Three Fun Fiction Picks

When it comes to reading quirks, I have a few.

I like to read nonfiction during the day, and fiction at night. I like to read lighter fare during the warmer months; there's something really nice about reading deeper stories curled up on my couch under a blanket.

Oh, and I like dead characters.

Below, three fictional diversions I've enjoyed in the past few weeks. (It's been hot, so these books are on the lighter side.) What about you? What are YOU reading? And won't you share a few titles and your opinions? Contact me using the comments below or leave a message on my Facebook Page about dogs and books and stuff.

Be Frank with Me 

When a smart and dear teacher-friend mentioned how much she enjoyed this title, I immediately requested it from library. (Hi, Tracy!) The 2016 release is built on some lovable and looney characters and I loved the dialog. The story wasn't nearly as strong as the people author Julia Clairborne Johnson created, but hey, it was fun spending time with them.

The Whole Town's Talking

Another 2016 release, and similarly full-of-good-characters-but-light-on-plot book that I heartily recommend. Especially if you like dead characters. This one's by Fannie Flagg; the author who was responsible for Fried Green Tomatoes. As you'd expect, then, good characters and great conversation. Even from the grave.

Conclave

My dad recommended this; how could I not read it? From Robert Harris, whom the Irish Times says "out-camps" Dan Brown, comes an intriguing (but I remind you, fictional) look inside the Vatican during a Conclave in the not-too-distant future. I saw one plot twist coming...but the other took me quite by surprise. Fictional, yes; campy? I'm not sure. I like to think the author was sending a message. I'd love to hear your interpretation!

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And if you don't want to interpret, how about a full-on review? I'm ALWAYS open to guest posts! Get in touch by commenting below or leave a message on my Facebook Page about dogs and other stuff that makes me happy. 

Wild & Wonderful: Discoveries on the Trail

So it took me a few years to get to the 2012 bestseller, Wild, by Cheryl Strayed.

Like most autobiographical memoirs, Strayed's first book has had a few dubious readers - Vanity Fair dug a bit deeper into her encounter with a reporter from The Hobo Times, for example. I was more interested in a list of some of the things that didn't make the final cut of Wild, however.

And while the 2014 movie had many fans, it had a fair number of disappointed viewers as well. (Look, the book is always better than the movie.)

Anyway, it was another title I couldn't put down, meaning I ignored my family for several hours in order to read it. In other words, great book to take on vacation!

#DefinitelyRecommended

Happy reading! 

Hemingway's Girl - Hemingway for Beginners?

I thoroughly enjoyed this breezy novel about life on Key West during the depression, a time that sucked a lot of air out of the years between WWI and WWII. But even then, life and love went on, and Hemingway did his thing.

Don't Judge a Book By its Title

When some of Ernest Hemingway's novels were assigned reading (way back when), I'm sorry to say they didn't appeal to me. So - silly as it may seem - ordinarily I would've dismissed this book on title alone. But a recommendation can be a powerful thing, and when a friend raved about the book, I decided to give it a try. Sure am glad I did. (Thanks, Hannah!) 

Now, to be clear, the book is not by Hemingway, but a novel about a young girl's fictional friendship with the author, known to many as "Papa." Like all good historical fiction, bits and pieces of history (actual, not alternative, facts) are plentiful throughout the book. Still, generally, reading anything by or about Hemingway isn't a big draw for me. The good news is that Erika Robuck may have changed my mind about her muse, or perhaps more accurately, reminded me that one's tastes in literature (and life?) can change in a decade or two. Or three.

Florida and the Great Depression

The setting was as vital to the story as the characters, and while I've done some research into what life was like in Florida during WWII, I have read and studied very little about the years leading up to it so learning a bit about that era was a bonus. We may bemoan the current state of politics and worry about the economy, but oh, we've come a long way, baby.

Hemingway, who trained as a newspaper reporter, was no saint. (And no, that was not necessarily redundant). This novel includes his penchant for fighting, drinking, and extramarital affairs.

Key West Setting and Ohio Appeal

The stretch of land (islands, really) that comprises the Florida Keys is golden, grand, hot, sticky, and sunny, almost always. In other words, an appealing setting for an Ohio reader, especially during a gray winter. But I like the nod that the author gave to our often-overlooked change of seasons: 

"God, you haven't lived until you've seen the leaves change color up north.  ... The best part of the snow is the silence. It muffles the world. You've never heard such silence as a nice batch of snow makes."       ~ Erika Robuck, Hemingway's Girl (c) 2012

Who Will Enjoy this Book? 

Fans of Hemingway might - or they might not. Personally, I think it may be a "gateway read" that could convince a non-fan to read some of his works, again, years after they were listed as required on a class syllabus. Whether you're a Hemingway fan or not, this title is an enjoyable light romance and well-written work of historical fiction.

Although it's not a YA, per se, it is appropriate for advanced readers in middle- and high-schools. (Meaning I'd rate it a PG.)

 

I have also reviewed A Moveable Feast -- about his first marriage -- and didn't like it much either. But, you can be the judge.

Are you a Hemingway fan? Have you ever read his works? I'd love to hear from you! I welcome comments here, and on my Facebook Page.

Life is Good, The Book

Life is Good: The Book by Bert and John Jacobs
Published by the National Geographic Society
(c) 2015
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I'll admit I didn't want the book at first. I assumed it was a collection of feel-good stories, pithy quotes and cute line drawings and nothing very substantive.

I'm glad I read it!

Two Entrepreneurs, One Story

Bert and John Jacobs founded the Life Is Good company by selling t-shirts from a beat-up van. It was before "angel investors" were all over Twitter, before eCommerce was available as a free plug-in for your Wordpress site. The company's start-up phase lasted years. The van was a mess.

In those hustling, hard-working years, they knew they had something...they just didn't know quite what.

   "From the start, we saw the T-shirt as a great vehicle for communication. What you say on the outside says a lot about who you are on the inside. We just needed to figure out what we wanted to say." [p. 62]

They figured it out at a keg party.

It's About Optimism

I won't spoil the how-the-Life-is-Good-company-found-its-niche story, but I will say that you should never underestimate the importance of having awesome friends and parties. The original slogan and drawing that became Life Is Good really was born in a "meeting" of the minds - AKA a late night with lots of friends and beer.

Also, while the company sells t-shirts, the value has more to do with the message on them than the cut, color and (super-soft) cotton they're made of.

Two Entrepreneurs, Many Stories

To their credit, the Jacobs brothers share much but not so much that it's all about them. The book is well-crafted because it shares many related stories, all of which support the whole. And, I have to say some of my initial, pre-conceived notions about the book were accurate. It's packed with graphics, lists and cute pictures. But in a good way - they are not filler, but part of the story.

The Boston Connection

I should've seen it coming, but I didn't. Near the end of the book is a section, just about five pages recounting, recounting the horrible sadness when bombs went off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, on Patriots' Day, 2013.

I've had little connection to city where I was born most of my life, but in the past five years or so I've worked regularly, creating and managing content for a marketing firm in Boston.

Managing content is usually a matter of planning and scheduling. Posts are created ahead of time to cover holidays and other special events. But when the world stops, the internet keeps going...and it becomes a place where people turn for news, escape, sanity, solace...whatever they need. So while I was horrified, worried about and hurting for people I worked "with" but only via email and phone lines, and feeling helpless (what could I do?!) i was also trying to help by sharing appropriate nuggets (do we really NEED a Facebook post today?) and more thoughtful blog posts as time went on. Reading about how Life is Good employees gathered together in the immediate aftermath would have been a little painful for anyone; for me, it hit a tad close to home. The good news, of course, is that because the company is built on optimism, the Life is Good team had a little extra resilience.

The follow-up, describing how the company responded with the Nothing is Stronger Than Love design (seen above, on the keyboard where I typed about the bombings) is a textbook example of good PR and good business.

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Who would enjoy this book? 
It's a good business story; might make a good gift for a recent grad trying to find his or her way in the (corporate world); is easy to read (like on an airplane or beach vacation!) and would certainly be of interest to almost anyone in the Boston, MA area. 
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Full disclosure: I bought the book because I need to upgrade my wardrobe. Most of my t-shirts come from my kids' sports teams and...well, let's just say some of them are ready to move on to the great rag-box in the garage. The book was advertised as part of a T-shirt & book promo package at the Life is Good website, and I'm happy with both my new shirt and the book. If you just want the book (it makes a nice gift!) you can save some $$$ and pick up the book, by itself, from Amazon. 
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Read any good books lately? As always...guest reviewers are welcome! Get in touch in comments on this blog or leave a message on my Facebook Page, Dumb Things We Say to Dogs. 

Dru Who? Just Kidding - LeBron's High School Coach Has Much to Share

I purposefully held this post until the NBA championships hullabaloo faded away... but HOO BOY what a series, right? Now, let's talk Beyond Championships.

Written by Dru Joyce II, Beyond Championships: A Playbook for Winning at Life could be overlooked as a title by a wanna-be celeb. In fact, in today's publishing industry (*sigh*) it's possible the reason the manuscript was given serious attention by Harper-Collins is because Joyce coached a kid from Akron named LeBron James. 

Well, let that go. In fact, the book is worth reading and the teen edition is the printed version of a trusted (read: non-parent) advisor for kids who are at all sports-minded. 

Good Guidance, Influence on LeBron

Released in 2015, Beyond Championships surely got a boost from the forward by Akron's favorite son and Cleveland's adopted hero, LeBron James. But if it's possible to take off the star-struck glasses when you read, you can see the kid behind the big name (and endorsements) - the kid from Akron who, without a lot of support, could have turned out differently. 

Love him or hate him (I find it astonishing that there are haters, but ... there are) James is an undeniable force on and off the court - and especially in Northeast Ohio. 

Surely his athletic prowess would've taken him far, even if he had not had the benefit of good guidance and good people in his life, like Coach Joyce. But I suspect Joyce's influence on James reached a little deeper than some others. I think it's possible that some of Joyce's principles - and coaching, preaching if you want to call it that - might have planted the seeds that became the LeBron James Family Foundation. And for that, I am grateful. 

Image: https://www.facebook.com/lebronjamesfamilyfoundation

Stop the haters: 

The LeBron James 

Family Foundation was 

formed before James entered 

the NBA draft. 

Now back to the book. 

Yay, a Book for My Birthday

Have you given a kid a book for Christmas or a birthday lately? Has the child reacted with about as much excitement as they usually use to greet underwear? I'll be honest, my then-11yo was not exactly jumping up and down when we were browsing in a bookstore and I said, "do you want this?" 

Fortunately, nagging paid off in this case and he actually read it. He admitted he liked the book (teen edition) and even though he was a little disappointed (and Joyce says right up front) that the book had little to do with basketball, almost every page hinges on a basketball analogy.

Because buying my kid a book for his birthday and making him read it wasn't enough, I asked him to review it, too. 

Here's what he had to say.  

What would you tell someone about the book?
It's not all about LeBron, which is really good. (My kid isn't a hater, but he's got a chip on his shoulder when it comes to recognizing individuals over team.) It wasn't all about basketball either. It was like 'life lessons from a coach.' He used a lot of examples from LeBron and his friends and teammates at St. Vincent/St. Mary. 

What was the theme?
Work hard, have faith in your beliefs. 

Was it preachy? 
Coach Joyce is a Christian, but he's not preachy. 
Translation: the bible verses come in one-sentence quotations, not paragraphs. 

Advice for Players, Parents, People

To his brief review, I would add that while the book draws largely on Joyce's experience coaching, he is also a player, a parent, and a person - and his advice comes from all of those experiences. 

More often than not the advice and 'life lessons' are delivered using sports analogies. And let's face it, those work for a lot of us. (Hello, NBA ratings.) 

Recommended? 
Yes. OK, for a birthday present, maybe not so much. Back-to-school read? Sure. Before basketball team tryouts? Great idea.

Original Text or Teen edition?
The teen edition is simply a lighter, shorter version of the full-length book. While it's written on about a 3rd grade reading level, its message is the same as the one in the complete text. If you're a time-crunched adult, you won't feel silly reading it yourself. 

Happy I Found The Alchemist

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. Just a page or two into the narrative, "lyrical" was the word that came to mind to describe it.

Not exactly surprising, considering Coelho worked as theatre director and actor, lyricist and journalist before  he claimed "author" as his full-time job. 

While the book is about pursuing your dream - and the story was lovely - I found the language itself as inspirational as the book's message. This is not a snarky way of saying I thought the book was weak (although quite a few Goodreads reviewers said just that). I'm very glad I read it. 

The Alchemist was on my radar several years ago, but so were dozens (hundreds?) of other titles, so I might never have gotten around to reading it if I hadn't gone grocery shopping downtown.

Happy Pharrell Mentioned It

That's a long unimportant story; the point of it is this: a magazine I picked up along the way had a great article about Pharrell Williams, in which he lauded the book. Currently, Williams is touting his own book, Happy (what else?), and his literacy campaign with FirstBook.

According to the article, Williams told Rhonda Price that before he read The Alchemist, he felt the universe might be conspiring against him. He credits the book for helping him turn around a general and pervasive frustration at the way his life and career was going.

Happiness is an attitude that is accessible to all people. It's a state of mind and it's real. You don't have to doubt it.  

Pharrell Williams said that, but it sounds almost like a page from Coelho's book.

You can read the whole interview with Williams in vol 26 of Extraordinary Health magazine, and see more quotes from The Alchemist on Goodreads.com. And if you're looking for a short, somewhat inspirational book that will make English sound almost as enchanting as a romance language, check out The Alchemist. 

Tidying, Joy, and What ARE you reading???

I've been feeling extra busy lately. Since reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,  I realize I have some closets to sort through. (If I'm not back next month, please send a search party.)

In fact, I didn't read the whole book because (1) I got really excited and cleaned out my drawers and a bookshelf!! and (2) I had to return it on time because someone else requested the book from the library. Clearly, the title struck a nerve. A dysfunctional one, at that. But no worries, Psychology Today is on top of it.

So, if you're just hanging out here reading book reviews (when you really should be discovering the joy in trashing all that stuff you've collected over the years), check out Marie Kondo's petite primer on paring down and prettying up your collection of ... well, stuff.

What's that? don't feel like cleaning out the closets today? Why don't you write a book review, then?

Guest reviewers always wanted!! Please contact me on Facebook or Twitter. Please?!

Thanks! 

A Mini-Review and Important Nugget of Advice

Marie Kondo's self-help book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, like many runaway bestsellers, is not packed with groundbreaking new research or information. It is a commonsense argument, presented in an undeniably logical and appealing way. 

Synopsis: 

You have too much stuff. You'll feel better when you ditch a ton of it. Get 'er done. 

Image: https://konmari.com/books

Well, you see now why the book is such a hit. It's a clearly a great idea, and Kondo has a better way with words than I do. 

She also offers a bunch of very practical, how-to tips her a small and unassuming little book - in itself something of a study in design, methinks. 

I particularly appreciated her detailed descriptions of not only which clothing items should be folded or hung, but precisely how. I've been twirling my shorts and shirts into tight little less-likely-to-wrinkle shapes (that remind me of egg rolls) ever since I read it. 

And I truly appreciated the firm but gentle lectures that pop up every few pages. Damnit! How did she know that I still have clothes I haven't worn in the past 4 years? Well, she's right - no joy in those...

I have to admit that I took off into closet-projects before I finished reading the book; so this can't be a proper review. However, I think it's only fair that I get points for taking the intended action. 

Rather than sum up the title here then, I'll leave you with some very important advice: 

Don't give the book to your mother as a gift. 

I have it on very good authority that when you give this particular title as a gift to the woman who has spent your whole life cleaning up after you, she is likely to use it immediately - to smack you in the head. 

So noted? OK. Well. Why don't you go see about one of those closets now, mmmmhm? 

# 

Back to School Book Lists & Other Reading Recommendations

Augh. So my kid who devours Artemis Fowl books - 300, 400, 500 pages at a time - is now facing the rather dull-in-comparison back to school reading list. With considerably less enthusiasm.

I feel you, kid. And you too, parents.

Anyway, before we entered the land of Lois Lowry books and and other familiar titles on those back to school reading lists, I'll admit we spent too little time reading this summer. Making it exactly like the past 15 or so years in our house.

#Notproud

I have friends who eschewed the library's annual summer reading programs; instead, the family implemented its own (much more strenuous) competition. Last I heard mom was behind ... time to reassign chores, methinks!

How Did Summer Reading Go in Your House?

We started strong with an anti-bullying title and what I thought would be a great history book - The Boys Who Challenged Hitler. While the story was strong, I was disappointed in the telling. 

OK I'll admit I'm nit-picking, but come on, what's an editor for? The author did a great job with research and organization, but the book would have been worlds better if it had better transitions and did a better job incorporating some storytelling conventions. 

Picky complaints aside, I recommend it for tweens and teens interested in history. Amazing what a few sneaky kids with solid convictions can accomplish! And - spoiler alert - some of them paid dearly for their actions, spending more than two years in prison during the war. Like I said, it's a great story as well as an extremely interesting chapter in history that might not have been covered in your textbooks - it wasn't in mine! And, in spite of what I think was a sub-par delivery, it's worth a read. 

Busy! Busy! But Not Giving Up on Books

Between work, family time, sports, blah, blah, blah, and some just plain summertime goofing off, it's hard to squeeze in what I consider to be a healthy amount of reading time. I have a hammock that helps a lot. And in the car, I try to enforce at least as much reading time as screen time. 

How do you squeeze in reading time? Your suggestions are mighty welcome...especially as it's about time to hit those back-to-school books. *sigh*

Cure Your Public Speaking Qualms

I have a book on my shelves about public speaking. Just one.  I've tried to part with it many times (only so much shelf space, you know) but I may have to admit it's simply a keeper.

What to Say When...You're Dying on the Platform is packed with outstanding, practical tips, well-organized (making it a good reference book, in addition to good advice) and its tone light and zippy enough to make it a joy to read. 

The book's copyright date is 1995.
Hey, don't judge. 

I like to think this is a sign of my loyalty. Thus far this book has been something I could rely through two husbands, two kids, three moves, several jobs/career moves. Why give it up now?

While I don't consider myself a "professional" public speaker, I seem to land in front of an audience several times a year (not counting when I stand up and complain ask questions at city council meetings). The book provides all that good advice a trusted friend would give you, like "go to the bathroom before you speak," "plan for laughter and interruptions," and lists a variety of ways to protect your voice, before, during and after your speech. 

Here are some examples of the zippy advice offered to nervous speakers in What to Say...

When you get sidetracked or lose your train of thought

- If any of you have heard me speak before, go on to my next thought and I'll catch up  

When you clobber a pronunciation or utter gobbledy-gook 

- Later, I'll pass out printed translations of that sentence - or 

- To help you, the rest of my speech will be dubbed in English 

Lengthier, less jovial advice is offered for more serious topics, including how to go on and deliver a speech or presentation when your heart is heavy.

Equally important, the book also includes a few suggestions on what NOT to say in certain situations.

The Bottom Line? Download and Speak Up! 

Generally, reviews of the book have been positive.  The only complaint I've seen repeated is that the book is a bit too lighthearted. To that I say, first, public speaking isn't brain surgery - or any other sort of science. So, lighten up! And second, I think the author knows her audience well.

Obviously, this book is ideal for someone who's a little bit afraid of public speaking (and based on studies, that's approximately all of us). In addition to all the good advice the book includes, compiled from dozens of professional speakers, actors, and comedians, it will also make you laugh.

And a speaker in a good mood is a better speaker. So there.

While I'm not about to give up my vintage copy, if you want your own, good news - it's still in print. Also, you can download the ebook and use that precious shelf space for something else. Like your trophy for public speaking. ;)

A Fine and Private Place Not (just) for Halloween

Peter S. Beagle's A Fine and Private Place is not the sort of story I'm usually drawn to. If you recommended I read a book about a man who lives in a cemetery and talks to ghosts and a raven, I'd say thanks-but-no-thanks. So, good thing I didn't know that before I'd read a couple of pages. I found the writing so lovely, I couldn't help but keep reading.

Talking Animals and POV

Sure, I talk to my dog but I'm just not very patient with books featuring talking animals. However, the talking raven in A Fine and Private Place is a clearly deserving exception. He's a cranky but keen observer of the human condition and more to the point, human failings.

One thing I found especially interesting: while it's written in third person (limited), each chapter is told from a different character's perspective, and the narrator's voice changes appropriately for each. Although the storytelling technique is hardly unique, in this case, it's managed very deftly. (As I said, the narrator's voice changes appropriately for each...very well done.) It's the first Beagle book I've read, and it certainly won't be the last.

Good Halloween Read?

Now, let's not go jumping to conclusions - just because this fine story is set in a cemetery and the main character has ghosts for friends, you might think it's a perfect book for Halloween. It's not, really. Not that it's a poor choice for Halloween or Dia de los Muertos - I mean, gosh, there are ghosts galore, after all - I just think a well-told story makes a good read anytime. And to be clear, this book has no seasonal hook.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

OK - so, yay! Talking birds aside, I have a new favorite author! #HappyReader 
Want to share some of your favorite books? Or ghastly titles you'd recommend for Halloween frights? Contact me on Twitter or via the Facebook page for my essay compilation, Dumb Things We Say to Dogs.  

Just What the World Needs - Another Self-Published Book

A book of personal essays, yet. Insert eye-roll here.

Obviously, this is an obligatory post of self-promotion.

So, have you read my new book yet?

Speaking of personal essays...

17 That Just Might Change Your Life

Tips from Writer's Digest about crafting reader-friendly personal essays  and

Places to publish them! 

Hello, Goodbye, I'm glad I stuck around

Goodbye Without Leaving by Laurie Colwin was published by Harper Perennial in 1991, and fter nearly a quarter of a century, it may be safe to say we (fickle readers) will never agree on it.

Here's my take: the first half of the book was all about characterization, and plot development just had to wait. I'm rather impatient, and I'll admit I almost didn't wait around for the action to pick up, but I'm glad I did. Once main character Geraldine, the former shake-your-thing back-up singing Shakette, got married (rather against her better judgement), got a job and had a child, things started to really move.

And, since Colwin had fleshed out the characters so that I really knew and liked them, I was rarin' to go along for the ride. When Geraldine's best friend (who was dating a married man) left to become a nun right before Geraldine's European returned to his home continent was a bit disappointing, but only because I liked those girls so much, I wanted to watch them have a little more fun. Not that nunneries aren't fun...

The point is, I found it easy to forgive Colwin for a lack of action at the beginning precisely because she spent the first several chapters letting me develop a relationship with her characters.

Of course, other reviewers have reported feeling the the complete opposite. Decide for yourself. (As if you had any other option, right?) I've made my decision, and I'll happily dive into another of Colwin's works, fiction or non-fiction.

What I particularly enjoyed about Goodbye and specifically, Geraldine's character, was her honesty in admitting her disappointment at not only not fulfilling life's expectations of her -  her, the good girl, who got good grades in a good school, with all the advantages - utterly failing to raise a perfectly manicured child and tuck a sharp corner in her slip-covered couch but also her honesty about failing herself, to be a self she could be proud of. (Hint: that self had nothing to do with slip-covers.)

Sigh. Well, speaking of unfulfilled potential, back to work I guess.

But first, maybe a stop at the library... what are you reading, anyway?

~Diane Stresing

Walls Bares, Bears Much in The Glass Castle

Jeanette Walls' adventurous childhood, thanks to her rather dangerously degenerate parents, scarred her inside and out. She also came out of the experience with a wicked sense of humor and a delightful way with words.

The Glass Castle is a book that I am glad I could not write - I didn't move halfway across the country locked in the back of a U-haul, visit call girls, or build character fighting with sewer rats while growing up, for example - but I am glad Walls wrote of her experiences.

It is a work of nonfiction that is quite difficult to believe at times.

Even more surprising, in the acknowledgement, Walls thanks just about everyone in her family for their support. Memoirs like The Glass Castle, at least the ones I know, don't come out of families where everyone is still speaking to each other. It seems the Walls family could appear together on the Dr. Phil show and no one would need to be restrained.

The book opens in the present, in New York City, with the author in a limo rolling by a dumpster where her mother is foraging. That kind of opening is called a "good grip" and Walls doesn't let go as she drags you into the past with her. First stop: the kitchen, where as a toddler, Jeanette was badly burned. She was cooking her own dinner. Which isn't necessarily neglectful or bad - why, don't you think we coddle our kids a little too much, really?

See, while the Walls kids had little growing up - including food, safety, and the records they sometimes needed to be enrolled in school - they had smart parents who expected the kids to learn and reach their full intellectual and creative potentials. It could be argued that the parents were criminally negligent, or that they did as well or better than the "average" family, whatever that is.

It certainly could be argued, too, that Walls is overly driven and has been all her life in an effort to hide from or overcome her past. It's hard to suggest she's not at least a little scarred by her upbringing; and yet, we are all better off because she chose to share the stories behind those scars.

Which makes me think maybe the Walls parents weren't quite as bad as they sound, and makes me remember something my parents taught me: people who live in glass castles shouldn't throw stones.

~Diane Stresing

Don't it figure? Just as I was about to hit 'publish,' I find out the movie is going into production. Which prompts me to say two more things: 1, Read the book before you see the movie. The book's always better. And 2, How can a 23yo director "get" this story? Wishing you luck, Jennifer Lawrence... and lots of insight. 

The Fault in Our Stars

John Green’s most recent novel, The Fault in Our Stars, follows Hazel Lancaster through a year in her life – a life that’s bound to be too short. Hazel has cancer.

Green uses a fictitious novel (how's that?!) to add a dimension to the story. She and her boyfriend - who is in remission; they met through a support group - ultimately travel to Amsterdam to meet Peter Van Houton, the author of An Imperial Affliction. 

And he's a jerk.

It's just one of many ways Green illustrates the fact that life ain't fair.

When  Hazel and dreamy boyfriend Augustus arrive to meet the over-esteemed Peter Van Houton, the author is not only rude, he threatens to throw them out of his house. 

Hazel and Gus cope almost too well with that, and it's a good thing - because the author's unpleasantness isn't the worst thing that happens on the trip.

Hazel also learns that Augustus has had a relapse.

Interestingly, when she delivers her eulogy for Augustus (whoops - spoiler alert: Gus doesn't make it) Hazel quotes the author who so disappointed her, explaining that she learned from him that “some infinities are bigger than other infinities.”

Fortunately, Green's book is quite a bit bigger than I've probably made it sound; and it's right on target for YA readers - particularly girls.

~Diane Stresing

Who Would Give a Queen a Sloth?

Who would give the queen a sloth, and what's up with the Dustin Hoffman cameo? I almost didn't find out.

As you can see, my dog nearly ate The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart.

All right - the truth is that while "my dog ate it" would be a convenient, acceptable, and almost-true excuse for not finishing the novel, I can't blame the dog. I just took for-ev-er to read it.

Pace More Tortoise Than Hare

Why did it take me forever to read?  Well, it isn't exactly a page-turner. The action unfolds with about the same aplomb as a towel unfolds. No flash, no magic, no special effects. Still, I knew I had to finish it - any book that uses the word hirsute in its first fifty pages deserves that much - and Stuart's story is sweet. I suppose the reason I finished it, slowly, is because I couldn't help but like her almost-too-human characters. They're a miserable lot, but each one is charmingly full of quirks.

Quirky, Sad Characters

Shortly after I'd stumbled over hirsute, I found the Rev. Septimus "lost in the silent ecstasy of wearing new socks." I rest my case.

See, while I truly liked The Tower's crew, I could only spend so much time with them in one sitting.  Frankly, I found their company rather depressing. Even the animals.

It's not really my style to describe a book's plot - scads of other reviewers do that - but in case you don't know, the "zoo" in the title refers to the menagerie of animals that the Royal family received as gifts from heads of state and other Very Important People around the world.

Theme of Loss

In the end, I finally got it - the theme of the book, that is - I think.

I think it's about loss, and more specifically, about moving on after loss. Oh, I suppose the fact that main character Hebe Jones worked at the London Underground's Department of Lost Things might have been a clue, and that a whole plotline revolved around the issue of returning a lost urn might have been another, but look, give me a break. I have Stage III FTGO,* after all.

If you get to the end of this book - and I recommend it, really I do - you're going to need a tissue, but don't worry, it'll be a cathartic cry. Oh, and just for fun you'll be rewarded with a bizarre appearance by Dustin Hoffman. (Stuart could go on the lecture circuit just to explain how she came up with that.)

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go buy a new chew toy for my dog, and look for a happier cast of characters.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~Diane Stresing

*Failure To Grasp the Obvious. I'm sure the DSM will get around to including it one of these days...

The Phantom Tollbooth: Guest Post from a Third Grader

 A kid named Milo is very bored. He finds a tollbooth in his room and drives through it. In there he finds many new friends, has new adventures, more problems, and more solutions.

The Characters
The main character is Milo. He meets Tock, a watch dog, the Humbug, Rhyme and Reason, the Which, King Azaz, the Mathamagician, the Dodecahedron,* Dr. Dischord, and the Terrible Dynne.

The Setting
The settings are Milo's apartment, Dictionopolis, Digitopolis, the Land of Disillusion, the Island of Conclusions, the Way to Infinity, the Castle in the Air, and the Valley of Sound, which is silent, until Milo sets the sounds free.

The Problem
The problem is Milo is bored. He says, "There's nothing for me to do, nowhere I care to go, and hardly anything worth seeing."

The Solution ... is found inside the Tollbooth. 

* my mom had to look up this word

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Thank you to a talented young writer for this guest post.  Like fantasy? Some others I've enjoyed here: http://what2readornot.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-to-banish-reading-doldrums.html

Another Attempt at Twitter Reviews

Currently I #amreading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which is probably going to make my personal "all time best nonfiction reads" list, but - you know the rules - I can't actually add it to the list until I've finished reading it. So, how 'bout it? Join me on Twitter for a series of short comments on the book?  Characters being scarce, I'm using the tag #HeLa - as a bonus, there's already a robust group using the tag, a mix of readers and scientists.

If you have any tips or suggestions for Tweeviewing,* or whatever we should call this silly exercise, I'm all ears. The only other time I've tried this was for a book I didn't like much, so this time I'm a little more interested in the outcome.


*This could be bigger than Tebowing, don'tchathink?