Unexpected Pleasure

I finished The Dog Master by W. Bruce Cameron this morning. It was a very good book. I didn't expect it to be. (If you want to see how it came to be in my hands, read my previous post.) And, now that I've finished it,...I miss it already.

There's one person in this world I know will appreciate this book the way I do. I sent him a personal recommendation. In fact, part of what I'm saying to you comes from the pieces I put together, in my own mind, to recommend it to him.

I've come to realize that it's difficult for me to recommend certain books to people without knowing them personally, without knowing what they like and dislike. It's also difficult for me to trust another person's recommendation, unless they know me personally. I also know that what you bring to a book has some bearing on what you get out of it. The season of your life can also determine the filter you look through when you read books. Some things offend certain people, while others would think nothing of the 'offense'. It's quite complex, when you think about it.

And, yet, I try to write a book review blog to the masses. Yes, ironic, I know.

With all that being said, it's unfair for me to ask you to trust me about this book without knowing you. You may not like it at all. So, I will recommend this one by using the same words a friend used to me. She said, "I know a book is good when it changes me."

This book changed me.

Dang, Broke My Promise!

I am sorry I haven't posted, as I promised I would last time. If I told you what all I've been doing since my last post, you wouldn't believe me. Heck, I don't even believe me. All is better now, though. Work didn't let up, I just got my priorities in the right order again.

On to books...

I was recently given a copy of a lovely book entitled Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. The book is a treat, no matter your age, but I'd say it's written for pre-teens. It has a beautiful cover and a few colorful treasures on the inside, as well. It's a life lesson for us all, showcased through the quest of a young girl who seeks to improve her family's fortune. She learns many folktales along the way, so it's many stories within the story. It's one of those books filled with simple wisdom, which we all need reminding of from time to time. I liked it so much I bought another copy for my classroom bookshelf.

And now...

I am currently reading The Dog Master by W. Bruce Cameron, and I just have to talk about this book before I've even finished it. I've never come across a book that sounds so boring when I try to describe it, and it is anything BUT boring! I am already halfway through the book, and I am absolutely enthralled!

I know nothing about the author, and I knew nothing about the book before I began reading it. I actually had a student who handed it to me on Friday and said, "You need to read this." (He's a young man of few words.) It is an adult book, but he reads on an advanced, high level. I honestly didn't expect to be crazy about the book. I simply started reading it this weekend because my student wanted me to. Now? I am completely hooked!

And before you get the wrong idea, let me try to explain something. I'm not an over-the-top animal lover. I never (and I do mean NEVER) read books where a dog plays a main role. Don't get me wrong, I like dogs just fine. I just don't treat them like humans because they aren't. I have nothing against people who feel that way, I'm just letting you know that I don't love this book because I'm a huge dog lover.

I love this book because it is well-written, intriguing, suspenseful, violent, passionate, and makes me want to beat up a few characters. Yes, it really is that good,...but I would never have believed it if I wasn't reading it myself. And reading the stuff on the back cover doesn't help you figure out how good it is, either.

I don't like to talk about a book until I've finished it, but there's no way this author could disappoint me. If it all went down hill from here (which I know it won't), I'd still give it a good review just based on the first half. Yes, I like it THAT much.

So, if you'd like to step out of your comfort-zone-genre, and I always encourage readers to do that, I think you should check it out. I promise it's like nothing you've read before. If it is, please post and tell me another book like it...because I will definitely want to read that one, as well.

That's all for now. I have papers to grade...

Happy reading!

Still Here...

I'll be brief. (I don't have any other choice.)

School is back in session, and I have my hands full. Unless you are a sixth grade English, Language Arts, and Reading teacher in Texas, you wouldn't fully understand. I would explain to you the difference in what I do, as a teacher, that's different because of the grade I teach and the content I teach and,...well,...many other things,...if I had the time.

Instead, let me say this:

As full as my hands are right now, my heart is overflowing! My students are precious and anxious to learn. We're getting to know each other quickly, and we've already read three chapters in our class novel, and we're working on a project for it. Good things are happening, and we're all excited to be together, learning together.

Life is BUSY, but life is GOOD!

(And I promise to post about books this weekend!!)

Happy reading!

Audiobooks?

I've listened to a total of...six,...yes, six,...audiobooks in my life. That's including one I used in my classroom. Needless to say, I do not claim to be an expert. And, as I mentioned in my post yesterday, I'm pretty picky about what I listen to. I have sampled quite a few, but I know after just a couple of minutes if I like what I hear or not.

I've listened to Claire Danes read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, which I enjoyed. I'd already read the book, a couple of times, but it was a long time ago. Danes did an excellent job. I didn't choose it because she's famous or an actress. I chose it because I like the sound of her voice, and she paces her reading well.

The two books I've listened to most recently are Bare Bones: I'm Not Lonely If You're Reading This Book by Bobby Bones and Seriously...I'm Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres. I really enjoyed hearing the authors read their own works, particularly because they're storytelling about themselves and giving their opinions.

I didn't know anything about Bobby Bones, but I learned he's a very popular radio DJ in Nashville. He's syndicated. After I read the book, I found out most people I know seem to know who he is, but I didn't. I enjoyed hearing about his life. He is very entertaining, honest, and inspirational...in an awkward kind of way. If you don't know his story, I would suggest it. The only reviews I saw that didn't seem to like it, as much as I did, were his fans who already knew his story. In other words, the book didn't reveal something to them they didn't already know.

Ellen's book was different. It isn't her life story, it's little stories and social commentary and...silliness. When I first looked it up, I saw it was only a little over three hours of listening time. That seemed a bit short for me, and too short to spent $14.99 on it. However, I had a credit with Audible, so I decided to get it.

I chose to listen to Ellen on my morning walks, and I found that it was entertaining and made me laugh. I will say, though, there are times when she's just rambling. I almost felt like I was hearing her random thoughts as they zoomed across her brain. Of course, I also found this entertaining because it's nice to know my brain isn't the only one who sounds that crazy. ;) I don't think I would have appreciated it, though, if I'd paid the full price for it. (I'm just being honest.) 

I've always liked Ellen, but I had no idea we agree on so many things about how the world should work. She's a bit of an old-fashioned kind of lady, and I appreciate that about her. While the book is light-hearted, she does encourage the listener to do good in the world and have a social conscience about what we're doing, as humans, to the world around us. I liked her before, I like her even more now.

Well, there you have it. My limited knowledge on audiobooks. I'm hoping to use my new found interest in audiobooks to read more books during the school year. I don't have any trouble fitting in the books I want during the summer breaks, but I always get less pleasure reading done once work cranks back  up.

I hope you're enjoying a good book, no matter what form it comes in. :)

Happy reading!!

Listen...

I've  never been one who listens to books on audio. It just...wasn't my thing. I'm not going to say it is now, in a broad sense, but I've certainly learned to appreciate what audiobooks have to offer.

I first gave audiobooks a chance when I used one for my classroom. I wanted my students, who were struggling readers, to hear a book that had thirteen different voices. It was a way of showing them how to hear 'voices in their heads' and differentiate between characters when they read. Needless to say, they loved it, as did I. I did not, however, see the need for me to listen to audiobooks, personally, as I love to read in my own head.

Then, a few years later (yes, seriously), I decided to take a long road trip alone. I went to Half Price Books and found an interesting book on CDs. I thought I'd try it. I really enjoyed it! The book kept me company, I laughed and cried along with the characters, and - as often happens with books - the theme suited something I needed to think over. It was good for the brain and good for the soul. And good for the miles! I drove eighteen hours and enjoyed every minute! Did that hook me into audiobooks? No, not really, though I'd learned to appreciate them a little more.

Fast forward to...almost four years later (again - yes, seriously)...

I was cleaning out and reorganizing my home library. I had a small basket with some books in it. When I dug through them, I found a book on CDs that I had bought long ago (after my inspirational road trip), but had never listened to and forgot I had them. I decided that I needed to either get rid of them or listen to them. I opted to see if it worked for me to listen while I just did my daily driving and trips to see my daughters (one lives an hour away, one lives three hours away). Once again, I loved the experience and enjoyed the narrator so much that I looked up to see what other books she narrates.

It was about this time that a teacher friend of mine showed me how her Kindle has her books on it, but that she can switch to audio when she wants. "Whaaaat?! How did I NOT know this?" (Possibly because my head is usually buried in a book? ;) I got excited about all the possibilities! I could read a book at home and, when I have to run somewhere in the car, take the voice with me to continue the story!

Now, I'm officially a member of Audible. That's right. I'm finding ways to get through my TBR list much faster, which makes me happy. I'm not rushing through the books (I'd never do that), I've just found more ways to enjoy them and allow them to filter into other places during my days and evenings.

I am picky, though. I have to like the narrator. I also still prefer to read for myself when I can sit with a book (or Kindle) in my hand. It also depends on my mood because I love to listen to music, too. I'm still pretty darn happy, though, to find more ways to get my reading time in - especially now that school is about to start up, and I have less pleasure reading time than I do in the summer.

By the way, I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile. Summer has flown by! I'll try to write on a more regular basis now that my yearly academic routine is about to kick in. I do have some books to tell you about, as well as a couple of audiobooks you might find interesting. I will post again tomorrow to tell you about those.

I have to go for now. My classroom is begging me to keep working and setting up for the new school year!

Happy reading!!

Creepy,...but Fun?

I decided to give this subject its own blog entry. It doesn't belong with "Enchanted and Unexpected." I'm not even sure where to start (or where it belongs), so...bear with me.

Creepy and spooky isn't really my thing (I've mentioned this before). Well, not when it comes to books, anyway. I've always loved to watch a good horror film, late at night, with my daughters. It's something we all enjoy when we're in the mood for it. I've never really been into creepy books, though,...until now. What's changed? Well, let's see if I can figure it out. (After all, I write to know what I'm thinking.)

I'm not quite sure how it happened. It started with The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchinson. I was a bit unsure of that one. But there was something about it I liked. I also enjoyed the short novel The Grown-Up by Gillian Flynn (both were mentioned in my June 5th post). I decided to test out a few more "creepy" ones to see if I actually liked the genre, or if I was just fascinated with something new. 

I just finished Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon, and I can definitely say I'm now hooked on weird, creepy novels where I'm never quite sure where they're going to end up. Don't Breathe a Word definitely fits that bill! The funny thing is, I actually became interested in this particular book because of the vast differences in reviews I read on Goodreads when I was trying to scope out some creepy books for my "testing" process.

One review gave McMahon's novel one star, and the reviewer ranted and raved about how stupid the whole premise of the novel was. She ranted so much, I had to stop reading the review because I was afraid she'd spoil it for me. I also read a couple of reviews where people just loved it. I was...perplexed. I decided to read it for myself and see which side I was on. You know, just for fun. :)

I can definitely say I'm in the category of people who loved it! (Maybe that one-star-reviewer is a Twilight fan?) It's even hard for me to use the word "love" when talking about a creepy book, but I DID love it - creepiness and all. I think the real fun for me is how busy it keeps my brain, as it tries to figure out how the tale will turn next, what is real and what isn't, and trying to decide if it trusts the narrator. 

Don't Breathe a Word is about a woman, Phoebe, who finds herself in the middle of a family mystery. Her boyfriend's sister disappeared fifteen years ago, and the mystery has come back to haunt them. It's difficult for Phoebe to know what is real and what isn't. She's haunted by her own demons, while she tries to help him figure out his and what happened to his sister. The novel goes back and forth between present day and fifteen years earlier. It is dark, it is twisted,...aaaaaand it is plays on that little girl "niggle" in the back of my brain that remembers (quite clearly) when I used to jump as far out from my bed as possible for fear of something grabbing my feet. 

The story really pulled me in, and I finished it much faster than I wanted (3 days),...but I couldn't help it. It is a definite page-turner! I am happy to say that McMahon has other novels along this same line, and I have just started the next one, The One I Left Behind, and I am thrilled!

I'm still wondering, though, why I'm suddenly interested in this genre of books. Hmmm...

I am aware I read books for a variety of reasons. Most of the time, it's to understand more about myself and the people around me. It's to find connection, comfort, insights, adventure, and laughter. When I think about the books I usually read, I know all the things I love about them. 

So, why the attraction to the weird, the morbid, the demented, and the creepy? 

I like that it's a puzzle I'm trying to solve, that's certainly part of it, but there's more to it than that. I think it's because...there's no love. (Wait, I'm checking my brain.) Yes,...yes, I do believe that is part of the appeal. I've never really read "romance" novels but, as my youngest daughter pointed out to me not too long ago, almost every story has some kind of love story in it. And she's right. In fact, I just remembered the reason I found The Butterfly Garden. My daughter told me she'd read more novels if I'd find books that didn't have a love story in them. THAT is how I got started down this warped (but enjoyable) path! And, I admit it, I'm enjoying the books being about the mystery, the weirdness, the oddities, the crime, and NOT being about who ends up with who in the end. 

Well, I'm glad we figured that out. ;) 

Enchanted and Unexpected

Enchanted

The last time I blogged about books (before my Oregon trip), I had just started The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim. I took my time reading this one, and read a few in between, for a variety of reasons. Some books I really enjoy in small doses, when the storyline isn't hard to hold on to and characters are so strong they stay with you. This is one of those books. 

The Enchanted April was first published in 1922, and it's as interesting to read about the author, and how the novel was received back then, as it is to enjoy the actual book. I won't hesitate to tell you that it is written more formally than contemporary prose, naturally. In fact, there were times I chuckled to myself about how much her detailed writing reminds me of Henry James (I chuckled because someone I know hates Henry James for that very reason. I happen to love him.). The women in the novel are SO Victorian...and, yet, so remarkably like women today. The language may be more formal, but the emotions are the same.

The novel revolves around four women who decide to put their money together and take a holiday together in Italy. They are tired of their dreary lives in London and take a month long vacation together as equal partners in renting a castle by the sea. The women don't know each other prior to this adventure. All they know about each other is they all have the desire to escape the city of London for a holiday to restore themselves.

It is a charming story, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found myself quite enchanted by the lot of them. I found out there's a movie, made some time ago, but I watched the trailer and was disappointed in what I saw. I don't think I'll be watching it. Some characters are just meant to stay in books, and live in the mind, where they are the most colorful.

Unexpected

Now, I promise I'm not calling this part of the blog "Unexpected" because the title of the next book I'd like to talk about is The Unexpected Waltz by Kim Wright. I'm calling it that because I didn't expect to like this novel. I was attracted to it when I previewed it because I liked the cover, and the blurb on the back of the book sounded like my kind of thing. However, a couple of chapters in, I thought, 'I'm not going to like this one. I will not be able to relate to the main character and, at this point, I don't even like her.' I almost abandoned it. I told myself I'd read a little more before I gave up on it. 

I also admit the reason I didn't give up on it quickly was because the setting of the book is my hometown. I've never read a novel set in my own hometown, and I was interested to see it through the eyes of the author, who now lives there. While that was part of what propelled me forward, it wasn't what hooked me and made me enjoy the rest of the ride. And, yes, ladies and gentlemen, I enjoyed it.

The Unexpected Waltz is a life lesson for,...well,...let's just say it. It's a life lesson for people my age. By "my age," I mean anyone 40 and over. And, if you're an old soul (as I have always been), I'll say 30 and over. The lesson is about what you do when you find you're not at the place you thought you should be, and you may not even be the person you had always hoped you would be. What do you do? It is interesting and charming to find out what the main character does, how she deals with her life, and what she learns. She begins by trying to learn how to ballroom dance. What she ends up understanding is so much more.

And what did I learn? I can tell you a couple of things I learned without giving anything away...

1) Always make a large entrance (don't be timid)

2) Step strong (even if you're unsure it's the right step)

They're not just good dance tips, my friends. They're good life lessons. :)