My First Book Display

I'm so excited to share with you all my first ever book display. Although I don't work with the Children's Ministry, I volunteered to help promote FernGully: The Last Rainforest, the choice for Family Movie Night. I thought a book display would be a great way to garner attention for the event, as well as learn about the rainforest. Initially, I had planned to create a mini rainforest between the inner and outer doors of the preschool; however, it didn't pan out. So, I opted for a foliage-covered table instead.  I didn't realize until after I completed the display that I should have covered the table with brown paper. Oh well, there's always next time.

Review: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway. New York: Collier Books/MacMillan Publishing, 1987  (first published 1952). 127 pp.
Rating: Decent

**Note: The following below are my initial thoughts upon completing the Old Man and the Sea and is not intended to be a "review" per se. 

Goodreads Summary: An epic battle between an old, experienced fisherman (Santiago) and a giant marlin said to be the largest catch of his life.

"But the old man always thought of her as feminine and as something that gave or withheld great favours, and if she did wild or wicked things it was because she could not help them. The moon affects her as it does a woman, he thought" (30).

In my attempt to close my classics book gap, I picked up my copy of The Old Man and the Sea. To be such a short book, it seemed so long and boredom quickly came upon me. Throughout many of the old man's conversations with himself, I began to imagine the life of a fisherman. He who knows the ins and outs of the sea. He who develops a relationship with its creatures. He who appreciates the beauty of all its life forms and the sea itself, but will never be able to tame its unpredictable nature. He who understands the danger of the vocation, yet is drawn to "her" (as Santiago would say) alluring call.

Although I hoped for a better resolution, I found within the pages of this novella an old fisherman whose tenacious nature pulled him out to sea each day despite unsuccessful outings months at a time. However, I must admit, Santiago is a shark-killing, badass old man.

A Crate of Treasures...A Found Friend

Anyone who knows me knows that I love books. Upon my arrival at my previous job, my coworkers quickly learned that I was a reader. During slow periods, they observed me devour books whether for study or pleasure. Always seeking to procure books for Cultivating You, Inc., I announced to everyone that I'd be more than happy to relieve them of any of their unwanted books. One of my fellow coworkers had begun replacing his paperbacks with electronic copies. A day earlier than promised, Kyle brought me a crate filled with books. As I walked in the door before the start of my shift, my co-workers bombarded me with requests to borrow a book. Dumbfounded I responded, "what books?"

Top Ten Reasons to Have Students Blog About Their Reading Experiences by Russ Anderson

Every morning I eagerly awake to a new Nerdy Book Club blog post awaiting me in my Gmail inbox. In today's post, Russ Anderson makes a persuasive argument advocating student blogging. I agree with each point presented; however, reasons three and ten resonate the most with me. Despite sixteen plus years of education, I still struggle with finding my own voice, which is one of the reasons I started this blog. Before I began, I researched how to structure a book review, as well as, reviewed numerous book blogs. My first blog post follows the formal book review format, yet something didn't feel quite right. Those were my words, but it wasn't my voice, which had become buried and lost somewhere beneath the methodical composition. As I visited more book blogs, I soon began to realize that each blogger expressed their book love in various ways. Every blogger did not share the same review style, layout, or even rating system. After my first two posts, I ditched the stiff review format. My voice has yet to reach maturity, but it has definitely come a long way from my first post.

Trust Issues

As I perused several book blogs before starting my own, I noticed that several blogs contained reviews mostly with ratings of four or five stars. Hmmm...suspect. Questions to these bloggers formed in my mind.

What do you look for in a book?
Do you like every book you read?
Do you prefer a particular genre or read them all?
Are you a discernible reader?
As a reviewer, where do your loyalties lie, to the author or the book-loving public?

A few weeks ago, in a School Library Journal e-newsletter, I read an article comment that continues to gnaw at me. The commenter stated that she only reviews books that she likes. Yes, book blogging is my hobby; however, I believe my responsibility as a book lover and reviewer is to disclose everything about my reading experience: the writing quality, plot, characterizations, dialogue, my likes, and dislikes, without divulging the story or including too many spoilers.  Even though book reviews are not without impartiality, can you really trust reviewers who post only glowing book reviews?

Sound off!

Review: Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool

Clare Vanderpool. New York: Delacorte Press, 2013. 308 pp.
Rating: OMG (Oh My Greatness)

How do I begin to describe Navigating Early? Well, I guess this is as best a start as any. Years ago when I was preparing for the LSAT, I enrolled in a preparation course at Georgia State University. The course was taught by a math professor who reduced all words to numbers or letters in a math equation; in which he would then proceed to solve. I sat stupefied, inwardly shouting, I read words! WORDS!  My bibliophilic mind could not grasp this alpha to numeric metamorphosis. Needless to say, my brain never converged with the professor's tactics on the best approach to the Logic Games and Analytical Reasoning sections. 

Review: Soul Searching: A Girl's Guide to Finding Herself by Sarah Stillman

Sarah Stillman. New York: SimonPulse/Hillsboro: Beyond Words Publishing, 2012. 162 pp.
Rating: Striking  

"Even though soul searching may seem like a mostly mental and emotional journey, the mind, body, and spirit are closely linked. When we have negative feelings about our physical selves, it makes it almost impossible to focus on our emotional and spiritual identities" (33).

Originally published in 2000 by the author at age sixteen, Soul Searching provides young girls ways to stave off self-destructive behaviors through self-discovery. Author Sarah Stillman began her soul searching journey at the tender age of sixteen. The book begins and ends explaining soul searching is a never ending journey. It explores aromatherapy, personal space setting, dream interpretations, philosophy, various religions, and other areas. Each chapter ends with a list of resources for further research about that subject.

Quote-"Many people are threatened by female security, often because it invokes their own fear and jealousy." (34)

Review: Nightshade (The Poison Diaries #2) by Maryrose Wood

Maryrose Wood with The Duchess of Northumberland. New York: Balzer + Bray, 2011. 280 pp.
Rating: Worthy + 🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙🌙

**Review contains minor spoilers from the first book**

Enter, once again, the lyrical world of Maryrose Wood. The enchanting poison garden sits, beckons, and waits ready to wreak havoc. 

At the end of The Poison Diaries, Jessamine awakens from her feverish condition without Weed at her bedside. Devastated by his sudden disappearance, Jessamine, no longer the blooming wildflower loses all faith in the world's beauty. Believing Weed lost hope in her recovery, she assumes the life of a healer devoid of feeling. Upon discovering that her father sacrificed her mother's life, as well as, risked her own in the name of research, Jessamine is determined to seek revenge.

Review: The Merchant's Daughter (Hagenheim #2) by Melanie Dickerson

Melanie Dickerson. Michigan: Zondervan, 2011. 272 pp.
Rating: Decent

Annabel Chapman is the youngest of three children and the only daughter to a once wealthy merchant. Each year the villagers of Glynval must assist in the harvest. To forego this duty, Annabel’s father paid an annual censum. Losing his ships in a storm, then soon after, Mr. Chapman succumbs to the pestilence outbreak leaving his family penniless. Unwilling to partake of the harvest toil, Roberta Chapman bribes the village’s corrupt steward allowing her family to neglect their share of labor for three years. Lord le Wyse, the new lord of Glynval, demands repayment of the Chapman’s shirked duties. In exchange for paying the family’s fines and to avoid working in the fields, Annabel’s oldest brother Edward, promises her in marriage to Bailiff Tom, a friend of her father’s. Unbeknownst to Edward, Tom intends to cover only Annabel’s fees. “Her brother has arranged for her to marry me in exchange for paying her censum” (34).

Review: Hidden Genius: Frank Mann, the Black Engineer Behind Howard Hughes by H.T. Bryer

H.T. Bryer. Grey Forest Press: OH, 2011. p. 110
Rating: Worthy

Recall your excitement when your fingers brushed the forgotten twenty dollar bill tucked in the pocket of your winter coat, your favorite watch wedged deep between the sofa cushions, or your lucky socks pushed far under the bed. At that moment adrenaline coursed through your reins—pure ecstasy. I received the same feeling upon discovering this buried treasure of American history.

Frank Mann, mechanical mastermind, led an interesting life: aeronautical engineer, car designer, comedian, dancer, singer—he enjoyed all life had to offer. Refusing to allow his race to encumber him, Frank set out to begin a career in engineering. Once Frank fell in love with airplanes, he spent all his time at the airport observing the mechanics. “I wasn’t getting paid, but I was learning” (15). Other than acquiring knowledge, Frank’s chance encounter with Howard Hughes at the airport would spark a lifelong friendship.

Review: Carrying Mason by Joyce Magnin

Joyce Magnin. Michigan: Zonderkidz, 2011. 153 pp.
Rating: Don't Bother

Promises are made to be kept.

Thirteen year-old Luna Gleason, the third of six children, is not your typical teenager. Following the surprising death of her best friend, Mason, Luna decides to move in with his special needs mother, Ruby Day. Luna and Ruby Day quickly fall into a routine that is threatened by exposed secrets prompted by the arrival of Aunt Sapphire, Ruby Day’s aunt.
 
Luna, despite the obstacles, never wavers in her perseverance to help Ruby Day. Her appeal to her father was a delight.  “But Daddy, you said I couldn’t carry Mason and I did. I did that just fine. You said I’d never bait a proper hook, and I do that like a champ because Mason taught me. Ain’t you the one who is always saying, ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me?’ All things, Daddy, not just some things. Even fight Aunt Sapphire and her fancy foxes and big car” (102). Magnin wonderfully illustrates the Christian principle of sacrifice. Even though Luna could have been killed or seriously hurt, she “stretched out as close…to the back wheels of Sapphire’s car” and didn’t hesitate to offer up her life. “Frederick can run me over if he want but I’m not giving up.” My favorite line of the novel is Luna’s mother's response to her husband's question about Luna’s actions. “She’s laying down her life for her friend.”

Review: Black, White, Other: In Search of Nina Armstrong by Joan Steinau Lester

Joan Steinau Lester. Michigan: Zondervan, 2011. 222 pp.

Rating: Striking

Identity is a concept familiar to all, something people struggle with daily and not easily defined. We all ask, “Who am I?” Our gifts, talents, experiences, and ancestors make us who we are. For most, adolescence is the first attempt to piece together the puzzle of ourselves. Grappling with identity is frightening, but even more terrifying is being a biracial teen struggling with this issue when the world familiar to you crashes down.

In Black, White, Other, Nina Armstrong, a product of a white mother and black father, seeks to regain her identity once her parent’s divorce completely alters the life she has always known, forcing her to view her surroundings in a manner alien to her. Rejected by friends for refusing to pick a side and live in a world that is either black or white, Nina stands alone. Feeling a connection to a dead ancestor, Nina sets out to explore how her life is akin to her enslaved great-great-grandmother. We follow Nina Armstrong on her tumultuous journey as she attempts to answer the elusive question, “Who am I?”