AGE OF MIRACLES by Karen Thompson Walker

It is no secret that I love a good apocalyptic novel.  There seems to be a very large number of new books in this genre coming out in the Young Adult book world lately.  Although AGE OF MIRACLES is not technically a young adult title, I think it works most successfully at that level. At first glance, Walker's book appears to be a clever take on the Apocalyptic genre.  However, I would argue that this is much more a coming-of-age story that just happens to take place when the world is falling apart.

One morning, Julia awakens to discover that the rotation of the Earth has suddenly begun to slow. At first, everything stays relatively normal as people grapple with the implications of this change.  Slowly, however, as the days and nights begin to lengthen, the world must figure out how to adapt.  The 24-hour clock no longer applies and living things are beginning to be affected by the change.  The world splits into factions as people try to decide how to deal with the changes.  As the Earth's rotation continues to slow, normal life is suspended.  In the midst of all these changes, Julia deals with the everyday issues of a young teen's life--her parents' struggling marriage, bullying, first love.  It is in these moments that the book is most poignant. This period of time in a yong person's life is already fraught with change.  To juxtapose this period of growth with the slowing of the Earth's rotation makes for a wonderful story.  However, I was left wanting more.  I wish Walker had gone in a different direction with some of her storylines.  I did really like the idea of the slowing of the Earth's rotation.  It is frightening in that no one can escape this catastrophe and it affects everything. Very chilling and very moving.

BOTTOM LINE:  Recommended. A lovely coming-of-age tale that takes place in a period of great change and loss. I think this book works best as a young adult title but there is something to enjoy for everyone.

BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK by Ben Fountain

 

 

There haven't been very many novels written yet about the Iraq War.  Perhaps we are still to close to the events to have enough perspective for those type of books.  That makes it all the more interesting when one pops up.  BILLY LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK follows a day in the life of a young Iraq war hero.  Billy and his fellow Bravo Squad members are on a Victory Tour of the United States after surviving a firefight with Iraqi insurgents. During this brief but highly visible encounter, Bravo Squad became known as the "heroes of the battle of Al-Ansakar Canal."  For a government that needs some positive press surrounding an unpopular war, these young men are a goldmine.  The men have been sent around the country as war celebrities in an attempt to rally public sentiment.  They are even connected with a Hollywood producer who is trying to sell their story and make them rich.  The novel takes place on one of the final days of their tour before they are sent back to Iraq.  The young men are celebrity guests at the Thanksgiving Dallas Cowboys game. 19-yr-old Billy Flynn is a Texas native and won a Silver Star as a result of his actions in the famous battle.  He is conflicted by his many feelings about both being back home and by his participation in all of these events as a reputed war hero.  As the day progresses, Billy must confront some truths about himself and what he really believes about the war.

 

I thought this novel was skillfully done.  It really brought home the effects of the war experience on many young men and how our nation struggled to understand the Iraq War.  The war was so tied up with our feelings about 9/11 that it was difficult to separate the two events.  Everyone felt compelled to support the war or risk being labeled as unpatriotic at best and traitors at worst. The young men who fought in the war dealt with even greater issues.  I think Fountain did a great job bringing out some that inner conflict in the character of Billy Lynn.  That being said, I was little disappointed with this book.  I expected so much more.  It felt really slow and I had a hard time engaging with the characters.  It wasn't a particularly enjoyable read and, for such a short book, I really struggled to finish it.

 

BOTTOM LINE:  Recommended with reservations.  While the book is well-written and the subject matter is interesting, the book probably has more appeal for individuals with first-hand experience of war.  I found the book really hard to get through and very slow.

CITY OF WOMEN by David R. Gillham

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher.

There are times when I feel as if there is nothing new to say about WWII and then I find myself surprised by another author's take on the subject.  Gillham takes us to 1940's Berlin where Sigrid Schröder plays the role of dutiful soldier's wife.  With her husband away at war, Sigrid goes to work each day and comes home each evening to care for her difficult mother-in-law.  Her life is like that of most German women except for her secret---she has a Jewish lover.  A few chance encounters with several tenants in her building pull Sigrid into the secrets of others and involve her in a dangerous world she never knew existed. Sigrid must choose sides and decide what she believes is right and wrong while Berlin is bombarded by bombs.

I thought this was a wonderful book!  It was so interesting to view this slice of history through the lens of a German woman living in Berlin during the height of the war.  Sigrid is such an interesting character as she is the perfect hausfrau on the outside but full of unexpected secrets and yearnings.  I think the best thing the story does is to remind the reader that not everything is black and white.  People are complicated and war can bring out the best and worst in all of us. Sometimes, the difficult choices we make can mean life and death for those around us.

BOTTOM LINE:  Recommended.  A very compelling read that is difficult to put down. Gillham offers us a look at WWII from a very different perspective and creates a wonderfully complex character in Sigrid Schröder.

A Big Day

Today was a momentous day.  Something I have been waiting for for four years. 

My son brought home his first Scholastic book order sheet.

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When I was a little girl, I looked forward to Scholastic book order day like it was Christmas. I brought my order sheet home and my mom and I would carefully go over it together. We didn't have a lot of money growing up but my mom always made sure I had plenty of books.  When the orders were delivered, I always felt as if I had an embarrassment of riches. 

Books are highly valued in our house and, while I don't let my child have every toy or tchotchke that he wants, it is VERY hard for me to say no when he wants a book.

Noodle and I took his order sheet and sat in the backyard tonight going over it very carefully.  It was so much fun making our selections.  It will be so fun when the books get delivered and we can sit down and read them together.  I'm so glad that this is one childhood tradition that hasn't disappeared!

Wisdom from Harold Fry

"He had learned that it was the smallness of people that filled him with wonder and tenderness, and the loneliness of that too.  The world was made up of people putting one foot in front of the other; and a life might appear ordinary simply because the person living it had been doing so for a long time.  Harold could no longer pass a stranger without acknowledging the truth that everyone was the same, and also unique; and that this was the dilemma of being human."

-from THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY by Rachel Joyce


Review coming soon....

LBC on Pinterest

I created a new board on Pinterest entitled "Highly Anticipated Books."  I will try to do a monthly roundup of upcoming books that are getting a lot of buzz.  The latest batch for Fall are now up.

Go here to see the current batch.

OVER THE MOON: THE BROADWAY LULLABY PROJECT

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I received a copy of this book and CD from the publisher for review.

If my life had turned out differently, I would have loved to pursue a career in musical theater.  Unfortunately, I discovered that need TALENT in order to succeed in that career. Still, I love musical theater in general and Broadway shows in particular.  Be careful when bringing up the name "Stephen Sondheim" or I will immediately launch into a number from "Into the Woods."  Add to all of this my love of children's book and children's book illustrators and you have a winning combination in OVER THE MOON.

OVER THE MOON: THE BROADWAY LULLABY PROJECT is a multimedia project that brings together a 2 CD music collection, a beautifully illustrated book, an e-book and a documentary film and web series.  Some of Broadway's greatest performers and composers come together in these lovely lullabies and the book offers gorgeous illustrations to accompany the songs. The illustrations are created by a wonderful group of theatrical designers and children's book illustrators.  All of these magic comes together for one very important purpose---to raise money for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Young Survival Coalition.

The 2 CD music album contains 26 songs that deliver wonderful lullabies in a variety of styles.  There really is something for everyone.  The book includes a CD with a selection of 17 songs from the album.  Noodlebug and I enjoyed looking through the book while we listened to the accompanying CD.  My personal favorite was Donna Murphy singing "Lucky" from Stephen Schwartz's opera  Séance on a Wet Afternoon. So beautiful!!!  Noodlebug liked Marva Hicks singing "Little Sleep Eyes" and a really fun song called "The Man Who Invented Ice Cream."

I loved the fact that these collections have so much variety.  Not every song is a classic lullaby.  Each singer and composer and illustrator brought something special to their piece.  Everyone will find something to like here. 

BOTTOM LINE: Recommended!  This would make a lovely gift for a new parent or any young child.  Especially when paired with the CD set.  Families can listen to the music together while knowing that this wonderful collection is helping with some important breast cancer charities.  Win win!!!

GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I love a good mystery but I have found myself disappointed by this genre in recent years.  There doesn't seem to be anything new to say in the mystery world.  Everything felt like rehashing old material.  That is why I was pleasantly surprised when I finally got the opportunity to read GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn.

On the day of their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick's wife Amy disappears.  It looks as if there has been a struggle in their house but there is no body.  Nick quickly becomes the prime suspect in the case. The book moves back and forth between telling the events from Nick's perspective and then relating details from Amy's diary.  Just when you think you have an idea about what is really going on, everything changes.   Where is Amy?  Did Nick do something to her? If not, what happened to her?  As details unfold, we learn that this seemingly perfect marriage is not so perfect behind closed doors.  Flynn slowly reveals details about the couple that keep changing the reader's mind about what really happened and who the bad guys are. 

I loved the fact that this story wasn't a cut and dry mystery with good guys and bad guys.  Some will find the ending bothersome but I liked the fact that things don't always end up the way we expect them to.  One of the characters in the book is truly chilling. When this book is made into a movie (the rights have already been bought), I predict this character will become a legendary scary movie villain.

BOTTOM LINE: Highly recommended. An unusual mystery that will keep you guessing. Perfect for a vacation read.

Temporarily Closed for Training

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Hello Friends!
I will be gone for the next few weeks.  My work has given me the opportunity to go through some intense Archives training.  I'm both excited and nervous about it.

I have a master's degree in Anthropology and started out working in museums.  I LOVED working in museums.  I could never manage to secure a permanent position, though. So....

I took my skills in collection development and maintenance and combined that with my passion for books and headed into the public library system. I have now worked in libraries for over ten years.

Archives training would give me the opportunity to bridge my museum skills with my library skills.  I'm taking advantage of this opportunity to improve my skills.

I have never been apart from Noodlebug for more than one night before. This is going to be tough!

I'll be checking in over the next few weeks but posts will be few and far between.

See you soon!!!

2012 Reading Goal Update

Each year, my goal is to read 52 books.  I figure that's a pretty good goal.  Right now, I have completed 33 books for 2012.   I'm seven books head of schedule!  Wahoo!!!
I'm currently working on CITY OF WOMEN by David Gillham and BILL LYNN'S LONG HALFTIME WALK by Ben Fountain.  I'm hoping to pick up Karen Thompson Walker's AGE OF MIRACLES at the library today.

So many great books to read!!!!

I hope you are doing lots of Summer reading!