City of Tranquil Light

Bibliography
Caldwell, Bo. City of Tranquil Light: A Novel. New York: Henry Holt, 2010. Kindle file.
image from: http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1317066792l/8152618.jpg
My Thoughts
I didn't think I would enjoy this book as I started reading. I had my tablet handy to keep notes because I didn't think I would connect with the story or the characters. I was also intimidated by the setting (China) and my lack of knowledge about this region.

The novel weaves together Will's narration with Katherine's letters. This fiction book depicts the characters and details beautifully that it reads as nonfiction. There is, as one of my friends said, "honesty of the characters."

Will and Katherine are missionaries in China. They spend almost twenty years in Kuang P'ing Ch'eng (City of Tranquil Light). This is home. They face many trials and heartaches while in China and meet many people. The author layers these elements together in a way that is not preachy, condemning or unrealistic. My heart was pounding at one episode because I wasn't sure what the outcome would be.

Some of my favorite lines: "One of the few things I did know was how much I didn't know." How true! At one point in the book, Katherine comments that "We, who came to help the people here, are the beneficiaries of their kindness"--I have found this to be the case many times in my life. God has an amazing way of filling me when I think I'm filling someone else. When the "villain" Hsiao Lao explains, "examine me...given proof of how rightly I live my life" I laughed. How ironic that this "bad" man could think he's good. Well...first impressions are lasting, but they might not be accurate. It speaks to me that even when we consider ourselves to be good, we can do bad things and bad people can do good things. The author examines this idea with the Hsiao Lao character.

*I read this book on my Kindle, which doesn't give page numbers.

As I was finishing the book, I was touched by Will's love for his wife. This book is about relationships--many different kinds of relationships--friendships, marriage, grief, loyalties. It was a great read, taking me to a time and place that I didn't know much about before reading.

I often experience moments of connection. While reading this book, there is a description of Germans moving to Russia under Czarina Catherine II's reign. In a different book I'm reading (about the Dust Bowl), there is a description of Germans moving to Russia under Czarina Catherine II's reign. It's funny to me that these two books can tie together.

Texas Library Association (TLA) conference

Usually I take time to post about the books I've read. However, I think I need to post this after returning from conference.

First let me say, I HAD A BLAST! This year's annual event was held in Ft. Worth. The weather was great, the hotel was near the convention center and the free (and mostly cheap) books were autographed & hauled home.

I saw and spoke with so many authors! This was the first time I attended the conference as a librarian. My interests were a little different than the previous times I've attended. I stood in many lines for my students---I recognized a name and waited to see the book cover to know, "Yep, I've got someone reading that!" I actually tried to interact with specific vendors and find out if my library needed what they were selling.

I walked and walked and walked. I even took a walking tour of downtown one morning. I learned so much about the city in that hour.

Did I mention I met authors? I heard panels of writers talking about their craft, their motives, their inspirations, their fan mail, their journeys.

So excited to attend and look forward to next year's conference in San Antonio.

The picture is Libba Bray and me...just hanging out before her panel discussion. She is HILARIOUS!

War Horse

Bibliography
Morpurgo, Michael. War Horse. New York: Scholastic, 1982. Print.

My Thoughts
I understand that this is a "juvenile" book. However, I did catch myself thinking things like, "Wow, this horse understands German?" or "How is it that this horse can accurately describe a setting" when I would then catch myself wondering why I didn't question the narrative voice coming from the HORSE?!

Joey is a remarkable horse. His tale begins when Albert's father buys him at auction. He is later sold and sent to war. During his service, he was used in the cavalry, to pull an ambulance cart, a "prisoner" that helped move large guns, and as a symbol of peace between sides. His story comes full circle as he and Albert are reunited (you knew that would happen, right? After all, Joey is, at the very least, trilingual). Even though I knew this would happen, I was happy when Albert & Joey are reunited.

Morpurgo sets the story during a real historical event. He gives the reader a sense of the war at an age appropriate level (which is why the horse is a perfect, non-judgemental narrator).

I won't share how the book ends. You'll need to read it for yourself. Oh, the movie is a great visual of the book.

Child of Dandelions

Bibliography
Nanji, Shenaaz. Child of Dandelions. Toronto: Second Story Press, 2008. EPUB file.

My Thoughts
This check out was a mistake. I was trying to figure out how to get a book from our district ebook collection to my Kindle, when I just hit a "random" title. This was it. I liked the cover. I started reading and found myself continuing the story.

This is Sabine's story. She is a Ugandan Indian. Her skin is brown. Her best friend is Zena.  She is African. Her skin is black.

The year is 1972.

The new government has issued an evacuation of all Indians out of Uganda. Sabine doesn't think this applies to her, as she is Ugandan. She was born here. Her father was born here. Her grandfather came and worked the land and built a thriving business. The government is not trying to expel her. (She thinks).

Race tensions are high and as a reader, I felt my racing heart several times wondering what would happen. The story is told through Sabine's eyes. The soldiers she sees become enemies because of their treatment towards Indians.

The tension between skin color creates a rift in Sabine's and Zena's friendship. Zena says, "I must break this cycle [working for Sabine's family] or we'll always be your slaves" (Nanji 119).  She further explains and perpetuates the new government's propaganda when she says, "Your people have clogged up our land" and "You took our land and made us look after it. Now we want it back." Nanji 119). Even though this story takes place in 1972, these accusations are timeless. One side sees another side as the enemy. Sabine is angry at her friend's new stance and declares that "Friendship was not a football to be tossed around and kicked" (Nanji 129). I love the metaphor.

The evacuation affects Sabine's family. Her uncle is missing and ends up dead. Her Papa must flee. Throughout the story, he has called Sabine his "brave boy" and tells her to be brave when he leaves. She obeys.

Katana works for Sabine's family. He is African. Sabine realizes "It was not only Mr. Singh or Lalita who were prejudiced, but she and her family as well. The whites and the soldiers, too. They were all prejudcied" (Nanji 170). Her innocence is destroyed. "She and her family had been treating the Africans like the untouchables in India" (Nanji 169).

For a young lady, she must grow up quickly. She realizes that there are different kinds of courage--like a crayon box. She wonders "what color was she?" (Nanji 173). I liked this description, too.

Nanji's writing is vivid, truthful and not overly sentimental. When Sabine tries to get the required paperwork for her family, the scene is described so vividly. The lipande line "coiled and curved for hundreds of yards along Jinja Road, a long, bright slithering serpent whose head was the tall, red-brick Immigration Office building. Its jaws were the double glass doors that opened every few minutes to let a few people in and then closed" (Nanji 199).

When she and her family ultimately leave their home, Sabine very maturely states, "It's just a house, she thought. It became a home only when it was filled with the love, trust, and hopes of her family. Turtles carry their homes with them so they are always at home. I will carry my home with me" (Nanji 220).

I do not know Ugandan history, but after reading this story, I've learned about a piece. It seems that this story could be taking place in the present, as I hear stories on the news of "ethnic cleansing"--or maybe I don't even pay attention to the stories because it takes place "over there." I'm glad my check out "mistake" turned into an interesting read.

Fallen

Bibliography
Kate, Lauren. Fallen. New York: Delacorte Press, 2009. Print.

My Thoughts
I liked the bare bones story, but I wish Lauren Kate would have arrived at it sooner. This book was a bit mystery, lots of forced drama, and a predictable love story. I just kept slogging through to find out how the mystery surrounding the characters would be explained.

I kept thinking that Kate had a checklist of "this is everything best sellers have had, so I'm going to include them in my book, too." She perpetuated some stereotypes (i.e., clueless parents) and didn't really include a fresh narrative voice. (The main character was too whiney, insecure and allowed quite a bit of freedom to be at a reform school). At times, I thought the story was too slow (see my slogging comment above), and at the same time, there were parts that just zoomed by me. There were hints of intrigue, but I honestly finished the book disappointed.

I bookmarked many pages as I was reading because I felt like there were clues to the story on the page. I don't even want to look back to see what else I marked.

I have allowed myself permission to not finish the series (there are three more books). I will probably see the movie later this year, and like other books, it may help me change my mind about this book. For now, I'm disappointed and wished I used the time with a different book.

Sorta Like a Rock Star

Bibliography
Quick, Matthew. Sorta Like a Rock Star. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2010. Print.

My Thoughts
Taken from the back cover:
"Amber Appleton lives in a bus. Ever since her mom's boyfriend kicked them out, Amber, her mom, and her totally loyal dog, Bobby Big Boy (Thrice B), have been camped out in the back of Hello Yellow (the school bus her mom drives). But Amber, the self-proclaimed princess of hope, refuses to sweat the bad stuff. Instead, she focuses on bettering the lives of the people around her. But then a fatal tragedy threatens Amber's optimism--and her way of life. Can Amber survive and continue to be the princess of hope?

With his oddball cast of characters and a heartbreaking, heartwarming, and inspiring story, author Matthew Quick builds a beautifully beaten-up world of laughs, loyalty, and hard-earned hope. This world is Amber's stage, and Amber is...well, she's sorta like a rock star. True? True."

I think this summary is spot on! Amber helps others because she wants to help them. When circumstances happen, those she helped in turn help her with the most generous of hearts.

I enjoyed Amber's character. Early in the book, I wasn't sure I could get past the "WORD" interruptions she throws out there, but I stuck with the book and when I finished, I smiled. It was refreshing and heartwarming and kind. I think we need to read more kindness.

Amber has a true friend in Donna. Donna is the mom Amber wishes she could have. I liked the tough exterior/role model character that Donna provides the story. Donna's son Ricky is autistic and Quick does a good job making him realistic and dimensional.

I loved the literary allusions. I can tell that Amber is a reader. When she asks her mom about "fishing fo' men" and the mom responds "Nope. Nothing." Amber replies with, "a good man is hard to find" (Quick 11). As Flannery O'Connor is one of my top three favorite writers, I really enjoyed this allusion.

The Hope vs. Pessimism contest every Wednesday made me laugh. Joan of Old faces off with Amber. Amber always wins. At first, I though this was a bit far-fetched, but Quick wrapped it back around and that story line became integral to the conclusion.

A week before reading this book, I was watching Katie Couric's talkshow. Her guests were Robert DeNiro and Bradley Cooper, and they were talking about this movie they made entitled, Silver Linings Playbook. It sounded interesting and something I'd like to watch. When I finished reading this book and looked at the back cover, I learned that this author (Mathew Quick) wrote Silver Linings Playbook. Strange timing!

The Light Between Oceans

Bibliography
Stedman, M. L. The Light Between Oceans: A Novel. New York: Scribner, 2012. Kindle file.

My Thoughts
This was an enjoyable book and another Faith Lit (my book club) selection.

Tom Sherbourne is a lighthouse keeper. He loves the routine, structure and procedure of the job. His wife Isabel loves the adventure of living on Janus Rock. "Janus Rock was one square mile of green, with enough grass to feed the few sheep and goats and the handful of chickens" (Stedman 5). They are alone together. Ralph Addicott and Bluey bring in a relief ship every few months with supplies. 

An interesting thing happens one night. A baby and a dead man float up in a boat to the shores of Janus Rock. What to do? Tom wants to immediately do his job. His wife wants to protect the baby. Tom ends up giving in to his grief stricken wife, and they begin to raise baby Lucy. This charade lasts for a few years until they return "home" to learn of baby Lucy's true identity. Tom is grief stricken. Isabel wants only what she thinks is best for Lucy.

Lucy's story continues from here. I don't want to spoil what happens, as this part of the book really is the meat of the story. What happens to baby Lucy? How are many lives connected in this tale of love, tragedy and suspense?

Stedman wraps up the story as tight as a fisherman's knot. As a reader, I faced the question of what is the right thing for the characters to do, and could I do the same given the same circumstances? I'm not sure I would.

I enjoyed the author's use of language. "Tom feels the stillness of the cell weigh upon him, as dense and as liquid as mercury" (Ch. 25). I felt like I lived on the lighthouse rock with Tom, Isabel and Lucy. I walked the town of Partageuse. I felt the internal struggle of Tom, Isabel, Hannah Roennfeldt and Gwen. The ocean tides gave a cadence to the story.

When my book club met to discuss the book, we speculated who could star if this were made into a movie. We are betting that it will be!

I enjoyed this book so much, that even though I read it on my Kindle, I bought a bound copy for my shelf. This will be one to re-read.