Book Club: 50 Shades of Grey {Review}

I love to read {as you probably have gathered}.  I also love to see what all the fuss is about when there's a new breakout trend ~  whether it be in entertainment, fashion, food or something else.  So when the buzz starting building {and building...and building...and exploding} about E.L. James' debut novel 50 Shades of Grey, I knew I had to check it out for myself.

If you've heard anything about this book, you know that it's got the literary world all atwitter over it's graphic, S&M-based sex scenes.  If you haven't heard anything about this book, you have most likely been living in a cave, away from the internet, television, newspapers, and bookstores, in which case you probably aren't reading this blog anyway.

From what I've gathered from the plethora of 50 Shades articles, interviews, and tidbits, 50 Shades began as a Twilight fanfic, although it has nothing to do with vampires and werewolves. {If you're unfamiliar with the world of fan fiction, read Wikipedia's explanation here}.  EL James is a wife and mother living in England, and 50 Shades was her first attempt at writing a novel {which became a trilogy}.  Side note for the wannabe novelists out there {myself included} ~ usually, the first piece you ever write does not skyrocket to the number one spot on the New York Times' Bestsellers List; it just doesn't.  James' 50 Shades trilogy was never intended for mass publication, to my understanding.  It simply gathered so much attention and popularity as a strictly-downloadable set that it ended up transitioning to print, and James has sold the movie rights as well.  {I have no idea how this can be adapted into a mainstream movie; absolutely no idea}.

I figured I would review this book as I review any other book ~ read it; give you an synopsis that goes a bit beyond what the book jacket tells you, without giving the entire story away, and give you my overall opinion on it.  Now that I've knocked out 10 or so chapters of 50 Shades, however, I'm going to take a different approach.  I am going to review the book section by section, as I read it, because I think my feelings on it may change daily.  I think I will see it through to the end, although as of today I'm not quite sure.  Today, I need a break from Christian Grey, without a doubt.  So instead of plowing through and reading a few more chapters, I'll review what I've read so far.

I bought all three books at once, figuring I'd plow right through them.  Now, I'm not so sure...

Day 1:  April 23, 2012
Started 50 Shades of Grey today and read through six chapters.  These chapters lay the foundation for the rest of the novel ~ we meet Anastasia Steele, a young and naive college senior; we meet Christian Grey, a cold, successful-beyond-his-years millionaire who is in his late twenties; and we meet a host of secondary characters such as Ana's roommate and best friend Kate, Ana's long-time friend Jose {who has romantic feelings for Ana that are not mutual}, Christian's brother Elliot, and a smattering of Christian's employees and Ana's acquaintances.

I probably would not have noticed the Twilight correlations if I didn't already know that this started out as a Twilight fanfic, but I can see the similarities.  Both stories take place in the state of Washington.  Ana is clumsy and awkward, like Bella.  Christian is cold and dangerous, like Edward, and warns Ana to stay away from him for her own safety, as Edward does with Bella.  Jose is the Jacob of 50 Shades ~ a friend of Ana's {almost a best friend} who wants nothing more than to be in a romantic relationship with her.

There is nothing overly scandalous in these first six chapters.  We are introduced to the characters and their personalities, and while foreshadowing into Christian's dark ways is abundant, Ana and Christian don't so much as kiss.

Day 2:  April 24, 2012
I continue reading 50 Shades, and in these chapters the "naughty" nature of the book starts to show.  Christian has made it clear that he would like a sexual relationship with Ana, but his type of sexual relationship is different than virtually any other you've ever read about in any other book.  For starters, involves a non-disclosure agreement and an extensive contract outlining the nature and rules of the relationship.  Ana sees what Christian refers to as his "playroom" {full of sex toys and...paraphernalia?}, and she is given the option of whether or not to enter a relationship with Christian.  He has an all-or-nothing approach to his relationships ~ do it my way, or no dice.  He doesn't do romance, he doesn't do "girlfriend"; straight up kinky sex, and that's about it.

Upon finding out that Ana is a virgin, Christian decides that the world of S&M is no way to be introduced to sex, so he breaks his own rules and has "vanilla" {as he calls it} sex with her.  Even these "vanilla" scenes are incredibly graphic ~ much what I would imagine reading a porn script is like {do porn movies have scripts?}.

Christian does show a softness and affection towards Ana; he holds her hand in public, he sleeps in the same bed with her on more than one occasion {going against another one of his rules}; and he even introduces her to his mother when she drops by unexpectedly.  {This, the man who refuses to have a girlfriend, ever}.  Is this foreshadowing into a relationship that turns more romantic in the future?  I'm not sure, but it seems like it.

By the time I wrap up for the night, Ana still hasn't decided whether or not to enter into a dominant/submissive sexual relationship with Christian.  I'm going to guess she decides to go for it...

Day 3:  April 25, 2012
I need a day off from the world of Christian and Ana.  50 Shades of Grey is a heavy book.  Not in weight {it's pretty standard in that department}, but in the tone of the book.  Christian is a dark, brooding character with a lot of issues {I think that's obvious}.  I also have no idea how realistic the having-to-sign-a-contract thing is ~ is that how S&M relationships work?  E.L. James says she did a lot of online research for this book, so I guess I'll take her word for it.  Still...

You can't possibly enter into the world of 50 Shades without knowing that there will be graphic, explicit sex scenes.  It's the reason there is so much buzz about the book in the first place.  I think it's fair to say if you are even remotely easily offended, this is not the book for you.  I am not easily offended, and I haven't even gotten to the S&M parts of the book yet, and already I just want to shout "Stop telling me about the sex already!  I don't want to know anymore!"  I'm just over it.  That's why I'm not sure I will wind up finishing the book ~ if I'm this over the sex scenes now, how I'm I going to feel halfway through the book, or three-quarters of the way through?


To be continued....?


xoxo,
Bean



{photo credit for first photo:  abcnews.com}

Book Club: Little Earthquakes {Review}

Well...hmmm.  I didn't not like this book.  I just didn't love it.

I've heard, of course, the old adage ~ "never judge a book by it's cover".  But, you know something?  I do often judge books by their covers.  I'm more drawn to certain books on the shelf or the "new release" table based on the visual appeal of the cover.  Regardless of the cover, if it's a book in the genre I tend to read {usually chick-lit, fiction, female-protagonist pieces, although not always}, I always read the back cover or inside flap to find out what the story is all about, and I usually flip to the first page right there in the store to see if the book grabs me right from the get-go.  Sometimes the book with the most interesting cover has me zoning out before the first page is over ~ then I know it's not for me.

Not only do I use a book's cover to help draw me to it, but I usually form an opinion about the tone of a book from the cover as well.  A James Patterson mystery's cover is probably going to look very different than Elizabeth Berg's newest novel about a wife and mother trying to find her own identity outside of her family role; and the vibe of both those covers will be different still from the picture-heavy tome featuring the history of Boston's working class, or the unauthorized autobiography of Justin Bieber.  So, you can see why I feel somewhat comfortable throwing caution to the wind and ignoring that famous pearl of wisdom, and in fact judging a book by it's cover.  But I've come to realize that while the cover may be able to tell you some things, there can be a lot more under the surface that the cover doesn't even hint at {maybe those old wives do actually know what they're talking about...}

When I saw the cover of Little Earthquakes, with it's pretty pastels and chubby baby legs {not to mention just a hint of diaper-butt}, I figured I was in for a lighthearted story of new motherhood.  The Miami Herald quote on the front cover told me that this book was "hilarious, heartbreaking, and insightful", so I figured I could expect some serious moments ~ you know, giving a grounded portrayal of marriage and motherhood, not just a head-in-the-clouds idealized version.

Instead, I found very little hilarity in Little Earthquakes ~ it was far too serious and borderline depressing to be funny.  Is motherhood really that much of a bummer for the average Jane?  I don't have kids myself, and while I don't expect that being a mother is all sunshine and rainbows, I'd like to think that there's something enjoyable about it ~ otherwise, what's the point?

When we meet the main characters, they are three very pregnant strangers who meet in a pre-natal yoga class.  Becky, Kelly and Ayinde form a fast friendship {out of convenience and the fact that they have impending motherhood in common, initially}, and the novel sees them from pregnancy, through delivery, and into full-fledged motherhood.  Each woman has her own issues and personal problems going on, which is fine ~ we all have our own drama to deal with, and marriage, motherhood, and life isn't all sunshine and rainbows.  Their issues range from a meddling mother-in-law to financial worries to infidelity.  A fourth main character, Lia, is dealing with her own baby issues and personal struggles.  Lia is outside of the yoga-friends loop but winds up being a friend to the girls as well {after basically stalking them for months in a fairly creepy fashion...but whatever}.

So many elements of Little Earthquakes are far-fetched and unrealistic ~ starting with the rapid formation of the women's friendship.  Perhaps most annoying to me?  Ayinde's husband is a professional athlete; when she is in labor, the nurses and doctors all but ignore her except when they're asking when her famous husband is going to arrive, at which point they follow him around like puppy dogs.  I've known both professional athletes and healthcare professionals; people are impressed with celebrity, yes, but they are not usually quite so ridiculous about it; also, giggling, ooh-ing and aah-ing over a high-profile patient {actually, a patient's high-profile spouse} in a hospital setting goes against just about every code of professionalism.  The parts of the book that mention how everyone Ayinde encounters thinks her husband is so amazing, drooling and falling all over themselves and saying ridiculous things, was so irritating to me I almost couldn't stomach it.  I think it's safe to say Jennifer Weiner has not spent any length of time with any public figures, or any labor-and-delivery nurses either.

I wouldn't tell you to not bother reading this book; if you're caught up on your to-read list, your favorite shows have gone into reruns, and you're looking for something to fill the time, it's definitely not the worst book you could read.  Hey, I read it start-to-finish;  when I really dislike a book, I can't even make myself do that.  In a nutshell, it was just more of a downer than I was expecting {those chubby baby legs are so misleading!}, there were so many unrealistic or unbelievable elements, and it just wasn't the best effort that Weiner has ever put out. 


{photo credit:  underestimatedmom.wordpress.com}

Book Club: Sisterhood Everlasting {Review}

I finished reading Sisterhood Everlasting about a week and a half ago, but I had to reflect on it before writing this review.  Ann Brashares' lastest offering is the fifth {and presumably final} novel in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series.  If you've read the other books, or seen the movies, you're familiar with the characters ~ outspoken and ambitious Carmen, who wishes to be an actress; shy, beautiful Lena, the artist; free-spirited, athletic Bridget {or Bee}; and quiet, quirky Tibby, an aspiring filmmaker.  The girls have been best friends literally since birth, and the books chronicle four consecutive summers in their teens as they come of age.

The first four books in the series focus on the friends as teenagers, and as such, are geared towards a younger audience {although I read them in my twenties}.  Sisterhood Everlasting takes place ten years later, as the girls are scattered across the globe, nearing their 30th birthdays.  The overall tone of this book is heavier than the previous installments, as they deal with more "adult" issues.

I spent a large portion of the week or so that it took me to read Sisterhood unhappy with the direction that Brashares chose to take the story.  The book starts out pleasantly enough ~ just like with any series, revisiting familiar characters is like catching up with old friends.  The first few chapters bring the reader up to speed on who is doing what in life now {Carmen, for example, is a working actress in New York, thanks to the magic and free license of fiction}.  Brashares throws more than one unexpected twist into Sisterhood, though, and I found myself questioning how necessary some of those choices were.

I actually can't say my opinion on the plot line itself without giving away some of the twists, which wind up being an integral part of the story overall.  I will say that I was really disappointed when I hit the first big "surprise", a few chapters in to the novel.  It almost made me not want to keep reading, because Brashares' vision for these girls and where their lives would take them was clearly completely different than what I had expected.  I pushed ahead though, partly because I like to finish something when I start it, and mostly because regardless of whether I agree with the choices Brashares {or the characters} had made, I was still emotionally invested in their lives and I wanted to see how the rest of the book played out.

Sisterhood offered several more twists and turns as it progressed, some completely unexpected and some not quite as shocking.  It took me until almost the end of the novel to feel at peace with the direction the story had taken.  Ends were tied up, as in any proper chick-lit piece, and finally things seemed to make sense again ~ for myself, and for the girls.   I still don't think I agree with the life choices that Brashares laid out for at least some of the characters; but I respect the fact that ultimately they are her characters and she knows them better than the rest of us do.

Bottom line ~ if you were a Sisterhood fan {books or movies} before, you'll appreciate the opportunity to catch up with the girls now that they're "grown ups".  Just expect the unexpected when you curl up with this latest installment of the girls with the pants.  I wouldn't even mind a future book or two checking in on the sisterhood ~ just please no more crazy surprises!


xoxo
Bean

{photo credit:  amazon.com}

Book Club: Kris Jenner...and All Things Kardashian {Review}

I guess I've been on a celeb-penned-tome kick lately...my after-Christmas reading of Ellen DeGeneres' Seriously...I'm Kidding was quickly followed up by Kris Jenners' 2011 release, Kris Jenner...and All Things Kardashian.  Whether you love them, hate them, or love to hate them {you know who you are ~ the one trash-talking the K-fam, rolling your eyes in disgust at their latest interview/product line/marriage, while simultaneously hunkering down on the couch every Sunday for the latest episode of KUWTK}, you have to admit that a family who can create their own multi-million, multi-genre brand must have a pretty interesting back story.

Kris Jenner...and All Things Kardashian, as you can imagine, chronicles Kris' life pretty much from the beginning to present day.  The first chapters of the book quickly bring us through Kris' childhood in the San Diego area {her parents divorce; her mother and her grandmothers' entrepreneurial ways; the untimely death of her biological father} and into her late teens, when she met, was courted by, and married Robert Kardashian.  The next few chapters bring us through the birth of her first four children, the months-long affair that ultimately led to her divorce from Robert, followed by her whirlwind courtship with Bruce Jenner and subsequent marriage.  Throughout this first third of the book, stories, snippets and anecdotes of the relationship between O.J. Simpson and Nicole Brown Simpson are woven in.  O.J. Simpson had been best friends with Robert Kardashian since their college days at USC, and Nicole and Kris became very close friends as well.

Kris in high school

The middle few chapters of the book focus entirely on the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and O.J. Simpson's subsequent murder trial.  It is fascinating {and sad} to hear an "insiders" account of O.J. and Nicole's relationship, and the tragedy and chaos that followed Nicole's death.  I told my husband he needs to read these few chapters ~ it really has very little to do with Kris Jenner or the Kardashians, but rather a behind-the-scenes account of what was going on before and during the "trial of the century" that we were all witness to in the mid-90s.

While submerged in this section of the book, I began to think that the real reason Kris penned it {perhaps on a subconscious level} was for therapeutic reasons ~ to finally put on record her observations of the tragic and extremely public murder of her close friend, to work through the emotions associated with that and to get Nicole's side of the story out to the public once and for all.  {FYI, Nicole's sister has gone on record ~ albeit with the National Enquirer ~ to dispute Kris' claims.}

The Kardashian/Jenner clan

The last third of the book returns the focus back to family life with the hybrid Kardashian-Jenner group ~ a family cemented together with the births of youngest siblings Kendall and Kylie.  Kris outlines the many, many relocations of the family {how many houses can one family buy in a 10-or-so year period?  A lot, apparently}, along with Kim's {first} failed marriage, Kourtney and Rob's getting-into-college experiences, and Khloe's hands-on role as a super-involved big sister to younger sisters Kendall and Kylie.  In other words, normal family stuff {well, except maybe teenage Kim's secret marriage}.  Kris also details the grieving, recovery, and moving on processes the family went through after the deaths of both Nicole Brown Simpson and Robert Kardashian {in 2003, of esophageal cancer}.  For them, part of that process included channeling their focus and energy into starting their two Calabasas-based clothing boutiques, Smooch {a now-defunct children's store} and DASH {a women's clothing store}, both of which were featured on the first season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

Kris wraps up the memoir with info on how an upper class blended family living in LA went on to become America's First Family of Entertainment ~ how they wound up with their own reality show and built their family "brand" over the course of a few short years.  The book ends with Kim's engagement {ironically, now}, with the epilogue touching upon the plastic surgery Kris received before Kim's wedding {well, we are in Hollywood, here}.

Overall, I liked Kris Jenner...and All Things Kardashian.  It was more interesting than I was expecting it to be ~ with the Nicole/OJ insight, yes; but also hearing about her childhood, especially the example of strong, entrepreneurial women she had in her mother and grandmother; her relationship {at times heartbreakingly romantic, at times just heartbreaking} with Robert Kardashian; and a bevy of interesting {even when being name-droppy} tidbits about the everyday life of the family Kardashian ~ like when a teenage Kim, who was dating Tito Jackson's son, got to host her birthday party at the Neverland Ranch.

Bottom line ~ if you enjoy keeping up with the Kardashian's, you'll want to flip through this tell-all.

xo
Bean


{photo credit:  amazon.com; globalgrind.com; khloekardashian.celebuzz.com; kimkardashian.celebuzz.com}

Book Club: Seriously....I'm Kidding {Review}

I just love Ellen DeGeneres.  Sometimes I think that all I need in the world to make me smile is to watch Ellen dancing on her show.  I've also been a fan of her HBO stand-up special Here and Now for years {if you haven't seen it, you need to check it out....start to finish laughs}.

As soon as I heard about Ellen's newest book, Seriously...I'm Kidding, I knew I had to put it on my Christmas wishlist.  Whether it was written in the style of a memoir or simply just for entertainment, I knew I could count on Ellen to put out a book that was worth my while.  {For the record ~ it's extremely entertainment-based, and I couldn't be happier}.

The chapters in Seriously...I'm Kidding jump around from topic to topic, much like a comedian's stand-up show.  Nothing is written in chronological order or even related to the chapter before or after it, and it doesn't need to be ~ it's more like a collection of thoughts and anecdotes on topics ranging from the lack of social skills in todays society to the importance of sleep; from strange dreams and dream interpretation to her judging stint on American Idol.  If you read through the book imagining Ellen's voice reading the dialogue {or if you have the audiobook}, you will be completely entertained from beginning to end.

Here are a few excerpts that made me chuckle.  This one is from the chapter "Social Skills"...

Nobody writes letters anymore, which means nobody has pen pals.  I remember when I was probably about ten years old I had a pen pal, and writing letters back and forth with him was one of my favorite things to do.  His name was Steve and he lived in one of those huge mansions that's so big it has a name.  It was called the Louisiana State Penitentiary, and he told me it was even bigger than the mayor's mansion.  We'd send letters back and forth and he'd ask me to send him my favorite books and small pieces of metal or wood that were lying around and all the money I could find in my house.  And I'd gather them all up and put cute little stickers of cats on the packages and send them away.  It was so fun.  Eventually we stopped writing because I moved to another city and he moved out to live on his own.  He called it "solitary confinement".  I was always so impressed by his vocabulary.

From the chapter "Gambling Tips"...

I used to love going to Las Vegas.  What a clean, healthy town that is.  Here is a fun fact about Las Vegas:  You can literally do anything there.  Anything.  You can smoke in casinos, you can drink four jugs of tequila at once, you can try to spin yourself around on a roulette wheel while wearing only a piece of string on your bottom if you so desire.  But what you cannot do under any circumstances ~ and I found this out the hard way ~ is eat almonds at a blackjack table.  That is a true story.  I once tried to eat almonds at a card table and I was told by the dealer to put them away because I wasn't allowed to eat them there.  Sexual encounters with an escort?  You got it.  Wildly inappropriate public intoxication?  Anytime!  Having a little protein while doubling down?  How dare you even think about it, you stupid, stupid fool.

And from the chapter "Sleep"...

After you yell "Shoot!" your wife or husband or son or daughter will wake up from all the commotion.  Your son was probably awake anyway because he just got home after sneaking out of the house to meet his friends in the mall parking lot.  That's always been your greatest fear.  You worry that he goes there to cause mischief but really he's a good kid who just wants to fit in and hang out with his friends.  He's actually never even touched a cigarette let alone smoked one, or smoked anything for that matter.  I mean, one time he tried cocaine but that was only because his friends told him it was sugar and who doesn't love sugar?  Especially after sleeping with a hooker.  I'm not saying your son slept with a hooker, I'm just saying everyone loves sugar.

If you love Ellen DeGeneres, or if you just love to laugh, I think you'll love this book.  It took me a week to read it {or, really, a few hours ~ an hour here, a half hour there over the course of a week} and it was great to get a laugh in before bed.  Plus, when the back cover of the book makes you laugh out loud as you stand looking it over in Target, I think it's a sign that you're in a for a great read.

Have you read Seriously...I'm Kidding, or are you planning to?  What are your thoughts?

xoxo
Bean

{photo credit:  stagetimemagazine.com; whisperedconversations.blogspot.com}

Polar Express Storytime - THIS Friday!

 

Looking for a no-cost way to entertain the youngin's and give them a jolt of holiday spirit?  {As far as I know, storytimes are still free}.  This Friday, December 9th, bundle up the kids in their cozy winter pj's and bring them down to your local Barnes & Noble for a special storytime featuring a reading of the beloved holiday classic, The Polar Express!  It appears that most {if not all} the participating locations are serving refreshments and start at 7 p.m..  However, click here and enter your ZIP code above the graphic to find a participating store near you and to read the details your local store has provided.

A cozy Christmas storytime + no cost to you  = happy parents and kids who "Believe" for that much longer!  {Some locations even mentioned gifting children with a free jingle bell, while supplies last!}


xoxo
Bean

{photo credit:  cincinnatilibrary.org}

Book Club: The Christmas Wedding {Review}

I finished The Christmas Wedding last night ~ so five days, start to finish, without spending a lot of time on it on any one day.  Last night I read the entire second half in a couple hours.  So, to sum up ~ this is an easy read.  :)

Since the book was released in October, it has garnered decidedly mixed reviews.  Amazon readers have given The Christmas Wedding a firm C average ~ 2.5 out of 5 stars as I write this.  I'm not sure why, though.  Well, yes I am, if I read some of their comments; a "silly plot", it "lacks depth", and "I hated pretty much every character in it" were three reviewers opinions.  And yes, if you are expecting an Alex Cross-esque Patterson novel, then you will think this is the "worst he's ever written".  But, if you'd like to read something more along the lines of his three previous "romance" novels {I use that word begrudgingly ~ even at his softest, Patterson is not Danielle Steel, the queen of the romance novel ~ and I mean that in a good way}, than you just may enjoy The Christmas Wedding.

The book jacket summary:

The tree is decorated, the cookies are baked, and the packages are wrapped, but the biggest cause for celebration this Christmas is Gaby Summerhill's wedding.  Since her husband died three years ago, Gaby's four children have drifted apart, consumed by the turbulence of their own lives.  They haven't celebrated Christmas together since their father's death, but when Gaby announces that she's getting married ~ and that the identity of the groom will remain a secret until the wedding day ~ she may finally be able to bring them home for the holidays.

The wedding isn't the only surprise ~ there is one more unexpected gift, and it could change all their lives forever.  With deeply affecting characters and the emotional twists of a James Patterson thriller, The Christmas Wedding is a fresh look at family and the magic of the season.

In short ~ I liked it!  It's not my favorite James Patterson novel; that title will likely always be reserved for Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas.  But The Christmas Wedding was engaging, despite it's strange plot line ~ and it is strange.  Gaby is proposed to by three men, who are also friends with one another {and one is her deceased husbands' brother}, and the three of them are all okay with her waiting to reveal her decision on who she will marry until she gets to the altar.  Realistic?  Well, probably not...but it does allow for Patterson's signature mystery style to be present.  You really don't know who the groom will be until Gaby reveals her choice at the altar.

I liked almost all the characters ~ I would love to see them revisited in a future book.  I thought they were interesting and diverse, as families tend to be.  At 266 pages, The Christmas Wedding is definitely on the short side.  Perhaps Patterson, and co-author Richard DiLallo, could have plumped up the book by delving more into the history of the family; by way of flashbacks, maybe?  We only really get to know them at present day ~ there is a mention here or there about something they did or liked as a child or teen, but we don't hear any real stories about them that let us know how they were shaped into the people they are today; and they are a group of very different personalities, so they must have been shaped into their very different selves by more than just the home they were raised in.  And we never really hear about Gaby's husband, her children's father, who has only been gone for three years.  There are few mentions of the man, aside from a few pages near the beginning of the book.  Another oddity?  All of her children and grandchildren call Gaby "Gaby"; when did that start, and why?

As I often wonder when novels are co-authored ~ how does that work?  Did DiLallo really do most of the "work" {which would explain why thriller-Patterson purists aren't big fans of the book}, and Patterson perhaps supplied the plot line?  Did they sit in a room together and write every word together?  And, if you're as successful as James Patterson, why co-write ~ why not just write it yourself? 

But, I digress.  I liked the book, and I would recommend the book, but I do think it could have been better.  Also, the "second surprise" mentioned in the book jacket description?  I never figured out what that was; there are lots of little surprises, or announcements, achievements, etc, throughout the short novel.  But one that could "change their lives forever", and is separate from the wedding itself?  I didn't pick up on one.

So, have you read The Christmas Wedding, or are you planning to?  If you have read it, what did you think?  Which character did you find most compelling, relatable, or interesting?  Who did you want Gaby to marry, or who did you think she would marry?  What do you think that second, life-changing surprise was?  Were you happy with the way the story turned out?

Merry Reading, bookworms!

xoxo
Bean

{photo credit:  amazon.com}

Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day!

It seems like there is a "day" for just about everything ~ Chocolate Cupcake Day, Hug a Left-Handed Person Day, Flip to the Cool Side of the Pillow Day...{I just made all those up, but I wouldn't be remotely surprised if they actually existed...in fact, I'm pretty sure Chocolate Cupcake Day is real, which I fully support}.  I just found out, not a moment too soon, that tomorrow is the second annual Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day!

Click here to visit the official website and see if there is a participating bookstore near you.  Even if there isn't, what a great excuse to get the kiddos out of the house, away from the TV and computer, and let them use their minds and imaginations for a bit.  Bookstores are closing left and right, as printed books get nudged out by their e-reader/tablet counterparts.  I still don't think that print is a completely dying art form, and there are no Nooks, Kindles, or such under my roof.  Even if you are an e-reader convert ~ do you really picture curling up in bed with your toddler to read to them from a tablet?  Probably not.  Books can be an endless source of entertainment for kids, tweens, and teens.

I've been reading since preschool.  I spent my entire childhood with a book in my hand ~ I read at the table {the better to ignore my brother with}, I read in the bath, I read in the pool and at the beach.  I read while walking to and from the bus stop, during the bus ride, and well after the lights were out for bedtime {God bless flashlights and nightlights}.  I always try to give books as part of Christmas or birthday presents to my nieces and nephews, in the hopes that they will develop a love of reading too.  My nine-year-old nephew loves reading, especially the Harry Potter series, and I couldn't be more thrilled.

So swing by a bookstore with your munchkins tomorrow.  You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain if they discover some books they can really lose themselves in.

And with the "Reading Rainbow" theme song playing loudly in my memory....

xoxo
Jillian

Book Club Suggestion: "The Christmas Wedding"

James Patterson's newest novel, The Christmas Wedding, hit shelves this week.  Patterson is known for his suspenseful thrillers {most notable his "Alex Cross" series, including Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider which were later adapted into films}, but once in a while he surprises readers by showing his softer side.

The Christmas Wedding is Patterson's fourth non-thriller tome, following in the footsteps of Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, Sam's Letters to Jennifer and Sundays at Tiffany's.  {Side note:  we will absolutely be visiting Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas in a later Book Club entry ~ if you haven't read it, you need to!}  The great thing about the novels Patterson pens in this genre {especially for fans of his typical publications} is that although these books are void of murder, blood, gore and the like, they have twists and turns throughout.  You are literally on the edge of your seat {or bed, or couch, or beach blanket} the entire time you're reading one of his novels ~ just when you think you've figured out where the story is headed, it spins into a completely different direction and you realized you've actually figured out nothing.  Patterson knows how to write a page-turner in the truest sense of the word ~ I read Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas in one night because I literally could not stop reading it.

The Christmas Wedding was just released on Monday, so this isn't a book review, but a suggestion.  I love Christmas, I love weddings, and I love James Patterson, so I feel like this is a can't-lose situation.  I will probably wait until December to crack this one open {I feel like I should be reading a book that takes place at Christmas while I'm sitting next to my decorated tree}, but I think I'll order it soon.

Click here to order The Christmas Wedding on Amazon, where the hardcover is listed at $14.26 right now.  {And click here to snag a paperback copy of Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas for $7.99, if you don't already have it ~ you won't be sorry!}

Looking forward to Christmas and a brand-new book!

xoxo
Jillian

{photo credit:  amazon.com}

Book Club: Elizabeth Berg

I am an avid reader ~ and that's an understatement.  I have been reading since the age of four {reading chapter books on my own since kindergarten}; I grew up reading a book walking to and from the bus stop, on the bus ride, after school, at the dinner table {a convenient way to ignore my older brother}, before bed, and even after bed with the aid of flashlights.  I read books, magazines, the back of my shampoo bottles in the shower, notes on my mother's counter ~ not to be snoopy; I just read voraciously.  So I figured this blog would be a perfect forum for me to share this interest with you all ~ a place where I can recommend books old and new, and hopefully get suggestions for great new reading material as well.  We'll have our own little "book club", if you will.  ;)

Allow me to introduce you to my very favorite author, in case you haven't met her yet.  Her name is Elizabeth Berg, and she's written over twenty books in about as many years {most of which are novels}.  I equate Ms. Berg's books to chick flicks, and I mean that in the absolute best sense of the phrase.  Reading one of her novels is like curling up on the couch for a good conversation with a great friend ~ you feel comfortable; you feel compassionate; you take away lessons you can use in your own life; you learn a lot about your friend and yourself.

Most of the protagonists in Berg's books are female {one exception that comes to mind is Say When, in which the main character is a man whose wife has left him; it's quite refreshing to read from this perspective}.  I've noticed that as Berg ages {Wikipedia has her listed as being 62 years old}, so to her main characters.  She has a trio of books that center around a young girl named Katie; most of the books she published in the '90s and early 2000s feature women in their forties; and her latest novels center around women who are in their fifties {one of her most recent publications, The Last Time I Saw You, chronicled a woman's trip back to her 40th high school reunion ~ making the characters in the book approximately 58}.  Berg used to live in Boston {and now resides in Chicago}, and many of her earlier books are located in and around the Boston area ~ a fun bonus for this native Bostonian.

If you're looking for a new author to follow or a feel-good "easy" read, I would highly recommend just about any of Elizabeth Berg's books.  I have read maybe two of her books that I wasn't crazy about ~ which means there are almost 20 that I would strongly suggest. She spins tales of relationships ~ between friends; between sisters; between parent and child; between husband and wife.  She tells tales of people from different walks of life, and at different points of their life ~ when you look back over her collection, your bound to find at least a character or two that you can relate to on some level.

Check out Bergs' personal website for a complete list of her works, along with a brief synopsis and her inspiration for each book {both in her own words}; you can also follow Berg on her Facebook page. Of course, you can find her books for purchase both in-store and online at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and your favorite local bookstores.

Scroll below for a quick view of some of my favorite Elizabeth Berg picks {even though it is so, so hard to pick a favorite!}

 One of the first, or possibly the first, Elizabeth Berg novel I read.  An Oprah Book Club selection, Open House tells the story of a recently separated woman who rents out rooms in her house to boarders in order to make ends meets and keep her home.

 

Durable Goods, Joy School, and True to Form follow Katie Nash, a young "Army brat" living with her widowed Army colonel father in the 1960s.  12-years old when we first meet her in Durable Goods, Katie is at the center of a true coming-of-age storyline that is simultaneously relatable, heartwarming and heartbreaking.

 

Such a unique plot line!  Nan is middle-aged and frustrated with her husband, her daughter, her life.  She needs a break, and so she abruptly sets off on a road trip to an undetermined destination.  Along the way she journals about her travels and self-discoveries, and occasionally writes to her bewildered husband back home to let him know she's okay ~ she isn't leaving him, she just needs a break.  Who can't relate to that?

 

 

 

 

Patty is in her mid-thirties.  She is single; she is a real estate agent that never actually sells property but doesn't really know what else to do with her life; and she desperately wants a family.  She decides to have a child with her gay best friend, instead of waiting for her fairytale prince to come along and procreate with her.

 

 

 

This is one of Berg's more recent novels.  Set during World War II, it tells the story of sisters, of romance, and of an era gone by.  Usually Berg's novels are set in present-day, and this book offers a fun and interesting look back at a different time ~ the fashions, the manners, and the way the world worked were all different.  

 

 

 

I hope you can find an Elizabeth Berg novel {or several} that resonate with you.  Reading her books has brought me so much joy over the years, and I'm sure she can do the same for you.

xoxo

Bean

{photo credit: barnesandnoble.com}

Junie B. Jones and the Unwarranted Reviews?

I decided I wanted to share the children's book series "Junie B. Jones" with you all, and went to Amazon to pull up an image and get an excerpt or two for you.  Junie B. books have been around since the early 1990's, and my stepmother and I began reading them to my younger brothers a few years later.  My brothers were probably between the ages of 5 to 8 {I think?} when we read them this series ~ old enough to be reading themselves, but young enough to still enjoy being read to sometimes.  It was also a series about a girl, which we were concerned might make them turn up their noses, but they were just as entertained as could be.  How great is it {especially nowadays} to have a child interested in reading a book or being read to, when there are countless overstimulating, electronic distractions available to them?  I think it's fantastic, which is why I was floored when I just went to Amazon and read negative review after negative review for Barbara Parks' series.

Junie B. is a spirited kindergartner, and the books are told from her point of view and in her voice ~ that is, the voice of a five-year-old.  This means words that don't exist but kids use anyway {bestest} and fragments/run-on sentences abound.  It also translates into laugh-out-loud one-liners from this fictional kid.  Junie B. is precocious, opinionated, and outspoken, and that's what makes her books so enjoyable for a parent {or older sister, or babysitter} to read.  She is sassy, she speaks her mind, and she gets into trouble ~ that's what creates an interesting plot line for the stories.  That is also what some parents seem to oppose to.  Some reviewers on Amazon cite Junie's "poor behavior", "atrocious manners" and "poor judgement", as well as "subject matter [that is] inappropriate" as reason to avoid the series.  Positive reviewers say that the Junie B. series has "propelled [their children] into the wonderful world of reading chapter books" and are essential for grade-school classrooms; one reviewer pointed out that they are "written to appeal to your child's sense of humor...and are not meant to be a Book of Virtues".  As of today, out of the 240 Amazon reviews on the first boxed set of Junie B. books, 105 are 5-star, 95 are 1-star, and 22 are 4-star reviews ~ a slight edge in the positive reviews department.

Now, disclaimer ~ I am not a parent.  I have been an actively-involved older sister {especially to my youngest brother, who is 13 years my junior}, a babysitter since the age of 10 or 11 {which is nuts now that I think about it}, and a nanny while I was in college.  But not a parent ~ and I fully appreciate that this means I don't know what it feels like to be a parent, and to make decisions day-to-day that will affect my child and may shape them into the person they're going to be.  That said ~ I don't think I would ever use a fictitious character {literary, cinematic, or otherwise} to teach my child what I feel they should know.  Like Dennis the Menace and Eloise before her, Junie B. Jones is a character intended to be entertaining and exaggerated, not an example of how a child should behave.  Show of hands ~ who here, as a child, watched the Dennis the Menace TV series {in syndication, of course} or '90s movie, and/or read about impish Eloise's exploits at New York's Plaza hotel?  What's that?  Just about everyone?  I thought so.  And did you turn out okay?  Yeah, I suspected as much. :)  {For the record, my brothers are currently upstanding citizens in their twenties, who never sassed their teachers or got into any amount of trouble that isn't normal for any child}.

So, what I intended to be a blog informing you about a children's book series you might enjoy sharing with your youngin's turned into more of an op-ed piece, but that's okay.  If Junie B. doesn't seem like the type of 5-year-old you'd like to introduce your grade-school age child to, that's okay {and younger than grade-school wouldn't be the right audience ~ the humor would go over their heads, and there are few pictures}.  And those parent reviewers have a good point ~ I would never use the Junie B. Jones books to teach my child proper grammar and sentence structure.  When I was growing up, our teachers actually taught us those things though {and also about poetic license, somewhere along the line}, and we just used books for entertainment.

But if you think your kids will get a kick out of Junie B.'s adventures and mishaps, and think they would enjoy reading silly stories about a kid going through the same things they are and, yes, learning from them in the end {First day of school?  New baby in the the house?}, you might want to give her a try.  Barbara Parks' series allowed my stepmom and I to spend quality time with my brothers at an age when they didn't "need" us quite so much any more, sharing belly laughs and forming memories that I still hold on to a good fifteen years later.

I'll leave you with an excerpt from Junie B. Jones' first book, "Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus".

My name is Junie B. Jones.  The B stands for Beatrice.  Except I don't like Beatrice. I just like B and that is all.

I'm almost six years old.

Almost six is when you get to go to kindergarten.  Kindergarten is where you go to meet new friends and not watch TV.

My kindergarten is the afternoon kind.

Today was my first day of school.  I'd been to my room before, though.  Last week Mother took me there to meet my teacher.

It was called Meet the Teacher Day.  My teacher was decorating the bulletin board with the letters of the alphabet.

"I already know all of those letters," I said.  "I can sing them.  Except I don't feel like it right now."

My teacher shook my hand.  Only our hands didn't fit together that good.

Her name was Mrs. - I can't remember the rest of it.  Mrs. said I looked cute.

"I know it," I said.  "That's because I have on my new shoes."

I held my foot way high in the air.

"See how shiny they are?  Before I put them on, I licked them."

Happy Reading!

xoxo
Bean


 

{photo credit: randomhouse.com}