REVIEW - Carpe Demon by Julie Kenner

Title: Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom

Author:  Julie Kenner

No. of Pages:  307

First Released:  July 2005

Synopsis (Courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers):  "Lots of women put their careers aside once the kids come along. Kate Connor, for instance, hasn't hunted a demon in ages.

That must be why she missed the one wandering through the pet food aisle of the San Diablo Wal-Mart. Unfortunately, he managed to catch her attention an hour later-when he crashed into the Connor house, intent on killing her.

Now Kate has to clean up the mess in her kitchen, dispose of a dead demon, and pull together a dinner party that will get her husband elected to County Attorney-all without arousing her family's suspicion. Worse yet, it seems the dead demon didn't come alone...

It's time for Kate Connor to go back to work."

Comments and Critique:  My first thought while reading this is that I miss Buffy.  Buffy the Vampire Slayer remains one of my favorite television shows ever.  Carpe Demon initially caught my eye because someone prefaced their description of the book by stating that it was as if Buffy had grown up and gotten married.  That one sentence was enough for me, and I was not wrong.

As you can imagine when discussing a book about a retired demon hunter who now happens to be a mother, the book is meant to be what it is: light, carefree, fun and yet suspenseful.  Ms. Kenner makes women everywhere thankful that we do not have to add "hunt demons" to our own to-do lists, and yet, we sympathize with Kate as she struggles to find balance in her shifting world.  I personally adore how Ms. Kenner shows motherhood - the constant worry offset by doing the best we can to keep sanity at bay, the very unglamorous aspects of motherhood, and the occasional use of television as a babysitter.  Mothers everywhere can relate, even if we do not have murderous demons jumping out at us when we least expect them.

There was a surprisingly strong religious note to the book.  In hindsight, demons and faith tend to go together, but in my experience, most authors do not include demons and a strong faith in God together in the same book.  I wonder why that is, now that I think about it, for I did not find the discussion a turn-off.  For, if you understand that demons are metaphors for the world's evils, then Ms. Kenner is just enforcing the need for faith.

Carpe Demon is a quick read, one I thoroughly enjoyed.  I found myself chuckling at Kate's plight but completely understanding her need to protect her family and friends.  Mothers everywhere do the same thing each and every day, just not against high demons or hell hounds.  In Kate, Ms. Kenner has a character to which most mothers can relate.  I, for one, am definitely interested in reading the sequel.  And if I happen to reminisce about Buffy, then so much the better!

This book fulfills another selection for the 100+ Reading Challenge, the Read 'n Review Challenge, the Thriller & Suspense Reading Challenge, the Buy 1 Book and Read It Challenge, and the Women Unbound Challenge.  As for the FTC, I spent my own money to acquire this one.

REVIEW - Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte

Title:  Agnes Grey

Author:  Anne Bronte

No. of Pages:  241

First Released:  1847

Synopsis (Courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers):  "Drawing directly on her own experiences, Anne Bronte describes the isolation and dark ambiguity of the governess's life as lived by her fictional heroine Agnes Grey. Mature, insightful, and edged with a quiet irony, this first novel by the youngest of the Brontes displays her keen sense of moral responsibility and sharp eye for bourgeois attitudes and behavior."

Comments and Critique:  This book was an almost unanimous selection for my book club.  When we were voting, we were in the throes of some very weighty books, Little Dorrit, The Three Musketeers, Of Human Bondage, and the like.  I think almost everyone in the group was ready for something a little lighter and definitely shorter.  Agnes Grey definitely fits that bill. 

If you read it looking for similarities in writing to her sisters, however, you will be disappointed.  Anne is the vanilla to Jane and Charlotte's more exotic chocolate.  Agnes Grey contains no Gothic elements.  It is slightly preachy and somewhat predictable.  I would term it an overall pleasant book to read, albeit one that is not going to change the world.

Agnes is just plain nice.  She could have been very annoying with her goodness, but I think Anne avoids that very deftly.  While on the outside she may appear like a goody-two-shoes who does nothing but preach to her charges, she throws in enough criticism for the reader's eyes that makes her story quite interesting and fun to read.  In general, the entire story is a good, old-fashioned love story.  I may not be particularly happy that Anne finds true happiness through marriage (because I get tired of that lesson), I do understand that for women in the 1800s, there truly were very few options.

Speaking of options, I do believe Agnes Grey does a tremendous job of showcasing the struggles of governesses and the limited options for women who needed to work to support their families.  As Agnes (and Anne) can attest, often they were considered lower than the servants.  They had no respect or authority but were expected to mold spoiled children into model citizens.  Without the authority to do anything, their jobs were often doomed from the beginning.  And for all their efforts, they received pitiful wages that barely helped.  However, if one were truly to do a comparison, are teaching positions all that different now than they were in Anne's time?  Teachers remain grossly underpaid, often have no authority for discipline and yet expected to mold students and help them reach their full potential.  Parents either thwart their efforts at home or throw fits over certain punishments that  a teacher's hands are tied.  It appears that governesses and today's teachers still have much in common.

Overall, I found Agnes Grey an enjoyable read.  I know that Agnes bothered some of my fellow book club members, but I liked her.  She had spunk and backbone and never once deviated from her beliefs.  We should all be so strong in our convictions.

If you have had the opportunity to read this book, I would love to know your thoughts! Did you love or hate Agnes?  What about the overall plight of being a governess?  Was the ending necessary or does it enforce a dangerous message about women in a man's world?

This book fulfills requirements for the 100+ Reading Challenge, the Read 'n Review challenge, and the Women Unbound Challenge.  For the FTC, I purchased this with my own money but am always will to accept copies of classics for review!

Musing Mondays: Multitasking?

One of the things I like about this particular meme is that it gives us a chance to share our habits and learn a little more about what makes us tick.  In an online world where it would be so easy to define a person based on what they read and their reviews, Musing Mondays forces us to dig a little deeper and actually think about our reasons for certain behaviors.  Not every person will have the same answer, which is refreshing.  As always, Rebecca gives us another question worthy of some thought.

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about multitasking.

Do you – or are you even able – to do other things while you read? Do you knit, hold a conversation, keep an eye on the TV? Anything?

I normally do not hide myself away to read.  I prefer to sit in my living room, surrounded by the dogs, my husband, and my kids.  In so doing, my goal is to spend time doing two things I love the most - be with my family and read.  Unfortunately, this does not work so well.  Either I am so absorbed in my book that I do not hear anyone talking to me, or I am so caught up in the TV or what the kids are doing that I read the same page over and over again.  I want to multi-task but  cannot do it very well.

However, I usually can have music going in the background.  I have found that classical music works best to allow me to remain focused without distracting me completely.  I enjoy music too much for me to be able to drown it out entirely, so I need something quiet.  Complete silence when I read tends to cause problems because it makes me more conscious of passing time.  (This will be of vital importance during the read-a-thon.  In the wee hours of the morning, I will have to either have the TV on low or the radio on to help get me through the night.) 

I have no idea how one knits and reads at the same time.  When I cross-stitch, I can barely watch TV so that I do not miscount or drop a stitch somewhere.  Reading seems like it would be even more distracting, even via audiobook.  Like any good bibliophile, I have been known to cook and read, or fold laundry and read.  It is not the most efficient method of completing chores, and it can even lead to some horrific meals, but it does make chores more pleasurable. 

So, I am living proof that you can multi-task while reading.  Just do not ask me to be an expert at anything while reading!

The Sunday Salon: Let the countdown commence - March 28, 2010

T-minus five days until my exam.  I know you will be happy when I stop obsessing about this blasted thing.  I know I will be.  Studying for this cumulative essay/practical exam has been the biggest challenge of my life.  I am not certain I will ever feel comfortable with the material about which I should be an expert.  Therefore, I have decided that I will not be postponing the exam.  So, I have four hours on Friday to spout out everything I remember in a clear and coherent fashion, praying that the questions asked are ones about which I am most familiar, and hope for the best.  If not, I can take it again in three months.  (Yikes!)

Work has, thankfully, been tremendously slow this past week, allowing me to spend quite a bit of time studying during the day.  With multiple, and lengthy, soccer practices during the week, I was actually able to start and finish three different books.  I think that is a record for me, at least while I have been going through this certification process.  I will most likely spend some time later this afternoon to write up those reviews and schedule them throughout the week.  I know I will not be online much until Friday afternoon, so this will fill in the gaps until I can focus on normal, fun things again.

On an even better note, Suey from It's All About Books was lovely enough to give me this beautiful award.

She passed along this award to me "because we both 'get' the Muse thing".  Yes, we do, and we valiantly try to share our love with the rest of the U.S. because they deserve to learn about this fantastic band too!  It makes me all sunshine-y just thinking about Muse, and conversations with Suey about them.  Have fun at the concert in just over a week, Suey!  And thanks for the award!

I'm passing along this award to anyone who leaves me a comment because really, comments make me feel good, just like the sun does.  So, please take this and spread some joy!

I got some bad news, which turned in to some good news this weekend.  My dad called last night to say that his work schedule was erroneous and that the weekend he thought was free and during which they were going to visit actually is not.  This means that we will not have visitors during the next read-a-thon.  So, as sad as I am that I will not be seeing my parents any time soon, it means that I can start laying plans to participate on April 10th.  Woot woot!!

That's about it from here, my online friends.  My feed reader remains at an embarrassing high number of unread posts, but it will have to stay that way until next weekend.  As much I want to find out what everyone is doing and reading, I do feel some obligation to continue to study as much as I can force myself to concentrate.  You may or may not see me around the Twitterverse or blogging world, but I will be back in full force after 12 PM on Friday.  The countdown is on! 



Have a great week, everyone!

REVIEW - Greywalker by Kat Richardson

Title:  Greywalker

Author:  Kat Richardson

No. of Pages:  352

First Released:  2006

Synopsis (Courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers): "Harper Blaine was your average small-time P.I. until a two-bit perp's savage assault left her dead for two minutes. When she comes to in the hospital, she sees things that can only be described as weird-shapes emerging from a foggy grey mist, snarling teeth, creatures roaring.

But Harper's not crazy. Her 'death' has made her a Greywalker- able to move between the human world and the mysterious cross-over zone where things that go bump in the night exist. And her new gift is about to drag her into that strange new realm-whether she likes it or not."

Comments and Critique:  Greywalker was a Christmas gift from my sister-in-law; I had never heard of the series or the author.  I opened the book with little in the way of expectations and slight trepidation because of the lack of knowledge.  I have to confess that I am glad I had such low expectations, as it meant I was not overly disappointed when Greywalker failed to impress.

On the surface, this book has all the elements I typically adore in a book: a butt-kicking female lead, vampires, ghosts and other supernatural elements, and a mystery to solve.  Unfortunately, something just did not click for me.  First, I had no vested interest in Harper Blaine.  Kat Richardson failed to describe her adequately, so I had no idea what she looked like, nor did I have any idea what motivates her.  I just know that she is stubborn to a fault and does not necessarily learn from her mistakes.  There is almost no background information that could have humanized her for me.  Rather, as a reader, I was left very much on the surface, as if I were watching a TV show surrounded by distractions rather than being able to submerge myself into the story.

It is incredibly choppy and yet very repetitive.  The action starts on the first page, with no set-up or further explanations on the motives of her client that beats her to death.  This happens over and over again, as Ms. Richardson hammers home that Harper is constantly nauseous or dizzy or both, that the Grey is difficult to ignore, that Harper has a business to run.  These phrases appear on almost every page, and after a while, frankly it just becomes distracting.

Speaking of the Grey, after 352 pages, I am still not certain exactly what it is.  Ms. Richardson’s description of it is nebulous and ill-defined. I have no idea if it is a type of purgatory for the spirit world or if it is an alternate dimension or both.  Since the entire story revolves around Harper’s interaction with the Grey, one cannot help but wonder how much better the book would have been had it been understandable.

I felt the mystery itself was fairly predictable.  I could see the big double-cross and the vampire situation pages upon pages prior to the big reveal.  If a mystery in a thriller is predictable, doesn’t the entire book lose some of that thrill, some of that mystique that all but forces the reader to continue turning the pages?

I was compelled to keep reading in the hopes that I would finally understand the Grey and that it would get better.  I did not necessarily enjoy what I read.  However, as I mentioned above, there is an entire Greywalker series, so others certainly must like Harper and the Grey.  I would love to say that I am a fan as well, but I cannot do so in good faith.

If you enjoy supernatural thrillers, then Greywalker may just be for you, no matter what I ramble about on this review. If you have read it, then I would really love to know your thoughts on it.  How do you feel about Harper?  What exactly is the Grey?

This book counts towards my participation in the 100+ Reading Challenge, the Read n’ Review Challenge, and the Thriller & Suspense Reading Challenge.  For the FTC, it was a gift from my sister-in-law.  That is still allowed, correct?

Booking Through Thursday - Break Time!

Honestly, I do not think I have been so excited to see a Thursday in quite a long time.  I am just living for the weekend, where I can hopefully get some sleep and see what the inside of my house looks like in the daytime hours.  Until that time, I will make due with this week's Booking Through Thursday question:

Do you take breaks while reading a book? Or read it straight through? (And, by breaks, I don’t mean sleeping, eating and going to work; I mean putting it aside for a time while you read something else.)

This question would imply reading more than one book at a time, don't you think?  If I were to be truly honest with myself, I do not like having multiple books going at the same time.  I find that I cannot immerse myself into the story as much as I would like, and there are many times where I will have to flip through previous pages to jog my memory regarding a character or situation.  It can get a bit uncomfortable at times trying to keep the different plots and characters straight.  It is even worse if the books are similar in genre or setting.  If I had unlimited time, I would not take a break while reading a book. 

However, life being what it is, I usually always have at least two books I am reading at a given time.  One is always my book club book.  We break our reading up into weekly milestones, which makes it more palatable depending on the size of the book and helps guide our discussions.  (Let's face it - sometimes you do not want to read War and Peace straight through to the end, and trying to have a discussion on the entire book is like shooting darts at a dartboard and seeing where they land.)  It also allows us to read something else at the same time if we so desire.  Since we focus on classics in my book club, this means that I can read more contemporary fiction or other genres I enjoy without taking too much away from my book club reading.  I have been a part of this book club for over five years now, and this method has worked pretty well for me over the years.  I may not always like it, but at least I can get some balance in my reading. 

How about you?  Breaks or no breaks?

REVIEW - Public Secrets by Nora Roberts

Title:  Public Secrets

Author: Nora Roberts

No. of Pages:  439

First Released:  1990

Synopsis (Courtesy of Joseph-Beth Booksellers):  "Emma McAvoy may have grown up in the limelight, but some secrets are hidden in a darkness no light can reach. Now on the verge of a successful career, and having fallen in love with the man of her dreams, Emma is looking to the future. Yet it’s the past that is about to catch her from behind.

For Emma, her childhood had been almost like a rags-to-riches fairy tale—until the tragic night that changed her family forever. But what Emma thinks she knows about that terrible night and the man she’s about to marry is only half the truth. The other half is locked away in the last place she’d ever think to look: her own memories. It’s a mystery a handsome and relentlessly driven homicide detective needs to solve in a case that’s haunted him for years . . . and a secret someone will kill to keep."

Comments and Critique: This was a completely random book choice, as in I let Random.org choose a number, and the number coincided with this book, all in the spirit of the Random Reading Challenge.  I like a good Nora Roberts and consider her my go-to escapist literature, so I was not upset that this book was the next pick. 

When I purchased the book last year, it looked vaguely familiar.  Let me be clear; I have read a LOT of Nora Roberts.  Between haunting the library shelves in Germany for her books and purchasing almost all of the rest, I do believe that I have read most of her books.  There are only a few I have not gotten around to reading.  When I bought Public Secrets, I thought this was one of those that remained unread.  After reading the first page, I remembered the story.  It turns out I did read it more than ten years ago and just forgot that I had.  Big time #michellefail, but I figured this was a good one for the Flashback Challenge.  There is nothing wrong with re-read!

The best part about this story is that it is not, in my opinion, a typical Nora Roberts novel.  She breaks away from her formula and gives us something a bit different.  Yes, there is a romantic lead and a murder mystery, but the romance and the mystery itself play as the backstory to the overarching plot of Emma's development and growth as a strong female character.  Rather than flashing back to Emma's past in the first few chapters, the book actually starts out when Emma is three years old, and we follow her progression as she ages.  In addition, Emma is not the sole focus.  At times, the reader is able to get more insight into her father, at times the narrator focuses on her mother and stepmother.  The reader watches Emma grow, make poor decisions, and face the consequences.  It is a break from the formula, but it definitely works.

If my daughter were to come to me, in future years, and ask me which one Nora Roberts book should she read, I would almost have to say Public Secrets.  As a mother and a female, there are some very strong moral messages delivered in such a way that it is palatable to the reader.  Throughout the novel, Ms. Roberts shows us the damage that sex, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse can wring on a person (no, not the same person).  She shows us that to be popular, you can find ways to avoid drugs and alcohol when offered to you, that it is okay to wait, and more importantly, that you can and should stand up for yourself and your beliefs.  The most important message of all that Ms. Roberts passes along is the idea that it is okay, and sometimes necessary, to admit mistakes and ask for help.  These are ideas that some would argue need to be shared and discussed a bit more these days.

I am and always will be a Nora Roberts fan.  There may be books of hers which I would not call favorites, but I almost always enjoy her work.  Public Secrets is no exception.  Reading it again helped me understand just what a gem this book is, and reading it after having read so many of her other works made me realize how unique it is in the Roberts canon.  Ms. Roberts is not one to shy away from interesting or controversial topics, but I believe she outdid herself with this one.  Her tackling of domestic violence is spot on, from the emotional and mental abuse escalating to physical violence to the shame and guilt a person feels when in that situation.   Emma McAvoy is a character every woman should come to respect and admire for battling her personal demons and winning.  For those of you Nora Roberts fans who have not had the pleasure, I highly suggest picking up this selection as soon as possible so that you too can discover what a gem it is!

This selection counts for the 100+ Reading Challenge, the Read 'n Review Challenge, the Random Reading Challenge, the Social Justice Challenge, the Women Unbound Challenge, the Thriller & Suspense Challenge, and the Flashback Challenge.  Dear FTC, I purchased this with my own money.

Social Justice Part III - Domestic Violence and Child Abuse

For the month of March, the wonderful ladies (http://www.myfriendamysblog.com/, http://wordlily.com/ and http://blog.mawbooks.com/) behind the Social Justice Challenge have chosen to highlight domestic violence and child abuse.  No amount of coverage can do this issue justice, in my opinion, and it deserves all the attention it can get in the hopes that it saves at least one child or woman from an abusive situation.

First, some questions to get us all thinking about this serious topic:

• What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of domestic violence and child abuse?

There is a lot that comes to mind when I think about domestic violence and child abuse.  I cannot fathom what it takes for someone to abuse a child, especially a child s/he helped create.  I cannot understand why some feel the need to control others; I cannot understand it, but I realize that it occurs way too often.  Domestic violence and child abuse are all too common and often unreported.   This is due in large part to the overriding fear instilled in the victim on the part of the abuser - fear that something worse will happen if they tell, fear that they are inadvertantly the cause of the violence, fear that they deserve it. 

Domestic violence is not just physical; it is the mental and emotional torment that may or may not accompany physical abuse.  To me, it is the most dangerous type of abuse because how can you fight a mental onslaught?  What weapons can you use on behavior that does not appear dangerous on the surface?  Words can hurt, and someone who has been in this situation knows this fact all too well.

Given the prevalence of literature, both fiction and non-fiction, regarding this topic, one would think there is a greater awareness on the part of victims and protectors.  Unfortunately, this is not the case.  As a society, we need to ensure that these victims receive the help they so desperately need and deserve, that they have a voice to champion their cause.  Knowledge is power, and we need to use that knowledge to instruct children how to form healthy relationships.  We have to start somewhere, and if we can save one child or one young woman from being harmed either mentally, physically, or both, then we have taken a step in the right direction.

• What does domestic violence and child abuse mean to you personally?

Neglect is a form of child abuse, and I have unfortunately been witness to a situation of neglect.  A dear friend of mine had to recently undergo the expense and injustice of a custody battle in which his ex-wife was using his daughter as a pawn in her power struggle over him.  This ex-wife would send the daughter outside for hours on end while she entertained her latest boyfriend.  She would frequently use the money set aside for groceries to buy a case of beer a day plus her cigarettes.  The child would be stuck foraging for food in the kitchen, eating anything that she could find - most of it unhealthy, overly-processed foods.  This mother laughed while a new boyfriend wrapped duct tape around her 11-year-old daughter's breasts, and when the daughter cried, she claimed that the daughter did not understand that the boyfriend was just tickling and joking around with her.  The mother would steal the daughter's gifts from her father and grandparents, including shoes and clothes.  And, whenever the mother felt the need, she would dump off her daughter with her grandparents so that she was not bothered with having to take care of a child. 

All this happened, and yet the father had to prove in a court that he was a more fit parent than the mother.  The unjustice of the situation weighed heavily on him while he was in this battle.  He had document upon document showing the ex-wife's lack of maternal instinct and downright abuse, and yet, he had to prove that he was a better choice of guardian for his daughter.  Our court system has to change to prevent situations like this from happening.  Just because someone gave birth to a child does not mean that she is the better parent, and yet, our court system automatically gives more concessions, more rights to a mother than to the father.  The burden of proof always lies with the father in custody battles, and that is just wrong.  Men are not the only abusers in this world, and my friend's situation is proof of that.  If we ever hope to eradicate child abuse, or at least curtail it, we have to make it easier for the child to get help.  In this case, it means that it should not have taken my friend 11 years to generate enough evidence to be able to start fighting his ex-wife for custody.  He should have been able to raise flags at the first sign of problems. 

• What is your current knowledge of domestic violence and child abuse?

According to some recent statistics I was told, approximately one in four teenage girls will be abused by the age of eighteen. One out of three children in homes where domestic abuse occurs is also abused.  Those are sobering statistics for our children. 

• Are you aware of the resources available for men, women and children who find themselves in domestic violence and child abuse situations?

I have had the pleasure of donating time to a battered women's shelter in Minneapolis, one that provides safe haven and legal help for anyone in a domestic violence/ child abuse situation.  It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

• Have you chosen a book or resource to read for this month?

I indavertantly chose a book.  I used Random.org to select the next choice for my Random Reads Challenge.  The Nora Roberts book that was chosen ended up discussing domestic violence by giving a realistic portayal of how women can get trapped into those situations.  This proves that domestic violence is so prevalent, one of the most prolific romance thriller authors of all time feels the need to discuss it in her works. 

• Take some time and think about what potential action steps you could take. 

Having donated an entire day working in the battered women's shelter, you realize quickly what people need.  Often, these women (and men) leave their homes with nothing but the clothes on their back.  They arrive at the shelters needing cell phones, clothes, toiletries, shoes, jackets, bedding, towels - everything we take for granted because we have them in abundance.  They need money and help to undue the damange caused by the abuse.  They need jobs or job training to help get them back on their feet and self-sufficient. 

Often, the shelters need volunteers setting up rooms for visitors, storing donated items, cleaning main areas.  They need money to help keep their doors open, to pay for the counseling, both legal and medical, they provide their visitors.  Cell phone drives, fundraisers, clothing and personal care supplies drives will help these shelters feed and care for the victims who had the courage to walk away.  Volunteers, child advocates, and the donation of time will help the shelters reach out and possibly save a life. 

This is a topic we cannot afford to sweep under a rug.  It is time to discuss our own situations, get them out there so others can understand that domestic violence and child abuse are serious issues our society faces.  If knowledge is power, then sharing our stories increases that knowledge.  Maybe, if we all start talking about it, we can curtail the statistics.

Musing Mondays - We're talking TBR!

Since I am struggling to pick my next book from my TBR pile, I am particularly interested in this week's discussion:

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about tbr books.

Where do you keep the books on the top of the tbr pile? Not the bunk of the mountain, but just the tip of the peak – the ‘almost up to’ books?

Because I am so anal-retentive organized, I do not rank my TBR lists.  I have them in alphabetical order on two specially-designated shelves.  I think that is my problem.  I have so many books that are on those shelves, and I want to read them all.  Unfortunately, when it comes to selecting the next one, I have difficulties choosing from among them.  Most of the time, one book calls to me more than the others, but lately, I cannot choose.  There are just too many, and I have too many outside distractions to choose.  Maybe if I ranked them at first, then when it comes time for the next book I would not struggle so much.  This is a recent phenomenon, so I am hoping it is just what is occurring in my life right now and not a sign of things to come. 

The Sunday Salon - 21 March 2010 (or what my weekends will be like for the rest of the spring)

I have gotten a glimpse of what club soccer means for our weekends, and I am both excited and a bit worried.  We spent Saturday and Sunday morning at a soccer tournament.  Friday was the last of indoor soccer with Connor playing two games then.  All told, he played five soccer games in 72 hours.  And he is not even the slightest bit tired, or at least that is what he said.  To see the boys play, it is going to be an exciting season even though we will be giving up many hours to games and practices. 

In between games yesterday, we managed to get some chores done.  With all the running around, I think Jim and I were more tired than Connor.  Jim had some grand ideas about finishing up the chores today, but I promptly took a nap.  It was a long week, and honestly, I just wanted to do something I wanted to do versus tackling something on my to-do list.  Sometimes, you just have to take some time for yourself.

I spent a greater part of the week sharing deep thoughts with everyone.  I have been thinking about why we blog.  There have been so many people who have talked about quitting, stepping away, or reading deliberately in an effort take control of their reading and blogging.  So, I asked the question of why we continue to blog.  I also spoke of the issue of hype and how it impacts our reading.  It happened to me this week with The Postmistress and was curious what others thought about hype and the novel.  I really liked taking a few moments to sit and write down what crosses my mind at times, and it seemed to generate quite a bit of discussion (for me anyway).  For not having planned any posts or written a book review in quite some time, I filled up the week pretty well!

This weekend, I managed to finish another book, one I received as a Christmas gift.  It was not very good, but I finished another book on my unread list.  Unfortunately, I have reached the point where I have no idea what to read next.  Do I read an ARC?  Do I choose a lengthier one?  Or knowing that I need to get serious about studying for my exam in two weeks, do I pick a lighter selection?  Better yet, do I let Random.org choose for me for my Random Reads Challenge?  So many books from which to choose, and nothing is calling to me.  Ugh.

This week will see me studying in earnest and spending time at soccer practices (three this week).  I'm hoping the weather cooperates because practice is much more enjoyable when the weather is nice.  I'm taking requests on which book to read (check out my TBR list on Goodreads) next - something that is not going to be too distracting (i.e. that will not cause me to lose sleep or have me dropping everything to read).  What do you think?

REVIEW - The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

Title:  The Postmistress

Author:  Sarah Blake

Number of Pages:  336

First Released:  February 2010

Synopsis (Courtesy of B&N): "On the eve of the United States's entrance into World War II in 1940, Iris James, the postmistress of Franklin, a small town on Cape Cod, does the unthinkable: She doesn't deliver a letter.

In London, American radio gal Frankie Bard is working with Edward R. Murrow, reporting on the Blitz. One night in a bomb shelter, she meets a doctor from Cape Cod with a letter in his pocket, a letter Frankie vows to deliver when she returns from Germany and France, where she is to record the stories of war refugees desperately trying to escape.

The residents of Franklin think the war can't touch them- but as Frankie's radio broadcasts air, some know that the war is indeed coming. And when Frankie arrives at their doorstep, the two stories collide in a way no one could have foreseen."

Comments and Critique: The Postmistress has been getting a lot of attention in the book blogging community lately. Some have even been touting it as one of the best books of 2010. Because I was actually paying attention to the hype this time, I opened my copy to the first page filled with high expectations hopes that I was going to be blown away by this book. Alas, this did not come to fruition.

Set in Europe and Massachusetts in 1941, The Postmistress revolves around three women who appear as unalike as their names. Iris, as postmaster of a small Cape Cod town, is filled with her work’s purpose and walks around with common sense firmly in place. Emma, an orphan newly married to the town doctor, is delicate and preoccupied with fears about her future. Frankie, radio announcer during the Blitz in London, is as direct as can be and sees the bigger purpose in life. While they appear unalike, all three have their views which are absolutely shattered by the (impending) war.

Ms. Blake makes a compelling argument for women in a man’s world. Iris and Frankie hold jobs that were traditionally occupied by men. All three can see events unfold in completely different perspectives than their male counterparts. In addition, all three are willing to step outside the confines of their current roles. Whether this is because of their unique perspective as an outsider in their roles or if it is unique to these women, I have not yet decided. Either way, all three agonize over what they find as they ignore boundaries.

While all three women are intriguing, I find my biggest issue with the overarching novel is Emma. She spends much of the book either hiding her head in the sand about the fate of her husband or lamenting her fate. Having been in her situation, as a military spouse whose husband put himself in harms’ way (my husband voluntarily blew up bombs and other ammunition while in the Army), I can sympathize with her plight. However, because I understand that being a military spouse requires sacrifice and selflessness, especially when said spouse enjoys what s/he is doing and is proud of the difference s/he is making in the world, Emma’s behavior made me want to quit reading the novel. I found her terribly selfish and self-pitying. I would skim over the sections that focused on her because I could not take her “woe-is-me” attitude, especially when she tried to put a brave face on it towards others. Again, I have been in her shoes. It is much better for all left-behind parties to admit when you are depressed/upset/lonely, and so forth, just as it is better to show a brave face to the departing spouse. Emma did none of those things, and it made me want to throttle her.

Once I realized that my ambivalent feelings towards the novel stems from my reaction to one of the main characters, I was able to concentrate on those aspects of the book I did enjoy, of which there are many. Frankie’s experiences are truly amazing. The what-if possibilities based on those experiences are enticing, especially to someone like me who has spent an inordinate amount of time studying pre- and post-WWII Germany. Ms. Blake’s descriptions are so vivid, a reader can smell the rubber burning, hear the whine of the air raid sirens, feel the sea breezes caress his/her skin, and see the fear and despair in the faces of the refuges. I truly felt that I was a direct witness to everything that was occurring.

In the end, I am left wondering if The Postmistress lived up to the hype. To date, I still do not have a satisfactory answer. My reaction to Emma, which really did detract from loving the book, is so intensely personal and directly relates to my own experiences. Others will (and do) feel completely different about her character. I liked the book, enjoyed reading it but feel that I should love it more than I do. It was an enjoyable read with strong female leads, great glimpses into history and wonderful descriptions, but is it one of the best books in 2010? At this point in time, I have to say that it would not make it on my list.

In the spirit of discussion, for those of you who have read it, what did you like? What did you dislike? What are your thoughts of Emma?

This book counts for the 100+ Reading Challenge, the Read 'n Review Challenge, and the Women Unbound Challenge.  Also, thank you to the publisher for sending me an advanced reading copy!

Reading Conundrum

Hype.  On the one hand, it can be a great thing.  It can create buzz about a novel that might otherwise have gone unnoticed in the book world.  It single-handedly can increase wish lists and piles of books to be read tenfold.  It can generate discussion after discussion about a subject matter, and in the constant battle for literacy, this is a very good thing. 

Unfortunately, as with everything, it is a double-edged sword.  What happens when you read a book that, in your opinion, does not live up to the hype?  What happens when everyone you know and respect is raving about a certain book that left you feeling rather "meh"? 

This is where I am with The Postmistress.  I still want to love it.  I mean, people are putting it on their Best of 2010 lists!  So, when I finished it up last night, and I did not have the blown mind that others described, I'm left wondering what I missed.  Did I read it too fast?  In my desire to not have to interpret and decipher novels, did I fail to interpret a key element?  Were my expectations too high? 

The sad part is that I do not hate it; in fact, I really did enjoy the novel.  However, I am not certain I would be putting it on any Best of 2010 lists at any point in time.  I am still formulating my thoughts for my review, but I waffled between completely intrigued and wanting to hurry up to finish it.  I had to force myself to pick it up or prevent myself from drifting to another book I want to read.  I was not blown away like everyone else appears to be.

How do others deal with hype?  Do you ignore it?  Do you keep your expectations low?  How do you prevent it from impacting your final thoughts on a novel?  Also, if you have read The Postmistress, what did you love about it?  What made you rave about it to others?  What did I miss?