So I haven't posted on here before, but I've been thinking of a lot of different things I've read lately and how they have influenced me. I thought it might be worth sharing. Before I get into that I just want to add that I have been following and have really enjoyed what others have said. Many books talked about are books now on my list to read or books I have read and enjoyed. So thanks.
The older I get the more I have learned that I am actually not that picky of a reader. It is rare that I find I book I truly cannot get through. I am just too much of a sucker for stories. That being said I recognize that some books I read are far better than others. Some books are great for a one time read, some are books that I finished mostly just to see if the end was okay, and some books are fun when I really just need something simple and easy to enjoy. But every so often I run across a gem of a book that really gets to me. It either makes me think about life and the world and my view of it, or it makes me want to run straight to my library's non-fiction section and start studying something new. Today I am focusing on the ones that make me want to learn something new.
1) Miss Burton Unmasks a Prince by Jennifer Moore
This is a regency romance novel that takes place during the Napoleonic Wars. Our main character is Miss Margaret (Meg) Burton who hails from the Carolinas but is sent to London to try to marry a rich man to save her family from financial disaster. Meg truly is a character. She is all spunk and is not your typical timid regency woman. She is very opinionated which often times lands her in some trouble. She also had unique talents and hobbies. She loves to ride and not ride sidesaddle either. She is absolutely fascinated with gothic novels and poetry of all sorts. She loves giving recitations and is not musically inclined in the slightest. She is a girl who just wants to find an adventure or mystery. I loved her. And I loved this book, but what I really wanted to do after I finished it was go find myself a book of classical poetry. I loved the bits of poetry in this book and I loved Megs knowledge and love for it which you could just feel seeping into you was well. So I guess a few poetry books need to go on my reading list. It can't hurt right?
2) The Paper Magician Trilogy by Charlie N Holmberg
So Darcy just did a mini review on this one and while I do agree with what she said I have to disagree with only liking the book. I fell in love with the series. I found myself pulled in by the world and characters. And yes, halfway through the book I would pause and say to myself "What has really happened so far? Not much? Oh... well okay." However because I was so lost in those chapters I didn't mind. I agree too with Darcy that paper magic is awesome! And now I just really want to learn how to do origami and paper crafting. I know my creations won't spring to life or anything but I think it is a beautiful art form that I just might be able to figure out.
3) Okay so number 3 isn't specific to one book but I have read several different books lately that have characters who are bilingual or of different nationalities and cultures. These books manage to use just a few words and phrases from those languages that just make me want to learn as many languages as I can. And I also think I want to be an anthropologist now. I just want to learn about people and cultures across the world and across time. I find them fascinating.
I am a learner. I absolutely love learning so if I find a book that makes me want to do just that I consider it a great read. Let's talk. What books have inspired you to learn something new?
Friday, November 6, 2015
Friday, October 9, 2015
The Martian--Andy Weir
I hope I am not the only one who thought of this:
(aliens from outer space) instead of this:
(humans on Mars) when reading the title of this book. Honestly, I thought the book was literally about aliens, and I did not want to read about that.
This was a mistake. I started reading some really great reviews, and eventually I read an article on a blog that I get updates from (Modern Mrs. Darcy. And in answer to your question... Maybe. Maybe I started following this blog originally because of my name, and maybe not. Who can really say?) that basically said this book was completely unexpected, and really good.
So I put this one on my list of "books to potentially read but most likely won't get to list," and pretty much forgot about it.
Then, one fateful day at the movie theater, Jeremy and I were watching the previews for some show and the trailer for The Martian came on, starring Matt Damon, whom I love. And... I was hooked. The trailer was really intriguing, and The Martian shot up to the top of my reading list; I picked it up the next time we were at Barnes and Noble.
I am so glad I did, because this is my absolute favorite book that I have read in 2015 (Let me check... I have started keeping track of the books I read... yep. Definitely #1) so far. I won't be surprised if this keeps its position because, well, it is October, and also I have been trying to clear off my kindle of old books that I bought on a whim (or got for free. Both are nice, but bog down my reading list).
Anyway!! Enough about the story behind how I got this book and actually read it... Let's talk about The Martian itself!!
This book is set in the not-so-distant future, where the third mission to Mars is taking place. The crew lands on Mars just fine, and as they are going about their work, an unexpected storm arises, and they are told to abort their mission. As they are making their way back to the ship, one of the crew members, Mark Watney, is lost and presumed dead. The rest of the crew takes off without him, assuming he is long gone.
Well... he isn't.
Watney survived the accident, and has to continue to find ways to survive. I don't want to give away too much plot, but here's a hint: Watney is on MARS. No food, no water, and no equipment--except those things left by his crew. And, at his BEST guess, Watney figures it will be about four years until the next manned mission can make it to Mars. The story is told by Watney, who records his experiences dutifully in the mission log, so if he perishes and NASA eventually makes it back to the landing site, they will know what happened to him.
Weir did a lot of research on this novel, and you can tell when you are reading it. And Weir has an awesome writing style that discusses difficult concepts and science simply, without it feeling like he is "dumbing it down" for us normal folk.
The main character, Watney, is hilarious! Despite being left alone on Mars, he finds humor in every situation and since conveniently he is a Botanist and an Engineer, he is able to come up with a lot of logical solutions. In the reader's discussion questions in the back of the book (yes, I read them. I am a nerd), one of the questions asks what your favorite "Waney-ism" is. There are a lot to choose from.
This story is amazing, and part of what makes it so amazing is how real it feels! In fact,when Jeremy and I were talking about it the other day (P.S. we now have two copies and have proceeded to push this book into anyone's hands who will read it) I told him that although I know that Watney is a fictional character, I have to keep reminding myself that this didn't actually happen. Part of the reason this book feels so real is that it does encompass the vision of NASA. In fact, when the movie was being created, NASA supported the filming, and actually took Andy Weir and the producer of the movie on tour to show them plans for NASA. So a lot of this stuff is where NASA sees their program in a few years (minus, you know, the losing a crew member and leaving him to die on a lifeless planet).
This book just grabs your attention and just keeps you hooked until the very end. In fact, true story: I was on the last few chapters of The Martian and was planning on finishing it before bed one night. Jeremy had some funny videos he was looking at on his phone, and couldn't stop laughing. I had to get up, and go lock myself in the bathroom until I finished. It was that good.
I really cannot recommend this book highly enough! READ THIS. Or, if you are still hesitant, go watch the movie (I have yet to see it), and THEN read it! Then tell me your thoughts, because this was so great!!!
(aliens from outer space) instead of this:
(humans on Mars) when reading the title of this book. Honestly, I thought the book was literally about aliens, and I did not want to read about that.
This was a mistake. I started reading some really great reviews, and eventually I read an article on a blog that I get updates from (Modern Mrs. Darcy. And in answer to your question... Maybe. Maybe I started following this blog originally because of my name, and maybe not. Who can really say?) that basically said this book was completely unexpected, and really good.
So I put this one on my list of "books to potentially read but most likely won't get to list," and pretty much forgot about it.
Then, one fateful day at the movie theater, Jeremy and I were watching the previews for some show and the trailer for The Martian came on, starring Matt Damon, whom I love. And... I was hooked. The trailer was really intriguing, and The Martian shot up to the top of my reading list; I picked it up the next time we were at Barnes and Noble.
I am so glad I did, because this is my absolute favorite book that I have read in 2015 (Let me check... I have started keeping track of the books I read... yep. Definitely #1) so far. I won't be surprised if this keeps its position because, well, it is October, and also I have been trying to clear off my kindle of old books that I bought on a whim (or got for free. Both are nice, but bog down my reading list).
Anyway!! Enough about the story behind how I got this book and actually read it... Let's talk about The Martian itself!!
This book is set in the not-so-distant future, where the third mission to Mars is taking place. The crew lands on Mars just fine, and as they are going about their work, an unexpected storm arises, and they are told to abort their mission. As they are making their way back to the ship, one of the crew members, Mark Watney, is lost and presumed dead. The rest of the crew takes off without him, assuming he is long gone.
Well... he isn't.
Watney survived the accident, and has to continue to find ways to survive. I don't want to give away too much plot, but here's a hint: Watney is on MARS. No food, no water, and no equipment--except those things left by his crew. And, at his BEST guess, Watney figures it will be about four years until the next manned mission can make it to Mars. The story is told by Watney, who records his experiences dutifully in the mission log, so if he perishes and NASA eventually makes it back to the landing site, they will know what happened to him.
Weir did a lot of research on this novel, and you can tell when you are reading it. And Weir has an awesome writing style that discusses difficult concepts and science simply, without it feeling like he is "dumbing it down" for us normal folk.
The main character, Watney, is hilarious! Despite being left alone on Mars, he finds humor in every situation and since conveniently he is a Botanist and an Engineer, he is able to come up with a lot of logical solutions. In the reader's discussion questions in the back of the book (yes, I read them. I am a nerd), one of the questions asks what your favorite "Waney-ism" is. There are a lot to choose from.
This story is amazing, and part of what makes it so amazing is how real it feels! In fact,when Jeremy and I were talking about it the other day (P.S. we now have two copies and have proceeded to push this book into anyone's hands who will read it) I told him that although I know that Watney is a fictional character, I have to keep reminding myself that this didn't actually happen. Part of the reason this book feels so real is that it does encompass the vision of NASA. In fact, when the movie was being created, NASA supported the filming, and actually took Andy Weir and the producer of the movie on tour to show them plans for NASA. So a lot of this stuff is where NASA sees their program in a few years (minus, you know, the losing a crew member and leaving him to die on a lifeless planet).
This book just grabs your attention and just keeps you hooked until the very end. In fact, true story: I was on the last few chapters of The Martian and was planning on finishing it before bed one night. Jeremy had some funny videos he was looking at on his phone, and couldn't stop laughing. I had to get up, and go lock myself in the bathroom until I finished. It was that good.
I really cannot recommend this book highly enough! READ THIS. Or, if you are still hesitant, go watch the movie (I have yet to see it), and THEN read it! Then tell me your thoughts, because this was so great!!!
Friday, September 11, 2015
Mini Reviews-- Part one
Hey guys! As usual... I have been reading, but not doing a great job at keeping track of those books here.
But guys!!! I have SO MANY books for you to read!!! I know, I know, I say that a lot (whether it happens more because the book is wonderful, or because the book is terrible is another story) but there are all really awesome books. I have had a streak of AWESOME luck recently in the books department, so I wanted to share some of my finds.
I may end up writing a longer review for some of these, but I wanted to get them out there, in case anyone is looking for a good book. Enjoy!!
What if? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions - Randall Munroe
Randall Munroe is the creator of http://www.xkcd.com/. I had personally never heard of it before I saw this book, but have taken a look at it since, and have enjoyed what I have seen.
I don't have a lot to say about this book, because the title pretty aptly describes it all. On Munroe's website, people ask him strange and obscure questions. He, in turn, answers those questions using a mixture of math and science. It sounds like it could be bland, right? That is what I thought, at least. But man! This book is so entertaining! The questions really are absurd, such as "What if you hit a baseball thrown at 90% the speed of light?" Or, "What would happen if you gathered together a mole (unit of measurement) of moles (small, furry critters)?" Or even "What would happen if you gathered everyone together in one place and they all jumped at the same time?"
I am not going to claim to understand every term and idea Munroe presents, but I can say that I was entertained while listening to this book (though, it would be nice to read it, because Munroe does stick figure illustrations).
This book is worth the read, and will DEFINITELY give you something interesting to talk about over dinner. :)
The Magician's Lie - Greer Macallister
This book is one I got for a Daily Deal on Audible. I have to be 100% honest, I mostly was interested because one of the "blurbs" about the book mentioned Night Circus, which is one of my favorite books of all time.
I wouldn't say that this book ended up being like Night Circus, but I did enjoy it a lot. I don't want to give away too much on this one, because it is a book where you figure out what is going on along with the characters, and I think that was part of the charm. I did enjoy learning how some magical illusions worked, and this book made me want to see a magic show. I did NOT love one of the narrators. I disliked the woman's voice, since she made every male character sound identical. Anyway, it is a small complaint, since the book really was intriguing.
Uprooted - Naomi Novik
This book was a little strange, to be honest. It was loosely based on several fairy tales, and I had such high hopes for it! The blurb mentions that every ten years, a girl (around 11) is taken from the village and lives with the nearby wizard, "The Dragon," for ten years. After that, she comes home and leaves town shortly after. It is the same each time a girl is taken. They say the Dragon never touches them, but they come home with newfound extravagance and leave.
First, do NOT be fooled by the magician's title. the Dragon is not literally a dragon. He is a cranky old magician who is angry all the time and likes things tidy. Second, we never really learn about whether this book is a Beauty and the Beast retelling or not. There are more important things at hand.
So those were a couple grievances, but there was a lot to love about this book. First, the story kept me guessing. I couldn't ever figure out what was going to happen, and the things that did happen were often surprising. Second, I kind of liked the creepiness of this book. You all know that I love fairy tale magic and the like, but this magic in this books was CREEPY! The forest is, like, possessing people. It was just really interesting and soooo unexpected! So if you want a not-too-traditional fairy tale, with a bit of spooky factor, this is your book!
Oh--as a side note, the main character's name is a mouthful. Her name is "Agnieszka." If you gave up halfway through that, you experienced the same frustration that I did. The author does tell you how to pronounce it (ag-NYESH-kah) but that is at the END of the book, so not totally helpful. I figure I would try to help you out early. :)
Wool - Hugh Howey
I had heard good things about this book, and I finally bought this (also on Audible) to listen to during work. First of all... wow. This was completely unexpected! It was another book that I thought I had the plot down right from the beginning, but... man. This thing had so many twists and turns, I was dizzy!
Word to the wise: buy the Wool Omnibus. My copy happened to be that (by accident). Apparently, the book was originally supposed to be released as a trilogy, but people loved the story so much that instead of releasing three books, Hugh Howey ended up releasing the story as five books, so people could get them faster.
Wool is a dystopian adventure, and it takes place in a silo. Yes, like the silos where you store wheat. But this silo has been upgraded slightly. Apparently, when the world as we know it ended, people fled to these silos to wait a time when the air would be breathable again. As far as people know in this particular silo (It might be Silo 12? 13? I can't remember exactly), they are the last human beings on earth. These silos go about 100 floors underneath the ground, and life goes on there much as you would expect. Eventually people get a little stir crazy. However, the BIG rule of the silo is this: Don't ask to go outside. If you do, you get what you ask for.
Yes, that's right. If you ask to go outside, they let you... *ominous music.* It was a great book, and I loved the surprising twists and turns! I did gain a new worst fear, but we can talk about that later, if you decide to read this. Loved it!
The Paper Magician - Charlie M. Holmberg
This book.... sigh. I had SUCH high hopes for this, and the idea is fantastic!! The basic idea is that there is a school for those who are magically inclined (No, not Hogwarts). However, the students don't actually learn magic AT the school. Instead, when they finish their studies, they are apprenticed out to a particular type of magician, and are then "bonded" to that material, meaning that during their apprenticeship and forever beyond, they learn how to work with one material. Most of the materials are man-made: glass, paper, metal, plastic, rubber, etc.
The main character is Ceony Twill. She has her heart set on becoming a Smelter, a metal magician. However, due to a shortage of magicians, she is instead assigned to become a paper magician with Magician Emery Thane (thus, the title "The Paper Magician").
Guys... paper magic is AWESOME!! She can animate origami shapes, make a paper fan that blows hurricane-force winds, make snowflakes that are actually cold, and you know those paper fortune tellers you used to make as kids (Pick a color, pick a number, pick another number, here is your fortune)? Yeah, well, being a paper magician, you can ACTUALLY tell fortunes! It is really awesome!
The main thing about this book was that it was really slow moving. It is a trilogy, and it probably shouldn't be. Not much happens in the books, and the author gets caught up in other memories to spend too much time learning about the awesomeness of the spells. But I did like the book, and I want to learn some of the kinds of magic now.
I am Malala - Malala Yousafzai
This is a book we got for my dad on audio book, then borrowed shortly after. It is a true story of Malala (duh) who is a young girl who lived in Pakistan and stood up for education, and was shot by the Taliban (as you can see on this lovely cover picture I have provided). Fun fact: it says on the cover that she won he Nobel Peace Prize, but from what I recall, she is actually the youngest winner of the prize ever.
This book was so INTERESTING! It was cool to see a different culture. I mean, I am born and raised in America, so it was different to see how education is viewed in a different area. It was interesting to consider the Taliban and why, originally, the people loved the Taliban.
Since Malala wrote this book, I don't think it would be too much of a spoiler to let you know that she survives the attack, and she and her family are rushed out of the country to give hr the best health care possible. Malala is still a huge education advocate, and gives many speeches and attends conferences worldwide to try and open education for everyone.
It was a great read, and really, Malala's childhood and family life really obviously shaped her. I am excited to hear more about her in the future, and am positive she will do great things.
If you are looking to get out of the realm of fiction for a while, this is an awesome option!
Ready Player One - Ernest Cline
This is one that I am hoping to write a larger review of later. I LOVED this book. The story gets started right away, so I can give you a bit of plot, because some of it is revealed in the first chapter.
This book is set in a futuristic earth--a very CRAPPY futuristic earth. There is an energy crisis, the world is a horrible place to live, and everyone has found refuge inside this virtual reality game--The Oasis. The Oasis is... Well, think of the Sims games, but on steroids. People live vicariously inside the Oasis. They go to school there, they work there, they even meet and marry there, all without leaving the comforts of their own computer screen. Then, there are the options for the more adventurous types--you can be a wizard, a warrior, a spy... you can be whatever you want to be and do whatever you want to do inside the Oasis. It is a massive multiplayer universe with worlds like earth, worlds like star wars and star trek... Really. I am not exaggerating when I say that you can be and do ANYTHING in there.
The Oasis was created by one man, James Halliday. Halliday was a hermit, and never socialized outside of this world he had created. Then, on the day he dies, there is a mass video sent out to everyone in the world--streamed to everyone with an Oasis account (basically everyone) as well as all over the news. In this video, Halliday reveals how his fortune will be bestowed. He has created several Easter eggs inside the Oasis--three keys, and three gates. Whoever finds the three keys and unlocks the three gates first will inherit EVERYTHING James Halliday had (So... like over $250 billion, His company, and control of the Oasis. Winning the competition would essentially make the winner the richest person in the world). In this video, he gives the world the first clue (usually in the form of a Limerick. I tried to solve the puzzles in this book and failed miserably). And... that's it. The world goes crazy and everyone starts the search.
Until... well, nothing. For five years, the world searches in vain for the first key. There is a scoreboard on Halliday's main Oasis page. That scoreboard remains blank until one day, five years later, a name appears. And that, my friends, is all just in the first chapter. This book is fun! It is fast paced, and has a great mix of humor and intensity. There is a very HEAVY dose of all things eighties, because James Halliday was obsessed with the eighties.
This is one of my top books of the year, and I do not say that lightly. I shoved this into Jeremy's hands as soon as I was finished, and now I want to read it again! Plus, I loved when I was able to understand the nerdy references.
Please read this book, it is seriously amazing, and so much fun!
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - Robin Sloan
So... I read this one a really long time ago, and I am afraid that I don't remember a lot of the details; I remember Steph saying she read it, so I may have to leave a review of this one in her capable hands. :) However, not remembering much of this book doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it! I do remember a few very important things.
First, the cover is glow-in-the-dark. What is not to love about a glow-in-the-dark cover?!? I had this one on my bedside table, and squealed with joy when I found out.
The writing is awesome! This book feels so conversational, and it made me feel smart. Plus, there were times that I snickered aloud. Then felt silly, because even if I could read the segment to Jeremy, he had no idea what was going on in the story, and so it was not nearly as funny to him.
This is about books. I mean, not just the 24-hour bookstore mentioned in the title, but it is all about books and learning from books and trying to seek the **ULTIMATE ANSWER** ( This is important, which is why I made that very fancy. I thought that the ultimate answer was 42, according to Douglas Adams, but apparently these people are not satisfied with that). This book is so interesting!
Also, I loved Mr. Penumbra. He was just the perfect, quirky old man. In fact, if I remember correctly, basically all of the main characters were awesome.
So... yeah. Not super helpful when it comes to a review, but I lent this one out as soon as I finished it, and haven't been able to take a look at it again, since.
So there you have it, guys! Some mini reviews for you to peruse, and I hopefully chose enough variety that there is something for everyone. Let me know what you think, and I can't wait to hear what you are reading!!
But guys!!! I have SO MANY books for you to read!!! I know, I know, I say that a lot (whether it happens more because the book is wonderful, or because the book is terrible is another story) but there are all really awesome books. I have had a streak of AWESOME luck recently in the books department, so I wanted to share some of my finds.
I may end up writing a longer review for some of these, but I wanted to get them out there, in case anyone is looking for a good book. Enjoy!!
What if? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions - Randall Munroe
Randall Munroe is the creator of http://www.xkcd.com/. I had personally never heard of it before I saw this book, but have taken a look at it since, and have enjoyed what I have seen.
I don't have a lot to say about this book, because the title pretty aptly describes it all. On Munroe's website, people ask him strange and obscure questions. He, in turn, answers those questions using a mixture of math and science. It sounds like it could be bland, right? That is what I thought, at least. But man! This book is so entertaining! The questions really are absurd, such as "What if you hit a baseball thrown at 90% the speed of light?" Or, "What would happen if you gathered together a mole (unit of measurement) of moles (small, furry critters)?" Or even "What would happen if you gathered everyone together in one place and they all jumped at the same time?"
I am not going to claim to understand every term and idea Munroe presents, but I can say that I was entertained while listening to this book (though, it would be nice to read it, because Munroe does stick figure illustrations).
This book is worth the read, and will DEFINITELY give you something interesting to talk about over dinner. :)
The Magician's Lie - Greer Macallister
I wouldn't say that this book ended up being like Night Circus, but I did enjoy it a lot. I don't want to give away too much on this one, because it is a book where you figure out what is going on along with the characters, and I think that was part of the charm. I did enjoy learning how some magical illusions worked, and this book made me want to see a magic show. I did NOT love one of the narrators. I disliked the woman's voice, since she made every male character sound identical. Anyway, it is a small complaint, since the book really was intriguing.
Uprooted - Naomi Novik
This book was a little strange, to be honest. It was loosely based on several fairy tales, and I had such high hopes for it! The blurb mentions that every ten years, a girl (around 11) is taken from the village and lives with the nearby wizard, "The Dragon," for ten years. After that, she comes home and leaves town shortly after. It is the same each time a girl is taken. They say the Dragon never touches them, but they come home with newfound extravagance and leave.
First, do NOT be fooled by the magician's title. the Dragon is not literally a dragon. He is a cranky old magician who is angry all the time and likes things tidy. Second, we never really learn about whether this book is a Beauty and the Beast retelling or not. There are more important things at hand.
So those were a couple grievances, but there was a lot to love about this book. First, the story kept me guessing. I couldn't ever figure out what was going to happen, and the things that did happen were often surprising. Second, I kind of liked the creepiness of this book. You all know that I love fairy tale magic and the like, but this magic in this books was CREEPY! The forest is, like, possessing people. It was just really interesting and soooo unexpected! So if you want a not-too-traditional fairy tale, with a bit of spooky factor, this is your book!
Oh--as a side note, the main character's name is a mouthful. Her name is "Agnieszka." If you gave up halfway through that, you experienced the same frustration that I did. The author does tell you how to pronounce it (ag-NYESH-kah) but that is at the END of the book, so not totally helpful. I figure I would try to help you out early. :)
Wool - Hugh Howey
Word to the wise: buy the Wool Omnibus. My copy happened to be that (by accident). Apparently, the book was originally supposed to be released as a trilogy, but people loved the story so much that instead of releasing three books, Hugh Howey ended up releasing the story as five books, so people could get them faster.
Wool is a dystopian adventure, and it takes place in a silo. Yes, like the silos where you store wheat. But this silo has been upgraded slightly. Apparently, when the world as we know it ended, people fled to these silos to wait a time when the air would be breathable again. As far as people know in this particular silo (It might be Silo 12? 13? I can't remember exactly), they are the last human beings on earth. These silos go about 100 floors underneath the ground, and life goes on there much as you would expect. Eventually people get a little stir crazy. However, the BIG rule of the silo is this: Don't ask to go outside. If you do, you get what you ask for.
Yes, that's right. If you ask to go outside, they let you... *ominous music.* It was a great book, and I loved the surprising twists and turns! I did gain a new worst fear, but we can talk about that later, if you decide to read this. Loved it!
The Paper Magician - Charlie M. Holmberg
The main character is Ceony Twill. She has her heart set on becoming a Smelter, a metal magician. However, due to a shortage of magicians, she is instead assigned to become a paper magician with Magician Emery Thane (thus, the title "The Paper Magician").
Guys... paper magic is AWESOME!! She can animate origami shapes, make a paper fan that blows hurricane-force winds, make snowflakes that are actually cold, and you know those paper fortune tellers you used to make as kids (Pick a color, pick a number, pick another number, here is your fortune)? Yeah, well, being a paper magician, you can ACTUALLY tell fortunes! It is really awesome!
The main thing about this book was that it was really slow moving. It is a trilogy, and it probably shouldn't be. Not much happens in the books, and the author gets caught up in other memories to spend too much time learning about the awesomeness of the spells. But I did like the book, and I want to learn some of the kinds of magic now.
I am Malala - Malala Yousafzai
This book was so INTERESTING! It was cool to see a different culture. I mean, I am born and raised in America, so it was different to see how education is viewed in a different area. It was interesting to consider the Taliban and why, originally, the people loved the Taliban.
Since Malala wrote this book, I don't think it would be too much of a spoiler to let you know that she survives the attack, and she and her family are rushed out of the country to give hr the best health care possible. Malala is still a huge education advocate, and gives many speeches and attends conferences worldwide to try and open education for everyone.
It was a great read, and really, Malala's childhood and family life really obviously shaped her. I am excited to hear more about her in the future, and am positive she will do great things.
If you are looking to get out of the realm of fiction for a while, this is an awesome option!
Ready Player One - Ernest Cline
This book is set in a futuristic earth--a very CRAPPY futuristic earth. There is an energy crisis, the world is a horrible place to live, and everyone has found refuge inside this virtual reality game--The Oasis. The Oasis is... Well, think of the Sims games, but on steroids. People live vicariously inside the Oasis. They go to school there, they work there, they even meet and marry there, all without leaving the comforts of their own computer screen. Then, there are the options for the more adventurous types--you can be a wizard, a warrior, a spy... you can be whatever you want to be and do whatever you want to do inside the Oasis. It is a massive multiplayer universe with worlds like earth, worlds like star wars and star trek... Really. I am not exaggerating when I say that you can be and do ANYTHING in there.
The Oasis was created by one man, James Halliday. Halliday was a hermit, and never socialized outside of this world he had created. Then, on the day he dies, there is a mass video sent out to everyone in the world--streamed to everyone with an Oasis account (basically everyone) as well as all over the news. In this video, Halliday reveals how his fortune will be bestowed. He has created several Easter eggs inside the Oasis--three keys, and three gates. Whoever finds the three keys and unlocks the three gates first will inherit EVERYTHING James Halliday had (So... like over $250 billion, His company, and control of the Oasis. Winning the competition would essentially make the winner the richest person in the world). In this video, he gives the world the first clue (usually in the form of a Limerick. I tried to solve the puzzles in this book and failed miserably). And... that's it. The world goes crazy and everyone starts the search.
Until... well, nothing. For five years, the world searches in vain for the first key. There is a scoreboard on Halliday's main Oasis page. That scoreboard remains blank until one day, five years later, a name appears. And that, my friends, is all just in the first chapter. This book is fun! It is fast paced, and has a great mix of humor and intensity. There is a very HEAVY dose of all things eighties, because James Halliday was obsessed with the eighties.
This is one of my top books of the year, and I do not say that lightly. I shoved this into Jeremy's hands as soon as I was finished, and now I want to read it again! Plus, I loved when I was able to understand the nerdy references.
Please read this book, it is seriously amazing, and so much fun!
Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore - Robin Sloan
First, the cover is glow-in-the-dark. What is not to love about a glow-in-the-dark cover?!? I had this one on my bedside table, and squealed with joy when I found out.
The writing is awesome! This book feels so conversational, and it made me feel smart. Plus, there were times that I snickered aloud. Then felt silly, because even if I could read the segment to Jeremy, he had no idea what was going on in the story, and so it was not nearly as funny to him.
This is about books. I mean, not just the 24-hour bookstore mentioned in the title, but it is all about books and learning from books and trying to seek the **ULTIMATE ANSWER** ( This is important, which is why I made that very fancy. I thought that the ultimate answer was 42, according to Douglas Adams, but apparently these people are not satisfied with that). This book is so interesting!
Also, I loved Mr. Penumbra. He was just the perfect, quirky old man. In fact, if I remember correctly, basically all of the main characters were awesome.
So... yeah. Not super helpful when it comes to a review, but I lent this one out as soon as I finished it, and haven't been able to take a look at it again, since.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
So there you have it, guys! Some mini reviews for you to peruse, and I hopefully chose enough variety that there is something for everyone. Let me know what you think, and I can't wait to hear what you are reading!!
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Women of Genesis series by Orson Scott Card
I have wanted to sit down and type up a lovely review of these books. For months I have been meaning to. But, usually when I get the chance to sit down at a computer it is to do data entry and organizations for myCub Scout pack (can I get a round of applause?). However, my computer died this week, so with no fix in sight I figure that it is time to buckle down and at least share a few comments.
Has anyone read this series? This is actually the first Orson Scott Card that I read and I am very glad that I did. Awhile after reading these, I gave in a d read Enders Game. Which while I was very intrugued by the story line, I hated. I hared the relationshil of the brothers, but especially the portraya (author notes) that that is how kids behave. That is not how hralthy (emotionally) children behave. I could go off on a rant, but back to the original thought:
I really enjoyed this series. There are so few details written I the bible about these women, or their lives. It was so li ely to me to be placed in a story that included details of what their lives may he been like. It is always so amazing for me to think on how much different life us for women now, and how much the same as well.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
The Reckoners - Brandon Sanderson
With the furor of superhero movies and stories going around, I was a little hesitant to talk about my latest favorite series... but then I figured, what the heck? Now is as good of a time as any to let you all know about this AMAZING series!
I don't know if you are into the superhero "jive," but if you are, have you ever caught yourself watching a great superhero movie and wishing that it was a book? Not a comic book, but a novel?
Brandon Sanderson found himself asking this very question, and thus the Reckoners series was born. And it all starts with the first book in the series, Steelheart. The second book is also out, Firefight, and the third (and final) book comes out in January: Calamity. This is something I love about Brandon Sanderson. He does not keep his readers waiting when it comes to books. He tries to release 3-4 books in a year, and everything I have read from him is wonderful!
If you haven't read anything by Sanderson, I recommend the Reckoner's Trilogy as a good place to start. Sanderson is a master storyteller, and leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat right until the end. Plus, Sanderson doesn't use cursing as a way to draw attention to a scene. He relies on good storytelling, and lets your imagination fill in the world.
There is so much I would love to say about the Reckoners, but I don't want to give the story away. Instead, here is a list of things I enjoyed about the series:
I don't know if you are into the superhero "jive," but if you are, have you ever caught yourself watching a great superhero movie and wishing that it was a book? Not a comic book, but a novel?
Brandon Sanderson found himself asking this very question, and thus the Reckoners series was born. And it all starts with the first book in the series, Steelheart. The second book is also out, Firefight, and the third (and final) book comes out in January: Calamity. This is something I love about Brandon Sanderson. He does not keep his readers waiting when it comes to books. He tries to release 3-4 books in a year, and everything I have read from him is wonderful!
If you haven't read anything by Sanderson, I recommend the Reckoner's Trilogy as a good place to start. Sanderson is a master storyteller, and leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat right until the end. Plus, Sanderson doesn't use cursing as a way to draw attention to a scene. He relies on good storytelling, and lets your imagination fill in the world.
There is so much I would love to say about the Reckoners, but I don't want to give the story away. Instead, here is a list of things I enjoyed about the series:
- As I said, masterful storytelling. I found myself holding my breath and reading faster, just to find out what happened next in certain scenes.
- Sanderson makes fun of terrible metaphors by having his main character come up with terrible metaphors. The main character, David, loves metaphors, but is REALLY bad at employing them. As an English nerd, this makes me happy.
- All of the characters were fun and unique. Even the bad guys were awesome, and you had to respect them.
- Twists and turns--like, a ton of them. When I finished the second book, I was so amazed at what had just happened that I kind of growled and shouted and yelled at the book for the cliffhanger (true story).
- I loved the semi-realistic feel of the land. In the first book, "New Cago" is the city--a city that has been turned to steel. The image made my imagination go wild.
- The fact that David is a nerd. I don't know why, but I appreciate when authors make the hero a more realistic person.
- Sanderson's knowledge of the weaponry he is writing about. I wrote this one for Jeremy. One of the things he hated in Divergent was the fact that Tris was always just holding a gun. No description, no type of gun, nothing. It was always just "a gun." Sanderson shows his knowledge by having a lot of weapons show up in the course of the series, but David's weapon of choice is a Rifle. That just adds a whole "wild west" feel to this futuristic setting.
- Finally, Sanderson is great at making his characters vulnerable and human. Despite precautions taken by the Reckoners, they make mistakes. They fail occasionally. But they learn from it and become much stronger in the process.
Guards of the Shadowlands-- Sanctum
Hey guys!
It has been a while--which is funny, because I have actually been reading a LOT of books, and listening to a lot of audiobooks while I have been working.
However, before I talk about any of the cool, new things I have been reading, I need to talk about this trilogy that I haven't been able to get out of my head, which has been really frustrating, because there was SO much about this trilogy that I didn't like. However, I heard once that flawed novels make for the best discussions. Let's test this theory, shall we?
So, since this is a trilogy, I will give you a brief run-down of the first book, and try not to provide any major spoilers, because, well, as much as there was to dislike about this book, there was also a lot that I really LIKED about this book, and it has given way to a lot of interesting thoughts and conversations so far. (If you aren't opposed to audiobooks, listen to it. If you have a kindle, you can go onto Amazon.com, and get each of the kindle books and add the Audible narration for a total of about $6 per book/audio. I LOVED the narrator).
WARNING: There is a LOT of language in the beginning of this book. It kind of tapers off after the first few chapters of the first book and isn't such a problem during the later books, but in the beginning there is a lot you kind of have to trudge through.
So, the story begins with Lela Santos, a teenage girl with a (very) troubled past. She has been in and out of foster homes her entire life, and most of those homes are memories Lela would rather forget. On her first day at Warwick High, she meets the most popular girl in school (Nadia) and helps her out of a tricky situation. The girls become best friends, and Nadia helps Lela to see that she can have a future, and to not let the past ruin that future.
Fast forward a year. The girls are about to graduate, and are planning to attend college together. Lela is excited to have a life, and excited to be sharing it with her best friend. Unfortunately, all is not well with Nadia. Nadia has a sort of perfection complex, and has been digging herself deeper into a drug problem. Just a few months prior to graduation, Nadia commits suicide.
It should be noted here that Lela is not stranger to suicide. Once, in her most abusive foster home, she felt like she had no other options, and tried to commit suicide herself, before being resuscitated by her foster father. She has had nightmares ever since about what she saw at that time; instead of the peace and tranquility she expected from death, she had been dropped in front of an enormous city, around which was a massive wall, and a "suicide gate" that let--and kept-- people in the city. Basically, what she saw was Hell.
Anyway, back to the story. After Nadia dies, Lela begins having horribly realistic dreams where she is seeing what Nadia is seeing as Nadia wanders through Hell, lost, confused, and scared, and all the while still wanting nothing but for it all to "end." Lela, trying to clear her head, tries several times in various ways to let go of Nadia and move forward, but none of her methods seem to work. One night, about a week after Nadia kills herself, Lela decides to go to Nadia's favorite place--a seaside cliff walk near their home in Rhode Island. One of Lela's "visions" comes on her again while she is on the trail, and she ends up falling off the cliff walk, into the ocean.
When Lela next wakes up, she is in a beautiful meadow. All her cares are gone, and she realizes that she, too, has died. Everything feels wonderful, until she remembers Nadia. All of a sudden, she can see beyond the gorgeous meadow and into the Dark City (another term for Hell). Lela then makes her decision; she decides to give up paradise in order to go rescue her friend.
She sneaks past the guards at the suicide gate and into the dark city, where she immediately realizes that--besides being dark, smelly, slimy, and filled with people who are unaware of the city around them--the city has some terrifying secrets.
All Lela wants to do is get Nadia and leave the city. She manages to make some friends along the way, who are willing to help her. But her journey through the Dark City is even more difficult than she had imagined it would be, and Lela isn't sure she can find Nadia within this city of millions.
Sounds like an intriguing plot, right? I thought so, too, which is why I picked it up. But like I said, this novel has a lot of flaws. So let's talk about those first.
As I mentioned, there is sooooo much language. Jeremy and I were listening to this in our car recently, and I realized that after a time, I must have started blocking out the cussing. The "F" bomb is a particular favorite of the author's, and I didn't see the necessity of that.
Another thing I disliked was the weird... I guess symbolism. Yeah, I suppose it was an attempt at symbolism. In the city there is a place called the Sanctum. In order for anyone to get out of the city, you have to go to the Sanctum and arrange to meet with the Judge, who tells you if you are ready to leave. Being a religious sort of person, I imagine you can guess how I equated that in my mind. Everyone throughout the novel refers to him (the Judge) as completely just, so imagine my surprise as Lela steps in front of the Judge and the Judge decides to appear as a woman "Because I felt like wearing heels today." That was a little bizarre to me. Not to mention that as the books progress, you get the feeling that the Judge is more like a Greek god. It seems that the characters are the chess pieces, and the judge moves them at will. That was a bit rough for me.
And--oh my goodness--you have never experienced teenage angst like you will in this book. I mean, I had my fair share of crushes and heartbreaks, but not like Lela experiences in the pages of this series. I am trying to think of an accurate description, but my mind is drawing a blank. Just know, that if you invest yourself in this book, there is a soap opera waiting in its pages. No, it isn't quite that bad. But there are a lot of eye-rolling "I leaned into him and breathed deep, taking in his smell. He smelled of earth, and salt..." moments. So, uh... sweat? On the upside, it DID lead to a great conversation that indeed, girls do NOT actually think this way, so that was nice.
All that being said, there was a LOT I loved about this book. First and foremost--as I mentioned before--this book has sparked a TON of interesting conversations between Jeremy and myself. We have talked about the attitude of the people in the Dark City, and how interesting it is to us that they fail to connect with the world around them. That has led to talks about our world today, and how we sometimes act like the people in the dark city. We have talked about the Tower, which is a place in the Dark City that makes people re-live and see their greatest fears. It is extremely difficult to pass through, but as people pass through it offers them the chance to give up the fight and instead lay down in the tower for eternity, at "peace." The world building is amazing, and the concept of the afterlife was illustrated in an incredibly intriguing way. We have talked about the whole premise of the story--the idea of a friend sacrificing everything to rescue another friend, and what that entails. Really, there is so much to talk about, it would take a long time for me to detail it all. But I can't tell you how many times we have tied our conversations back to this series, referencing some obscure scene.
I absolutely loved the characters in this book. They are all so vastly different, yet each one felt so human I could relate to them all at certain times. I could relate to Lela. She loves her friends, but also has some very real feelings of frustration towards them At the same time, I can relate to Nadia, because it is hard for me to give up fundamental personal beliefs, especially when it comes to being perceived by others. I can understand Malachi, who wants to be strong, and wants to protect those he loves, and Ana, who is graceful and deadly, and distances herself from everyone she meets because she has lost someone in the past. The portrayal of people in this book is very real, and I found myself seeing people I know in the characters.
I have thought about this book for days, and weeks. I devoured the series, and can't seem to get it out of my head. If you are okay with some language, some angst, and some really strange symbolism, you should pick up this book, because what it lacked in those areas it definitely made up for elsewhere. Read this book!!
It has been a while--which is funny, because I have actually been reading a LOT of books, and listening to a lot of audiobooks while I have been working.
However, before I talk about any of the cool, new things I have been reading, I need to talk about this trilogy that I haven't been able to get out of my head, which has been really frustrating, because there was SO much about this trilogy that I didn't like. However, I heard once that flawed novels make for the best discussions. Let's test this theory, shall we?
So, since this is a trilogy, I will give you a brief run-down of the first book, and try not to provide any major spoilers, because, well, as much as there was to dislike about this book, there was also a lot that I really LIKED about this book, and it has given way to a lot of interesting thoughts and conversations so far. (If you aren't opposed to audiobooks, listen to it. If you have a kindle, you can go onto Amazon.com, and get each of the kindle books and add the Audible narration for a total of about $6 per book/audio. I LOVED the narrator).
WARNING: There is a LOT of language in the beginning of this book. It kind of tapers off after the first few chapters of the first book and isn't such a problem during the later books, but in the beginning there is a lot you kind of have to trudge through.
Fast forward a year. The girls are about to graduate, and are planning to attend college together. Lela is excited to have a life, and excited to be sharing it with her best friend. Unfortunately, all is not well with Nadia. Nadia has a sort of perfection complex, and has been digging herself deeper into a drug problem. Just a few months prior to graduation, Nadia commits suicide.
It should be noted here that Lela is not stranger to suicide. Once, in her most abusive foster home, she felt like she had no other options, and tried to commit suicide herself, before being resuscitated by her foster father. She has had nightmares ever since about what she saw at that time; instead of the peace and tranquility she expected from death, she had been dropped in front of an enormous city, around which was a massive wall, and a "suicide gate" that let--and kept-- people in the city. Basically, what she saw was Hell.
Anyway, back to the story. After Nadia dies, Lela begins having horribly realistic dreams where she is seeing what Nadia is seeing as Nadia wanders through Hell, lost, confused, and scared, and all the while still wanting nothing but for it all to "end." Lela, trying to clear her head, tries several times in various ways to let go of Nadia and move forward, but none of her methods seem to work. One night, about a week after Nadia kills herself, Lela decides to go to Nadia's favorite place--a seaside cliff walk near their home in Rhode Island. One of Lela's "visions" comes on her again while she is on the trail, and she ends up falling off the cliff walk, into the ocean.
When Lela next wakes up, she is in a beautiful meadow. All her cares are gone, and she realizes that she, too, has died. Everything feels wonderful, until she remembers Nadia. All of a sudden, she can see beyond the gorgeous meadow and into the Dark City (another term for Hell). Lela then makes her decision; she decides to give up paradise in order to go rescue her friend.
She sneaks past the guards at the suicide gate and into the dark city, where she immediately realizes that--besides being dark, smelly, slimy, and filled with people who are unaware of the city around them--the city has some terrifying secrets.
All Lela wants to do is get Nadia and leave the city. She manages to make some friends along the way, who are willing to help her. But her journey through the Dark City is even more difficult than she had imagined it would be, and Lela isn't sure she can find Nadia within this city of millions.
Sounds like an intriguing plot, right? I thought so, too, which is why I picked it up. But like I said, this novel has a lot of flaws. So let's talk about those first.
As I mentioned, there is sooooo much language. Jeremy and I were listening to this in our car recently, and I realized that after a time, I must have started blocking out the cussing. The "F" bomb is a particular favorite of the author's, and I didn't see the necessity of that.
Another thing I disliked was the weird... I guess symbolism. Yeah, I suppose it was an attempt at symbolism. In the city there is a place called the Sanctum. In order for anyone to get out of the city, you have to go to the Sanctum and arrange to meet with the Judge, who tells you if you are ready to leave. Being a religious sort of person, I imagine you can guess how I equated that in my mind. Everyone throughout the novel refers to him (the Judge) as completely just, so imagine my surprise as Lela steps in front of the Judge and the Judge decides to appear as a woman "Because I felt like wearing heels today." That was a little bizarre to me. Not to mention that as the books progress, you get the feeling that the Judge is more like a Greek god. It seems that the characters are the chess pieces, and the judge moves them at will. That was a bit rough for me.
And--oh my goodness--you have never experienced teenage angst like you will in this book. I mean, I had my fair share of crushes and heartbreaks, but not like Lela experiences in the pages of this series. I am trying to think of an accurate description, but my mind is drawing a blank. Just know, that if you invest yourself in this book, there is a soap opera waiting in its pages. No, it isn't quite that bad. But there are a lot of eye-rolling "I leaned into him and breathed deep, taking in his smell. He smelled of earth, and salt..." moments. So, uh... sweat? On the upside, it DID lead to a great conversation that indeed, girls do NOT actually think this way, so that was nice.
All that being said, there was a LOT I loved about this book. First and foremost--as I mentioned before--this book has sparked a TON of interesting conversations between Jeremy and myself. We have talked about the attitude of the people in the Dark City, and how interesting it is to us that they fail to connect with the world around them. That has led to talks about our world today, and how we sometimes act like the people in the dark city. We have talked about the Tower, which is a place in the Dark City that makes people re-live and see their greatest fears. It is extremely difficult to pass through, but as people pass through it offers them the chance to give up the fight and instead lay down in the tower for eternity, at "peace." The world building is amazing, and the concept of the afterlife was illustrated in an incredibly intriguing way. We have talked about the whole premise of the story--the idea of a friend sacrificing everything to rescue another friend, and what that entails. Really, there is so much to talk about, it would take a long time for me to detail it all. But I can't tell you how many times we have tied our conversations back to this series, referencing some obscure scene.
I absolutely loved the characters in this book. They are all so vastly different, yet each one felt so human I could relate to them all at certain times. I could relate to Lela. She loves her friends, but also has some very real feelings of frustration towards them At the same time, I can relate to Nadia, because it is hard for me to give up fundamental personal beliefs, especially when it comes to being perceived by others. I can understand Malachi, who wants to be strong, and wants to protect those he loves, and Ana, who is graceful and deadly, and distances herself from everyone she meets because she has lost someone in the past. The portrayal of people in this book is very real, and I found myself seeing people I know in the characters.
I have thought about this book for days, and weeks. I devoured the series, and can't seem to get it out of my head. If you are okay with some language, some angst, and some really strange symbolism, you should pick up this book, because what it lacked in those areas it definitely made up for elsewhere. Read this book!!
Monday, April 13, 2015
The Midwife
After a terrible week last week, I finally have some time and mental capacity to share about this book I just finished!
If you have seen "Call the Midwife" on Netflix (or on BBC, when it was playing), you are one step ahead of this post. My mom mentioned the show several months ago, and one day, while Jeremy was in class, I decided it was time to try it. Truly, it is AWESOME. I immediately fell in love with the characters and their stories.
For the uninitiated, "Call the Midwife" follows nurse Jenny Lee (center in the picture above) and her fellow midwives who work in a convent. They are in the slums of London in the 1950's, and the challenges they face are incredible. Not only was this a fascinating series, but from what I understand, it is pretty accurate to the time period. And--if you allow me a moment to gush--I LOVE the clothes and hair of the fifties. It really doesn't have much to do with the story, but look at Nurse jenny lee in the picture below. She is beautiful, and I want that dress. However, yellow looks terrible on me, so I will settle for learning how to do the hair.
Anyway, So the series ran for three (short) seasons, and after I watched the series, I found myself wanting to know more. Luckily for me, "Call the Midwife" is based on a book that Jennifer Worth (Who actually was Jenny Lee, until she got married) wrote about Midwifery. The Midwife is the memoir she wrote, because she wanted people to learn about the truths of Midwifery.
Disclaimer: There are actually two books you can find by Jennifer Worth. One is The Midwife, which is the original, and one is actually a series--Call the Midwife. The Midwife was written before BBC came out with the series, and is a single book. Call the Midwife is a trilogy--the first book is identical to The Midwife, as far as I could tell. The table of contents was identical. I don't know anything about the other two books. I decided to start small, and go for the original. If anyone decides to read the series, you should tell me if it is similar to the original.
I loved the book! Jennifer's voice is so engaging, it felt like I was there in the situation. Although many characters are introduced, then left behind, it doesn't feel like your head is overloaded with names and places. In a way, I suppose it feels much like what a midwife would experience--where you get to witness just one small glimpse of a life, and that glimpse changes that family forever.
There was a huge mix of emotions in this book--there were beautiful stories, and there were sad stories. There were graphic stories, and there were terrifying stories. I am forever grateful that I did not pick up this book while pregnant, because there is a story about a woman who gets "Eclampsia," which is a rare, incurable disease that affects women who are pregnant. *Shudder.* But overall, the stories were so great that it didn't read like a memoir; it read like historical fiction, and after finishing, I want to know more.
Please read this book--it is amazing! And then talk to me about it, because no one else I know has read it yet, and I am dying to discuss this with someone!!
Happy reading!
If you have seen "Call the Midwife" on Netflix (or on BBC, when it was playing), you are one step ahead of this post. My mom mentioned the show several months ago, and one day, while Jeremy was in class, I decided it was time to try it. Truly, it is AWESOME. I immediately fell in love with the characters and their stories.
For the uninitiated, "Call the Midwife" follows nurse Jenny Lee (center in the picture above) and her fellow midwives who work in a convent. They are in the slums of London in the 1950's, and the challenges they face are incredible. Not only was this a fascinating series, but from what I understand, it is pretty accurate to the time period. And--if you allow me a moment to gush--I LOVE the clothes and hair of the fifties. It really doesn't have much to do with the story, but look at Nurse jenny lee in the picture below. She is beautiful, and I want that dress. However, yellow looks terrible on me, so I will settle for learning how to do the hair.
Anyway, So the series ran for three (short) seasons, and after I watched the series, I found myself wanting to know more. Luckily for me, "Call the Midwife" is based on a book that Jennifer Worth (Who actually was Jenny Lee, until she got married) wrote about Midwifery. The Midwife is the memoir she wrote, because she wanted people to learn about the truths of Midwifery.
Disclaimer: There are actually two books you can find by Jennifer Worth. One is The Midwife, which is the original, and one is actually a series--Call the Midwife. The Midwife was written before BBC came out with the series, and is a single book. Call the Midwife is a trilogy--the first book is identical to The Midwife, as far as I could tell. The table of contents was identical. I don't know anything about the other two books. I decided to start small, and go for the original. If anyone decides to read the series, you should tell me if it is similar to the original.
I loved the book! Jennifer's voice is so engaging, it felt like I was there in the situation. Although many characters are introduced, then left behind, it doesn't feel like your head is overloaded with names and places. In a way, I suppose it feels much like what a midwife would experience--where you get to witness just one small glimpse of a life, and that glimpse changes that family forever.
There was a huge mix of emotions in this book--there were beautiful stories, and there were sad stories. There were graphic stories, and there were terrifying stories. I am forever grateful that I did not pick up this book while pregnant, because there is a story about a woman who gets "Eclampsia," which is a rare, incurable disease that affects women who are pregnant. *Shudder.* But overall, the stories were so great that it didn't read like a memoir; it read like historical fiction, and after finishing, I want to know more.
Please read this book--it is amazing! And then talk to me about it, because no one else I know has read it yet, and I am dying to discuss this with someone!!
Happy reading!
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