The Secret Sky by Atia Abawi
Back before Christmas, I won a flash challenge on the SHSU Library Science Facebook page because I said Fitzwilliam Darcy was my book boyfriend, and this is the book I won. I must say, I am so glad this is the book that was sent to me because I couldn't put it down.
The story takes place in Afghanistan and is told by three people: Fatima, Samuillah, and Rashid. All three grew up together. Sami and Rashid are cousins, but Rashid is incredibly jealous of Sami. He will do anything to bring Sami down, and show his family that he is better. When he finds Sami and Fatima alone together in the woods, he finds his chance. Even though they were doing nothing wrong, it is against Afghani custom for women of a certain age to be alone with a man unless they are married.
Rashid brings this information to the fathers of both teens, and Sami tries to make it right, asking to marry Fatima. Unfortunately, he makes it worse. Fatima's mother thinks Fatima is better off dead, and does horrible things to her. Sami and Fatima are in love, and run off to get married. Rashid, unhappy that Sami hasn't been punished enough, brings the situation to the local Taliban. This is not a good situation.
One can only hope for a happy ending for Sami and Fatima. I won't ruin it for you, and tell you what happens. Trust me though, this is so worth the read. There are instances of violence and brutality, but I think they are necessary in order for the reader to understand what it is really like to live in Afghanistan.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Folklore Assignment
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
We were given a list of books to choose from for our folklore assignment for my collections development class, and this was my first choice. My daughter loves Riordan's books, so I ordered the whole series because I thought that if I didn't like the books, she would. I liked the book though, so we may end up fighting over ownership.
Sadie and Carter Kane are siblings. Their mother died six years prior to the beginning of this book. Both their parents were/are Egyptologists. After the death of their mother, Sadie went to live in England with their grandparents, while Carter travels the world with their father. Once a year, at Christmas, they get to visit Sadie. On this particular visit, their father destroys the Rosetta Stone, and releases five Egyptian gods and goddesses. Set, the most evil of the five decides he wants to destroy the world, and it is up to Sadie and Carter to save the world.
I enjoyed this book, but for the life of me, I would not consider it folklore. Maybe that's just me. I will be reading the next two books in the series, once time permits.
We were given a list of books to choose from for our folklore assignment for my collections development class, and this was my first choice. My daughter loves Riordan's books, so I ordered the whole series because I thought that if I didn't like the books, she would. I liked the book though, so we may end up fighting over ownership.
Sadie and Carter Kane are siblings. Their mother died six years prior to the beginning of this book. Both their parents were/are Egyptologists. After the death of their mother, Sadie went to live in England with their grandparents, while Carter travels the world with their father. Once a year, at Christmas, they get to visit Sadie. On this particular visit, their father destroys the Rosetta Stone, and releases five Egyptian gods and goddesses. Set, the most evil of the five decides he wants to destroy the world, and it is up to Sadie and Carter to save the world.
I enjoyed this book, but for the life of me, I would not consider it folklore. Maybe that's just me. I will be reading the next two books in the series, once time permits.
Friday, January 30, 2015
TAYSHAS #7
Love Letters to the Dead by Ana Dellaira
At the beginning of her freshman year, Laurel's English teacher asks the class to write a letter to a dead person. Laurel decides to write to Kurt Cobain. She also writes to Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Judy Garland, River Phoenix, and others. Through these letters, we learn that Laurel's older sister recently died a tragic death, and Laurel is trying to find her place in the world. We learn about her friends, the boy she has a crush on, and what really happened to her sister.
Reading this was a bit like reading Perks of Being a Wallflower, except that I wasn't enthralled from page one. In fact, it took reading nearly half of the book before I got to a point where I didn't want to put it down. The premise was a good one, but it took some time to get there.
At the beginning of her freshman year, Laurel's English teacher asks the class to write a letter to a dead person. Laurel decides to write to Kurt Cobain. She also writes to Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Judy Garland, River Phoenix, and others. Through these letters, we learn that Laurel's older sister recently died a tragic death, and Laurel is trying to find her place in the world. We learn about her friends, the boy she has a crush on, and what really happened to her sister.
Reading this was a bit like reading Perks of Being a Wallflower, except that I wasn't enthralled from page one. In fact, it took reading nearly half of the book before I got to a point where I didn't want to put it down. The premise was a good one, but it took some time to get there.
Friday, January 23, 2015
Letters of Pride and Prejudice
Dear Mr. Darcy by Amanda Grange
I came upon this book quite by accident at the bookstore shortly after Christmas. I was drawn to it because it has connections to my favorite book. When I bought it, I thought it was strictly letters written to and from Mr. Darcy, and I am happy to report that I was wrong. Nearly everyone from the source material sends and receives letters, even characters that we assume exist but never show up in P&P.
What I really liked about this is that it gave some background that may have happened before the events of P&P. We learn about what may have occurred in the unfortunate business between Georgiana and Wickham. We learn a bit more about Bingley's family, as well as Charlotte Lucas.
Another thing I liked was seeing the inner thoughts of the characters that we didn't necessarily see in P&P. To me, it added new dimensions to the source material, and made me love Austen's beloved characters that much more.
I came upon this book quite by accident at the bookstore shortly after Christmas. I was drawn to it because it has connections to my favorite book. When I bought it, I thought it was strictly letters written to and from Mr. Darcy, and I am happy to report that I was wrong. Nearly everyone from the source material sends and receives letters, even characters that we assume exist but never show up in P&P.
What I really liked about this is that it gave some background that may have happened before the events of P&P. We learn about what may have occurred in the unfortunate business between Georgiana and Wickham. We learn a bit more about Bingley's family, as well as Charlotte Lucas.
Another thing I liked was seeing the inner thoughts of the characters that we didn't necessarily see in P&P. To me, it added new dimensions to the source material, and made me love Austen's beloved characters that much more.
Friday, January 9, 2015
New Appreciation for the Irish
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
I've said for years that I wanted to read this book, as I like the movie. It came up fairly inexpensively one day for my Kindle, so I bought it. Oddly enough, I also acquired a hardback copy not long afterward, so I had my choice of reading formats.
My biggest complaint with the book is the fact that the author didn't seem to care about punctuation. I teach English, so things like this really grind my gears. I had no trouble dealing with the dialect as it was written, but the lack of comma and quotation marks was a problem.
The story itself is well done. It follows Francis McCourt from his birth in America to his return to America when he is nearly twenty. We learn how poor the McCourts are, how his father has a serious alcohol problem, about the deaths of some of the McCourt children, and just life in general for Frankie.
The movie made from this book is a decent representation. In fact, I could've gotten by having not read the book. The movie is very faithful, and although there are some differences, they aren't too noticible.
I've said for years that I wanted to read this book, as I like the movie. It came up fairly inexpensively one day for my Kindle, so I bought it. Oddly enough, I also acquired a hardback copy not long afterward, so I had my choice of reading formats.
My biggest complaint with the book is the fact that the author didn't seem to care about punctuation. I teach English, so things like this really grind my gears. I had no trouble dealing with the dialect as it was written, but the lack of comma and quotation marks was a problem.
The story itself is well done. It follows Francis McCourt from his birth in America to his return to America when he is nearly twenty. We learn how poor the McCourts are, how his father has a serious alcohol problem, about the deaths of some of the McCourt children, and just life in general for Frankie.
The movie made from this book is a decent representation. In fact, I could've gotten by having not read the book. The movie is very faithful, and although there are some differences, they aren't too noticible.
Monday, January 5, 2015
Thought Provoking Play
Twelve Angry Men by Reginald Rose
When I went to a PLC conference last July, one of the pullout sessions I went to had to do with this movie and group dynamics. It was a fantastic presentation, and it made me want to see the movie, which I still haven't done. Today, I needed an actual book to read while I took a bath, so I grabbed this. Great read.
The whole play is done in two acts. It is about a jury of men in the late 1950's deciding the fate of a young man on trial for killing his abusive father. It starts out with the first vote-11 to one, guilty-and the hold out begins explaining why he doesn't think he can decide this young man's fate so quickly. It continues with the hold out gaining allies, and finding areas of reasonable doubt in the case. Well written and well done.
When I went to a PLC conference last July, one of the pullout sessions I went to had to do with this movie and group dynamics. It was a fantastic presentation, and it made me want to see the movie, which I still haven't done. Today, I needed an actual book to read while I took a bath, so I grabbed this. Great read.
The whole play is done in two acts. It is about a jury of men in the late 1950's deciding the fate of a young man on trial for killing his abusive father. It starts out with the first vote-11 to one, guilty-and the hold out begins explaining why he doesn't think he can decide this young man's fate so quickly. It continues with the hold out gaining allies, and finding areas of reasonable doubt in the case. Well written and well done.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Didn't make the TAYSHAS list
One Past Midnight by Jessica Shirvington
Not sure why this one didn't make the list, but a book like The Prince of Venice Beach did. This was a much better read, and had far more substance. But, whatever. I read it, and I enjoyed it.
Sabine lives two lives. Not like at home she's a goody two shoes, but everywhere else she's a wild girl two lives. She lives two lives. In one life, she is the oldest child in a middle class family. She doesn't want to go to college, but will because it is something her parents really want. In her other life, she is wealthy, headed to Harvard, and dating the perfect (who is really not so perfect) guy.
Every night at midnight, Sabine shifts between her two lives. Until recently, if she injured herself in one life, it carried over into the other. When she breaks her wrist, the broken wrist doesn't shift with her, and this gives her hope because now she may be able to choose one life and stick with it.
In the course of "tests" she completes to see if things carry over, she steals medication from her parents' drug store, and gets caught. In trying to explain why she did it, she tells her parents about her two lives, and they have her hospitalized. While there, she interacts with Ethan, who tries to make her see that her two lives are a gift.
What's interesting about this book, is you think you know what she's going to do, what life she's going to choose, but it really goes to the very end to find out what she does.
Not sure why this one didn't make the list, but a book like The Prince of Venice Beach did. This was a much better read, and had far more substance. But, whatever. I read it, and I enjoyed it.
Sabine lives two lives. Not like at home she's a goody two shoes, but everywhere else she's a wild girl two lives. She lives two lives. In one life, she is the oldest child in a middle class family. She doesn't want to go to college, but will because it is something her parents really want. In her other life, she is wealthy, headed to Harvard, and dating the perfect (who is really not so perfect) guy.
Every night at midnight, Sabine shifts between her two lives. Until recently, if she injured herself in one life, it carried over into the other. When she breaks her wrist, the broken wrist doesn't shift with her, and this gives her hope because now she may be able to choose one life and stick with it.
In the course of "tests" she completes to see if things carry over, she steals medication from her parents' drug store, and gets caught. In trying to explain why she did it, she tells her parents about her two lives, and they have her hospitalized. While there, she interacts with Ethan, who tries to make her see that her two lives are a gift.
What's interesting about this book, is you think you know what she's going to do, what life she's going to choose, but it really goes to the very end to find out what she does.
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