttered out, "Thank you for what you do. You make being a mom more fun." I walked away feeling totally lame . . . but you know what . . . In her book, Mandy confesses to feeling the exact same way (in a different circumstance) and deciding not to let it define her. 

"If I said something weird to you once when I was twenty, rest assured I spent every night for the next ten years thinking about it. . . This type of ridiculousness should not take up one moment of brain space, am I right?" Pg 116

So, I'm off the hook! No more brain space wasted on what I said to Mandy when I met her that one time. Whew!

Mandy is a great story-teller. She has such a great skill of weaving in stories from her own life, friend's lives and lives of people she has read about from long ago to drive her points home. And she is funny. Her writing is very much like her speaking style and most of the time I felt like I was just hearing her tell me the story over a cup of tea. And me interrupting with "Yep, me too!"

So what is "Have More Fun" really about? Well, just what it sounds like. She tells us how she rediscovered joy, creativity, imagination and fun. She tells us how we might relearn the same things. Being an adult is filled with serious matters, but there are also moments and people in our lives that we should actually be enjoying.

She has chapters that cover parenting, marriage, workspace, friendships, spirituality and even your body. I really the way she ended each chapter with a page of ideas of how you could have more fun in that specific area of life. For example, at the end of the parenting chapter she gives this tip:

"On the day you're already running late for school, go ahead and swing through a fast-food restaurant for pancakes." Pg 68

Now wouldn't that be more fun than huffing and puffing about how late you are and how upset that is making you . . . and wouldn't that be the best memory for your kid? A special breakfast with mom! I probably won't remember this when the time comes but I'm hoping I can stop feeling so upset about being late.

Have More Fun is a quick read filled with great stories and reminders of the things that really matter in life. Like "choose to enjoy your kids" . . . as a mom, I find it easy to get stuck in the mundane or worried about the little things that in the grand scheme of life don't really matter. Since reading the book, I have chosen to play trucks, go down the slide, and chase my kids around the park instead of be on my phone searching for a new rug or couch for our new home. I found Mandy's book really refreshing and full of really fun ideas.

If you'd like to get a copy, you can find it on Amazon!
Thanks for reading my review.

Book Club: The Hate U Give

My bookclub finished The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is January. I was actually the one to recommend it has a friend had recommended it. I knew it was going to cover some racial issues but I had no idea just how much it would open my eyes to how systemic and deep it goes.

It's a young adult novel and was a fairly easy to read story. There is a whole list of characters in this novel to keep track of, but I really liked how connected they were to the main character, which made it easy to follow. The people could have been real people, the relationships could have been real and the issues they dealt with could have been real -- and are.

The novel is about a young black man who is killed by a cop and how it rocks the boy's community -- more specifically his best friend who witnessed it. It uncovers the injustices that people of color face in a way that I need to be more aware of. It's easy enough to turn off the news (which I do most of the time) and go on my merry way, but when I read a novel that is so closely based on real events, that can somehow rock me in a real way --in the way that I should have been rocked years ago!

If you haven't read it, I would encourage you to do find a copy. It's a great read and I hope it opens your eyes to these important issues.  So much of the injustices we talk about now seem to stem from our ability to say "I matter more than you." And that has got to change.

It's also a movie now -- so you could watch it. I bet it will be great!

My bookclub finished The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is January. I was actually the one to recommend it has a friend had recommended it. I knew it was going to cover some racial issues but I had no idea just how much it would open my eyes to how systemic and deep it goes.

It's a young adult novel and was a fairly easy to read story. There is a whole list of characters in this novel to keep track of, but I really liked how connected they were to the main character, which made it easy to follow. The people could have been real people, the relationships could have been real and the issues they dealt with could have been real -- and are.

The novel is about a young black man who is killed by a cop and how it rocks the boy's community -- more specifically his best friend who witnessed it. It uncovers the injustices that people of color face in a way that I need to be more aware of. It's easy enough to turn off the news (which I do most of the time) and go on my merry way, but when I read a novel that is so closely based on real events, that can somehow rock me in a real way --in the way that I should have been rocked years ago!

If you haven't read it, I would encourage you to do find a copy. It's a great read and I hope it opens your eyes to these important issues.  So much of the injustices we talk about now seem to stem from our ability to say "I matter more than you." And that has got to change.

It's also a movie now -- so you could watch it. I bet it will be great!

Book Club: Caroline

I grew up reading and watching the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder so when one of my book club friends recommended Caroline: Little House Revisited by Sarah Miller for our September read I was all in. 

Caroline is a novel about the move from Big Woods to the Kansas prairie from Ma's perspective. The 1800s were (needless to say) very different from our present day in regards to travel, homemaking, raising children and even marriage. Ma's life was hard and submitting to your husband's dream of moving across unknown lands to stake claim in Indian territory would be right there at the top of things I don't know if I'd do . . . loading up all your possessions into a horse drawn wagon for not only a few weeks but months with your preschooler and toddler and a baby on the way, cooking over open fires, rationing provisions, crossing frozen lakes and forging rivers sounds nothing like my move to California!

The book was really interesting in that the author retells a story I knew so long ago with an adult perspective and more facts than Wilder shared. But excited as I was to read the book, I can't say it was an easy read. It seemed a little slow at times and I had a hard time coming back to it. 

I did appreciate the scenes about their marriage as that was never really shared in the original series. I also appreciated getting an insiders take on Ma's restraint in showing emotion and speaking. I can't say I agree with how the culture was back then but I found it interesting and a good reminder of how strong women were. I admired her ability to hold herself together in such difficult circumstances while having so much being physically asked of her. 

I grew up reading and watching the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder so when one of my book club friends recommended Caroline: Little House Revisited by Sarah Miller for our September read I was all in. 

Caroline is a novel about the move from Big Woods to the Kansas prairie from Ma's perspective. The 1800s were (needless to say) very different from our present day in regards to travel, homemaking, raising children and even marriage. Ma's life was hard and submitting to your husband's dream of moving across unknown lands to stake claim in Indian territory would be right there at the top of things I don't know if I'd do . . . loading up all your possessions into a horse drawn wagon for not only a few weeks but months with your preschooler and toddler and a baby on the way, cooking over open fires, rationing provisions, crossing frozen lakes and forging rivers sounds nothing like my move to California!

The book was really interesting in that the author retells a story I knew so long ago with an adult perspective and more facts than Wilder shared. But excited as I was to read the book, I can't say it was an easy read. It seemed a little slow at times and I had a hard time coming back to it. 

I did appreciate the scenes about their marriage as that was never really shared in the original series. I also appreciated getting an insiders take on Ma's restraint in showing emotion and speaking. I can't say I agree with how the culture was back then but I found it interesting and a good reminder of how strong women were. I admired her ability to hold herself together in such difficult circumstances while having so much being physically asked of her. 

Summer Reading

It's been a great summer for reading. Both for me and the kids. William has his favorites - The Magic Treehouse series and Stephen loves anything and everything to do with trucks. We visited the library often over the summer months and participated in their Summer Reading Program. It's a bit silly to track William's time in front of books since we read for at least an hour every day, but tracking it meant stickers and completing the challenge meant a new tote bag!

I also read a lot this summer and have failed to keep up with my usual review of each title. So, rather than try to wrack my brain as to what the books were actually about (and in the end just copying what other people said after I did a google search), I'm just going to list them here. Sort of a record for myself so I don't mistakenly pick up same title twice!

Here is what I remember reading:
I was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon (I really enjoyed this one, it had me tricked until the very end)
Other People's Houses by Abbi Waxman
Love and Other Words by Christian Lauren (also a really good read, much different than I expected)
Eleanore Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

I love that my family is a group of readers and cuddling up with a good book is enjoyed by all. Over the last three months my family has checked out 50 books from the library! I love that. 

What were some of your favorite reads this summer?

It's been a great summer for reading. Both for me and the kids. William has his favorites - The Magic Treehouse series and Stephen loves anything and everything to do with trucks. We visited the library often over the summer months and participated in their Summer Reading Program. It's a bit silly to track William's time in front of books since we read for at least an hour every day, but tracking it meant stickers and completing the challenge meant a new tote bag!

I also read a lot this summer and have failed to keep up with my usual review of each title. So, rather than try to wrack my brain as to what the books were actually about (and in the end just copying what other people said after I did a google search), I'm just going to list them here. Sort of a record for myself so I don't mistakenly pick up same title twice!

Here is what I remember reading:
I was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon (I really enjoyed this one, it had me tricked until the very end)
Other People's Houses by Abbi Waxman
Love and Other Words by Christian Lauren (also a really good read, much different than I expected)
Eleanore Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

I love that my family is a group of readers and cuddling up with a good book is enjoyed by all. Over the last three months my family has checked out 50 books from the library! I love that. 

What were some of your favorite reads this summer?

Book Club: The Lilac Girls

This month our book club read Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly which is another World War II fiction piece, but heavily based on real characters and events. The book goes between three female characters and their roles played during the time of the war. The first is living in the United States and volunteering at the French consulate helping those entering the country and sending supplies to orphans in France. The second is a Polish girl who works in the Underground but is arrested and sent to a concentration camp. And the third is a German doctor who takes a job working in the same concentration camp.

As you would imagine, with three very different roles, you get to experience three different sides to the goings on of the war. It was really hard sometimes to read of the doctor and the tasks she had been given . . . and the way it became completely normal to her. It was also hard to read what the Polish girl and all the other women in the camp endured.

The Lilac girls is what they called the women who went through experimental surgeries in the camp. In the end, the woman from the US aids in bringing these women to America to receive therapies and reconstructive surgeries when the end finally came. It was a big fundraising/awareness campaign and in the end gave new life to many women.

It is a long read, but really good. Would highly recommend it if you like historical fiction, WWII or if you read another book I wrote about, Radium Girls. Where you are given a lot of history about real people and circumstances that usually don't get shared.

This month our book club read Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly which is another World War II fiction piece, but heavily based on real characters and events. The book goes between three female characters and their roles played during the time of the war. The first is living in the United States and volunteering at the French consulate helping those entering the country and sending supplies to orphans in France. The second is a Polish girl who works in the Underground but is arrested and sent to a concentration camp. And the third is a German doctor who takes a job working in the same concentration camp.

As you would imagine, with three very different roles, you get to experience three different sides to the goings on of the war. It was really hard sometimes to read of the doctor and the tasks she had been given . . . and the way it became completely normal to her. It was also hard to read what the Polish girl and all the other women in the camp endured.

The Lilac girls is what they called the women who went through experimental surgeries in the camp. In the end, the woman from the US aids in bringing these women to America to receive therapies and reconstructive surgeries when the end finally came. It was a big fundraising/awareness campaign and in the end gave new life to many women.

It is a long read, but really good. Would highly recommend it if you like historical fiction, WWII or if you read another book I wrote about, Radium Girls. Where you are given a lot of history about real people and circumstances that usually don't get shared.

The Handmaid's Tale

I finished the Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood a few weeks ago and I'm not really sure what I thought of it. I kept waiting for the author to really explain what kind of society this women were a part of and what the time period was for this story or offer some sort of background and explanation for why the women were divided into what seemed like casts but she never really did. By the end, I realized that wasn't the way this story was meant to be told or understood, so when it was over, I was left a little fuzzy.

If you aren't familiar with the story, I'll use a sentence from Wikipedia to explain the subject:

The Handmaid's Tale explores themes of women in subjugation to misogyny in a patriarchal society and the various means by which these women attempt to gain individualism and independence. 

It's a really hard subject to read about - women being used as sexual servants for the purpose of procreation - there is nothing positive about it. The book is considered a classic and on recommended reading lists for high school and colleges, and has received many awards; it was written in 1985. I had never heard of it until this year . . . where have I been?

I'm glad I read it, even if I didn't especially like the life the Handmaids lived or the scenes that unfolded; it was an interesting read and a topic worth thinking over.

I finished the Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood a few weeks ago and I'm not really sure what I thought of it. I kept waiting for the author to really explain what kind of society this women were a part of and what the time period was for this story or offer some sort of background and explanation for why the women were divided into what seemed like casts but she never really did. By the end, I realized that wasn't the way this story was meant to be told or understood, so when it was over, I was left a little fuzzy.

If you aren't familiar with the story, I'll use a sentence from Wikipedia to explain the subject:

The Handmaid's Tale explores themes of women in subjugation to misogyny in a patriarchal society and the various means by which these women attempt to gain individualism and independence. 

It's a really hard subject to read about - women being used as sexual servants for the purpose of procreation - there is nothing positive about it. The book is considered a classic and on recommended reading lists for high school and colleges, and has received many awards; it was written in 1985. I had never heard of it until this year . . . where have I been?

I'm glad I read it, even if I didn't especially like the life the Handmaids lived or the scenes that unfolded; it was an interesting read and a topic worth thinking over.

A Wrinkle In Time

Chris has told me before that he really liked reading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle and he has even read the graphic novel to William already . . . like a year ago. I had over heard bits and pieces but never really followed it. But when one of the women in my bookclub mentioned it was her favorite book, I decided I should give it a read.

I just finished it this morning and I haven't really been able to process the deeper meaning behind the symbolism, but I did really like it. And it was a lot easier to get into than I had expected. I do hope to spend some time thinking it all through and perhaps I'll read it again.

I typically don't read things that might be categorized as Science Fiction or Fantasy, but I found the science-y bits didn't overwhelm me or distract me from the story. And as I try to describe to you the plot of the story and all it contains, I am at a loss for words. It is other-worldly, and a mystery to be solved, and allegorical of dark forces that need to be fought.

Have you read it? What did you think?

Chris has told me before that he really liked reading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle and he has even read the graphic novel to William already . . . like a year ago. I had over heard bits and pieces but never really followed it. But when one of the women in my bookclub mentioned it was her favorite book, I decided I should give it a read.

I just finished it this morning and I haven't really been able to process the deeper meaning behind the symbolism, but I did really like it. And it was a lot easier to get into than I had expected. I do hope to spend some time thinking it all through and perhaps I'll read it again.

I typically don't read things that might be categorized as Science Fiction or Fantasy, but I found the science-y bits didn't overwhelm me or distract me from the story. And as I try to describe to you the plot of the story and all it contains, I am at a loss for words. It is other-worldly, and a mystery to be solved, and allegorical of dark forces that need to be fought.

Have you read it? What did you think?

Bookclub: Watch Me Disappear

This month, we read Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown. Its a novel that reminded us a lot of Gone Girl, but a little less intense/dark.  An easy read, and very enjoyable I think; it also took place in the Bay Area which allowed it to feel a little like I was hearing the story from a friend.

A woman with a past many do not know leaves behind a workaholic husband and a teenage daughter. Did she die? Did she choose to abandon them or did something really terrible happen to her and she needs help? We get to experience the heartbreak and pain this missing woman leaves behind and enter into their confusion as facts are brought out in the open.

It's a mystery and a mild thrill to uncover what really happened. But I can't tell you what that is!

This month, we read Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown. Its a novel that reminded us a lot of Gone Girl, but a little less intense/dark.  An easy read, and very enjoyable I think; it also took place in the Bay Area which allowed it to feel a little like I was hearing the story from a friend.

A woman with a past many do not know leaves behind a workaholic husband and a teenage daughter. Did she die? Did she choose to abandon them or did something really terrible happen to her and she needs help? We get to experience the heartbreak and pain this missing woman leaves behind and enter into their confusion as facts are brought out in the open.

It's a mystery and a mild thrill to uncover what really happened. But I can't tell you what that is!

Bookclub: Pachinko

Last month, our bookclub read Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. It's another generational story (like Homegoing) where you begin learning about a young girl living in Korea before the war and end learning about her grandson working in America (and Japan). The author did a really nice job of telling each generations story and I felt the descriptions of scenes and culture were great and not too overpowering (where you can't follow the actual story). It really seemed effortless and natural.

There were a few parts that I didn't think were really necessary to tell the story (homosexual encounter and adolescent sex) . . . so if you pick up this book, be warned!

I was thankful to have read the book as I rarely read anything taking place in East Asia and found once again how ignorant I am of history and cultures not my own. It seems so harsh to be Korean, even in Japan, which to me seems (if I'm honest) so similar. And now, post-war there are even more divisions between North and South. It must be hard.

Others from the bookclub also enjoyed the novel.

Last month, our bookclub read Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. It's another generational story (like Homegoing) where you begin learning about a young girl living in Korea before the war and end learning about her grandson working in America (and Japan). The author did a really nice job of telling each generations story and I felt the descriptions of scenes and culture were great and not too overpowering (where you can't follow the actual story). It really seemed effortless and natural.

There were a few parts that I didn't think were really necessary to tell the story (homosexual encounter and adolescent sex) . . . so if you pick up this book, be warned!

I was thankful to have read the book as I rarely read anything taking place in East Asia and found once again how ignorant I am of history and cultures not my own. It seems so harsh to be Korean, even in Japan, which to me seems (if I'm honest) so similar. And now, post-war there are even more divisions between North and South. It must be hard.

Others from the bookclub also enjoyed the novel.

Radium Girls

I just finished this book after hearing about it from a friend. I have to admit my ignorance and confess that I had no idea that this happened--that hundreds of women were poisoned from working in radium dial factories and had to fight not only for a diagnosis but for rights to compensation and aid from their employers. Workman's compensation and work safety laws have come a long way since the 1930s and these women did a lot to make all of it happen.

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore is a really well put together story of several of the women's lives before they began their employment with the radium factories until their deaths. She has interviewed family members, read reports, and visited the areas affected. Her writing includes both narratives and research which makes for an interesting, all-encompassing read. I feel like I learned a lot!

She also writes it in a way that is very honoring to the women. We know their passions, what they enjoyed in life and what was ultimately taken away from them. We learn how many barriers were overcome and how much it hurt to keep going. But they didn't give up. It's incredible to think how strong these women were and all they accomplished.

I hope you'll give it a read. Be warned, it's long! 480 pages

I just finished this book after hearing about it from a friend. I have to admit my ignorance and confess that I had no idea that this happened--that hundreds of women were poisoned from working in radium dial factories and had to fight not only for a diagnosis but for rights to compensation and aid from their employers. Workman's compensation and work safety laws have come a long way since the 1930s and these women did a lot to make all of it happen.

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore is a really well put together story of several of the women's lives before they began their employment with the radium factories until their deaths. She has interviewed family members, read reports, and visited the areas affected. Her writing includes both narratives and research which makes for an interesting, all-encompassing read. I feel like I learned a lot!

She also writes it in a way that is very honoring to the women. We know their passions, what they enjoyed in life and what was ultimately taken away from them. We learn how many barriers were overcome and how much it hurt to keep going. But they didn't give up. It's incredible to think how strong these women were and all they accomplished.

I hope you'll give it a read. Be warned, it's long! 480 pages

Bookclub: A Long Way Home

Last month, my bookclub read A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley. It's a memoir of Saroo's journey to find his biological mother. He was born in India, and at the age of 5 got lost and was sent to an orphanage (that's the short version!). His adoption brought him to Australia where he grew up with great parents but still felt a longing to know where he had come from.

His search was long and tedious as his 5 year old memory was all he had. And as technology improved and the Internet became faster and better, he soon found his way back. It's really an interesting story and really a miracle that his family did reunite.

The book itself was a quick read and didn't seem to be embellished or anything. In fact, some chapters seemed a little mundane (just like some days in my own life I supposed!). The movie I hear that is coming will probably be really good -- getting to see the India in which he grew up and the shock of going back as an adult would make a great visual. And to see the emotions played out might also be easier than reading about them.

I loved the story and am so thankful he found his way home.

Last month, my bookclub read A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley. It's a memoir of Saroo's journey to find his biological mother. He was born in India, and at the age of 5 got lost and was sent to an orphanage (that's the short version!). His adoption brought him to Australia where he grew up with great parents but still felt a longing to know where he had come from.

His search was long and tedious as his 5 year old memory was all he had. And as technology improved and the Internet became faster and better, he soon found his way back. It's really an interesting story and really a miracle that his family did reunite.

The book itself was a quick read and didn't seem to be embellished or anything. In fact, some chapters seemed a little mundane (just like some days in my own life I supposed!). The movie I hear that is coming will probably be really good -- getting to see the India in which he grew up and the shock of going back as an adult would make a great visual. And to see the emotions played out might also be easier than reading about them.

I loved the story and am so thankful he found his way home.

Bookclub: A Good American

This started out as a really interesting story. Frederick sweeps his girl, Jetta off her feet. They start a romantic relationship and flea to America to avoid family tensions after getting pregnant. I really enjoyed their story and how the author unfolded their acclimating to life in Missouri. 

Around a third of the way in to the story, Frederick goes off to war and dies. This took me by complete surprise because he seemed to be the "Good American" and how can you have two-thirds of a story left to read without the main character? Well, the narrator (Frederick's grandson) shares the story of how his life came to be and a little of his father and aunt's story. 

The book lacks a real climax or arc and is more of a narrative of connections and a few traumatic events. There are a few really random turns concerning high school boys and their music teacher (completely caught off guard by this as it really didn't seem important or fitting in with the story). There is also a strange religious experience that the local pastor experiences and is just bizarre. The ending took another random turn and seemed rushed. 

Regretfully, I wouldn't recommend reading this one. It was really odd to not like it. I really enjoyed the first third, but the rest of it wasn't that interesting. I finished it but didn't really think it was that well written. Have you read it? What did you think?

This started out as a really interesting story. Frederick sweeps his girl, Jetta off her feet. They start a romantic relationship and flea to America to avoid family tensions after getting pregnant. I really enjoyed their story and how the author unfolded their acclimating to life in Missouri. 

Around a third of the way in to the story, Frederick goes off to war and dies. This took me by complete surprise because he seemed to be the "Good American" and how can you have two-thirds of a story left to read without the main character? Well, the narrator (Frederick's grandson) shares the story of how his life came to be and a little of his father and aunt's story. 

The book lacks a real climax or arc and is more of a narrative of connections and a few traumatic events. There are a few really random turns concerning high school boys and their music teacher (completely caught off guard by this as it really didn't seem important or fitting in with the story). There is also a strange religious experience that the local pastor experiences and is just bizarre. The ending took another random turn and seemed rushed. 

Regretfully, I wouldn't recommend reading this one. It was really odd to not like it. I really enjoyed the first third, but the rest of it wasn't that interesting. I finished it but didn't really think it was that well written. Have you read it? What did you think?

Book Club: Before the Fall

This past month, our book club read Before the Fall by Noah Hawley. It's a novel about a mysterious plane crash and lives of those who were on the plane. The timeline is a little tricky to follow as there is the present (day of the crash) and then the past, but then the novel continues with the story of the two survivors and the investigation of how the plane crashed. I loved the beginning of the book. The author shares some details of one survivor's childhood and one event that I just loved -- watching Jack LaLanne swim from Alcatraz to the shore of San Francisco pulling a boat behind him while handcuffed--and how watching one man do something to impossible made him realize he could do anything if he really went for it. This idea became a theme of sorts in the book and I really liked how it was told.

Hawley works a lot in the TV/film industry and this book read like a movie (which will be a movie some day I'm told). As you read the book, each chapter focuses on one person's story although you soon find out that they are all intertwined someone and it soon gets a little muddy whose story you are actually reading.

One of the characters is a news anchor who comes off as a "bad guy" of sorts --a newsman who creates news from nothing really; creates leads from innocent comments, makes a lot of little things seem like really big things and everything is urgent and important (and stressful). I could see parallels to our current news industry and wondered if this was a core part of the book?

All in all, it was an entertaining read and fairly fast paced. The characters seemed "normal" and nothing seemed too out of the ordinary -- just a really horrific event, what led up to it and how people moved on.

This past month, our book club read Before the Fall by Noah Hawley. It's a novel about a mysterious plane crash and lives of those who were on the plane. The timeline is a little tricky to follow as there is the present (day of the crash) and then the past, but then the novel continues with the story of the two survivors and the investigation of how the plane crashed. I loved the beginning of the book. The author shares some details of one survivor's childhood and one event that I just loved -- watching Jack LaLanne swim from Alcatraz to the shore of San Francisco pulling a boat behind him while handcuffed--and how watching one man do something to impossible made him realize he could do anything if he really went for it. This idea became a theme of sorts in the book and I really liked how it was told.

Hawley works a lot in the TV/film industry and this book read like a movie (which will be a movie some day I'm told). As you read the book, each chapter focuses on one person's story although you soon find out that they are all intertwined someone and it soon gets a little muddy whose story you are actually reading.

One of the characters is a news anchor who comes off as a "bad guy" of sorts --a newsman who creates news from nothing really; creates leads from innocent comments, makes a lot of little things seem like really big things and everything is urgent and important (and stressful). I could see parallels to our current news industry and wondered if this was a core part of the book?

All in all, it was an entertaining read and fairly fast paced. The characters seemed "normal" and nothing seemed too out of the ordinary -- just a really horrific event, what led up to it and how people moved on.

Big Little Lies

I picked up Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty last week and read it in 3-4 days. I enjoyed it a lot and didn't want to put it down (it is common for me to ignore all house work and lists while reading a book). I had enjoyed "What Alice Forgot" by the same author years ago and enjoyed this novel just as much.

Its a murder mystery at its core but the drama that unfolds seems to have little to do with the actual murder. The characters, mostly mothers of school aged children, have worries of their own and in the end . . . well you have to read it. I enjoyed getting a glimpse of the mom-drama that comes with school, although I hope most of it is just fiction! It takes place in Australia so there are a few differences you might notice.

There are some heavy topics involved, just so you are aware -- domestic violence, divorce, and murder.

HBO did a mini series based on the book but it takes place in Silicon Valley so that gets a little closer to home. I watched a few episodes but enjoyed the book so much better.

Happy reading!

I picked up Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty last week and read it in 3-4 days. I enjoyed it a lot and didn't want to put it down (it is common for me to ignore all house work and lists while reading a book). I had enjoyed "What Alice Forgot" by the same author years ago and enjoyed this novel just as much.

Its a murder mystery at its core but the drama that unfolds seems to have little to do with the actual murder. The characters, mostly mothers of school aged children, have worries of their own and in the end . . . well you have to read it. I enjoyed getting a glimpse of the mom-drama that comes with school, although I hope most of it is just fiction! It takes place in Australia so there are a few differences you might notice.

There are some heavy topics involved, just so you are aware -- domestic violence, divorce, and murder.

HBO did a mini series based on the book but it takes place in Silicon Valley so that gets a little closer to home. I watched a few episodes but enjoyed the book so much better.

Happy reading!

Book Club: The Nightingale

This month, the book for my book club was The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I knew very little about it before reading it and it captured me right away. The setting is Paris, France during WWII. The story is centered on one family and how two sisters deal with the coming of the war and live through it.

The story was quite thrilling as each sister took dangerous steps to make sure they survived. I love reading historical fiction because I was just never very good at studying History in school and feel like I should know more than I do . . . having a captivating story about real events is so great. And from this story, I just felt so much heartbreak for what families went through during and after the war. I felt like my eyes were opened to a portion of history that I never contemplated before.

I would highly recommend this book to all of my book-loving friends. It didn't disappoint. I hear there may be a movie made based on this book in a few years and I will be watching it!

This month, the book for my book club was The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I knew very little about it before reading it and it captured me right away. The setting is Paris, France during WWII. The story is centered on one family and how two sisters deal with the coming of the war and live through it.

The story was quite thrilling as each sister took dangerous steps to make sure they survived. I love reading historical fiction because I was just never very good at studying History in school and feel like I should know more than I do . . . having a captivating story about real events is so great. And from this story, I just felt so much heartbreak for what families went through during and after the war. I felt like my eyes were opened to a portion of history that I never contemplated before.

I would highly recommend this book to all of my book-loving friends. It didn't disappoint. I hear there may be a movie made based on this book in a few years and I will be watching it!

April & Oliver

I recently read a book called April & Oliver by Tess Callahan. It came recommended on a blog listing for 6 books every woman should read . . . well after reading this one, I don't think I'll be keeping that list. It was written well enough (with flashbacks thrown in at random times which was a little hard to follow) and the story was compelling but honestly, I didn't need to read it and probably shouldn't have.

The premise of it, in case you are interested, is about a boy and a girl who grew up together avoiding an obvious attraction. They grew apart and lived very different lives and then one day were reunited --but Oliver is engaged to be married and April is a disaster (dating abusers, drinks too much, doesn't take care of herself, etc). I don't want to give the rest away. But I will caution you that the childhood April had was hard and included things like verbal abuse and molestation and a lot of family issues. It's detailed. It troubled me. I kept reading it because I wanted to see how she ended up and trying to broaden my scope of what some people's lives might actually be like. But it was a bit too much.

The reviews on GoodReads are very mixed and I would probably have given it 2 stars. My advise? Read something else.

I recently read a book called April & Oliver by Tess Callahan. It came recommended on a blog listing for 6 books every woman should read . . . well after reading this one, I don't think I'll be keeping that list. It was written well enough (with flashbacks thrown in at random times which was a little hard to follow) and the story was compelling but honestly, I didn't need to read it and probably shouldn't have.

The premise of it, in case you are interested, is about a boy and a girl who grew up together avoiding an obvious attraction. They grew apart and lived very different lives and then one day were reunited --but Oliver is engaged to be married and April is a disaster (dating abusers, drinks too much, doesn't take care of herself, etc). I don't want to give the rest away. But I will caution you that the childhood April had was hard and included things like verbal abuse and molestation and a lot of family issues. It's detailed. It troubled me. I kept reading it because I wanted to see how she ended up and trying to broaden my scope of what some people's lives might actually be like. But it was a bit too much.

The reviews on GoodReads are very mixed and I would probably have given it 2 stars. My advise? Read something else.