So Big by Edna FerberMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow, this book was beautiful. I never quite knew where it was going, but I loved where it ended up. I feel like this book really said something worth saying, and did it in an interesting, enjoyable way.
The writing style reminded me of a cross between My Antonia and Angle of Repose.
The characters were wonderful.
"But always to her, red and green cabbages were to be jade and Burgundy, chrysoprase and porphyry. Life has no weapons against a woman like that."
“Any piece of furniture, I don't care how beautiful it is, has got to be lived with, and kicked about, and rubbed down, and mistreated..., and repolished, and knocked around and dusted and sat on or slept in or eaten off of before it develops its real character," Selina said.” ― Edna Ferber, So Big
“Some day I'll probably marry a horny-handed son of a toil, and if I do it'll be the horny hands that will win me. If you want to know, I like 'em with their scars on them. There's something about a man who has fought for it - I don't know what it is - a look in his eye - the feel of his hand. He needn't have been successful - thought he probably would be. I don't know. I'm not very good at this analysis stuff. I know he - well, you haven't a mark on you. Not a mark. You quit being an architect, or whatever it was, because architecture was an uphill disheartening job at the time. I don't say that you should have kept on. For all I know you were a bum architect. But if you had kept on - if you had loved it enough to keep on - fighting, and struggling, and sitcking it out - why, that fight would show in your face to-day - in your eyes and your jaw and your hands and in your way of standing and walking and sitting and talking. Listen. I'm not critcizing you. But you're all smooth. I like 'em bumpy.” ― Edna Ferber, So Big
“Sweat and blood and health and youth go into every cabbage. Did you know that, Julie? One doesn't despise them as food, knowing that.” ― Edna Ferber, So Big
The Graveyard Book by Neil GaimanMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars. Decided on 4 because it's the best YA I've read in awhile and that's refreshing enough to be worth the extra star.
I thought this book was cute and clever. I enjoyed it, laughed in parts, and even got a little teary-eyed at the end.
I wish there would have been a little more depth and info involving The Jacks, and that the old magic had been expounded on just a little bit more. The ending scene with Frost left a little too much to the imagination, as far as the reader needing to invent why that solution worked.
But I loved the characters. And I love the idea of the graveyard adopting Bod, and the powers his adoption give him, and how he uses them. Interesting ideas.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson BurnettMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Listened to this in the car with the kids. It was a good story, we all enjoyed it.
“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.” ― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
“At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done--then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago.” ― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
Charlotte's Web by E.B. WhiteMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
October 2015: 4 stars
Read this again to the kids to go along with our writing unit. I think everyone enjoyed it much better this time around.
May 2012: 3 stars
Read aloud to kids. They liked it, but not overly much. I thought it was a really cute and fun story.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. MontgomeryMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Great book. Well written. Listened to it audio this time and the reader did a great job.
“Oh, it's delightful to have ambitions. I'm so glad I have such a lot. And there never seems to be any end to them-- that's the best of it. Just as soon as you attain to one ambition you see another one glittering higher up still. It does make life so interesting.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
“Look at that sea, girls--all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen. We couldn't enjoy its loveliness any more if we had millions of dollars and ropes of diamonds.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
“When I left Queen's my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don't know what lies around the bend, but I'm going to believe that the best does.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
“We pay a price for everything we get or take in this world; and although ambitions are well worth having, they are not to be cheaply won, but exact their dues of work and self denial, anxiety and discouragement.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
“It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
“It was November--the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines. Anne roamed through the pineland alleys in the park and, as she said, let that great sweeping wind blow the fogs out of her soul.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
“It is ever so much easier to be good if your clothes are fashionable.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
“I've done my best, and I begin to understand what is meant by 'the joy of strife'. Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
“I don't know, I don't want to talk as much. (...) It's nicer to think dear, pretty thoughts and keep them in one's heart, like treasures. I don't like to have them laughed at or wondered over.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
“Dear old world', she murmured, 'you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
“That's the worst of growing up, and I'm beginning to realize it. The things you wanted so much when you were a child don't seem half so wonderful to you when you get them.” ― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk KiddMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Different than I expected, but in good ways. I was 2/3rds of the way through the book before I realized that the Grimke sisters were real people from history, and that made the book even better. I really enjoyed the story of the sisters, and watching their purposes unfold. This story did a good job of conveying that it takes a lifetime sometimes to find your purpose, but that doesn't make your purpose any less important or powerful.
The story of Handful was fine too, but fairly typical, I didn't think it added anything new to the genre.
A good read overall, and I'd definitely recommend it.
The Nightingale by Kristin HannahMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
"Men tell stories," I say. It is the truest, simplest answer to his question. "Women get on with it. For us it was a shadow war. There were no parades for us when it was over, no medals or mentions in history books. We did what we had to during the war, and when it was over, we picked up the pieces and started our lives over. "
This book will stay with you. It will break your heart in a million different ways, and make you question why some things in life play out the way they do. It is raw and real. It shows that sometimes choices are more complicated than simply right and wrong. But it will remind you that there is good in the midst of bad and that strength can come when there appears to be none left.
I am giving it four and three-quarters stars, instead of five, because I thought Isabella's death was brushed over too quickly.
Go Set a Watchman by Harper LeeMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I haven't been so passionately on fire about a book in a long, long time. I loved this book! As soon as I finished reading it the first time I grabbed a pencil and immediately began reading it a second time, underlining and taking notes all the while. I was actually all geared up to write a paper on it, just for the pure joy and passion of it, that's how strongly I felt about this book. But, alas, life got in the way and no paper ever materialized.
What a controversy this book has created! No, it's not To Kill a Mockingbird. It's not as clean, or as black and white as Mockingbird. But I think this book has value, and approaches different themes, and does it well. I especially love the discussion on breaking down your idols to discover for yourself who you are and what you believe apart from the influence of anyone else.
I don't think this novel tarnishes the character of Atticus, but deepens it. Complicates it. He's a states' rights man first and foremost. He has other beliefs, like how a person should treat another person (which is shown very clearly in Mockingbird), but his actions become muddier, and more unclear when his deepest beliefs of states-rights are challenged. He'll do what he has to do to protect them, even if that means being apart of an organization that goes against some of his lesser beliefs. We all do this. We all have top priorities. Atticus chooses his just like Scout chooses hers. I'm not saying he made the right choice, but he's hardly evil. It's just complicated. It's more realistic that it should be complicated. But I don't think the way he acts in this book, need take away from his spotless, heroic image in Mockingbird. Read them as two separate books, and take the valuable lessons from each.
I gave this 4 instead of 5 stars, because you could tell that the writing was still in draft form, not polished up or edited.
This book is worth reading, thinking about, and discussing.
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