GOLDEN THREADS

A CURSE DARK AS GOLD     By: Elizabeth C. Bunce     4 Stars

This is a retelling of the classic fairytale Rumpelstiltskin. It takes about 100 pages to really get going, but it is worth pushing through.

The story is based in the Industrial Revolution era when surnames match professions. It is where we are introduced to Charlotte Miller and her little sister, Rosie. Their father just died and left the mill to his daughters including an overwhelming debt for the orphans. The curious thing about the mill is the fact that the entire village believes it to be cursed. Part of the curse is manifest in the inability for a Miller to raise a boy into a man.

Charlotte’s uncle, Ellison Wheeler, soon arrives with a letter from her father stating he is to take care of them. Part of his duty is to marry off the girls and to sale the mill. The Miller girls wish to keep the mill in the family as it has been for centuries. In their eyes marriage takes a backseat to keeping the mill profitable enough to remain open and provide for the families of those who work there.

Soon the curse brings more disaster and Rosie and Charlotte use magic to summon a man who calls himself Jack Spinner. Mr. Spinner promises to spin straw into thread made of gold. The only payment for such a feat is a ring that belonged to their mother.

As you can probably guess, disaster is averted and our Charlotte soon finds herself married to the banker who originally came to assess the value of the mill. Randall would willingly pay off the mortgage, but Charlotte refuses such generosity and relies on hard work to keep the mill running.

Charlotte and Randall have a fairytale romance, but the curse will not stay at bay. Soon disaster strikes the mill again and Charlotte is unable to decide who to trust. Her uncle has forged her name to obtain money against her assets and even accuses her husband of conveniently taking out insurance on the mill shortly before a fire almost destroys it.

Elizabeth Bunce weaves a magical tale that helps provide a view on why Rumpelstiltskin would want to trade his services for a miller’s child. This is a fantastic story of family and forgiveness. It will satisfy justice for all parties involved in relation to the deeply buried secrets.



THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS     By: L. Frank Baum  
4 Stars

If you are unfamiliar with the author name, you will be delighted to know it is the author of The Wizard of Oz. Baum provides a story of Santa Claus that will answer any question you or your child will have about how Santa and his Christmas traditions came to be.

One day the immortal beings in the woods found an abandoned baby. One of the fairies convinces the Master Woodsman of the World to bend the rules so she could raise the child as mortals do. She names the child Claus or “little one”.

The child grows and soon the Woodsman takes him to see how other mortals live. Claus is disturbed by their wars and other evil ways. He vows to make his own better way and leaves his immortal family, but remains close enough to still obtain help.

Claus adventures include helping a lost child and giving him the first known toy. Claus then makes a model of the fairy who raised him, which later became known as a doll. As you read the adventures you will come to an understanding of how Claus obtained his multiple names, the meaning behind the Christmas tree, stockings, and jingle bells. We also learn why Santa must only travel at night and on one day of the year.

Many more things are brought to light about Santa Claus and his purpose in relation to Christmas. Some of the books contain drawings by various illustrators and enhance the story you and little ones have come to associate with the magic of Christmas. Happy Holidays!

It's a Divergent World

THE DIVERGENT SERIES                      By: Veronica Roth                   5 Stars

I don’t remember exact how I ran across this series. If it was a recommendation I thank whoever did so. I just know I have been a fan from the first book. I am over the whole trilogy idea. I can see the reasoning behind it as a publishing money maker, but it seems like more like a trend or an idea that everyone else is doing it so why shouldn’t we? However, I have never felt this way about the Divergent trilogy. It is a series that I am frequently recommending to almost everyone I talk to.

DIVERGENT

While going to school I signed up for a program where I can read snippets of books and provide a review of them. Of course they want favorable reviews so they try and gear these books to what you would like. As part of my profile I wrote of my obsession with the Divergent book and my desire that a miracle would occur and the second book would magically be pushed to an earlier publication date because it was just killing me to wait. With as many books as I read it was truly a miracle to be so obsessed with one book to totally ignore all of the other books I enjoy. Yes, this is that book.

Veronica Roth’s character development is superb. She makes you a part of Tris and her adventures. It is almost impossible to separate yourself from her when the book is finished. The action will keep you up all night in a reading marathon that is worth the red rimmed eyes and the attitude problems from sleep deprivation.

In this dystopian novel there are 5 factions. These factions were formed by society to cover all the reasons that past civilizations have failed. The factions would focus on that specific character trait in order to ensure that society will function in the upmost fashion. The factions are:

* Abnegation: Selflessness to overcome selfishness
* Amity: Peace to overcome war
* Candor: Honesty to defeat dishonesty
* Dauntless: Bravery to defeat cowardice
* Erudite: Knowledge to defeat ignorance

You are considered divergent if you have an aptitude for more than one faction. The divergent are aware when they are put in a simulation, such as the test administered in order to determine your aptitude. The simulations are almost like a dream. It is an alternate reality where actions and decisions help define the person.

We find out that the protagonist, Tris, is in fact divergent. What Tris soon figures out is that being divergent is a dangerous thing. There are people who will stop at nothing to eliminate them. Tris ultimately chooses to switch her faction allegiance from her parents in Abnegation to her own choice of Dauntless.

Tris has to go through an orientation of sorts to help her fit in with her new peers. At the end of this training orientation the dauntless initiates are required to complete a final test to prove their worth. Tris soon finds out that if you don’t pass the final test you are left factionless. Being factionless is considered by many to be a fate worse than death.

As Divergent progresses we fight with Tris as she tries to survive long enough to participate in the final test. In her quest to become dauntless, Tris soon finds herself wondering if it is worth fighting for a faction that has become corrupt. Like all the factions, the original manifestos have become skewed. Dauntless has begun to view bravery as recklessness and masochism.

INSURGENT AND ALLEGIANT

In order to not give away any national security secrets, I will not talk much about these two books in order to protect those who would rather not have the surprises ruined. With that being said, I did give Insurgent 4 stars instead of 5 like the other two books. I only did this because my favorite characters seem to lose their way and for that reason it was harder for me to read the book. It was almost like I was a proud parent or a best friend who even though I wanted to know what was going on in the Divergent world, I still disliked seeing those characters that way. However, those emotions and actions were necessary to totally understand the point of the story as it concludes in Allegiant.

Allegiant allowed all sorts of relationships to flourish. The characters in the book receive a deeper understanding of what it means to strengthen bonds. In response the reader’s love for the characters skyrockets to new levels.

As I understand, Veronica Roth is taking a little heat with certain points in the story. While yes, there were some difficult things within Allegiant, there were all necessary to show the full scope of the characters growth and to stay true to the characters we have come to love. She provides her perspective on such events at https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/5119494-about-the-end-of-allegiant-spoilers?page=3#comment_85978617 BEWARE OF THE SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T COMPLETED THE SERIES.

FOR THE FUN STUFF:

First off, if you love Four as I do, you will love the news about the 5 short stories from his perspective. All of these shorts are in eBook form. Free Four: Tobias Tells the Story (Divergent #1.5) was published in 2012. This short is the knife scene from Divergent

       

That was originally going to be the only one, but this year Miss Roth announced that there would be 4 more. They all appear to tell more about Four’s life pre-Tris. The Transfer (Divergent # 0.1) was released in September. This book was about Four’s simulation test to determine which faction he had the aptitude for. It closes with his faction decision as well as how he ends up with his nickname.

I gave both of these books a 5. In fact, with as busy as life is with reading new books, I didn’t plan on reading the whole series again before Allegiant was published. The Transfer changed my mind. It reminded me why I love the books and I couldn’t resist dropping the rest of my life plans while I indulged once again in the divergent world.

The remaining books are set for the following publishing dates:

The Initiate (Divergent # 0.2) Publication on December 17, 2013

The Son (Divergent # 0.3) Publication on January 21, 2014

The Traitor (Divergent # 0.4) Publication on February 11, 2014

On February 11^th all of the shorts will be sold in a physical book for those who don’t have the resources to read or just refuse to read an eBook.

THE FUN CONTINUES:

I haven’t met anyone who hasn’t contemplated which faction they would choose. Even before I found the following book I had already decided which faction I would be born into and which one I would choose. For you who are curious you can take a test in the book The World of Divergent: The Path to Allegiant (Divergent # 2.5). I was able to obtain this eBook for free from Amazon.

The World of Divergent lists the reasoning behind the character names and they change to fit their new identities later on, a list of the factions, their manifestos, and a quiz to determine your faction (thank goodness it is not a simulation).

You might question which faction I chose. Let me tell you. My parents are both very unselfish. They have worked in the medical fields since before I existed. I grew up in a small town where EMTs and firefighters were considered volunteers and it was not an occupation. Both of my parents gave selfishly day after day. Based on this I am sure I would have been Abnegation like Tris. However, like Tris I also thought I was not selfless enough to stay in that faction.

In the series the characters have to make their decision at the age of 16. To be honest I have no idea what I would have picked at that age, but I can guarantee it would not be the one I would pick today. That faction is Erudite. Yes, even after reading the book it would still be Erudite.

I have this love for learning that just did not exist when I was in high school. Unfortunately, even if I chose Erudite now I am sure I wouldn’t have made it past orientation. I really am not that smart, I just work hard to make me feel like I am.

My second choice would be Amity. Actually, this would probably be what I would have picked in high school. I might not have liked the idea of gardening back then, but I wish I was better at it now. I am sure that peace would have been a valued characteristic for me either way.

I can tell you for sure that I would never make it in Candor. I have way too many secrets that need to be kept. Dauntless probably wouldn’t have been an option either. I have quite a few fears and don’t see myself getting any braver over them.

When I took the test in the book it did confirm Erudite, however it gave me more options that I wouldn’t have previously considered. Still not much for Candor, but there was more Dauntless than I expected. One thing is for sure, even if I have a slight aptitude for other factions, I could never be Divergent. Divergent are aware in their simulations. I can’t even tell that I am in a dream until after I wake up and realize that I wasn’t really killed by a giant troll in the forest above my parent’s house. Hallelujah!

Another fun topic is the fear landscape. We discover that Four obtained his name as he only had 4 fears. I believe I would have a multitude more. I am sure some of the same fears within the book would appear as well as about 50 others. Some of these must really be true as a few come in the form of reoccurring nightmares. Some might even be combined fears, but here is a possible list:

* Not being able to breath
* Drowning
* Enclosed Spaces
* Heights
* Spiders / Insects
* Losing my Mind
* Not being Prepared
* Not being Prepared for Important Relationships
* Betrayal
* Debt
* Corruption
* The Untrustworthy
* Did I mention Going Crazy?
* Being Attacked
* Probably many more…

The fun doesn’t end there, but this post is forever long so, unfortunately, it must. I hope you enjoy the Divergent series as much as I did. A special thanks to Veronica Roth for bringing so much fun and happiness to my life. Happy Reading Everyone!

Etiquette in All Things

AMY VANDERBILT COMPLETE BOOK OF ETIQUETTE: 50^th Anniversary                  

By: Nancy Tuckerman & Nancy Dunnan                       5 Stars

I grew up in a small town and when teenagers came close to a decent dating age the neighborhood would put together an etiquette dinner to help properly prepare us. Unfortunately, this dinner was never a walk in the park. Sure there were tea light candles to try and build the mood for an actual date. They would have beautiful table clothes and correct dinner plate settings. We were then expected to figure out how to use the place settings in the correct manner all while we remained prim and proper while indulging ourselves in spaghetti.

That is right, spaghetti. I know what you are thinking. How are we supposed to remain posed and clean while we are eating this messy dish?  Well, it was no easy feat. In fact I am sure that many of us failed miserably in our attempt to keep sauce off our chins and clothing. Plus we had to remember not to slurp our noodles such as we have done since childhood. When exactly did that stop being cute anyway? I don’t remember if we had spoons to twirl our noodles for less mess. If we did then none of us hick-ish people were actual masters at such a task.

Either way, we learned a lot that night and over the years I probably still don’t know the proper etiquette for a date. In fact I am pretty sure I inhale my food much the same way Ross Gellar did while growing up with his sister Monica. How else is a busy American expected to eat? Never fear. I picked up the Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette in order to solve my problems. This War and Peace sized book covers multiple topics, yet it is still incomplete. Sadly, it does not include information on how to properly eat spaghetti on a date, but it does cover similar topics in a roundabout way.

The book is composed of eight chapters. These chapters are broken into subjects that require everyday attention and subjects that only deal with special occasions, such as a wedding. The most helpful chapters were the ones dealing with private and personal lives. I am sure you are thinking that etiquette is only suited to people like royalty in England. You might be surprised, as I was, to find that this book contains information on naming your child, dealing with hand-me-downs, nannies, teaching children about money for various age ranges, helping with siblings and dealing with teenagers need for space.

Other details are given such as preserving family history, how to handle divorce or the loss of a spouse, the role of the guest as well as the role of a host, even your appearance. Many ladies will be happy to know that the book tells you to get a professional pedicure once a month. Tell your husband you are only following proper etiquette and see what happens.

Information is found for tipping and who to actually tip as well as suggestions for television and radio appearances. The professional life section is almost a mirror image of other books on resume writing, interviewing and following up with the interview. It was well done. Some pleasantly surprising information came in the form of lists. These lists include a guest room or bathroom amenities or suggested presents to give based on your relationship to an individual who is getting married.

My least favorite part was in the communication section. It explains that “have a nice day” is really an insincere way of saying goodbye. Excuse me? I say that to lots of people every day and sincerely hope they do have a nice day. Hmm, I might have to find something else to say.  My most favorite part came in the form of questions that should not be asked, such as someone’s age. The best one was asking an individual if they have had cosmetic surgery. Come on, we all noticed something got bigger (or smaller) and we are all dying to hear what excuse you will come up with. It is suggested that instead you mention that a person looks great and remark that they must have been on some fabulous vacation. Fine, I’ll think about it, but that doesn’t mean I still don’t want to hear the story about the botched surgeries!

The Mennonite/Amish Outcast

THE OUTCAST             By: Jolina Petersheim             3.7 Stars

The Outcast is a modern retelling of The Scarlet Letter. Even though I did not remember many of the details of the original story, The Outcast was predictable. However, it was still a quick read that kept my attention throughout the entire novel.

The story begins at the funeral of Amos, the former bishop of the Mennonite Community in Tennessee. At this point Rachel has already had her illegitimate child. Amos’s eldest son and Rachel’s twin sister’s husband, Tobias, has become the new bishop. He has failed to fully cast out Rachel only because Leah (the twin and wife) has been pleaded for her to stay.

Unfortunately, Leah has had many complications since the delivery of her own child, which Rachel has been helping her handle. Soon Leah ends up in the hospital and Tobias, sure that Rachel is the reason Leah is unable to heal, sends her away from the community without transportation or a place to stay. Rachel is fortunate to run across Ida Mae, who takes her and little Eli in.

With a loss of communication Rachel is not quite sure how Leah is recovering until her own parents visit both daughters from their Amish community in Pennsylvania. Soon we find out Leah has healed, but little Eli’s health becomes dire. Life starts to spin out of control for Rachel when she feels anger about her suffering while the father of her child remains unknown.

The plot thickens and roles reverse in this retelling. There are few surprises, but that shouldn’t stop you from picking it up. The story is told from a first person perspective with Rachel and with a third person perspective from the deceased Amos. This unique way to narrate the book was a brilliant step in causing us to feel Rachel’s emotions, yet still have an outsider’s opinion on the whole situation.

The book has biblical undertones and language that is characteristic of the Amish and Mennonite communities. At least, it seems like it is authentic based on the author’s biography. It is a well written story that will make it almost impossible to put down.

The Spirit of the Book

THE BIBLE: Epic TV Miniseries          By: Mark Burnett & Roma Downey       5 Stars

I love the word epic. Unfortunately, I believe it is misused with such menial and ordinary things. Usually I don’t agree with those who use the word to describe something. The Bible production states it is an “epic miniseries” and this is one of the few times I agree. Let me state that again. The Bible miniseries is EPIC!!!

With the history channel hosting this event, it should come as no surprise when the photography is exquisite with powerful colors. It enhances the story and will leave you in complete awe. Even minor details seem to be meticulous planned and placed. *There are so many beautiful moments, but a few of my personal favorite scenes for photography and color are those depicting water, such as around the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee.

You can’t disagree with the theme or dramatization of The Bible. Mark Burnett and Roma Downey did their best to stay true to the spirit of the book, as they continuously show before each segment. Obviously not all of the stories can be told from the Bible, but the ones that were seem to be as authentic as possible. It is so authentic that I wish the series could be longer.

While watching the extras on the cast, Roma comments on how many know Jesus as meek, so by default His portrayal is cast as small in stature. However, Roma and Mark believed that Jesus should still be a tall and strong man, yet one who is still humble and gentle, someone who can be the lion and the lamb.

Diogo Morgado’s portrayal as the Savior of the World left me completely overcome with emotions which are difficult to describe. Here are some of the inadequate descriptions I can give: eyes which pierce your soul, endearing demeanor, compassionate, merciful, charitable, meek, humble, courageous; heartbreaking, glorious, inspiring…

I think what mattered most was how you could feel the power Jesus contained, yet he was still gentle, kind, and perfectly serene in even the most horrid circumstances. Everything you need to know about the scene is clearly written on Diogo’s face, but even more important was his eyes. They are soft, kind, wise, all knowing and more. Diogo has a miraculous way of invoking complete empathy for each scene and it is done in a most natural and believable way.

Another casting remark came from Mark, who provides insight into what Roma believes makes a great casting fit: truthfulness and authenticity; instead of merely watching you feel as if you are with the characters on screen. This is exactly how The Bible is. It is impossible to fully describe how you feel while watching the miniseries. My descriptions are completely inadequate. Instead you should watch it for yourself. However, many scenes are hard to watch (sometimes almost impossible) because of violence. You might want to prescreen and decide what is appropriate for children and sensitive people to watch.

You can read more about it or purchase it at http://www.history.com/shows/the-bible. While you are there, you can feel free to send me a copy. J 

Here is an article, providing a little more information on the powerhouse that is The Bible http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/05/showbiz/tv/mark-burnett-the-bible-record-ratings-ew Then while watching a little bit more before I had to return the DVDs to the library, I ran across this article: http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=25837057&nid=1016&title=nbc-announces-sequel-to-the-bible-miniseries Happy Day!!! 

P.S. It has been a while since I watched these, but I wanted to read the book as well, which took a little bit longer to get around to. Another quick look at the History Channel website shows the miniseries has received three Emmy nominations. One nomination is for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie and the others are for Sound Editing and Sound Mixing. The next award show is on March 11, 2013. Send happy thoughts their way.

 

THE STORY OF GOD AND ALL OF US      By: Mark Burnett & Roma Downey   4 Stars

The Story of GOD and All of Us consists mainly of the storyline Burnett and Downey used to script The Bible miniseries. It is their understanding of the stories found within The Old and New Testaments within The Bible.

When I picked the book up, I wondered if I would be looking at a script, but really the book is a fictionalized version of the stories. Yes, many of the moments come directly from the histories we know as found in The Bible, but some liberties were taken so the story would flow in a fictionalized dramatization. It is basically the same format you will see within the miniseries.

The main differences you will find between the book and the miniseries is the addition of small details. These details may include the names and back stories of people shown within the miniseries, whom are not always recognized by the viewer. Other details exist such as emotions and small actions that are not know, but are merely guesses about what could have happened in such situations.

While this book is well written, I only gave it 4.5 stars. I did learn things that weren’t entirely understood, but made more sense through the book. Other insights didn’t exactly agree with the understanding my religion has taught, but for the most part this book seemed to stay true to The Bible. I couldn’t give it 5 stars for as good as it is, it could never compete with the original Bible. Even the authors hope that the reader will be inspired to read and reread the greatest and most epic version of all, The Bible.

"Hallelujah"

THE HOLY OR THE BROKEN: Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley & the Unlikely Ascent of “Hallelujah”

By: Alan Light                          3.5 Stars

 

This is really more of a 3.5 star book. It is an interesting read about how “Hallelujah” started as a Leonard Cohen original. It was rejected by his record label and remained widely unknown for many years. In time John Cale covered it and Jeff Buckley’s rendition ultimately helped establish it as the power house song it is today.

The song is fully immersed within our culture today. It has been covered many times, not only because it is an incredible song, but the different versions and lyrics can relay a plethora of emotions. Emotions such as love, hate, desire, despair, hope, love, submission, praise and more can all be invoked by the mere chord progression. You simply add different instruments, change the tempo, or even pick and choose the different verses for your unique rendition. The song can be haunting, heart wrenching, exciting or even hymnal. Different covers can be found in movies and TV shows, in sermons by pastors, even in such horrific moments such as 9/11 or natural disaster coverage.

The Holy or the Broken covers what the pioneers of the song thought of the piece. It goes on giving many other musicians input about the song and how they interpreted it within their cover. It even presents a few surprised reactions when the artists realize who the original composer was. Ultimately, it is how “Halleluiah” has exploded and become a phenomenon.

This is really more of a 3.5 star book. It is an interesting read about how “Hallelujah” started as a Leonard Cohen original. It was rejected by his record label and remained widely unknown for many years. In time John Cale covered it and Jeff Buckley’s rendition ultimately helped establish it as the power house song it is today.

The song is fully immersed within our culture today. It has been covered many times, not only because it is an incredible song, but the different versions and lyrics can relay a plethora of emotions. Emotions such as love, hate, desire, despair, hope, love, submission, praise and more can all be invoked by the mere chord progression. You simply add different instruments, change the tempo, or even pick and choose the different verses for your unique rendition. The song can be haunting, heart wrenching, exciting or even hymnal. Different covers can be found in movies and TV shows, in sermons by pastors, even in such horrific moments such as 9/11 or natural disaster coverage.

The Holy or the Broken covers what the pioneers of the song thought of the piece. It goes on giving many other musicians input about the song and how they interpreted it within their cover. It even presents a few surprised reactions when the artists realize who the original composer was. Ultimately, it is how “Halleluiah” has exploded and become a phenomenon.

Sweet Revenge

REVENGE OF THE GIRL WITH THE GREAT PERSONALITY                  4 Stars

By: Elizabeth Eulberg

When I saw this book title I couldn’t resist checking it out. I knew it would be a classic high school book that everyone should read. I was right.

This book allowed me to cover most emotions known to man within the few short pages. It is a quick read that will make you sad, angry, pensive, disgusted, giggly and more. I loved it!

Lexi is a teenager who opens the book by telling us her Saturday is spent applying butt glue on her 7-year old sister. You might wonder why in the world Lexi would be applying butt glue to her sister; well her sister is a child beauty pageant girl. Imagine Toddlers and Tiaras and you will correctly guess how Lexi’s family is.

Lexi’s parents are divorced and her mom’s coping skills involved eating horribly and spending thousands of dollars (money she doesn’t have) on pageants for Mackenzie. As a result Lexi is placed in a position where she is the runner girl for anything and everything Mac needs.

As Mackenzie gets more beautiful, Lexi feels uglier. Lexi’s two best friends, Benny and Cam are the only ones that seem to know her true beauty over the fact that others only think she has a great personality.

After Benny and Cam discover that Mac called Lexi “ugly” they talk her into fixing herself up. Lexi is actually a fashion wiz and seamstress, yet she hides in baggy clothing and no makeup. Benny makes a deal with Lexi to dress up for a week in order to help her self-esteem.

While Project Lexi 2.0 is underway you see many similarities between high school and beauty pageants. Pick up the book and see how Lexi handles it all in this funny page turner.

REVENGE WEARS PRADA: The Devil Returns             3.5 Stars

By: Lauren Weisberger
 
It has been a few years since I read The Devil Wears Prada, but I remember enjoying it as much as I enjoyed the movie. Actually, I didn’t read the book at all. I listened to it, which could have been part of the reason I loved it. I don’t remember who the reader was (it looks like a few different versions are available) but I do remember being highly entertained by the parts when the assistants are required to perform a little song before being allowed into the building. In fact, I should listen to it again; I could always use a laugh.

When I heard that Weisberger had released a sequel I immediately placed a hold at my library. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. It has been a decade since Andy’s famous Paris scene where she told Miranda Priestly exactly what she thought. For about two thirds of the book we are just catching up on her life, which starts with Andy’s wedding to another man, yes I was disappointed to find out it wasn’t Alex.

In additional to her wedding, Andy has teamed up with Emily. That’s right; it is the same Emily who Andy worked with while at Runway. Andy and Emily have started a new bridal magazine, The Plunge. It is doing rather well and Miranda has taken notice. Soon Miranda is setting up meetings in order to discuss purchasing the magazine.

While the first portion of the book is interesting, it didn’t quite live up to the hype I was expecting. Suspiciously Miranda is quite controlled and we don’t see the devil until later in the book. Fortunately, the last third of the book shows the Weisberger drama we have come to love and expect. Even though the excitement is kept to the finale, it is still worth picking up if you are a fan of The Devil Wears Prada.

THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO RUNNING AWAY FROM HOME                 4 Stars

By: Jennifer Larue Huget & Red Nose Studio

What better form of revenge exists than running away from home? It doesn’t matter that you are running away from home because you don’t think anyone cares; you are going to show them the ultimate form of revenge by denying them of your presence. That should teach them!

As a child I used to write many notes detailing my plans to run away. I kept them in a drawer in order to save time for when I actually decided to really run away. I just knew when that moment happened my family would know to look in my drawer and see all my run away notes and realize what they had done to deserve such revenge. Turns out I was a little delusional.

Nobody did it better than one of my sisters, who put her run-away note on my parent’s bedroom door in plain sight. However, she was unable to find tape so a little ingenuity was required. This came in the form of toilet paper or a paper towel. When wet it would stick to the surface, which magically held the note so it could be discovered. I remember my dad not even being worried about her when he saw the note. He just chuckled and mentioned what a smart little girl he had. He knew he didn’t raise a dummy, even if she thought she could run away.

Before I talk about the content of The Beginner’s Guide to Running Away from Home, I want to talk about the illustrations. It is different from most picture books we are used to. Imagine a small doll house world. Items are made out of wood, paper, plastic, and various other materials. Imagine people made out of clay or wood and a map detailed in chalk. When this world is put together it is photographed in various scenes to depict the story. Since it is photographed we get light, shadow and silhouette. Imagine bright paint and color and details that are intricately placed.

Once you have an idea of this world, add even more. Add more well-known background illustrations in what could be paint, chalk, or possibly even pencils. Don’t forget that the materials mentioned above are also used. Then add random graphite sketches to enhance a few of the scenes. All of this was a lot to take in, and took some getting used to, but once you do, you will realize how brilliant it all is.

Going back to the content of the book we discover indispensable tips on the proper etiquette of running away. For example, the unnamed boy tells you to forget the hobo idea of a bandana on a stick. A wagon is way more acceptable to carry all the supplies you will need. Taking an animal is also a good idea, but make sure it is one that won’t eat your snacks. You can eat said snacks once you can no longer see your house, but don’t take too long in case a search party is sent out after you.

This book is full of adventure and fun. Pick up the book to see what other tips you missed or your child might miss while planning their great escape.

Near Death Experiences and the End of the World

VISIONS OF GLORY                 By: John M. Pontius                 4 Stars

This book is one that is hard to review. It is both a near death experience (NDE) book as well as what the main character states as revelation concerning the last days. Pontius writes the book in first person to portray the story as told to him by a man name Spencer (name has been changed).

Spencer starts by stating he was stillborn, yet somehow miraculously survived. Throughout Spencer’s life he struggles with health issues and as a result has multiple near death experiences. Through these experiences his knowledge is added upon to receive even greater and more detailed information.

The first few experiences Spencer has are slightly simpler and deal with angels and a world that is beyond the normal mortal’s vision. Each vision is built upon until Spencer learns and has a greater understanding of good versus bad angels, living things, and callings (mostly specific to Spencer’s understanding of his ultimate roles in his life and within his religion). Spencer’s role in life deals a lot with the end of the world or the last days before Jesus returns to the world.

Before Jesus can return to the earth, many signs and destruction must occur. Spencer’s account provides some specific details as well as just general events that are his understanding of what will happen during the last days and before Jesus returns.  It additionally gives a few details that will happen during the Millennium (or the 1,000 years Christ will rein upon the earth).

No matter what your beliefs, this book is an intriguing read that can be a quick read or a slow read depending on how you choose to evaluate the material found within. One of my personal favorite parts dealt with the library. In one of the NDE a library is presented where one could merely pick up the book and know the full contents within. More time spent with the book would provide more insight and understanding, including information about the author. As a person who spends a great deal of time reading and studying I can only imagine how much more I could do (or how much more recreation time I would have). Sign me up for that!

Forms of Brave

ON FOLLY BEACH        By: Karen White          4 Stars

Karen White is a personal favorite of mine. She authors the entertaining Tradd Street series, as well as other books, which I have yet to read. From the books I have been able to read by White, she seems to focus a lot on the relationships between groups of people. Many of these relationships deal with multiple generations, as is the case in On Folly Beach.

There are two storylines, one starting in 1942 and another starting in 2009. Both of these stories have similar plots and characters, yet you are never bored by the similarities. We originally start with Emmy in 2009, whose husband just died in Afghanistan. She is devastated and is finally convinced by her mom, as well as a mysterious note in a book margin, to head to Folly Beach, South Carolina to start over. She purchases Folly Finds, a book store her mother frequented as a child, and who was the original owner the book with the message.

In 1942 we are introduced to Maggie, the original owner of Folly Finds. Maggie has a much younger sister, Lulu, and a cousin, Catherine. Cat is also a recent widow due to Pearl Harbor. Cat is a little bit of a wild child and as both her parents are gone, Maggie promised her own dead parents that she would take care of Cat and Lulu. The problem is both Maggie and Lulu loved Cat’s husband and it is because of Cat’s sabotage that Maggie didn’t end up as Jim’s widow instead.

As the plots thicken you will find more sabotage, betrayal, love, secrets, and of course, bravery. Emmy is told multiple times that she is brave. Her bravery comes in the form of staying home while her brave husband fights for our nation.  Other brave acts are presented in this historical novel that might throw a few surprises your way. Whether you are surprised or not, you will still enjoy the storylines and how they all come together at the end.

 

OVERCOME: Burned, Blind, Blessed          By: Carmen Blandin Tarleton         4 Stars

Overcome was recommended to me by a random patron one day while working.  I checked it out soon after, but didn’t have a chance to read it for quite a while. In fact, while reading MSN (or some other news site) one day, I ran across a slideshow of face transplants. Imagine my surprise when I saw a story that sounded familiar. I had to check the author name to make sure it really was the same person. I did see Carmen’s new face and she looks beautiful.

To be honest, I had to skim some of the book because of time issues. However, the portions I did get to were worth the read. Carmen deals with a lot of heartbreak from her relationship with Herb. Eventually the relationship is terminated and Herb ends up dousing Carmen with industrial strength lye. She was burned around 80% of her body and left blind. I found it difficult to read her descriptions of gaining some vision, losing it and so much more.

Some of Herb’s issues are presented in the book, but I imagine most of it goes beyond what Carmen even knew or laid out for the reader. At one point in the book Herb said he was looking for a reason not to harm Carmen, but never received it. Carmen was attacked early in the morning, just a few hours after Herb’s birthday. Carmen did feel an impression to call him, but never did. However, nobody knows if a simple birthday wish would have prolonged the horrible situation, or prevented it altogether.

Who knew if that simple call would have even been the sign Herb was waiting for, or if he would have comprehend the call as a sign either. What could have been didn’t change reality. The reality: Herb’s 15 minute attack on Carmen changed countless lives forever.

Carmen experienced things that no one ever should have to, but as we all learn from our trials, Carmen learned a level of healing that would be hard to achieve without going through the process. Carmen commented on how she was called brave. She was brave. She sat in court with Herb so he could see what he had done. More importantly, she rose above her situation and learned to become a motivational speaker, even speaking about forgiveness.

When Carmen first testified in court, images of her were presented on the news. Before her story was given, a warning was provided that graphic images would be displayed. The realization that Carmen was the graphic image was detrimental to her healing process. With time Carmen was able to overcome her “Disfigurement Challenge” and accept herself for what she was. Once Carmen’s outlook of herself changed, miraculously others changed as well. Instead of scaring children in public, they were coming over to her for a hug. As pivotal as this was, it was not as important as her ability to forgive.

Carmen was not only able to forgive Herb for his well-being, but for herself as well. When Carmen was first attacked, she had a vision of sorts. She distinctly saw the words like a movie screen: “CHOICE. Life. Is. A. Choice.” Carmen chose to press on with life and forgiveness. She did not want to have anger and hurt. She didn’t want those 15 minutes to define her. She made the choice to forgive. With that forgiveness she has set out to tell her story so others can realize the same healing in their lives. She is counteracting Herb’s negativity by replacing it with positivity.

At one point Carmen spoke at the Vermont State Prison during their National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This was a prison where Herb had been incarcerated at some point (yet he had been transferred previous to the event). During the Q & A portion of the event, a prisoner asked Carmen if she had forgiven her attacker. Carmen replied by stating that she was not the only victim. Herb too was a victim.

Carmen remarked that victims are merely just victims of victims. Another inmate said he never forgave his perpetrator and he treated his victim the same way he had been treated. He didn’t forgive, he just repeated the cycle. However, Carmen made it clear that even without the victim’s forgiveness (which you have no control over) you need to focus on your own forgiveness.

Carmen wanted others to realize that selfishness shouldn’t be this horrible word in society. In reality, if we are all taking care of ourselves, we are better able to take care of others. In order to stop the vicious cycle we need to learn to love and forgive ourselves, that way we can love others instead of hurting them. By taking care of ourselves we are able to become better parents, spouses, friends, siblings, and more.

The idea of forgiveness happened in a most profound way when Carmen mentioned her mother’s healing. Her mother was consumed with revenge for the first few weeks. Luckily, while talking to a neighbor at a grocery store they said everyone in town wanted Herb dead and wanted to cause him pain if they had the chance. Carmen’s mom realized how absurd this idea was. They wanted to react to violence by causing more violence. She had seen the pain Carmen and others were going through. It was senseless to think that the same acts of violence would solve the problem. She didn’t understand how anyone would want to be as inhumane as Herb had been at that moment. From that point on Carmen’s mom started her own healing and forgiveness, her own road back to sanity.

At the end of the book, Carmen was only beginning her journey to receive a face transplant. As mentioned above we now know that the transplant has been complete. Not only that, but Carmen is moving on and thriving in her new life. She is now in a new relationship, one with a man who loved her even before she had a face transplant. She has been burned and blinded, yet she has overcome and is now reaping the blessings associated with her bravery and forgiveness.

Here are some stories I found about Carmen:

http://www.overcomebook.com/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/01/carmen-blandin-tarleton_n_3194772.html

http://www.brighamandwomens.org/about_bwh/publicaffairs/news/facetransplant/default.aspx This is the hospital who have completed face transplants, in addition to Carmen.

As sad as this is to say after understanding how it hurt Carmen to hear…Graphic Images are found on this slideshow. It is before and after pictures of those who have been blessed enough to receive face transplants… http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/slideshow?articleId=USRTR2DG2I#a=1

There are many more that can be found with a little research.

Slightly Late Father’s Day Picture Book

FArTHER                      By: Grahame Baker-Smith                  5 Stars             Favorites!

I have cut down on my book purchases for various reasons (money, space, time to re-read books when there are so many other books to read, etc.). Now the only books I purchase are ones I have read and loved in the past, thus I will eventually re-read them. FArTHER is a book I will consider purchasing in the future. It is an incredible picture book based on the relationships of father and son as well as following dreams. (I did want to post this book for Father’s Day, but life got in the way. Oh well.)

FArTHER is a story of a father who dreams of flying. His life is taken over in the effort to make wings to fulfill this dream. His obsession led him to many times forget his son, but the times he came out of his trance, father and son spent long hours playing and having fun.

One day the father is called off to war, never to return. The boy grew and eventually his father’s dream of flying was manifest within his own life. The son started by reworking his father’s wings. By reaching farther he is ultimately able to fly.

The story ends with the son’s son and the possibility that the same dream will come to him. It leaves you wondering how the grandson will take the dream of flying even farther (hot balloon, airplane…).

While the story is told well enough by itself, it is further enhanced by the flawless artwork. The cover of the book was enough to grab my attention and stand out among the hundreds of books I see every day. With all the books I want to read, I tried to push this one aside, but I was drawn to its irresistible force of attraction.  It is a book I could stare at forever.

Baker-Smith uses tones of steampunk (even if you don’t like or understand that genre, you should still check it out). The father’s house is high on a rocky cliff overlooking a sea and a distant city. Keeping true to the setting the colors are in cool hues of blue, green, and purple, neutral colors consisting of white, gray, black and brown with a warm tone of gold mimicking the sun.

The only color that deviates from the theme is red. Upon the first few times of reading the book I understood the red to represent a trail, leading to something important, or even portraying a great accomplishment. Upon digging a little deeper, I came to understand that when the red was used as a poppy it is a sign of remembrance to soldiers. After reading the story again I realized it is also used as foreshadowing for the father. Then again the red is used in other contexts, such as in a kite and when the son pursued his father’s dream and succeeded; leading me to believe that it does have additional meaning than just remembrance.

Baker-Smith was awarded the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) Kate Greenaway Medal in 2012 for distinguished illustrations. This is a well-deserved award as the more I study FArTHER, the more I get. It is one that has layers of meaning and beauty.  

“Mom, I’m Bored”

THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH              By: Norton Juster                    4.5 Stars

The Phantom Tollbooth is a book geared toward kids. I never read it as a child, but I would imagine you would learn different things from it at different times in your life, even as an adult. Some of you may grumble and write off the book, who wants to learn lessons? Don’t write off The Phantom Tollbooth yet, fun may still be found for all ages. It is written for kids who find very little enjoyment out of life, as portrayed by the main character, Milo.

Milo has no desire to find happiness in life and basically just lives his life by following the necessary motions. That is until a phantom tollbooth appears in his bedroom. Soon Milo finds himself transported into a world without rhyme or reason. Milo learns the importance of words, numbers, sound, and vision in an effort to restore the kingdom to its original glory.

This book is full of profound quotes and sound advice. It points out early the value of commodities such as time, and perception. In addition to the many lessons I learned, an important one happened when the miners in Digitopolis threw away diamonds, emeralds, rubies and a number of stones we consider to be precious. In the larger scheme of things there are items of even higher importance. Another lesson was that things are only impossible if you believe them to be so.

With all the knowledge contained within this short book, I would expect it to finish by saying something to the effect of “you have learned well tiny grasshopper”. Even without the phrase, Norton Juster’s work is done.