Having a soon to be three year old, I read this book with the hopes of learning how to navigate disagreements with my son without acting like a toddler myself. Right off the bat, Stiffelman suggests that threats and bribery, two methods I routinely use at dinner, are ineffective. She advises that to be an effective “Captain of the Ship,” a parent needs to come along side a child rather than right at them. Threats and bribery, she argues, turn child and parent into ‘two attorneys’ locked in battle with no one in charge. This rang true to me especially since I am an attorney.
Read moreBlood on Snow, by Jo Nesbo - Book Review
Blood on Snow is my first foray into the world of Jo Nesbo, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. First, let me begin with the reasons I chose this book. One, the book has been on many “2015 must read” lists. Two, I’ve been focused on female-centric books lately and wanted a change of pace. And finally, Nesbo’s bio - “a musician, songwriter, and economist, as well as a writer”. Perfect.
The story is told by Olav, a “fixer”, or contract killer in the frigid Norway winter. As he tells us about himself, we think he’s perhaps a bit dim. But we find quickly that while he has dyslexia, Olav is quite clever. He tries to deceive us often with, “but what do I know” comments after explaining that he’s read a scientific journal or idealized the romance of Les Misérables. Olav fixes situations for his bosses, but he also fixes stories - both in books and his own reality to turn them into a newer, more interesting and romantic version.
Read moreThe Children's Crusade by Ann Packer - Book Review
The Children’s Crusade is a deeply thoughtful book about a California family struggling to overcome “maternal deprivation”. Author Ann Packer slowly builds up steam in her recent novel, and she brings to life a very real household whose inhabitants could live next door. She begins with patriarch Bill Blair as he ends his Navy service and finds a beautiful piece of undeveloped land on which to build a legacy of home and family. A caring and thoughtful, respected pediatrician, we hear throughout the book Bill’s mantra, “children must be cared for” - a poignant consideration as he progresses through his career, marries and raises four children.
Read moreLove Life, by Rob Lowe - Book Review
Knowing Rob Lowe as the gorgeous Brat Pack bad boy with a sex tape that almost derailed his career, I began Love Life, Lowe’s most recent autobiography, with low expectations. But this book changed my mind entirely. Intellectual, insightful and funny, Lowe uses his life experiences to give his reader tips for living a fuller and richer life and shows how he’s managed to navigate the Hollywood world with his family, mind and sobriety in tact.
Lowe relishes in the successes of his career but is also quick to point out the one offs. Turning down the role of Dr. Derek Shepard on Grey’s Anatomy to star on a show that was cancelled almost immediately might seem a failure to most. But to Lowe, it was a learning experience that positioned him for the next right role; a nine year stint on Parks & Recreation as the consummate optimist, Chris Trager.
Emphasizing the significance he places on being a dad and crediting his wife for his biggest successes in life, he shows his true heart lies with his family. His chapter about taking his eldest son to college will leave you teary eyed.
Meanwhile, his anecdotes about his first trip to the Playboy Mansion, his beyond awkward ‘love scene’ with Jewel and his off screen antics with Matt Damon on the set of Behind the Candelabra are laugh out loud funny.
Lowe is not without a touch of arrogance about his successes in show biz but, seriously, would we expect any different from a man who truly seems to get better looking with age? He also had me writing down some of his sayings in my journal, poignant to the last page. “Be creative in adding drama and scope to your life,” he says, and through his prose demonstrated he did just that for himself.
Published: 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Elizabeth's Rating: 4 Stars
Glaciers by Alexis M. Smith - Book Review
Glaciers is a careful and quiet book. Alexis M. Smith uses straightforward prose in an authentic voice to bring her lead character, Isabel to life in her debut novel. Isabel is a 28-year old native of Alaska, living in Portland. She works with damaged books in the library, and we get to know her as she reminisces about childhood, the appeal of objects with past lives and an intriguing man. The reader picks up with Isabel during a single day of her life.
We learn throughout Glaciers that everything has an intimate story - either real or imaged. Isabel has collected old portraits of people and places, vintage dresses and used dishes. She thoughtfully conceives the journey and lives of these objects, pondering their significance, and weaving tales around them. Isabel describes recurring dreams, visiting far off locales, and has an understanding of literature, as simple as love notes on old postcards purchased in thrift shops, and the powerful pull of escape to those imagined places and times.
With delicacy in one of the chapters, Smith places us with Isabel and the object of her affection at work, having coffee together in the morning, yet knowing little about each other and the awkward energy between them. She then guides us to their brief, but close and personal encounter. We see again how important these stories are for Isabel.
While unassuming, Glaciers has just the right amount of complexity. It’s subtle with layers that build Isabel into a young woman of depth. A finalist for two literary awards when it was first published in 2013, it’s a very short book, read in a day. I’m looking forward to Smith’s next work.
Published: 2013
Publisher: Tin House
Vickie’s rating: 4 stars
The Enjoyment of YA Lit - Mosquitoland by David Arnold Book Review
A sure sign of a great book is the feeling of emptiness that comes over you when it ends. This is how I felt turning the final page of David Arnold’s debut novel, Mosquitoland. I was turned on to this novel after reading a book review that made the claim that this story would be the next big thing in young adult literature. I’m sure that a wide range of audiences will enjoy this book, but it will also go right over the heads of many-a young person looking for more predictable teen drama.
Read moreThe Shadow of the Crescent Moon by Fatima Bhutto - Book Review
Fatima Bhutto’s debut novel is a thought-provoking story, taking place in a troubled region of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan. The Shadow of the Crescent Moon is the tale of three brothers in the dangerous city of Mir Ali. It takes place over the course of a single day, with flashbacks to the past, filling in clues over time.
Bhutto is related to the well-known Bhutto family and has herself been victim to Pakistan’s tumultuous political and religious tragedies. She writes in present-tense about a very real nation in conflict, but with fictional characters. Using the time of day instead of chapters, she writes with emotions and details unfolding over the passing hours and minutes. Recently interviewed on NPR, Bhutto describes the region she writes of as divided from the rest of the country, suffering from military and militia attacks and where “violence is ordinary”. The people of Mir Ali identify strongly with their own region and feel at odds from the rest of Pakistan, distrustful of the central government and outsiders alike.
Read more3 Great Reasons to Read Outpost: Life on the Frontlines of American Diplomacy - Book Review
Always interested in government, politics and current affairs, I typically stick with reading the news and do some online research versus reading biographies. However, the memoir Outpost: Life on the Frontlines of American Diplomacy caught my eye and after reading a few early reviews, I had to read it. It was a good choice.
Former Ambassador Christopher Hill first arrived on my radar screen when he led the Six Party Talks in an attempt to bring an end to North Korean nuclear weapon production. In addition to the U.S., the effort included Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and North Korea, and Hill was picking up where his predecessor left off. Nothing is easy with the N. Koreans, and Hill’s work was cut out for him. But not just with the Pyongyang - working with the other countries had its own challenges. Oh, and there is our own government — no easy task there either.
Read more3 Publications to Expand Your Reading Repertoire
I’m an addict - addicted to reading that is. Frankly, I had thought it was to books, but this blog has me a little more focused. I just love reading - almost anything. So I move from book to book, genre to genre. And from book to magazine, to newspapers, to blogs, and so on. And really, that’s why we started this site - “thoughts on books and reading”; so why not talk about the things I’m reading other than books?
Yes, I’m in the middle of a book; a good one-Outpost by former Ambassador Christopher Hill. Really enjoying it so far, but took a break from that to catch up on some magazines in my mailbox from last month! The Atlantic is a favorite publication, and last month’s cover story is about Islamic terrorist group ISIS written by Graeme Wood. It’s a shocking and informative piece, discussing the true goals of the terrorist group and their rationale behind their barbaric actions. It’s a fascinating story that made me think that this is an important part of history to be learning about, and almost believing, because it is so unbelievable, that is is from another time. Strikingly, it’s here and now, across the world, but confronting our way of life. It’s truly scary, but important to understand to put context around what our policy makers, leaders, journalists, military and allies (oh, and some foes) are confronting.
I also finished Fast Company’s March issue with The World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies. Fast Company is generally a great publication - energetic and chock full of inspiring stories about innovative companies and leaders - successes, failures and everything in between. It’s consistently a quick and insightful read. By the way, #1 on the Most Innovative Companies list is Warby Parker. I’m a customer and a big fan. Glad to see them in such a prominent spot - well-deserved.
A third magazine on my coffee table is a new discovery - Lucky Peach. It’s a quarterly publication with minimal advertising and some interesting illustrations and photos, 100% food writing and recipes. I particularly enjoyed the article about celery, Overstalked with four recipes from Gabrielle Hamilton; and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sheep Diets (But Were Afraid to Ask), but Lucas Peterson. Really. Check out their website - it’s a trove of interesting recipes and eating nooks around the world.
Lastly, I spend a lot of time on Flipboard, Zite and Prismatic. Loaded on my phone, these apps are each customized with the subjects I designate (ranging from politics and news to celebrity gossip and literature of course!). I most certainly do not require all three, but they’re like toys, and each one brings something a little different.
If you’re looking for a break between books, I highly recommend The Atlantic, Fast Company and Lucky Peach. What publications are you reading? We’d love to hear from you!
"The Possibilities" By Kaui Hart Hemmings
The author of The Descendants, which became an Oscar® winning film has written The Possibilities, set in Breckenridge, Colorado. In it, we experience the tragedy of the death of a son expressed with a mix of honesty, grief and wit. As our protagonist looses her son in an accident, we see her navigate the crooked path of moving on with life. She deals with her return to work and her changed perspective on her role as a t.v. anchor for a tourist-focused channel in Breckenridge with caustic sarcasm, realizing the frivolity of it. She finds both solace and frustration in her relationships with her live-in father, ex, and best friend, who is experiencing her own tragedy of divorce. As her struggles continue, a stranger enters their lives - a young woman who knew her son. This opens wounds and helps to heal, and takes all of them on an emotional journey.
Kaui Hart Hemmings' lead character, Sarah narrates with brutal honesty, and we are privy to her inner voice in a way we can all relate, but often afraid to admit. She talks of the guilt a little joy can bring following her son’s death. “Guilt came from feeling hungry, for having that sensation. It came from yawing, putting on makeup, dressing nicely.” We hear her inner thoughts about her son, best friend, father and those around her and her self-judgement as a result, cutting, lonely and sometimes funny. Sarah struggles to understand her son better through his death and brace herself for life without him.
What I enjoyed most is the book's honesty, intelligence and humor. It appears an authentic and incisive way in which people may manage bereavement, and is filled with messy raw emotions. It’s a heartbreaking tale with a twist, delivered with quick and easy dialogue, and at times unsettling. Overall, I really recommend this book. There is however, it's a little predictable and there is one scene that is a bit hard to buy into, but I’ll forgive it that because its sense of authenticity.
Vickie’s rating: 4 stars