Those Who Save Us

The story of this book is about a woman (Anna) who is German and lives in Weimar, Germany at the time of WWII. She falls in love with a Jewish Doctor, gets pregnant and then it follows through how she existed during the war. It is also written in a second viewpoint of her daughter (Trudy) as a grownup who is a professor whose special study is WWII and how the german females were affected by the war.

It's interesting because Anna does not speak to her daughter at all about how she became a mistress to an SS officer or anything that happened before they moved to America after the war. She is ultimately shut down and pretends as if Trudy's life started the day they moved when in essence she was probably 4 or so before they did.

I never really fell in love with any of the characters. It was interesting to me to read a WWII book from a German viewpoint, and Anna's story was interesting, but I just never really cared what happened. I mean here we have a woman and her daughter who could potentially die at any minute and for some reason I just didn't believe it. Anna never really struck me as an actual person, and neither did grown up Trudy, so maybe that was what the author was going for.

And then, the ending just sucks. So overall, not a very good book. Plenty better ones to read!

T is for Trespass

This is the first of the Kinsey Millhone stories that I've read. I only chose it becuase it was cheap on Kindle and I thought why not. I had heard a good amount about them and considered that it would be at least a semi interesting read.

It did not disapoint. The first 50 pages or so was slow moving and it took awhile for me to get connected. I think this is because Grafton gives you everything, good guy/bad guy, so you can totally see what the premise of the book is about and since I read a lot I knew enough of this type of book to see how it would be. But the events that bring it around and the actions of the characters did pleasantly surprise me.

I had a little bit of a problem with Kinsey's character because it didn't seem like she really acted as a private investigator would. She seemed to be very wimpy to me in a way. I'm not sure if it was just this book or maybe I wasn't able to relate to her enough. I probably should have started with one of the beginning letters where more of her background is provided, but I still did end up enjoying the read.

And watch out, come the last 100 pages or so you do not want to put it down! The villian is a little phyco, keeps you on your edge! Easy read, good vacation book

Loving Frank

Loving Frank is the story of the relationship between Frank Lloyd Wright and Martha (Mamah) Borthwick Cheney. They both left their significant others and kids to go traveling abroad and try to have a life together. This happened at a time where woman had no liberties and thus most of the story is how they dealt with the repercussions of this hugely monumental choice to leave and live together openly flaunting the norm. Then they also had the troubles of Frank Wright who was bad with money and living a real life. He was rather eccentric and focused largely on his architecture.

I enjoyed reading about Mamah and how she was able to make very hard decisions that were incredibly painful but ultimately allowed her to live a happy and fulfilled life rather than just settling. I am still rather unsure how I felt about how she went about it. When she finally left her husband she did it by going abroad. Thus she was unable to see her children for the next two years. And they were very young when (3 and 7) so by the time she came back the youngest one didn't even remember her. And even when she was finally back in the states her ex husband there only allowed her to see them once a year or so. I think it's very important to live your life, but I did not like how the kids faired.

The book is interesting to read, but it doesn't keep you reading. I didn't have a problem putting it down and the writing sometimes got bogged down in descriptions and Mamah's melacholiness as she ruminated over her choices, but as long as you make yourself pick it up it's enjoyable. The ending is completely unexpected and very very sad. I actually needed to look it up to make sure it was fact because of how horribly random it is. But that's life.

I read this for a book club and I do think it's a good choice for that. There are certainly numerous different discussion points that are available from it.

Marley and Me

I actually went to see the movie before reading the book, and I have to say that I equally enjoyed them both. John Grogan is an excellent writer and this book is very easy to read.

At first I kept having the two actors, Luke Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, in my head, but the book really is so much more in-depth then the movie. And I often wondered why they changed things in the movie, just for the sake of changing things, when the events that happened in the book would have actually been better.

It makes you wonder sometimes why they even use a book to create a movie from, when the changes are just so random. Ego probably.

Anyway, whether you've seen the movie or not, this is a good read.

Tomasen: Loved it...especially having a dog. Have yet to see the movie though!!

The Lady Elizabeth

The Lady Elizabeth is about Queen Elizabeth's life before she was crowned. I've always loved historical fiction and the time era of the Tudors and Queen Elizabeth is one of my favorites. Thus I have read everything by Philippa Gregory as well as many other books about this time period. This book doesn't really have much new information except for one main thing. She suggests that Elizabeth actually got pregnant by the Admiral and had a miscarriage. This was something I had never heard of. Elizabeth is always protrayed as being very sickly at times so I believe all the other books I've read just passed off the time when Weir suggests she was pregnant as a time she was merely ill.

Other than that it was a an interesting read and it was definetly a different point of view than others I have run. Elizabeth intruiges me greatly at how much she enjoyed being a leader, but also in how much effort and hard work she put into everything in order to be the greatest leader she can be. So if anyone else is interested in her as well, I certainly reccomend this book.

Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher

This is an unbelievably short read -- like a couple of hours and poof, it is done. It seemed a little scattered, like she would say something, like "aliens landed on our front lawn, no kidding." And then the next paragraph would talk about something else, like her mother is her neighbor. Kind of a lot of those "huh?" moments. Maybe she was drinking when she wrote it?

Anyway, it was fine and I am sure growing up in her world was pretty freaky, and from where I stand it seems that the majority of celebrity children are pretty screwed up, so I think my children should thank me everyday that I am NOT a celebrity. But then again they lost the opportunity to write a book about it. Oh well.

Oddly enough, this morning Carrie Fisher was on the Bonnie Hunt show, and as I was making my smoothie I was listening to her spout the words verbatim that I had just read. Like, the woman needs new material! I guess the book is just a hardcopy of the act she takes on the road -- and as I watched her saying them, I realized that what the book lacks is her SAYING them! Because you can jump from subject to subject and not finish sentences when you are speaking -- and it works. But when you are reading it it seems disjointed.

So, she has written novels before, so she has the capacity to write. I think this is just a lazy version of her act on paper. To be a book it needs more depth.

So I would not recommend it.

Another Mother's Life

I finished this book over a week ago but was unable to post about it because of holiday happenings.

This was a pleasant non-action type of read. It definetly kept me interested and wanting to keep going. I was able to relate with both the main characters, Allison & Catherine, though probably not in the way the author was planning as I don't have a husband or kids, but they were both very likable woman. I was a little appalled by Allison's actions in the beginning of the book when she steals her best friends guy, but after that I really respected their decisions to step out of the rut their life had become and work to make it better for themself and their children.

I did not like one of the male main characters Mark. I was not a fan at all of him. I don't find cowardness or the will to prove yourself great qualities. And then of course hitting kids. But luckily he is not too present and you can focus on the woman. Def a good read.

Twilight (1-4)

I have been being told to read these books for awhile, but pushed it off until christmas vacay so that I didn't need to buy them for myself or anything. I read the first two each in one day and then the next two over the next week.

I did not fall in love with these books the way that everyone else did. I do understand being sucked in. Stephanie Meyer has the perfect romantic novel timeline set up and her writing makes you feel very strongly for all characters so no matter what is happening you want to read on and see what comes out! To look at the actual storyline though as it went I was mainly annoyed. First you have Bella who falls in love with a vampire. ok that's fine and swell but then when he leaves she falls in love with a werewolf. And then the vampire comes back but by then I myself had fallen for the werewolf so now there is a ton of the book where you're stressed out because you can't decide which one she should go for. And she can't decide. And to top it all off there are many other people trying to kill her!! It's very stressfull, I actually had stomachaches while I was reading.

Finally we hit the fourth book!!! I actually enjoyed the secondhalf of this book. Putting away the fact that she is willing to die herself to let this child live, we finally get to see a strong Bella and Edward and Jake working together for the better. I didn't feel like I was always being told that Bella needs watching or she's bodily sick because Edward is in trouble or grieving because she's hurt Jake through her own actions. They actually stand up and fight!!!! Woohoo and she makes her shield! Which is awesome. Overall I only wish I could have seen the little Renessme because she seemed very sweet.

Oh and I also was frustrated because I could not get the actor guy out of my head whenever I thought of Edward and I do not think he is hot!!!! NO WAY JOSE!

So good, very interesting books to read. You will def be sucked in and I will probably find myself re-reading them somewhere down the line because even though they do irritate me, Meyer has a fabulous writing skill and you are intrigued the whole way through. I mean even Harry Potter annoyed me at times....

Testimony, by Anita Shreve

Lisa

I read this book cover-to-cover on a cold January day, beside the fire. But before that, I read two chapters that pushed me to my computer so I could rant and rave about the unfairness of the world towards boys. It started out as a blog but became far too personal and angry, so it will remain in the private archives.

But it is easy to say that this book struck a chord with me.

The setting is a private school in Vermont and the story is about a tragedy that strikes when three boys have sex with a freshman and how the consequences of that one simple action destroyed a web of lives.

Shreve does not hand you the story on a silver platter ... no, you must go through chapters with new character voices and try to figure out who they are, occasionally returning to a familiar character, only to be tossed back into the hands of maybe the school lunch lady. You see, small actions affect everyone one way or another.

What touched me at the start of the book was you are told straight up that the girl knew what she was doing. She might have been 14, but she was out trolling for these guys, and due to really one catalyst, these otherwise smart, ambitious and well-meaning boys ended up drinking too much and doing things with the girl that were caught on tape and then put onto Youtube. It's something that could happen to anyone ... and the mother's in the book broke my heart. As one mother said:

What do I want to say to the mothers of sons? Something hurts these boys, and I don't know what it is. Take away the alcohol. If you suspect a problem, there is a problem. Don't let them get away with even the very first lie. Be vigilant."

Because what she is saying is that if you just let them be ... it could turn out very bad. Made my hair stand on end!

And this from one of the "rapists."

I just don't get it. You take all those other days of the year -- 364 of them. And all that pressure to get into a good college. And three hours a night of homework, plus all those hours of practice and games and Saturday school ... So you take all those hours and you put them up against one hour of getting wasted and acting like a jerk, and that one hour defines your life? Forever?

I understand I have to pay. I get that part. My question is this: For how long?

It's a very rich book in that it touches on so many layers. Like I said, Shreve doesn't hand it to you, you have to think about it. But she gives you all the ingredients.

I recommend it. And don't forget to stoke the fire!

Hallie

A very intense and frustrating read. I always find it hard to read about peoples lives being destroyed for a reason that could have been avoided if someone had just spoken out. It was very well written and you feel for the three boys who are accused of this horrible act. The book ties together very nicely with a letter written by one of the nicest, most respectful guys and leaves you feeling hopeful as the boy states that yes this changed his life from the path he and everyone was expecting to follow but it did not ruin it. From now on he will just move in a direction that was never expected. A very truthful and amazing truth to recognize when he could have just continued to be a bitter guy or the rest of his life.