the one about despair.

This was not a book to read Thanksgiving week.  The December pic for my Stillwater book club was A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick.  Worst. Book. Ever.

I'm going to give away the whole book right here so no one EVER has to read it.  The main character has a god awful mother who mistreats him.  He develops a sexual addiction and traipses all over Europe finding a countess to marry.  The countess then cheats on the sex addict and has a baby boy with the gardener.  The sex addict beats the Boy.  The countess dies.  The Boy then spends his eternity attempting to kill said sex addict.

It really just disintegrates from there.

The writing is terrible.  Third person that sounds like "he did this and then she did that."

on page 281, "it was just a story about despair."

Um. Maybe you could have started out with that disclaimer and saved us all the trouble.

the one I want Kate to read.

I just finished Ms. Hempel Chronicles by Sarah Shun-Lien Bynum.  Love. Love. Love.

This book reminds me what it was like to be a middle school counselor and how absolutely raw and genuine those kids were.  I miss those exhausting, exhilarating days now and then.

My favorite line:
"this was a feeling that Ms. Hempel couldn't shake: a conviction that she spent her days among people at the age when they were most purely themselves.  How could she not be depleted when she came home, having been exposed for hours, without protection, to all of those thrumming, radiant selves?"

This is a lovely book.  And the voice of a middle school teacher is spot on.  Like being in the trenches again.  A must read.

the one that confused me.

I just finished the novel White Teeth by Zadie Smith.  I'm not sure I have the words or the energy to discuss the confusion I'm feeling about this book.  Discussions on immigration, militant Islam and a crazy Freudian family. 

Too many characters, too many pages. 

I've read other Zadie Smith and I like her wry wit.  I just didn't get this book. 

But I did finish it.  I can say that much. 

the ones I never thought I'd read

I know how this looks but bear with me . . . because life is good.

I just finished:
Down Came the Rain by Brooke Shields (and her editor)
It Sucked and Then I Cried by blogger Heather Armstrong
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems

Brooke's book just made me angry at Tom Cruise and incredibly empathetic for her struggle (minus the baby nurse, luxury CLEAN condos and oodles of support).

Naked Mole Rat made Matt and I laugh out loud. We read it to Maren. She didn't get it. BUT hopefully someday she will rather read than scream. 

It Sucked and Then I Cried was SO crass and hilarious. Had I read this book two months ago, I would have disparaged it. Now I have a sailor's mouth worse than anyone I know, have lost all modesty about my body and have reached even lower expectations about the cleanliness of my house. Impossible! 

I'm not depressed but I can see how incredibly easy it would be to enter that state. If Little M hadn't taken to the swing this week, I might have completely lost my marbles.  I totally get it now, mothers and fathers of the world. And I will never, ever again look smugly at the screaming toddler in line at Target.


I no longer have to write a book about having an infant because it's already been covered here.  My favorite chapter of It Sucked was "Her Screamness Who Screams a Lot Every Day With the Screaming" followed by "I Never Thought I Would Become This Woman".

Ditto.  Nuf said.

the one that brings me back.

I was reading EAARth by Bill McKibben aloud to Maren when I realized that was a little too depressing and morbid for my baby's first book. I know she can't actually understand the words. Thank God. Bill McKibben paints a pretty dismal picture for the future of our young ones, global warming and all.

Anyways, I switched it up.  Honestly, it was a little too dismal for me.  And so, I'm going backwards and re-reading the Little House series. It has the perfect length chapters to get me started with this read aloud gig. Brings back so many memories: the sugar snow, when cousin Charley is naughty and gets stung by the bees, Laura's doll Charlotte. Is it just me or are parts of the book just a little racist?

Little House is also on the Hallmark Channel A LOT. I'm realizing just how often as I nurse little M here at home. I guess I prefer the books. On to the Prairie . . .

the timely one.

My Stillwater Book Club chose the book Gift from The Sea.  Unbeknownst to me.  I was busy at the time having a baby in the hospital when they selected the book.  Ironically though, the name Maren (MAH RIN) translates to "gift from the sea."  What a lovely coincidence.
 
Matt and I chose the name Maren for several reasons. 
One: It's Norwegian. 
Two: We thought it wasn't so tricky and would be a good match for Prestegaard.  Hah!  Apparently in MN the name Maren is not so common.  My Dad has given up on the pronunciation and is calling her Matilda instead.
Three: Personally, the name reminds me of my favorite place in the entire world.  Marin County CA (different pronunciation but same happy reminder).

Back to the point though. 

Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote a reflective piece called Gift from the Sea way back in 1955. The book still has a lot of meaning for women today.  It talks about ideas such as solitude, simplicity, marriage, growth, etc.  I'm not feeling particularly insightful today so I'll offer a quote from the book instead:

"The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too inpatient.  To dig for treasures shows not only impatience or greed but lack of faith.  Patience, patience, patience is what the sea teaches.  Patience and faith.  One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach - waiting for a gift from the sea.

I have been waiting for little Maren most of my life.  I get frustrated every day as we learn each other's temperaments and find a way to trust.  I need to remember that the greatest gift my little Maren will teach me is patience and peace in not knowing.

the one that should just be.

News from the book publishing world.  JK Rowling may not be finished with Harry yet.

"I could definitely write an eighth, ninth, 10th [book]," author J.K. Rowling tells Oprah Winfrey in an interview airing Friday.

For now, Rowling is content with leaving the characters for now.

"I'm not going to say I won't. I don't think I will ... I feel I am done, but you never know," the British author added, saying that she is "in a new phase."

Honestly, some things should just be left alone.  Brett Favre, Sex and the City and Harry Potter . . . may we relish in memories of your greatness.

But go away already.

the one I read while in a coma.

I just finished The Widower's Tale by Julia Glass.  I'm not sure how.  I read the novel in fits and starts while nursing little Miss Maren.  I read the book in the midst of a 104 degree fever and at all times of day and night.  At one point, it was covered in bits of Raisin Bran and spit-up.  Gross.

Julia Glass is one of my favorite authors.  I love the language she uses in her books.  Words like fortuitously and hyperfastidiously.  She won the National Book Award for Three Junes and I have been smitten with her work since that time.  She writes like Anna Quindlen and Maeve Binchy.  Knows character development and how to spin a tale. 

I really can't in good conscience review this work.  I loved the stodgy old character of Percy Darling, the "Stars Hollow" town of Matlock and the idealistic preschool called Elves and Fairies.   But my head is just not working right now.  This novel is deserving a space on my shelf and another good read someday. 

the one movie I can't wait to see.

I just finished Mockingjay and have to say that I. Loved. It.  Katniss is so real to me.  I get aggravated by her whining (at times) but I adore her stubborn streak.  I can't wait to see her on the big screen!

I listened to an interview with Suzanne Collins on the NYT book podcast.  Turns out she is a screenwriter.  I think that helps explain why her books are so all consuming and action packed.  She has helped write the screenplay for the movie that will begin production in January 2011.  Here's hoping that it will do the books justice and not glorify the violence the book is meant to critique.

There is a lot of heart to this trilogy and Suzanne takes risks making analogies between modern day society and her country of Panem.  I'm an unabashed fan of what Ms. Collins has done with her work.

the one I read on my last day.

Revelation: Today is my last day married w/out children.  It's not that we're having the baby immediately.  Simply, it's Friday of workshop week and I had the day entirely to myself.  From now on, I will be working, with Matt or watching Little M.

So, I relished today.  A decaf latte and peach & cherry crumble at Swede Hollow.  Caught up on my google reader and read The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

What a lovely book.  It was deep, funny, compelling and sweet at times.   I was crushed by page 10 when Oscar the dog died and then Alexie completely had me by page 59 with the phrase "emotionally erect."  This man has a way with words that completely draws you in.  My favorite scene is when Arnold Spirit Jr wins the basketball game and realizes what he really lost.  the NYT says that Alexie has mastered YA fiction and I completely agree.

This is the kind of book I would want my teacher to read aloud because it sounds so conversational and engaging.  There are so many themes to discuss: generational poverty and alcoholism on the rez, coming of age and the role of family and fathers.  I fell in love with so many characters despite their flaws and faults: Gordy and Rowdy and Penelope.  I wish I could attend the next book club to discuss them all. 

Really, really good pick Kerri!  The perfect way to spend my last day.