50 in 2012: Book Thirty Eight

Alice Bliss by Laura Harrington

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A story of courage, strength and the coming of age of one Alice Bliss. Already struggling through the tumultuous waves of teenage angst, Alice must learn to navigate the confusing roads of life without her father who has been deployed to Iraq. Her biggest fan, her closest ally: gone in body but there in spirit and letters. Their closeness multiplied in his absence. Her entire family braces for his year long deployment, each of them struggling to find their new place in a temporary family of three.

At fifteen Alice is beginning to experience the complication of relationships while wishing every moment that her father was there to afford his sage advice. The pain and sacrifice of a family left behind is beautifully illustrated. My heart broke for Alice and Ellie as they longed for their father, and Angie who simply wanted to hold her husband. The constant state of unknown causes a range of emotions in all three of Matt Bliss’ girls: anger, fear, sadness, anxiety.

Their world is shattered as they see two uniformed officers approach their door. Missing. Matt Bliss is MIA. They are told to go about their everyday business as they await more news. Alice is stunned and fails to understand how anyone can go about any sort of business with such turmoil brewing over their heads. Yet, she does. And each day brings new strength and courage.

A heartbreaking yet inspiring story. I desperately long to know what Alice is up to now. How she is coping. What she is doing. Whom she loves: Henry? A heroine who will firmly entrench herself among your heartstrings and stick with you long after her written story ends…absorbing, amazing read.

50 in 2012: Book Thirty Seven

Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I failed to appreciate much of what this book had to offer based on many poorly backed assumptions and one substantial thought flaw. The author mentions that she believes the French public services don’t explain the differences in parenting that she sees. One could easily argue that if many American parents didn’t have to worry about child care costs, preschool, college tuition or health insurance their parenting styles would be vastly different.

There are far too many references to one extreme example of American parenting gone wrong and far too many examples of a few observations of French parenting gone right.

I do think there is a generational phenomenon of helicopter parenting and Mommy martyrdom; however, I don’t think that defines America’s parenting practice as a whole. While I appreciate the mentioned French notion of fostering autonomy, I don’t believe it was an earth shattering new parenting philosophy or approach. I laughed through the explanation of fostering autonomy by allowing children one swear word, one that has been used and said by many generations: “caca boudin” (translated to caca sausage). Apparently, if I let my boys run around the house saying “shit”, as it is only to be done in private, they are gaining important lessons in self-worth and autonomy. Ummmmm, ok.

There does seem to be a cultural difference in the construction of parenting guilt. Likely fueled by a judgmental and competitive American society where moms are judged on every decision or choice: natural birth or epidural, breastfeed or bottle. The author argues that the judgement comes from having multiple different parenting philosophies and attempting to validate your choices. French parenting is made easier by one cultural approach. Americans believe faster development is a sign of better parenting, while the French all believe in exposure and joy. No rush. Again, yes, there are parents who over-schedule, over indulge, over parent, but I fail to see that as an entire American phenomenon.

The discussion about body image maddened me. American women feel the need to sacrifice their body for their children, unable to resist the temptation to overindulge. While French women, adhere to their strict diets, pop out the kid, and bounce back immediately. Blah blah blah.

Many of the women work, as it made much easier by state preschools and child care. The teachers are well-trained and schooled, parents often resume their pre-baby lives but do so with a new member. Again, I fail to see how the author can say this doesn’t affect the difference in parenting.

I think the book as a whole sparks interesting conversation, I just wish it hadn’t been written in unfounded blanket statements.

50 in 2012: Book Thirty Six

The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Part mystery, part love story…a touching tale that illustrates the undying fortitude of true love. I could not put it down.

Shortly following her divorce and less than graceful fall from prior bestselling novelist glory, Emily Wilson retreats to her great-aunt Bee’s home on Bainbridge Island. As she settles in for her first night’s stay, she discovers a red velvet journal hidden in her nightstand. Intrigued, she begins to read. However, the names remain a complete mystery to her and she finds herself immediately invested in the woman’s words.

As Emily meets more and more of the islanders, she begins to question their suspicious glances and behaviors. Her Aunt also appears to be hiding something. It isn’t until her Aunt’s best friend mentions that the journal was destined for her eyes that she begins to suspect something much bigger is going on, but what is everyone hiding?

Multiple layers of love and betrayal lead to a life altering realization and closure for people who had been haunted by choices made years before…so so good. Super fast read. Sarah Jio is the bomb diggity, really loving her style. AMAZING!!

50 in 2012: Book Thirty Five

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My immediate reaction upon closing this book after having read the final word was to give it three stars; however, after mulling it over, the profound moral dilemma that stands as the focus of this novel still sticks with me. Hence, the fours stars.

I was disappointed that the opulence and beauty of the ship was essentially glossed over. Having read “Titanic” in the synopsis I assumed the focus of the novel would contain a great deal about the ship itself and the goings on while on board. Not so much. Instead, the story revolves around choices, specifically those made in the face of known tragedy: does one act in courage or in fear…

Lady Lucille Duff Gordon has always got her way. Power and obedience are the mainstays to becoming one of her entourage. Tess, does not fit that bill. Feisty, opinionated, and driven to succeed she is the very opposite of a stately, obedient “lady”. Yet, fate brings them together on the day the Titanic is set to sail off to America. Lucille reluctantly takes Tess under her wing to come aboard the ship and travel along her side as her maid.

As history tells, disaster soon strikes the passengers of the ill-fated Titanic and all aboard are faced to make choices. There were heroes, victims, survivors. And there was Lucille Duff. Whether out of fear, courage, or selfishness, her choices spark a controversy that would alter Tess’ outlook on humanity forever. Some choices made later haunted the survivors: should they have stayed to parish alongside loved ones or fought for a spot on a lifeboat? For those on the lifeboats, could they have done more for the others?

The story itself was a little disappointing but the idea of the poignant choices made by heroes and villains alike on that extraordinarily tragic day stick with me. Is the ethical fortitude of one man enough to challenge the minds of others fearing their life? Were the male survivors less of men for saving their life? Were the women who stayed behind better partners than those who boarded the lifeboats? I am fascinated by the history behind the story more so than the book itself.

50 in 2012: Book Thirty Four

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Following the death of her sister, Eva Ward struggles to find her place in the world. Traveling to an old house on the Cornish coast, she seeks answers and a sense of belonging. As she drifts off to sleep her first night there, she hears distinct voices coming from the walls behind her room.

The next morning she inquires about the voices only to find that the room next to hers is empty and has been all along. Throughout her stay, the voices get stronger until she is finally pulled into their world. A world that looks, smells, sounds, and feels real. Yet, it is a world three centuries removed. Somehow, she has managed to seamlessly travel back in time.

As she travels between worlds, she finds herself falling for a man who lived, and died, centuries earlier…further complicating her quest for answers. The most real love she has ever experienced fails to make sense.

I absolutely loved Susanna Kearsley’s last novel, The Winter Sea. Her writing is extraordinary and the details magical enough to transport you to a different time. Unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations. The ending left me with more questions than answers. What could have been a moving, poignant love story was cut short in many ways and devoid of the beautiful eloquence Kearsley is capable of. I remain a fan of her style of writing as I love the way she meshes a modern-day storyline with that of a lifetime lived centuries before. I look forward to her next book..
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50 in 2012: Book Thirty Three

The Bungalow by Sarah Jio

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is the summer of 1942 and twenty-one-year old Anne Calloway finds herself forced to choose between pursuing a search for an elusive, all-consuming, passionate love or marrying a man she knows will provide her with a lifelong comfortable love.

Joining her best friend Kitty on a medical tour of duty to Bora-Bora as a nurse, Anne leaves all notions of comfort behind. Closer to war and suffering than she has ever been her entire sheltered life, Ann begins to find pieces of herself she never knew existed. While out on a beach stroll one afternoon, she stumbles across a secluded beach bungalow. In it, the remaining objects of what looked to be a talented artist. Here, she also forms a relationship with a soldier named Westry Green. Mysterious at first and respectful of her engagement, Westry eventually provides her with the passion and magic she never thought would be hers. The walls of their bungalow shelter them from the evil and tragedy swirling around them.

The natives attempt to warn Anne about the haunted bungalow and the curse bestowed upon it and those who enter: a lifetime of heartache. Confused, Anne fails to understand as the bungalow has provided her with the greatest love she has ever known. Unfortunately, Anne and Westry soon learn that the curse is not merely a fairy tale…

Lies, war, heartache, murder…and a love that spans generations. Absolute magic.

Very reminiscent of The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. A love story that will stick with me long after having finished it. A story that inspires the pursuit of utter and complete happiness, yet illustrates the sacrifices of commitment and duty. One for the favorites list…

50 in 2012: Book Thirty Two

The Garden of Happy Endings by Barbara O’Neal

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A story that explores the different ways people react in crisis and how one faces a major life crossroad. How does one decide which way to go next?

Reverend Elsa Montgomery has just come face to face with unimaginable tragedy and finds herself facing her own crisis of faith. She returns home to seek comfort and guidance from her sister, Tamsin, who finds herself experiencing a rather public crisis. Coming home for Elsa also meant seeing the man who broke her heart, yet still held its fragile remains with him.

Somehow, surrounded by turmoil and hurt, the sisters find answers within a communal garden started to bring hope back to a suffering neighborhood.

I loved Barbara O’Neal’s first novel, but this one just didn’t do it for me…it was a chore to finish. Just a “meh” read for me. Disappointing.

50 in 2012: Book Thirty One

One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An unseasonable spring snow storm has thirteen-year-old Augie Baker desperately longing for her mother, for her home, for the life she had moments before a tragic fire accident took away all semblance of normalcy in her life. Now living with grandparents she has only just met for the first time in a small Iowa farm town, she is bitter and freezing in a classroom without heat while her mother recovers in a hospital bed in Arizona.

Fiercely protective of her half-brother PJ, she is in Iowa because her birth father refused to care for them both. As she thinks of ways to get back home, all thoughts are shattered the moment the school secretary announces a code red lockdown. Her teacher, Mr. Ellery immediately gets all his students to huddle safely in the corner while he tries to assess the situation and figure out what is going on…

What no one in that classroom knows is that an armed gunman has taken over the school. And nobody can figure out who he is and why he is here.

The eight year old students in Mrs. Oliver’s third grade classroom know exactly what is going on. The gunman has taken them hostage and refuses to leave until his business is taken care of. Mrs. Oliver struggles to jar her memory, fearing him to be a disgruntled ex-student.

Told in alternating points of view, the reader is witness to an event strife with tragedy, sadness, and extreme heroism. I found it incredibly poignant that you see the difference between strength of spirit and absolute dejection: how one deals with set backs versus one who has seemingly lost everything and feels no sense of currency for his or her own life or those of others.

A story that hit close to home in many ways. As I prepare to send my oldest off to school for the first time, I was touched by the courage and fierce protection exhibited by the teachers. One can never know what he or she will do in such a situation and the characters in this novel were nothing short of heroic. The gunman driven to a point of no return, choosing to put unknown children at risk to prove a point…at what cost? Why?

I devoured this book. I had to know why. I had to know who. I pray that my sons are surrounded by Mrs. Oliver’s and Mr. Ellery’s in their schooling career…