Coming Soon: The Secret Keeper

This morning I was so excited to learn that Kate Morton's new novel, The Secret Keeper is finally on its way! Currently at the typesetter, Kate reported on her website that the book will be available for purchase in the US this October. I cannot wait!

For those of you who do not recall, I have read and finished all three of Kate Morton's earlier novels and each time I was left with mixed emotions. I am not a big fan of Gothic tales, but I find myself spellbound by Kate's storytelling. Thus I find myself both excited and anxious to pick up and read this new novel.

For those of you who have yet to discover Kate Morton you can learn more about her first three novels here:

The House at Riverton
The Forgotten Garden
The Distant Hours

Kate Morton's Official Website

The House Pet - an exciting new style of fairytale and adventure

I am so excited about this book! It is a soon to be released "narrative adventure poem" by D. M. Lovic. I first Mr. Lovic over fifteen years ago and among other memories, I remember distinctly that he was always a very talented, imaginative, and amusing story teller. This novel sounds perfect as a read-aloud for young children, or to be enjoyed by young readers, young adults, and even adults who young at heart.

After watching this little clip I became even more excited. I cannot wait for the book to be released (it'll be available this fall) so I can read it in its entirety. I highly encourage you to take a few minutes to check out this 6 minute clip and consider perhaps even contributing something to make my friend's dream a reality.

Thanks!

The House Pet by D. M. Lovic

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette by Jeanne Birdsall

304 pages
Published 2011
by Knopf Books for Young Readers 


The Penderwicks at Point Mouette is the third in a coming-of-age series about the Penderwick family (a widower dad and his five daughters) by  Jeanne Birdsall.

I first discovered the series in 2008 when I read (and thoroughly enjoyed) The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. The next year I read the sequel, The Penderwicks of Gardam Street, which made me fall even more in love with the series. And so when I learned that the third book would be published in May 2011 I was quick to put in a request for a copy at my local library.

The Plot: 
The Penderwick family is going to be split up for summer vacation for the first time ever! Rosalind is off to the beach with friends, which leaves Skye in charge as OAP (Oldest Available Penderwick),  which terrifies Skye. Thankfully the girls' friend Jeffrey is joining them so it looks to be a fun summer after all... And it definitely is a fun summer filled with all sorts of adventures and a few discoveries that will change the lives of all involved. There are moments of laughter and of tears, but most of all it's the type of summer no one will soon forget (including the reader)! To learn more check out the full summary on Jeanne Birdsall's website.

My Thoughts:
The third installment in the Penderwick series does not disappoint. It is just as delightful, charming and fun as the two preceding books and at the same time it is a completely fresh story with new adventures for each member of the family.

As is the case with Mrs. Birdsall's previous two Penderwick books the writing remains simple, but clear and creative all the while keeping the story believable and enjoyable not just for her young readers, but for adults too.

If you are looking for an entertaining read that also gives you a feeling of nostalgia (for books of yesteryear) and yet still relevant to today's kids then look no further than The Penderwicks At Point Mouette... Although I will suggest you start at the beginning of the series if you've not yet read them.

According to her website, Mrs. Birdsall plans to write two more books for the Penderwick series. I look forward to the next edition and as she is one of my favorite modern authors I also plan to keep my eye out for any of her other future works.

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Related Links:
Jeanne Birdsall's Website 

The Penderwicks (reviewed)
The Penderwicks of Gardham Street (reviewed)

Discover Deep Valley -- A New Release for all Betsy-Tacy Fans!

"To find Deep Valley in this bustling modern city, you have to close your eyes to the airport, to the streams of automobiles, and to many beautiful new homes and schools and shops. You have to imagine horses and carriages, ladies with trailing skirts and ruffled parasols and children in long black stockings."

~  Maud Hart Lovelace (1961)

As if there wasn't already enough to be excited about I have still further good news!

Discover Deep Valley: A Gudie to Maud Hart Lovelace's Mankato by Julie A. Schrader is hot off the presses this month and can be purchased through Minnesota Heritage Publishing's website.

The book is 190 pages and is available for immediate purchase for only $12.95 plus shipping and handling. (Note: When ordering you can mention the "2012 Betsy-Tacy Convention" and a portion of the proceeds from your purchase will go towards funding the convention.)

This is a book I simply HAVE to read and think you should too! To learn more, view excerpts, or order your own copy head over to MN Heritage's website.

Yeah for all things Maud!

A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse

416 pages
Published in 2010 by Europa Editions
New York, NY

The Plot:
A quaint little bookshop called The Good Novel, which specializes in selling only novels that are deemed truly worthwhile pieces of literature by the owners and a secret advising committee, has opened its doors to the world from a quiet corner of Paris, France and is proving to be quite the successful enterprise... Until anonymous threats and mysterious attacks are made upon the owners, the secret committee and the store itself threatening it's very existence. (To learn more about A Novel Bookstore's plot visit Europa Editions for a full summary.)

My Thoughts:
Nearly a year ago I first stumbled upon A Novel Bookstore by Laurence Cosse while browsing the various book blogs I subscribe too. Each review basically said the same thing: A Novel Bookstore is not only a unique read for those who love books, but it is one that should be read. I tucked it away to read at a later date. That time finally arrived this past week when, at a loss for something lighthearted to read, I randomly chose A Novel Bookstore from my library's shelves.

From the vague memory I had of the reviews I had read I thought I was picking up a modern mystery novel that involved a bookstore. A book about books, just the summer read I was looking for... And for the first few pages that's exactly what I believed I was reading. The book opens with three attacks upon members of The Good Novel's secret committee members, but as I read on I quickly realized that A Novel Bookstore is not a lighthearted who-dunit mystery, but rather a mix of drama and philosophy, with a thread or two of a love story woven in.

My only complaint with A Novel Bookstore is that while the plot is unique and exceedingly clever it does tend to plod at several points. There were several times where I felt the author got side-tracked in side stories or little details that mattered little to the story development, but I pressed on because I was curious as to the outcome of the story. Would The Good Novel survive the attacks? Who was behind them? What would become of the owners and the committee members. Of course, to make matters worse for me as I read, the author tossed around dozens and dozens of titles of good novels and authors (of good novels) that were mostly French and most of whom I'd never even heard of. I suppose this was supposed to spark in me the desire to track down these books and read them so as not to be a bibliophile who has read very few "good novels," but for me it just was a bit overwhelming. Perhaps if I'd heard of half of the authors (my fault for not being French???) I might have felt less so.

At any rate, I did find myself finishing this bittersweet story and realizing that even though it wasn't the lighthearted mystery I had expected to read, it was still a book that I had reasonably enjoyed. On more than one occasion it had caused me to stop and think.

For example, the very concept of a bookstore that only sells books that are deemed "good" by the owners (or an advising committee), is this bad? Are they pushing an elitist mindset? No, I don't think so. For anyone wishing to read something not available at such a bookstore they need only shop elsewhere. Who cares if you read a mixture of really good literature and so-so novels. If I could draw an analogy I'd say a bookstore like The Good Novel is similar to an organic food store. If a shopper is looking for a specific organic food item they might find it at a general grocery store, but they will almost certainly find it at an organic food store. That doesn't mean the general grocery store is "bad" for selling only a few organic items or that the organic food store is "best" because they don't sell any generic food items. They each have their own clientele with the occasional cross-over. Bringing it back to bookstores the same comparison could be made between a bookstore selling only "good literature" and those that sell a mixture of the good with the pulp and even a smattering of the bad. To shop at one or the other doesn't make you an elitist, its simply a matter of a consumer shopping at the store where they will best fine what they seek. And if they cannot find what they want they'll simply shop elsewhere for that item.

As I read I did stop to wonder -- if I had access to a bookstore like The Good Novel would I shop solely there? I doubt it. For me, I need to a mix in my reading -- the good and the fluffy. The classic and the best-seller. It's just the type of reader I am.

Over all, I found A Novel Bookstore to be a thought provoking read. Not a classic in and of itself, but a very clever story and one that caused me to stop and think. That's much more than I can say about most modern novels I've read of late.


Related Links:

The Good Novel
Lauren Cosse (Wiki Bio)
Europa Editions

Known and Unknown: A Memoir by Donald Rumsfeld

832 pages
Published by Sentinel, a Penguin Group in 2011
New York, NY

"My life has spanned more than one third of the history of the United States. As I thought more about this memoir and a title, the idea of the known and the unknown seemed to fit. Not only are there things in this book people believe they known about my life, but there are also things that may surprise and differ from what many may have read or heard or assumed." ~ Donald Rumsfeld

From the first moment I heard about Donald Rumsfeld's memoir, Known and Unknown I wanted to read it. What could be more fascinating than learning the "inside story" of my country's government for the last forty years than from a man who has spent most of his life serving as a Congressman, an Ambassador, and even twice as Secretary of Defense?

Most readers of my generation will of course remember Mr. Rumsfeld as the Secretary of Defense for most of George W. Bush's presidency, but what many of these same people may not realize is that that was not his first appointment to the job. Donald Rumsfeld also served as Secretary of Defense during the Ford administration in 1975. By 2001 he had been both the youngest and oldest person in American history to be appointed to the job of Secretary of Defense. Fascinating...

And that is exactly how I found Known and Unknown, fascinating. I was only 100 pages into the tome (and tome it is, for the text, index not included, reaches well over 700 pages!) and I could hardly put the book down.

During approximately the first quarter of Known and Unknown, Mr. Rumsfeld discusses in some detail the years 1932-1969 -- from his childhood, to the time spent serving in the US Navy, and later as a 29 year-old US Congressman from Illinois. For me this part of the book was a quick history lesson. Some events and people mentioned I remember hearing about, but for the most part his memoir filled in many of the holes left over from my childhood history lessons.

The second quarter of the book recalls Mr. Rumsfeld's time serving as a representative to NATO and White House Chief of Staff during the 1970s, as well as brief mention of the two decades he worked in the private sector for pharmaceutical companies. Again, the mention of people, places and events filled in more of the holes in my personal world and American history knowledge. By the end of the first half of Known and Unknown, Mr. Rumsfeld has brought his story up to the late 1990s, a time in which I have personal memories and the starting point of what I consider "recent history."

The "meat" of Known and Unknown is certainly to be found in the last half of the book. It is in this last half that Mr. Rumsfeld reaches the end of the 20th century and the early years of the 21st. It is a time that I consider "recent history" and to a point "current events." It is a time I remember vividly. Some events I remember reading or hearing about in the news and other events I experienced personally. For me the last half of Known and Unknown was the most fascinating section of the book... And at times it was also quite overwhelming. I was blown away with the amount of detail contained in each chapter. I can only imagine the amount of time and the extent of research that was required to complete this memoir. And I challenge anyone who thinks they know the reasons why America was attacked on 9/11 and why America went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan to read this book. This is not just one man's view, this is a memoir that includes details, facts, quotations, citations, and references that explain the known and the unknown of that period. It was very interesting.

That said, I must admit Known and Unknown is not for the faint of heart. If you tremble at the thought of reading anything political or historical in nature than you probably won't find Known and Unknown an easy read. Mr. Rumsfeld writes well, the entire book is woven together almost seamlessly, which makes it must easier to follow than other memoirs I've read, but the extent of detail does slow the reader down. If you have a predetermined interest in the topic then it is well worth the effort.

All in all, I am glad I took the time and effort to read Known and Unknown. While not every reader may agree with every decision made by Mr. Rumsfeld (or his bosses) I still encourage every reader to consider reading Known and Unknown, if for no other reason than to learn another side to the story that is recent American history.

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Related Links:

• The Rumsfeld Papers 
• World Timeline During Rumsfeld's Life (1932-Present)
• Rumsfeld Library (includes thousands of related documents)
• Known and Unknown (Additional information from the Publisher)

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

406 pages
Published in 2010
by Random House

For the last couple weeks I have thought over how exactly I was to review Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. I wanted to be careful in how much I gave away about the story because it came to me with little information and thus was a surprise read. For that reason I think it's almost best to keep you in the dark (a little) as well.

I first learned of Unbroken from a friend who told me nothing about the plot except that they thought I might enjoy it and that I shouldn't read anything about the story background or do any research on the book itself before I read it. Now, to do this is contrary to my normal pre-reading method. Under normal circumstances I read a review on a blog or I will read the book description and maybe a few snippets of reviews on Amazon to get a feel for whether or not it's the type of book I will want to read. (Why waste time on books that just aren't worth it?) At any rate, because I had confidence the person who was recommending wouldn't suggest an awful book I decided to go ahead and take their advice -- I picked up Unbroken and jumped in with both feet without stopping to find out anything more.

The plot (no spoilers):
"On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood.  Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared.  It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard.  So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War." (Summary courtesy of the publisher. Further description available on their website.)

My Thoughts:
Wow. Where do I begin? From the basic description one might think the story begins during the heat of World War II, but Unbroken begins before then, it starts as most biographies do, with the birth of the hero of the story. The author takes the reader through the background before leading them to the heart of the story -- the plane crash and what happened afterwards. This is indeed a fascinating story; a read I found interesting from a historical point of view (it begins in the early 1910s) and becomes a page turner (by the 1940s) that I just couldn't put down. Although a biography it reads a lot like a novel weaving dialogue, narration, and description together.

On the flip side there were some very difficult aspects to the story. War stories can be very gritty and Unbroken certainly has many gritty moments, which means it is not for the faint of heart. And yet, somehow the way Laura Hillenbrand writes I didn't mind the grit so much -- it was how it was and I pressed on because I wanted to find out how the story would end.

I must admit that after pressing through all the grittiness I almost gave up on the story during the last quarter of the book. It is at that point that the hero, having survived some of the most deplorable experiences, comes out a survivor, but a very angry and lost man. It was here that I started to second guess my friend's recommendation. I began to wonder why they of all people had recommended this book to me if it was going to end on such a depressing note. And then with the turn of the page and the start of a new chapter the story took a dramatic turn that led to a very exciting and amazing end. Unbroken is truly a story of survival, resilience AND redemption. It left me amazed and proud not only to have read such a book, but to have such people in my country's history.

In the end I believe Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is one of the most powerful books I have read this year and it is a book I recommend wholeheartedly!

Note: Once you have read Unbroken be sure to check out the related links below. For those wanting to keep the surprise element in the read stay clear of these links until AFTER you've finished the book. As for the rest of you who enjoy knowing the surprise ahead of time... you've probably already googled Unbroken and already know the whole story without picking up the book so I suppose it doesn't matter. Either way... I hope you'll take time to read this book.


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Related Links:

• LouieZamperini.com
• Devil At My Heels by Louis Zamperini
• SRN News.Com Intereview with Louis Zamperini (35min long)
• NY Times Bestseller (hit #1 during 2010) 
• Laura Hillenbrand's Official Website

Decision Points by George W. Bush

481 pages
Published in 2010
By Crown Publishers
New York, NY

"The nature of the presidency is that sometimes you don't choose which challenges come to your desk. You do decide how to respond." - George W. Bush

Decision Points is not your typical memoir, that is not if you're expecting a chronological retelling of George W. Bush's life. Instead, President Bush chose to focus on key decision points within his lifetime and by doing so, he presents a thorough picture of his background and what has made him the man he is today. Of course, because this is a presidential memoir it should come as no surprise that the majority of the book focuses upon decisions made during the eight years he served as President of the United States.

My thoughts:
Over the years I have found that some of the most fascinating reads are those written by or about people who have had a direct impact on the world in which I live, particularly books about American history and the American people. So it was with great interest and curiosity that I picked up President Bush's memoir, Decision Points. And I am happy to report that I was not disappointed.

From start to finish I found Decision Points to be a fascinating read of current events and recent history. We're not talking nitty-gritty gossip, but the key info as to the why and how President Bush made decisions, both personal and public.

If you think you already have the whole story when it comes to George W. Bush because you read the newspapers or watched the evening news, think again; there are always two sides to every story.

When making any decision I believe it is valuable to hear the "objective" outside view, but I also believe it is extremely valuable to include the perspective of the person on the "inside", the one making the decisions. One can read any number of books on the American Revolution, but to truly understand what life was like and why the Founding Fathers made the decisions they did one must read the personal writings of the founders, as well as books that detail their life and beliefs. In essence, until you learn what made them tick you cannot truly understand why they acted as they did. The same can be said of any modern statesman. Whether you agree with the person or not, you won't stand a chance of ever understanding why they act a certain way or believe a certain thing if you don't take the time to hear their point of view.

As far as the writing style, Decision Points is a easy read. Although President Bush addresses some complicated issues and details he doesn't let the reader get bogged down. His writing is simple, but intelligent and to the point. He says it like it is and doesn't mince words; even when admitting his own mistakes. He comes across as a humble man of faith; not at all one who plays pious or lives a life of hypocrisy. (One may wish me to note there was a smattering of profanity in the book, but always when quoting a previous conversation usually between one politician and another.) President Bush is mostly unapologetic about the decisions he made throughout his political and legislative career stating in the epilogue, "I knew some of the decisions I had made were not popular with many of my fellow citizens. But I felt satisfied that I had been willing to make the hard decisions, and I had always done what I believed was right." (pg. 474)

And that is actually what I admire most about President Bush. Regardless of what others think of his presidency or of him as a person, I personally admire that he took in all the facts, discussed and considered the options, and in the end always made the decision based on what he truly believed was right and good, not for his reputation or career, but for the country as a whole. He was a true example of a politician, one who serves the public not themselves.

Being president of the United States is quite an honor. Only 44 men have held the position in the last 222 years. You don't get on that list just because you want the job. Nor do you get there because you're popular. You get there because you have the experience, the courage, and the leadership to hold the position and you have earned the trust of millions of Americans. I hope those who read President Bush's memoirs do not read it with the goal to nitpick the past, but instead read it with an open mind so as to better understand the man who led the free world for the first eight years of this new millennium, through some of the most difficult decision points of American history.

In the end as President Bush points out within his memoir, history will be the final judge. If historians and critics can still mull over and argue about decisions made by our first president, George Washington 200+ years after his presidency ended, it will be some time before anyone comes to a final conclusion about the presidency of George W. Bush.

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Related Links:

Random House Publishers: Decision Points

Kindle: Decision Points ($14.99)

George W. Bush Presidential Library

The White House: George W. Bush (#43)

Review: Spoken From the Heart by Laura Bush

Tuesday Teaser: The Distant Hours - The Library

"Shelves spanned all four walls, floor to ceiling, and although it was shadowy inside -- the windows were cloaked by thick, draping curtains that brushed the ground -- I could see they were lined with very old books, the sort with marbled endpapers, gold-dipped edges, and black cloth binding. My fingers positively itched to drift at length along their spines, to arrive at one whose lure I could not pass, to puck it down, to inch it open, then close my eyes and inhale the soul-sparking scent of old and literate dust."

(The Distant Hours by Kate Morton, Part 1, Page 63)

Other Blogger Give-Away

Remember when I read and reviewed Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay?

If not you can read my review of Russian Winter here. For those interested in reading this new release you now have the chance to win your own SIGNED copy!

The Boston Bibliophile has posted a give-away for three signed copies for US residents. To enter for a chance to win you must visit her blog post: Russo-Biblio-Extravaganza Giveaway- 3 *signed* copies of RUSSIAN WINTER and leave a comment before November 30.

Good luck!

Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay

466 pages
Published in 2010
by HarperCollins Publishers

Russian Winter is hot off the presses as of September 7, 2010. I first learned of it when I read Jennifer's post at Book Club Girl on September 6th. Jennifer's passion and excitement for this book made me want to run out immediately and get a copy to read... Which I nearly did.

The cover art is mysterious and appealing. The plot description (some of which I've posted below) is intriguing. As for the book itself... I found it to be quite a compelling read.

The Plot:
"Set in both modern-day Boston and post-WWII Moscow, Russian Winter the story of Bolshoi ballerina Nina Revskaya as she becomes a member of Stalin's cultural elite before escaping to the West following a terrible betrayal. Decades later, she has decided to auction off her famed jewelry collection—including the rare set of amber that a Boston professor, Grigori Solodin, translator of the works of Revskaya's late poet-husband, believes may hold the key to a long-kept secret. The literary mystery Grigori sets out to solve—with the help of Drew Brooks, a young associate at the Boston auction house—reaches much deeper: to the cost of making art and trying to live and love under circumstances of enormous repression." (Summary courtesy of the author's website.)

My Thoughts:
As I stated above, I found this book to be quite a compelling read. Although to be honest, the first fifty pages were a tad slow, but once I got past them the story took off and I was riveted until the very last page. Russian Winter is suspenseful, it is romantic, and it is tragic. But above all it is a page turner.

I know little of Russian history and literature. I'm ashamed to admit I've only read one Russian novel to date and that was earlier this year (The Brothers Karamazov). It was a difficult read, but it was excellent and it wet my appetite for further books about Russia or by Russian authors.

I realize that Russian Winter is an American novel, but it is more than just another novel by an American author. It is written by a woman who knows her Russian history and who is in fact of Russian decent. (I read somewhere that it took Daphne six years to research and write Russian Winter even though several of the characters or settings are based on family history.) I found the history woven throughout the story not only interesting and educational, but also quite poignant.

The flashbacks to post-WWII Soviet Russia give the reader a glimpse of what life was like for the citizens of Russia during Stalin's reign as dictator and it is a depressing glimpse. What's even more discouraging is the fact that there are people today in America who tout socialist ideas as if they are the long lost answer to the problems in our world. Never mind that these same ideas were tried by Stalin and failed miserably. So much can be learned from the Russian people and their history, from what they endured and what they lost. And in the bleakness of this fact I found what I liked best about this book. From it I found a subtle warning of how difficult times have been and how much we can learn from the past and make something better of the future. How there are wrong choices made, but there is always a chance for redemption.

If you haven't guessed already Russian Winter is a sad story. Yes, it is a story of beauty, but also of ugliness. There is love, but there is also hostility. There is loss, but thankfully there is some redemption. And this is also where I struggled with my own feelings about the story. I really thought I could love this book except for the main character. I hated the decisions that Nina made. I found her to be self-centered and reckless. Decisions she thought harmless ended up with disastrous consequences and the decisions she thought would only impact her own life ended up hurting those she loved. She does get her chance at redemption, but for me it almost felt too late and I couldn't help feeling as if I should grieve for what could have been.

Still, overall I did enjoy Russian Winter. It was unlike any book I've read this year. It was a fascinating story. The plot is basic enough, but the story itself was so much more. I thought I knew where the story was going, but then there was a twist I didn't expect. For a first-time novelist, Daphne Kalotay did well. Her writing is quick-paced and engaging. She drew my emotions into the story to the point where I cared about most of the characters and I was in suspense over the mystery of the jewels.

I have to admit I am a sucker for happy endings and in my opinion Russian Winter fell short of that, but it didn't fall short of telling a realistic story. I hope Daphne Kalotay has much success with this book and I look forward to seeing what else she writes.

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Related Links:

Amazon.com: Interview with Daphne Kalotay
Daphne Kalotay's Website
Russian Winter: Book Tour
Reading Guide

Bringing Up Girls by Dr. James Dobson

285 pages
Published in 2010
by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Carol Stream, Illinois

"You've got daughters? Then you've got questions." is the opening phrase on the dust jacket of this new release, Bringing Up Girls by Dr. James Dobson.

Bringing Up Girls is the long awaited for companion book to Dr. Dobson's 2001 bestseller, Bringing Up Boys. Published in April 2010, Bringing Up Girls is based on the latest research and includes recent interviews with parents and daughters alike.

What's It All About?
"Peer pressure. Eating disorders. Decisions about love, romance, and sex. Academic demands. Life goals and how to achieve them. These are just some of the challenges that girls face today -- and the age at which they encounter them is getting younger and younger. As a parent, how are you guiding your daughter on her journey to womanhood? Are you equipping her to make wise choices? Whether she's still playing with dolls or in the midst of the often-turbulent teen years, is she truly secure in her identify as your valued and loved daughter?" (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts:
As a child who was raised in a Christian home I am no stranger to the name "Dr. James Dobson." I have a random collection of memories that relate to Focus on the Family and Dr. Dobson. I remember my mother listening to his radio program and from time to time I too would listen, if the subject caught my interest. I didn't always agree with Dr. Dobson, but over the years I have had a respect for him. As a teenager I didn't pay attention to his parenting advice I was more interested in the famous interviews he would hold. And now here I am, decades later, and a parent myself.

Ask just about any parent and I bet they'd tell you the same thing. Being a parent is an awesome experience. At times it is both frustrating and humbling and at other times it's so amazing. No matter what it's one of the best blessings of life.

As I realize there's only one chance to raise a child I am always interested to hear what other parents have to say about their own experiences. It doesn't mean I'll take their advice, because sometimes it's just not that good, but I still like to hear about their experiences. You know the "this worked" or "that didn't" type of stories. So when I saw Dr. Dobson had published a book for parents on raising daughters I figured it might be something very useful to read.

Overall I think it was definitely a worthwhile read. I enjoyed Dr. Dobson's down to earth approach. He's easy to read and to understand, I like that. He's interesting and includes a fairly balanced amount of humor and tragedy within his anecdotes (and yes, there are a LOT of anecdotes). He states facts and backs them up with citations to sources. From an educational point of view this book can give the reader plenty to think about, but the impassioned reader be warned, there is plenty of emotion running through the book. Have a box of tissues handy while reading. I didn't find myself crying, but I can see someone, who had a difficult upbringing who might.

All this praise for Bringing Up Girls and yet I have to admit a small amount of disappointment. Bringing Up Girls was not exactly what I had expected. I anticipated this to be a book about bringing up a daughter. You know, from the moment as a toddler that she first begins to display a desire for independence until the day she walks out the door an independent woman starting her own life. But that wasn't what this book is about.

This isn't a "how to raise" your daughter, but more a "how to raise your daughter to be strong and pure and innocent in an overly sexualized world." Maybe it's the fact that my husband and I were both raised in stable Christian homes with both our parents present, but I didn't finish reading this book with the feeling that I must overcome my past in order to give our daughter a healthy start. Dr. Dobson talks a great deal about the father-daughter relationship and while I think it's vital to a girl's upbringing, again it didn't seem like it was the right time for us, maybe in a few years.

In the end my verdict is this: I found Bringing Up Girls to be interesting, but not applicable to where we are now. I think I'll tuck it away and review it in another 3-8 years.

As for any parent who has a daughter 6 years or older, or a parent coming from a unstable upbringing this might be a book you will want to read sooner than later. I am grateful that someone like Dr. Dobson is out there to give Biblical counsel on such an important topic.

Tuesday Teasers: Bringing Up Girls

"The foundations of national morality must be laid in private Families. In vain are Schools, Academies and universities instituted if loose Principles and licentious habits are impressed upon Children in their earliest years. The Mothers are the earliest and most important instructors of youth." (John Adams, 1778, quoted by Dr. James C. Dobson in Bringing Up Girls, Published 2010)

Monday Children's Picks of the Week

Last weekend was very busy and I have begun my Monday feeling exhausted and in much need of sleep. Thus I am going to keep my post limited to just two books:

The Blueberry Pie Elf by Jane Thayer published in 1959 may not be a recent book, but it is a classic. It was one my mother read to my siblings and I as children and was one of my older sister's favorite books. So much so, that she sent a copy of this book to my daughter for her birthday. Reprinted in 2008 by Purple House Press, The Blueberry Pie Elf is the story of a little house elf who discovers a love for blueberry pie. But the poor elf quickly becomes unhappy because he craves this pie, but has no way of letting the humans know (since house elves cannot be seen nor heard) that he'd like another piece of pie. Until one day he leaves some footprints... The Blueberry Pie Elf is a fun read-aloud story. The black and white illustrations are fun too as they occasionally include a splash of red, blue, or purple. This book is a classic well worth reading aloud. And if you enjoy adding to the fun of reading by trying little projects I definitely recommend serving blueberry pie after reading this book. It makes for some entertaining dinner conversation when there are preschoolers in the house.

Rhino's Big Itch by Natalie Chivers (Published in 2010 by Good Books). This is a recent acquisition by our library. I was immediately struck by the beautiful and colorful illustrations. The story is a fun one to read and yet remains educational. Rhino has a big big itch and he cannot get it to go away. He seeks help from some of the other animals in the safari...except for the lion, but no one can help -- until he comes upon a little tiny bird. I loved this book the minute I saw it. I will definitely be watching for more stories written and/or illustrated by Ms. Chivers. As for my daughter, she's enjoyed "re-reading" it aloud to us and talking about "Rhino's big itch and the bird helps."

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

549 pages

Published 2008
Atria Books
A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
New York, NY

I can't remember where I first learned of The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. I think it was through one of the numerous book blogs that I follow. At any rate I remember hearing it had to do with a secret garden and was reminiscent of Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden (which is one of my all-time favorite books). This was enough to put the book on my TBR list.

Although it ended up being totally different than I expected, I still enjoyed this read... But then I'm getting ahead of myself.

The Plot:
"A tiny girl is abandoned on a ship headed for Australia in 1913. She arrives completely alone with nothing but a small suitcase containing a few clothes and a single book -- a beautiful volume of fairy tales. She is taken in by the dock master and his wife and raised as their own. On her twenty-first birthday they tell her the truth, and with her sense of self shattered and with very little to go on, 'Nell' sets out on a journey to England to try to trace her story, to find her real identity. Her quest leads her to Blackhurst Manor on the Cornish coast and the secrets of the doomed Mountrachet family. But it s not until her granddaughter, Cassandra, takes up the search after Nell's death that all the pieces of the puzzle are assembled. At Cliff Cottage, on the grounds of Blackhurst Manor, Cassandra discovers the forgotten garden of the books' title and is able to unlock the secrets of the beautiful book of fairy tales." (Summary courtesy of the publisher)

My Thoughts:
The Forgotten Garden is a complicated weaving of the stories of three related women who live during three very different times and on two very different places of the world. Throughout the novel the story flashes back and forth between these times and places, which at first caused me some confusion, but as the story progresses and the characters and plot develop I found myself absorbed in this spellbinding story.


Overall I really enjoyed this story. There is a secret garden and an appearance by Frances Hodgson Burnett which was fun. The reader is left to imagine that Mrs. Hodgson Burnett's visit to the garden helps to inspire her novel by the same name, though this is purely fictional and in truth it was Kate Morton who was inspired in part by Mrs. Hodgson Burnett's writing. Another element of this book reminded me of Daphne DuMaurier's Jamaica Inn, again another author that inspired Morton. All of these links added to the pleasure of reading to this book.

On the other hand, I can't say the mystery of this story is that difficult. I found myself guessing the ending well before the middle of the book, but kept reading to see if I was right and also because I wanted to know how all the details were wrapped up in the ending. And yes, the ending leaves no loose ends. This is satisfying, but for the fact that one element really tried me as a reader. I can't say too much without giving away a major part of the story, but suffice it to say there is one aspect that I was not pleased with. In fact I wished it anyway but how it was and yet, looking back over the story as a whole I don't see how Morton could succeed in telling this story without the element being as it is. Changing this one aspect would have changed the story entirely, which just wouldn't have worked.


In the end, I can say I found Kate Morton to be a very imaginative story teller. Her characters were well painted, her fairy tales (woven throughout the book) masterpieces in and of themselves, and her story a clever and unique read that I am glad to have read.


That said, I can't say The Forgotten Garden was a classic. It's unlikely that I will re-read the story and even more doubtful that it will ever hold a place in my personal library. Still, I am glad I read it and definitely impressed with the writing capability of 33 year old Kate Morton as this is her second novel ever. I look forward to reading some of her other works and hope they will be as good, if not even better than this one. And if The Forgotten Garden is ever made into a movie I think I will take the time to see it. It's definitely a clever and unique story.

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Related Links:
More information about Kate Morton

My review of Jamaica Inn by Daphne DuMaurier

New Release: Return to the Hundred Acre Wood

Return to the Hundred Acre Wood
by David Benedictus
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile/Penguin Group
Released: October 5, 2009
Pages: 160

Think you've read all there is about Winnie-The-Pooh, Christopher Robin, and the rest of the gang from the Hundred Acre Woods?

For the last 80+ years the answer to that question would be a resounding, yes. But after today that answer is no longer true. Publishers Penguin Group have released a new addition to the Winnie-The-Pooh series titled, Return To the 100 Acre Woods by David Benedictus

Of course Winnie-The-Pooh purists may object to this book as it isn't by A. A. Milne, still many critics are already claiming it is equally as good and a delight to read.

Curious to find out more? Check out this link to Penguin Group, or the write-up in the NY Times, or click on the picture of the book to view it on Amazon.

I still have to finish reading The House at Pooh Corner, but I am seriously tempted to check out this book when it arrives at my local library. What about you? If you've found a copy please be sure to come back and leave a comment after you've read it. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

New Release: Forest Born

Earlier this spring I read and thoroughly enjoyed The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. At the time I planned to read the next two books in the Books of Bayern series, Enna Burning and River Secrets so that I'd be ready to pick up the next book the series, Forest Born when it hit store and library shelves today (9/15/09). Alas, I lost sight of my goal and am no closer to reaching it today than I was two months ago. Nevertheless, I still plan to get there and in the meantime I wanted to let you know.

As I said, I really enjoyed The Goose Girl and have heard great reviews of the other books in the series, thus I have high hopes for Forest Born. If you're a fan of fantasy and fairy tales or Shannon Hale then you might want to check your library for this new book.