Being Adopted: The Life-Long Search for Self by David M. Brodzinsky, M. Schechter, and R. Henig

Like Passages, this  groundbreaking book uses the poignant, powerful voices of  adoptees and adoptive parents to explore the  experience of adoption and its lifelong effects. A major  work, filled with astute analysis and moving  truths.  http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/92304.Being_Adopted


I was so surprised when I found this at my local library but immediately decided to check it out.  This is a great and informative piece of non-fiction that anyone who is involved in adoption should read.  This book addresses each phase of life step-by-step and shows not only how biological children react but also the reactions of adopted children.  If you are interested in learning what your child may go through between birth and death (assuming they die of old age) then this book is for you.  


My daughter is adopted and so this was extremely important for me to read.  Although the book barely addresses transracial adoption I was given a lot of very good insights into what she will probably experience.  I feel a bit more prepared as she enters school and the questions and personal dilemmas she may face crop up.  The only thing I would have liked would be more information on how kids adopted by parents outside their race face life and what additional identity issues they may go through.


This really was quite interesting and I would highly recommend it to pretty much anyone.

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

The Count of Monte Cristo is Alexandre Dumas's riveting tale of romantic rivalries, struggles for power, daring escapes, clever disguises, buried treasure, and solemn promises. What more could an adventurous reader desire? Dumas's hero Edmond Dantes is a man on a mission, tasked with delivering a letter whose contents he does not know, but whose impact, when discovered by the wrong man, could be deadly. Thrown into a dangerous chain of events, Dantes must face his fate alone, forced to rely on his wits, courage, and a strong dose of good luck as he seeks justice against those whose greed and wickedness nearly cost him his life. ~http://www.dailylit.com/books/count-of-monte-cristo

Honestly, how can you go wrong with this book.  It has got to be one of the best books I've ever read.  Before reading it my favorite 'classic' was Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen but this book quickly and solidly has taken the top spot.  It is impossible to compare the book and the movie though so if you've seen the movie and feel like that's enough let me just say "No...it's not."  While the movie is quite good the ending is very different.  The movie appeals to the feel-good-ending movie industry while the book takes a real look at what could and would truly happen.  I don't dare say more though because I desperately want you to read this book. 

When purchasing or checking out this book you may look at it and hesitate because it is so thick but I read it in two sittings.  One was a lay-over at the airport going to my destination and the other was on the plane coming back.  Dumas sucks you into Dantes' life and troubles.  You feel for him and want him to achieve his revenge and make those who hurt him suffer.  In many ways I think we each wish we could exact this kind of justice upon someone who has done us wrong.  Some of us lack the money, others it's the lack of imagination, and yet others don't feel revenge is the best route.  Rarely does revenge make us feel better at the sight of another's downfall but for some reason it truly works in this book.  I definitely need to re-read this book.  It is a classic among classics.

Foe by J.M Coetzee

''T HE Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner'' was published on April 25, 1719. The author of the book was Daniel Defoe or, to revert to his given name, Daniel Foe. In ''Foe'' J. M. Coetzee has written a superb novel by reconsidering the events of ''Robinson Crusoe'' and presenting them from a new point of view. He may have been impressed by Jean Rhys's conversion of ''Jane Eyre'' into ''Wide Sargasso Sea'' or by other experiments in displacing an official perspective."  ~The New York Times

This book threw me for a loop.  I read it several years ago and have not been able to get it out of my head since.  In my 'Book Lust' journal (a book that I used to keep a brief impression of books I read) it says:  "Really good.  I'm missing something and feel like I should read it again.  A 'heavy' read.  It was hard to get used to the writing but I will definitely read it again."  I tried (unsuccessfully) to have several of my friends read this book so that I could talk to them about it.  I'm unsure why they never finished (or perhaps started) it but I encourage you to read it.  Once you do please let me know what you think.  After revisiting my thoughts on this I think I may just re-read it...if someone else will too so that I can talk to them about it.

1001 Ways To Be Romantic by Gregory Godek

Amazon.com Review

Gregory J.P. Godek--dubbed America's Romance Coach--offers "1001 creative, sexy, loving tips and ideas" in the fifth anniversary edition of 1001 Ways to Be Romantic. Packed with advice, from "Little Things That Mean a Lot" to "The Mindset of a Romantic" and "Making Beautiful Music Together," Godek's straightforward approach is perfect for those new to romance or those needing a refresher course in the art of love. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Greg Godek should be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for teaching 1001 Ways to Be Romantic." -- Boston Magazine

"Greg is helping millions of us to better understand our most important value-- love." -- Mark Victor Hansen, co-author Chicken Soup for the Soul

"Worth memorizing." -- Boston Herald

I would honestly have to agree with all of these reviews.  I couldn't decide which one to include so because they are all so pertinent to this book.  If you are romantic, want to be romantic, have a spouse who needs to be romantic then this is the book for you.  It's written as a list and gives ideas on ways to show your spouse that you are thinking of them.  Some ideas are simple like #161 "Learn your partner's 'hot buttons' - and vow to never hit them" or #587 "Songs that celebrate love and marriage.  Make a tape (or play list) for your anniversary, a birthday or just to celebrate your love next Tuesday"  Next is a list of songs you could use.  They are also elaborate or expensive like #886 "The most romantic restaurant in Vienna: Steirereck"  He also includes websites and tourist numbers to several countries in the margin on this page.  He also includes themes, for example #503 "The Gift:  Costume Jewelry.  The Note:  'The diamond is fake - but the love is real.'  The Song:  'Diamond Girl,' by Seals & Crofts. 


Godek offers a variety of other books to help inspire the romantic in you including 10,000 ways to say 'I Love You' and Romantic Mischief: The Playful Side of Love.  An awesome and fun book.  We own several that he has written and I've read through each of them a minimum of once...most of them at least twice.  I'm on the third reading of this book.  A must-have if you want to keep the spark alive in your relationship.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen & Seth Grahame-Smith

Summary:Pride and Prejudice and Zombies — Pride and Prejudice and Zombies features the original text of Jane Austen's beloved novel with all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie action. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy. What ensues is a delightful comedy of manners with plenty of civilized sparring between the two young lovers—and even more violent sparring on the blood-soaked battlefield as Elizabeth wages war against hordes of flesh-eating undead. Complete with 20 illustrations in the style of C. E. Brock (the original illustrator of Pride and Prejudice), this insanely funny expanded edition will introduce Jane Austen's classic novel to new legions of fans.  ~http://io9.com/#!5144913/mr-darcys-brains-taste-foul-in-my-undead-mouth

If you look to the right you'll notice this title is actually missing from the "Books I've Read" section of my blog.  Why?  Because I started it, got half way and couldn't handle it anymore.  Normally I wouldn't write about something I didn't finish but I feel it's only fair to share my opinion about this very popular best seller.  You can certainly guess what I thought about it since I didn't finish it but I will go ahead and tell you...just in case you were wondering.  I didn't like it at all.  The beginning was okay, I guess, but it didn't improve.  I put it down for a few days and realized I had no intention of finishing it.  Apparently my reaction is common among those who thoroughly enjoy the original "Pride & Prejudice" by Jane Austen.  When I returned it to the library the librarian asked me about it and I was honest, he said that was the major reaction to it but he also indicated that those who hadn't read the classic enjoyed the book a lot more.  I can believe that.

So...why did I not like it?  I was mostly annoyed at some of the character traits that Seth Grahame-Smith changed.  I also didn't really like some of the random zombie violence.  I get the need for zombie violence in a book about zombies but it was a tad over done and detracted from the book.  I think the idea of including the supernatural in classic is an intriguing idea but I do not think that the author achieved that purpose.  I was told about another book he's done regarding Abraham Lincoln that was more successful but I highly doubt I'll be reading it.  I think I'll leave the classics...as classics.

What did you think?  If you enjoyed it please, please explain it to me. :)

House of Night Series (books 1-5) by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

"House of Night is a thrillingly engaging book series that follows 16-year-old Zoey Redbird, who gets “Marked” by a vampyre tracker and begins to undergo the “Change” into an actual vampyre. She has to leave her family in Tulsa and move into the House of Night, a boarding school for other fledglings like her.

It’s within the school’s walls that the heart of the action takes place as Zoey meets new friends, finds love, comes to terms with how her life will be different now and begins to realize her awesome new powers.

Here’s the deal though: Yes, Zoey’s a vampyre now. But she’s still a teenager – with all the humor, angst and confusing feelings any other teenager has." ~http://www.houseofnightseries.com/pages/overview.html

This summary is accurate and vague.  The first two books were good, obviously or I wouldn't have continued.  Books three and four were okay and by book five and six I didn't care.  I actually started book six got about seventy-five pages in and realized that the characters annoyed me and I didn't care about their drama so I stopped and put it down.  I returned it to the library unfinished (which I rarely do).  I will probably revisit it later this year but we'll just have to see.

I can't say that the ideas involved were horribly new but pieces were different.  All vampire (or vampyre) novels involve a 'Change' and this one was no different.  Some involve it being lovely and easy, others indicate it is violent and painful.  This takes a bit of both ideas and winds them together with a bit of a 'Harry Potter boarding school' twist.  Taking a brief moment to compare this series (thus far) to Harry Potter I have to point out that HP is by far superior.  The writing, ideas, etc but one aspect, the time line, was much more agreeable.  In HP each book is a year in the school life of the main character, by book six in the House of Night series only two months had gone by.  There was entirely too much drama for one person (supernatural or not) for that short a period.  It would have been a tad more enjoyable had the time line been longer, at the point that I put the book down the characters had become way too melodramatic, foolish, one-sided, and unbelievable (in a bad way).  The main character, Zoey, turned from a decent, fairly moral person to a complete ho...which I'm sure was the intent of the authors to show how difficult her life was.  The only positive in her personality which remained throughout the series was loyalty to her Grandmother, her Goddess, and her friends.  

If you choose to read even one of these books remember that it is for young 'adults'.  Had it not been for the sexual nature of some of the scenes I would say it would be geared toward those around twelve or thirteen years old.  It's simple minded, has a predictable plot, overly dramatic (I mean seriously, you really want us to believe all that happened in two months???), and finally the characters went from endearing to annoying in a very short time.  Perhaps wait a month between each book as this might help with the annoyance factor.  Should I finish the series I'll write an update about the last three books.  At this point I would say skip it.

hush, hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Romance was not part of Nora Grey's plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how hard her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch comes along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Patch draws Nora to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is and seems to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For she is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those who have fallen -- and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost Nora her life.~simonandschuster.com

What can I say?  I'm a sucker for paranormal romances.  Who could say "no" to something with a fallen angel? The first book in this trilogy/series was fun.  I actually finished it in one day and was glad the library (which is around the corner) had the second one.  Although based on the description the reader is already aware of Patch's status as fallen angel the main character, Nora, has no idea.  This little tale is all about the bad boy, following your intuition, ignoring your intuition, and sacrificing it all for love.  Not an entirely new plot but entertaining none-the-less.  It was nice to read something decent that didn't have vampires, werewolves, or witches.  It was definitely more geared toward young and I mean high school "adults".  If you are looking for something super simple this might be up your alley but don't buy it, it's totally not worth it.  Go visit your library, if for some reason they don't have it they can find it for you for little or no charge.