Arts Week

Arts

This week we each read an arts book from one of the subtopics we laid out for Reading University.  Our subtopics needed to fit one of the following criteria:

Fine Arts - fiction or non-fiction book where a fine art piece or an artist plays a major role in the plot (painting, drawing, comics, photography, and sculpture)
Visual Arts - fiction or non-fiction book where a visual art piece or a visual artist plays a major role in the plot (dance, theater, film)
Music - fiction or non-fiction book where a musical piece or a musician plays a major role in the plot

Books Selected:

Zach (Art - Fine Arts)

Burglars Can't Be Choosers by Lawrence Block
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Bernie Rhodenbarr is a thief.  He steals things for himself, but sometimes he's hired to steal for others.  Bernie is on the job, and things quickly go south after he is hired to steal a special box.  Now he's on the lam, and he needs to clear his name.  This is a fun book with lots of twists and turns.  I will read the others in the series.




Michelle (Art - Music)

The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp
My rating: 3 1/2 of 5 stars

I love the Sound of Music!  It's one of my favorite movies.  The music, the romance; funny and dramatic all at the same time.  I really enjoyed reading about the real "Family Von Trapp".  I loved the little pieces that matched up with the movie, and the real parts that didn't.  I now know that the movie barely scratches the surface of their unique life.  Their ups and downs, riches to rags, their life in America.  If you are a fan of the Sound of Music, definitely give this one a read.



Maddie (Art - Dance)

Chihuahua Confidential by Waverly Curtis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A mystery solved, and a reality show underway.  After solving the murder of Rebecca's husband and getting her funds to make her dream a reality, Rebecca and Geri head out to L.A. for the first official filming of "Dancing with the Dogs".  Geri has been invited to compete with her dog Pepe, and it is expected to be a fun break from sleuthing.  But of course a mystery is afoot on the set of the new show, and one of the judges is murdered!  An activist is blamed and a mysterious package is missing.  Geri must try to solve this mystery before "Dancing with the Dogs" is over or the killer gets away.  But before the end of this treacherous competition Geri shall discover if Caprice is Pepe's true owner and if she is, will Geri be willing to give up Pepe in spite of her own wants?

Dead people, missing dogs, and innocents blamed, will Geri and Pepe be able to discover the true murderer before time runs out?  Or will the killer escape the spotlight without consequence?  This mystery will leave you glued to your seat with each twist and turn.

Night

Night by Elie Wiesel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow. This book absolutely wrecked me. I made the mistake of reading a little of it before I left for work, and had to put it down for a day to let my soul heal. Elie Wiesel shares his story of spending time in the World War II concentration camps of Auschwitz, Buna, and Buchenwald. Separated from his mother and three sisters, his father and he work in the camps, struggling through the cold, starvation, and cruelty to survive the war. He tells his story in such a way that you can picture the scenes. He pulls you in, stomps on your heart, and leaves an imprint on your soul. Don't be fooled by the short length, as his words are so powerful, so compelling, that you will find enough in these pages to last a lifetime. This book is a must-read.

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The Story of the Trapp Family Singers

The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love the Sound of Music! It's one of my favorite movies. The music, the romance; funny and dramatic all at the same time. I really enjoyed reading about the real Family Von Trapp. I loved the little pieces that matched up with the movie, and the real parts that didn't. The movie barely scratches the surface of their unique life. Their ups and downs, riches to rags, their life in America. If you are a fan of the Sound of Music, definitely give this one a read.

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The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner by James Dashner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book took me some time to get into. I think it was a combination of stupid vernacular and lack of character development. You want explanations? You won't get them here. The author tries overly hard to keep you as in the dark about what is happening in the Glade as Thomas. Drop me in a place where I have no clue who I am, where I am, or why I am there, and you had better believe I would be demanding answers. Not so with Thomas. He just blindly accepts his fate for the most part, and doesn't push when no one seems to tell him what is going on.

That aside, I like the concept of the Maze Runner, and I am interested enough to read the next book in the series when I can find it for cheap, and will most likely take the kids to see the movie, so I'm giving it 3 stars.

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Social Science Week

Social Science

This week we each read a social science book from one of the subtopics we laid out for Reading University.  Our subtopics needed to fit one of the following criteria:

Anthropology - fiction or non-fiction book set in a culture or country different from yours
Religion - fiction or non-fiction book about a religion, sect, or cult, or about a religious figure
Psychology - fiction or non-fiction book about psychology, a psychological disorder, a psychiatrist, or where the main character has a mental disorder
Education - fiction or non-fiction book about education, an educator, or set in a school
Political Science - fiction or non-fiction book about a political movement, government, politicians, or spies


Books Selected:

Zach (Political Science - Politics and Governments)

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 4 1/2 of 5 stars

A Game of Thrones is an epic series by George R.R. Martin (aka the American Tolkien). In the first book, Ned Stark becomes the hand of the King, not by choice. What happens next is full of political intrigue, violence, and drama. If you enjoy medieval settings, adventure, politics, or high fantasy books, you should definitely check out this series.




Michelle (Psychology - Addiction and Recovery)

Blackout Girl: Growing Up and Drying Out in America by Jennifer Storm
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pull out your powdered wigs and gavels, everyone, because judgments are incoming!

Blackout Girl is a book about one woman's journey into addiction at age 12 to her recovery 10 years later. Along the way, terrible, terrible things happen because of her poor decisions, the company she keeps, and her family. Yes, her family. I place partial blame on her parents. Jennifer Storm has a lot of love for her father and disdain for her mother. It's clear she doesn't blame her father for his poor parenting skills or lack of involvement, but there is a lot of blame for her mother along the way. I blame all three equally for the route Jennifer's life took. This book hits all of the qualifications for addiction: traumatic emotional event? Parental divorce? Siblings involved with a "bad crowd"? No parental rules, supervision, or involvement? Between the cutting, the drugs, and the staying out all night, I wanted to stage an intervention with the entire family.

I believe some people do have a genetic disposition for addiction, and Jennifer Storm also lived in an environment that created the perfect storm for her life's journey. Kudos to her for finding her way out before she killed herself, and she seems to have come to terms with who she is and has a relatively normal adult life.

You will want to shake her and her parents along the way, but stick with the story until the end to hear what she learned and how she made a commitment to change her life one day at a time. Then go hug your kids and tell them to never, ever touch drugs, and ground them for a week just to be safe. Just kidding! Mostly.


Maddie (Political Science - Politics and Government)

Divergent by Veronica Roth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Divergent is set in future Chicago, and the government has split society into 5 factions: Dauntless for the brave, Candor for the honest, Abnegation for the selfless, Erudite for the intelligent, and Amity for the happy. When each kid turns 16, they go to a sorting ceremony and choose which faction they will join. That faction becomes their family. The story is about Tris, the choices she makes, and how she becomes her own person.  It is also about the government and how it impacts their lives with rules and regulations.

The Power of an Hour

The Power of an Hour: Business and Life Mastery in One Hour a Week by Dave Lakhani
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Power of an Hour is a good book for teaching out the basics of action planning and time management. The author breaks the book down into 18 different hours of focus to impact your business and your life.
If you are looking for tips to get organized and impact your business, take a look at his tips. Can't hurt; might help.

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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Oh, F. Scott. Not entirely sure how to feel about this tale. Should I laugh? Should I cry? In the end, I did neither.

Let me start by saying I adore Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. I love the lyrical descriptions, the flawed characters, and the excess, vanity, and tragedy oozing through each line. Even the characters I hate are drawn perfectly enough to understand their motivations and poor decisions. Not so with Benjamin Button. We fly through his life in reverse with little detail. I'm left with so many unanswered questions. What happened to his mother? How did the split with his wife occur? What in the world was everyone around him thinking as he regressed right into a crib and on to his grave? The story is told through Benjamin's point of view, and as a result we aren't shown any other perspective. It left me a little depressed at the end. Benjamin was unlikeable as he "aged" into his immaturity, which is probably the point. I think Benjamin is supposed to be a sympathetic character, but I didn't feel it as I read. Fitzgerald was said to have called this "the funniest story ever written" but at no point did the story make me laugh.

If you are looking for a short story by Fitzgerald, I recommend Bernice Bobs Her Hair instead. Much more satisfying.

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Blackout Girl

Blackout Girl: Growing Up and Drying Out in America by Jennifer Storm
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pull out your powdered wigs and gavels, everyone, because judgments are incoming!

Blackout Girl is a book about one woman's journey into addiction at age 12 to her recovery 10 years later. Along the way, terrible, terrible things happen because of her poor decisions, the company she keeps, and her family. Yes, her family. I place partial blame on her parents. Jennifer Storm has a lot of love for her father and disdain for her mother. It's clear she doesn't blame her father for his poor parenting skills or lack of involvement, but there is a lot of blame for her mother along the way. I blame all three equally for the route Jennifer's life took. This book hits all of the qualifications for addiction: traumatic emotional event? Parental divorce? Siblings involved with a "bad crowd"? No parental rules, supervision, or involvement? Between the cutting, the drugs, and the staying out all night, I wanted to stage an intervention with the entire family.

I believe some people do have a genetic disposition for addiction, and Jennifer Storm also lived in an environment that created the perfect storm for her life's journey. Kudos to her for finding her way out before she killed herself, and she seems to have come to terms with who she is and has a relatively normal adult life.

You will want to shake her and her parents along the way, but stick with the story until the end to hear what she had learned and how she made a commitment to change her life one day at a time. Then go hug your kids and tell them to never, ever touch drugs, and ground them for a week just to be safe. Just kidding! Mostly.

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And Then There Were None

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

10 people go to an island, and none come out alive. I think this is my favorite Agatha Christie novel out of all I have read. This is an amazingly plotted mystery, and it's easy to see why so many people love it. It's so interesting to see how each person is murdered and how it unfolds, and then to hear the how and why by the guilty party when you had no idea. The clues are cleverly laid out, but somehow you are kept guessing until the very end. You quickly find that no one is innocent, and everyone has their dark secrets. A true classic!

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History Week

History

This week we each read a history book from one of the subtopics we laid out for Reading University.  Our subtopics needed to fit one of the following criteria:

American History - fiction or non-fiction historical book set in North America
European History - fiction or non-fiction historical book set in Europe
World History - fiction or non-fiction historical book set outside of North America and Europe
Alternate History - books from the alternate history genre

Books Selected:

Zach (European History - Non-fiction)

The Spartans: The World of the Warrior-heroes of Ancient Greece by Paul Anthony Cartledge

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book because it explained the daily life of the Spartans, their values, and a look into the history behind their culture and some of the major battles.  My favorite section was about the Persian Wars.  If you love history, especially military or political history, or reading about ancient cultures, you will like this book.

Michelle (American History - Non-fiction)

Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot by Bill O'Reilly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

More like 2 1/2 stars. I didn't enjoy it as much as Killing Lincoln, but it was pretty good. A bit sensationalized in places and very much about the Kennedy administration rather than a focus on the assassination and aftermath. O'Reilly makes a lot of assumptions and embellishes situations--how could he possibly know the content of private conversations or the inner thoughts of the players involved? Pick it up if you want a quick read about Kennedy, his philandering ways, his brother Bobby, and a bit about his daily life in the White House.

Maddie (American History - Non-fiction)

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book directly follows "Little House in the Big Woods." The Ingalls family is leaving their home in Wisconsin for the West.

Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life

Callings by Gregg Levoy
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Meh. Expected a more engaging, thoughtful read of inspiration and ideas. I don't know that I was in the right headspace to appreciate the content of this book. I will potentially give it another read if I feel like I get to a point of transition in my life, but there wasn't anything there that spoke to my soul.

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Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot

Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot by Bill O'Reilly
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

More like 2 1/2 stars. I didn't enjoy it as much as Killing Lincoln, but it was pretty good. A bit sensationalized in places and very much about the Kennedy administration rather than a focus on the assassination and aftermath. O'Reilly makes a lot of assumptions and embellishes situations--how could he possibly know the content of private conversations or the inner thoughts of the players involved? Pick it up if you want a quick read about Kennedy, his philandering ways, his brother Bobby, and a bit about his daily life in the White House.

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Literature Week

Literature

This week we each read a literature book from one of the subtopics we laid out for Reading University.  Our subtopics needed to fit one of the following criteria:

American Novel - literature genre set in North American or by a North American author.

European Novel - literature genre set in Europe or by a European author.

World Novel - literature genre set outside of North America and Europe or by an author from outside of North America or Europe.

Poetry - book or collection of poems from any country, including anthologies of poetry.

Books Selected:

Zach (American Novel)

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle
My rating: 3 1/2 of 5 stars

Robin Hood and his merry band of men rob from the rich, give to the poor, and celebrate with great feasts.  Each story tells the tale of how each person joined Robin Hood's adventures.  They laugh a lot, and the ending will surprise you.  If you like disguises, competitions, male bonding, and merriment, this is the book for you.

Michelle (American Novel)

The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a collection of short stories that run the spectrum of emotions for me, but this review is about "The Lottery". I have read this 3 different times in my life, and knowing the ending doesn't make it any easier to read. This story is about tradition, and what can happen when people blindly follow what has been done in the past without stopping to question why we do the things we do. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but I feel this story is an absolute "must read" for everyone. It will spark deep discussion, and it will change your perspective.

I need to go cry in a corner now and be depressed for the remainder of the day. Well played, Ms. Jackson, well played. This story left an imprint on my psyche and I will be thinking about it for days.

Maddie (American Novel)

White Fang by Jack London
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

White Fang is about a wolf-dog who lives Yukon with his mother, father, and four siblings.  During a time of famine, his family dies and he lives alone with his mother.  They soon run into some Eskimos who take them in.  He slowly adjusts to life with humans, then his mother is sold and taken away from him.  He becomes a sled dog and is sold to a cruel owner and forced into a terrible, violent life.  White Fang is rescued by a loving owner who only wants the best for him, but White Fang no longer trusts.

Will White Fang ever learn to trust again?  Will he ever be free?  Faced with challenges, and life-threatening tasks, White Fang is an enriching tale that will keep you glued to your seat.

The Lottery and Other Stories

The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a collection of short stories that run the spectrum of emotions for me, but this review is about "The Lottery". I have read this 3 different times in my life, and knowing the ending doesn't make it any easier to read. This story is about tradition, and what can happen when people blindly follow what has been done in the past without stopping to question why we do the things we do. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but I feel this story is an absolute "must read" for everyone. It will spark deep discussion, and it will change your perspective.

I need to go cry in a corner now and be depressed for the remainder of the day. Well played, Ms. Jackson, well played. This story left an imprint on my psyche and I will be thinking about it for days.

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First Lord's Fury

First Lord's Fury by Jim Butcher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Epic conclusion to Tavi's journey from boy to man, politics and intrigue, and Alera's quest for victory in the face of the enemy.

I felt this book was the weakest in the series, although I still very much enjoyed it. I was so invested in these characters over the course of the previous 5 books, and there was so much focus on the Vord that we did not get much time with the characters who had made this such a remarkable series. Still definitely worth the read, but the narrative would have been better served if Butcher had split this 550 page novel into a seventh book, allowing more time to understand each character's perspective to the world of Alera at war with this new enemy. I did appreciate the epilogue, and am very glad he left them in a good place, with resolution and hope for the future.

Just read it and immerse yourself into the world of Alera. 3 1/2 stars.


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