The Kids are All Right by Diana Welch and Liz Welch
I don't know if it is because I now have a child of my own but books like these hit me even harder. To imagine what it would be like to have both your parents die when you are young is just terrible (in fact it is something I don't even want to think about now). These two women write about it what it was like to be in that situation. And it is no holds barred. I read about parts of it and want to cheer them on to doing what is right and instead they make the mistakes that every teenager does. In the end though it was all about family and they ended up being able to do what was right.
This isn't an upbeat book. In fact it may bring you to tears several times. So if you are looking for something feel good- you will be disappointed. But it in many ways it is accurate. Told from the perspective of all the children it is quite the story - even if each of them have their own ideas about what happened and why.
This book just made me cherish my parents and my sibling all the more.
Showing posts with label Five Star: Family Dynamics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Five Star: Family Dynamics. Show all posts
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Book Review: Comfort Food
Comfort Food by Jake Jacobs
Description: Gus Simpson raised her children on her own and began to star in a very popular cooking show. Now that her children are raised she doesnt' have to concentrate on them, but instead on herself. But her cooking show which has defined her for years seems to be on the rocks.
The only thing that can bring back her popularity is a new idea. And she comes up with the perfect one. A family cooking show. She brings her daughters, her daughter's ex boyfriend, and friends to her show and includes them. It is a smash hit. But being together in this manner means that things get brought out that maybe none of them wanted. Can they deal with it as a family?
Thoughts: For me this book is all about family. Family isn't just who you are biologically related to but whoever you love and include in your life. The fact that they all need to lean on each other to get what they need out of life is really important. This book covers it all death, life, marriage, old-age, success, - everything someone wants out of life. It is here in its own special way!
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
Description: Gus Simpson raised her children on her own and began to star in a very popular cooking show. Now that her children are raised she doesnt' have to concentrate on them, but instead on herself. But her cooking show which has defined her for years seems to be on the rocks.
The only thing that can bring back her popularity is a new idea. And she comes up with the perfect one. A family cooking show. She brings her daughters, her daughter's ex boyfriend, and friends to her show and includes them. It is a smash hit. But being together in this manner means that things get brought out that maybe none of them wanted. Can they deal with it as a family?
Thoughts: For me this book is all about family. Family isn't just who you are biologically related to but whoever you love and include in your life. The fact that they all need to lean on each other to get what they need out of life is really important. This book covers it all death, life, marriage, old-age, success, - everything someone wants out of life. It is here in its own special way!
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Book Review: Handle With Care
Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult
Description: Charlotte and Sean O'Keefe are pregnant with their first child together. Charlotte has an older daughter already and is assuming things will be easy for them to expand their family. Because it takes longer then expected, when they find out they are expecting they are even more excited.
But things aren't what they thought they would be. Paritally through the pregnancy they find out that their child has osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare defect that can cause death or will break bones in their child's body with very little pressure.
Bills mount and yet they love their daughter Willow. Their whole lives must revolve around her. When an opportunity arises for them to sue someone in order to make the money that Willow needs to live - they go for it. But what does it mean for a child to know that their parent is suing someone because if they had known earlier they might never have had that child? What does it mean to have someone in a family that changes everything in your life so dramatically? Would you have a child if you knew there were going to be problems?
Thoughts: As a woman who is newly pregnant with her first child - this book scared me. The idea that the whole book would be about someone who if had the choice because of medical reasons might have aborted their child is something no pregnant woman wants to think about. You want to imagine that the child growing inside of you is perfect and going to grow up to be a happy, healthy and productive member of society. So I wasn't sure if I could really get into this book based on the situation (add to that pregnancy hormones and things get even iffyier).
But for me this book wasn't scary. The situation was horrible. A family that could barely make ends meet. Who's life revolved around one member who was incredibly sick. The fact that a teenage girl was left behind in terms of time and effort. You see that happen to all families when someone has needs that outweigh the others.
Yes it is scary. But as usual Jodi Picoult tells the story in a way that makes you wonder who is right and who is wrong. Multiple sides are told and while you may have someone you are rooting for - you know that behind any corner something could be revealed that make you think totally differently. My first and favorite Picoult book was My Sister's Keeper and I feel that this book is almost on par with that one. So definitely read it!
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
Description: Charlotte and Sean O'Keefe are pregnant with their first child together. Charlotte has an older daughter already and is assuming things will be easy for them to expand their family. Because it takes longer then expected, when they find out they are expecting they are even more excited.
But things aren't what they thought they would be. Paritally through the pregnancy they find out that their child has osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare defect that can cause death or will break bones in their child's body with very little pressure.
Bills mount and yet they love their daughter Willow. Their whole lives must revolve around her. When an opportunity arises for them to sue someone in order to make the money that Willow needs to live - they go for it. But what does it mean for a child to know that their parent is suing someone because if they had known earlier they might never have had that child? What does it mean to have someone in a family that changes everything in your life so dramatically? Would you have a child if you knew there were going to be problems?
Thoughts: As a woman who is newly pregnant with her first child - this book scared me. The idea that the whole book would be about someone who if had the choice because of medical reasons might have aborted their child is something no pregnant woman wants to think about. You want to imagine that the child growing inside of you is perfect and going to grow up to be a happy, healthy and productive member of society. So I wasn't sure if I could really get into this book based on the situation (add to that pregnancy hormones and things get even iffyier).
But for me this book wasn't scary. The situation was horrible. A family that could barely make ends meet. Who's life revolved around one member who was incredibly sick. The fact that a teenage girl was left behind in terms of time and effort. You see that happen to all families when someone has needs that outweigh the others.
Yes it is scary. But as usual Jodi Picoult tells the story in a way that makes you wonder who is right and who is wrong. Multiple sides are told and while you may have someone you are rooting for - you know that behind any corner something could be revealed that make you think totally differently. My first and favorite Picoult book was My Sister's Keeper and I feel that this book is almost on par with that one. So definitely read it!
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
Thursday, March 19, 2009
While My Sister Sleeps
While My Sister Sleeps by Babrara Delinsky
The perfect family. They work together, they have close relationships, all seems to be well. But for Molly Snow she lives in the shadow of her sister Robin. Robin is very likely to be an Olympic runner. Robin's life revolves around running and that leaves Molly out of the spotlight.
Disaster strikes and Robin has a heart attack while running. She is in a coma and they don't know that she will ever recover. What does that mean for the family that always lived Robin's running as well? What does that mean for a mother who loves her child so much and had a relationship for her more like a friend then a daughter? Where does that leave Molly - the daughter who always felt like she didn't belong - when she is the one who is left behind? What about the quiet brother, who is struggling to be a part of his own family - let alone deal with the problems that his sister is bringing?
Things that I think stuck out to me in this book:
This book is great! It brought out all sorts of emotion in me - which for me is a sign of a great book. There were tears and joy and that is spectacular.
I think in every family there are people who feel like they don't quite fit in. That they aren't what their parents wanted. They aren't best friends with their siblings. That something isn't quite right. But this book examines the fact that even some of the people you think truly belong - feel the same way.
The dynamics of a new father and his new wife are interesting. The fact that a relationship can be good - but needs to progress with communication is key. And that is highlighted in this book.
Lastly the idea of secrets. We all have secrets that we keep from someone. But eventually those secrets can come out. How do you deal with that? Do you confront the person? Does it change your relationship with them? All of this is dependent about how you feel - how you can handle things.
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
The perfect family. They work together, they have close relationships, all seems to be well. But for Molly Snow she lives in the shadow of her sister Robin. Robin is very likely to be an Olympic runner. Robin's life revolves around running and that leaves Molly out of the spotlight.
Disaster strikes and Robin has a heart attack while running. She is in a coma and they don't know that she will ever recover. What does that mean for the family that always lived Robin's running as well? What does that mean for a mother who loves her child so much and had a relationship for her more like a friend then a daughter? Where does that leave Molly - the daughter who always felt like she didn't belong - when she is the one who is left behind? What about the quiet brother, who is struggling to be a part of his own family - let alone deal with the problems that his sister is bringing?
Things that I think stuck out to me in this book:
This book is great! It brought out all sorts of emotion in me - which for me is a sign of a great book. There were tears and joy and that is spectacular.
I think in every family there are people who feel like they don't quite fit in. That they aren't what their parents wanted. They aren't best friends with their siblings. That something isn't quite right. But this book examines the fact that even some of the people you think truly belong - feel the same way.
The dynamics of a new father and his new wife are interesting. The fact that a relationship can be good - but needs to progress with communication is key. And that is highlighted in this book.
Lastly the idea of secrets. We all have secrets that we keep from someone. But eventually those secrets can come out. How do you deal with that? Do you confront the person? Does it change your relationship with them? All of this is dependent about how you feel - how you can handle things.
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Christmas Sweater
The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck
What was this book about?
For a long time Eddie was the average boy. He had a happy life with both his parents. While they weren’t wealthy – they had enough to put food on the table, buy his clothes, and enough for a few surprise extras. When Eddie’s father dies that all changes. His mother works multiple jobs just for enough money to keep him fed and clothed.
For any 12 year old boy this is a lot to handle. He wants to be like his friends and have new things. He doesn’t understand what is happening and why his life isn’t fair.
When Christmas comes the one thing he wants more than anything is a bike. He thinks he has been good, he prays to God for it. It means it must be coming – right? When instead he is greeted on Christmas morning by a sweater – for him it is the last straw. The decisions he makes that day affect the rest of his life. How can he find solace in the life that was given to him? Can he make his peace with God when he feels he has been so short changed?
What did you think about the book?
What grown up doesn’t look back on their life as a teenager and go – wow – I was a big pain in the butt. My poor parents. It isn’t that you aren’t a good kid. It is that you are a normal child – self-involved. You think of things revolving around you. How you didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas. How you want to spend more time with your friends. How you wish you had someone elses’ life. And inevitably that self-involvement leads you to hurt those that you love the most.
For me that is what a lot of this book was about. Someone was hurting. Bad things happen. You need something to help you through the hard times. For this character – it isn’t until he turns to God that he finds a way through the storm that life has dealt him.
For me this book is less about Christmas (though it does play a part) and more about how you treat others. It is about facing the good and the bad and doing what you can to get through. I think what I actually liked best was the ending where Glenn Beck talks about where the story “came from” in his mind. It isn’t a true story – but it has its roots in the truth of his life and that brings it all together for me.
Special thanks to my mother-in-law who gave me the book for Christmas. She always gives the best titles – that make you think (and sometimes cry).
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
Question for You!
What book did someone give you (or loan) you – is your favorite? Why? Does the person who gives you the book impact your feelings on it?
What was this book about?
For a long time Eddie was the average boy. He had a happy life with both his parents. While they weren’t wealthy – they had enough to put food on the table, buy his clothes, and enough for a few surprise extras. When Eddie’s father dies that all changes. His mother works multiple jobs just for enough money to keep him fed and clothed.
For any 12 year old boy this is a lot to handle. He wants to be like his friends and have new things. He doesn’t understand what is happening and why his life isn’t fair.
When Christmas comes the one thing he wants more than anything is a bike. He thinks he has been good, he prays to God for it. It means it must be coming – right? When instead he is greeted on Christmas morning by a sweater – for him it is the last straw. The decisions he makes that day affect the rest of his life. How can he find solace in the life that was given to him? Can he make his peace with God when he feels he has been so short changed?
What did you think about the book?
What grown up doesn’t look back on their life as a teenager and go – wow – I was a big pain in the butt. My poor parents. It isn’t that you aren’t a good kid. It is that you are a normal child – self-involved. You think of things revolving around you. How you didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas. How you want to spend more time with your friends. How you wish you had someone elses’ life. And inevitably that self-involvement leads you to hurt those that you love the most.
For me that is what a lot of this book was about. Someone was hurting. Bad things happen. You need something to help you through the hard times. For this character – it isn’t until he turns to God that he finds a way through the storm that life has dealt him.
For me this book is less about Christmas (though it does play a part) and more about how you treat others. It is about facing the good and the bad and doing what you can to get through. I think what I actually liked best was the ending where Glenn Beck talks about where the story “came from” in his mind. It isn’t a true story – but it has its roots in the truth of his life and that brings it all together for me.
Special thanks to my mother-in-law who gave me the book for Christmas. She always gives the best titles – that make you think (and sometimes cry).
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
Question for You!
What book did someone give you (or loan) you – is your favorite? Why? Does the person who gives you the book impact your feelings on it?
Friday, February 13, 2009
True Colors
True Colors by Kristin Hannah
What was this book about?
Three sisters that love each other. They lived through their mother’s death. They deal with their sometimes hard father. They know that the people that are there for them to the most – is each other.
Winona can’t help but feel like no matter what she does it isn’t good enough. She is a successful lawyer and helps her father and sisters whenever she can – and yet her father gives her no acceptance. She knows she is overweight and can do nothing about it but let it eat away at her self esteem. She sees her younger sister as the golden girl who can do nothing wrong and those feelings eat away at her. It all comes to a head when the man she has always loved falls for her sister.
Aurora has children and a husband. But no big love of her life. She is hiding a lot from her sisters and often is forced to be a go between. For someone who is trying to deal with her own problems this can be difficult.
Vivi Ann is the youngest. Beautiful and the most loved by her father. She knows that people don’t think of her as being the brains. She wants to make everyone happy – but can’t do that if it means losing her dreams. Will she follow her heart? What will that one action do to her family? How will it affect the rest of her life?
What did you think about the book?
When I finished this book it gave me goosebumps. It really was that good. I just loved how it brought to life the relationships of the characters. The sisters and how they knew how they should feel about each other – but resentments and experiences sometimes put distance between them. The love of a couple who had so many reasons to not be together but they were. And once they were in love nothing was going to hurt the deepness of that feeling. How sometimes you can do everything you can to make yourself “perfect” and still not be good enough for someone you love. A father’s love for his children. A mother’s love for her son. A son’s inability to understand what happened when he was so young – and yet it changed his entire life.
It is well written and interesting. I wanted to keep reading. I think the tortured teenage son really got to me the most. It wasn’t that he was a bad kid (even though at times he looked and acted like one). It was more he just didn’t know his place in the world. Didn’t understand what was going on around him. Add to that the problems with hormones and just being a teen and you have one messed up kid. Yet despite all this he is likeable and you want things to work out for him. You want him to clean up his act.
I really didn’t know about the Win character. I understood how she felt the way she did (like her father loved her sister more) but didn’t know why when it came to something she really wanted she didn’t stick up for herself. Especially when it meant that her sister probably would have let her have Luke.
This is definitely a book that I am going to recommend to others that I know. If you like the family dynamic and relationship sort of books – this is for you.
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
Question for You!
Do you believe in true love? Can it last forever?
What was this book about?
Three sisters that love each other. They lived through their mother’s death. They deal with their sometimes hard father. They know that the people that are there for them to the most – is each other.
Winona can’t help but feel like no matter what she does it isn’t good enough. She is a successful lawyer and helps her father and sisters whenever she can – and yet her father gives her no acceptance. She knows she is overweight and can do nothing about it but let it eat away at her self esteem. She sees her younger sister as the golden girl who can do nothing wrong and those feelings eat away at her. It all comes to a head when the man she has always loved falls for her sister.
Aurora has children and a husband. But no big love of her life. She is hiding a lot from her sisters and often is forced to be a go between. For someone who is trying to deal with her own problems this can be difficult.
Vivi Ann is the youngest. Beautiful and the most loved by her father. She knows that people don’t think of her as being the brains. She wants to make everyone happy – but can’t do that if it means losing her dreams. Will she follow her heart? What will that one action do to her family? How will it affect the rest of her life?
What did you think about the book?
When I finished this book it gave me goosebumps. It really was that good. I just loved how it brought to life the relationships of the characters. The sisters and how they knew how they should feel about each other – but resentments and experiences sometimes put distance between them. The love of a couple who had so many reasons to not be together but they were. And once they were in love nothing was going to hurt the deepness of that feeling. How sometimes you can do everything you can to make yourself “perfect” and still not be good enough for someone you love. A father’s love for his children. A mother’s love for her son. A son’s inability to understand what happened when he was so young – and yet it changed his entire life.
It is well written and interesting. I wanted to keep reading. I think the tortured teenage son really got to me the most. It wasn’t that he was a bad kid (even though at times he looked and acted like one). It was more he just didn’t know his place in the world. Didn’t understand what was going on around him. Add to that the problems with hormones and just being a teen and you have one messed up kid. Yet despite all this he is likeable and you want things to work out for him. You want him to clean up his act.
I really didn’t know about the Win character. I understood how she felt the way she did (like her father loved her sister more) but didn’t know why when it came to something she really wanted she didn’t stick up for herself. Especially when it meant that her sister probably would have let her have Luke.
This is definitely a book that I am going to recommend to others that I know. If you like the family dynamic and relationship sort of books – this is for you.
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
Question for You!
Do you believe in true love? Can it last forever?
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Love and Other Natural Disasters
Love and Other Natural Disasters by Holly Shumas
What was this book about?
Eve and Jonathon have seen their lives travel in a direction they never expected. They have a five year old son, live in the burbs, and are expecting their second. It all seems to be going fine. There is no great joy in their relationship but the comfort and trust of it makes Eve happy.
Then everything is shattered when she finds out that Jon has been keeping secrets. He has formed a deep friendship with another woman. While it hasn’t really turned physical they definitely are having an emotional affair.
How can Eve deal with Jon breaking her trust? Did Jon even do anything that was really wrong? Where can they go from here? What caused them to get to that point? It is all covered.
What did you think about the book?
Wow! What a topic. This is one of those topics that I have yet to find (before now) a book that delved into the human problem of an emotional affair. While reading this book was very enjoyable – it makes me almost wish I had a book club to discuss what other people felt about it.
I mean could you rebound from that in your own life? What about the fact that Eve has children – should that affect her decision/feelings? Does Eve carry any fault in Jon’s actions? What about the fact that her friends and family don’t seem to understand the significance of the affair? Do you think that getting through this (whether separately or together) has made them better people? Better able to be in a relationship?
The fact that it made me think that much about it to me shows that it is a great book. It isn’t a tough read – and it makes you think about what you would do if you were in that situation.
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
Question for You!
Which do you think is worse – an emotional affair or a physical one?
What was this book about?
Eve and Jonathon have seen their lives travel in a direction they never expected. They have a five year old son, live in the burbs, and are expecting their second. It all seems to be going fine. There is no great joy in their relationship but the comfort and trust of it makes Eve happy.
Then everything is shattered when she finds out that Jon has been keeping secrets. He has formed a deep friendship with another woman. While it hasn’t really turned physical they definitely are having an emotional affair.
How can Eve deal with Jon breaking her trust? Did Jon even do anything that was really wrong? Where can they go from here? What caused them to get to that point? It is all covered.
What did you think about the book?
Wow! What a topic. This is one of those topics that I have yet to find (before now) a book that delved into the human problem of an emotional affair. While reading this book was very enjoyable – it makes me almost wish I had a book club to discuss what other people felt about it.
I mean could you rebound from that in your own life? What about the fact that Eve has children – should that affect her decision/feelings? Does Eve carry any fault in Jon’s actions? What about the fact that her friends and family don’t seem to understand the significance of the affair? Do you think that getting through this (whether separately or together) has made them better people? Better able to be in a relationship?
The fact that it made me think that much about it to me shows that it is a great book. It isn’t a tough read – and it makes you think about what you would do if you were in that situation.
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
Question for You!
Which do you think is worse – an emotional affair or a physical one?
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Odd Mom Out
Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter
What was this book about?
Marta Zisser moved to Seattle because her mother was ill and a job opportunity came up. When the job fell through she opened her own ad business. It was tough balancing being a single mom and owning a business that was thriving.
Her 10 year old daughter Eva is like every girl. She has moved to a new town and wants to be accepted. She loved New York and everything it represented and this is nothing like it. She will do anything to become like one of the other girls.
So to her – her mom represents something bad. The other mom’s are concerned about what car you drive and what you wear. Her mother is more into being comfortable.
Can Marta find her place in Seattle society? Does that mean giving up everything she is? Can she find love when she is least looking for it?
What did you think about the book?
I have read all of Jane Porter’s books by now and for me this was the best one. I loved it. I loved the character of the mother and the daughter (and even the love interest). The mom especially for me was a great character. She was unusual, she fought the need to be like everyone else (for her own comfort an for her daughter), it hurt when her daughter acted like a normal teenager.
Even the romance for me was believable.
What genre would you consider this?
Romance/Family Dynamics
Overall:
Question for You!
Would you ever consider artificial insemination by a random sperm donor? What would be the risks in your eyes?
What was this book about?
Marta Zisser moved to Seattle because her mother was ill and a job opportunity came up. When the job fell through she opened her own ad business. It was tough balancing being a single mom and owning a business that was thriving.
Her 10 year old daughter Eva is like every girl. She has moved to a new town and wants to be accepted. She loved New York and everything it represented and this is nothing like it. She will do anything to become like one of the other girls.
So to her – her mom represents something bad. The other mom’s are concerned about what car you drive and what you wear. Her mother is more into being comfortable.
Can Marta find her place in Seattle society? Does that mean giving up everything she is? Can she find love when she is least looking for it?
What did you think about the book?
I have read all of Jane Porter’s books by now and for me this was the best one. I loved it. I loved the character of the mother and the daughter (and even the love interest). The mom especially for me was a great character. She was unusual, she fought the need to be like everyone else (for her own comfort an for her daughter), it hurt when her daughter acted like a normal teenager.
Even the romance for me was believable.
What genre would you consider this?
Romance/Family Dynamics
Overall:
Question for You!
Would you ever consider artificial insemination by a random sperm donor? What would be the risks in your eyes?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
House Husband
House Husband by Ad Hudler
What was this book about?
Linc was once a successful landscape architect to the stars. But his wife Jo gets a job opportunity in Rochester, NY and the family picks up and moves. He stays at home with daughter Violet and Jo goes on to being a high powered hospital executive.
But Linc finds the home to be overwhelming – he has so much to do. He really wants to do his best for Violet and for Jo. But he is also fighting the stereotypes of the people around them – from Jo’s work colleagues, to the women in the neighborhood.
He is struggling to find his place in this new family. Part of him wants to return to work – but what does that do to Jo and Violet? Can he trust anyone else with his family?
What did you think about the book?
I really think that Ad Hudler is a genius. I love his books, his perspective, it just keeps me riveted.
I think one of my favorite “revelations” of things that I just never thought about since I have no children and neither my husband nor I stay home with them (since they don’t exist) at this time has to do with men. When he is on the playground playing with his daughter a woman comes up (to help) and thinks that he is some sort of deviant. Because what sort of dad would be there playing with his child during a work day? She figures his intentions are bad and that he really isn’t any relation to the child. He is of course offended by that.
But when it comes to the whole taking his daughter to the bathroom there is another mindset there. He doesn’t want her in the men’s room (with the urinals etc) but he also sometimes has to go – or she has to go and he can’t take her into the women’s room either. He has taught his child that if something happens and they are separated she should go find a woman – not a man. He realizes that he too has this bias against his own sex.
This book is more of Linc struggling with wanting to stay home with his child and wanting a career outside of his home. And I found all parts of it to be thoughtful and revealing of what life would be like for him and other stay at home fathers.
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
Question for you?
Do you think the author is right – that we teach our children that men are more of the “bad” people then women? How does that affect a stay at home dad?
What was this book about?
Linc was once a successful landscape architect to the stars. But his wife Jo gets a job opportunity in Rochester, NY and the family picks up and moves. He stays at home with daughter Violet and Jo goes on to being a high powered hospital executive.
But Linc finds the home to be overwhelming – he has so much to do. He really wants to do his best for Violet and for Jo. But he is also fighting the stereotypes of the people around them – from Jo’s work colleagues, to the women in the neighborhood.
He is struggling to find his place in this new family. Part of him wants to return to work – but what does that do to Jo and Violet? Can he trust anyone else with his family?
What did you think about the book?
I really think that Ad Hudler is a genius. I love his books, his perspective, it just keeps me riveted.
I think one of my favorite “revelations” of things that I just never thought about since I have no children and neither my husband nor I stay home with them (since they don’t exist) at this time has to do with men. When he is on the playground playing with his daughter a woman comes up (to help) and thinks that he is some sort of deviant. Because what sort of dad would be there playing with his child during a work day? She figures his intentions are bad and that he really isn’t any relation to the child. He is of course offended by that.
But when it comes to the whole taking his daughter to the bathroom there is another mindset there. He doesn’t want her in the men’s room (with the urinals etc) but he also sometimes has to go – or she has to go and he can’t take her into the women’s room either. He has taught his child that if something happens and they are separated she should go find a woman – not a man. He realizes that he too has this bias against his own sex.
This book is more of Linc struggling with wanting to stay home with his child and wanting a career outside of his home. And I found all parts of it to be thoughtful and revealing of what life would be like for him and other stay at home fathers.
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
Question for you?
Do you think the author is right – that we teach our children that men are more of the “bad” people then women? How does that affect a stay at home dad?
Monday, November 10, 2008
The Midnight Twins
The Midnight Twins by Jacquelyn Mitchard (Book 1 – Midnight Twins)
What was this book about?
Twin sisters Mallory and Meridith have spent their lives connected. They can talk to each other without talking, they have their own special language, and they can feel when the other is hurt. On their thirteenth birthday they are involved in a horrible fire that almost takes their lives and the lives of their cousins and brother. But they save them all.
Dealing with this drama as a teenager is difficult and they figure out that while they seem to be perfectly healthy – they haven’t walked away from this experience as the same people. They no longer are as close as they once were – they don’t dream the same dreams for instance.
But they also have a newer and scarier power – one of them dreams of things that are going to happen, while the other dreams of things that have happened. This combination allows them the ability to change the future. Make things turn out better. But doing that as 13 year old girls is terrifying. They would be risking their lives to make the world a better place. Can they deal with it all?
What did you think about the book?
I really liked this book! I can’t wait to see where the series goes from here. It has a nice twist of family including what I believe to be a true bond between some twins. Where they just know a little more, feel a little more, then they should. Jacquelyn Mitchard has taken it to the next level. She has added in a twist of family abilities that are eventually explained.
The girls are like any other teen except for they have each other, and now these powers. Dealing with having this sort of knowledge is definitely something they are not looking forward to – they are having enough trouble just being teenage girls.
What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal/Family Dynamics, Teen
Overall:
What was this book about?
Twin sisters Mallory and Meridith have spent their lives connected. They can talk to each other without talking, they have their own special language, and they can feel when the other is hurt. On their thirteenth birthday they are involved in a horrible fire that almost takes their lives and the lives of their cousins and brother. But they save them all.
Dealing with this drama as a teenager is difficult and they figure out that while they seem to be perfectly healthy – they haven’t walked away from this experience as the same people. They no longer are as close as they once were – they don’t dream the same dreams for instance.
But they also have a newer and scarier power – one of them dreams of things that are going to happen, while the other dreams of things that have happened. This combination allows them the ability to change the future. Make things turn out better. But doing that as 13 year old girls is terrifying. They would be risking their lives to make the world a better place. Can they deal with it all?
What did you think about the book?
I really liked this book! I can’t wait to see where the series goes from here. It has a nice twist of family including what I believe to be a true bond between some twins. Where they just know a little more, feel a little more, then they should. Jacquelyn Mitchard has taken it to the next level. She has added in a twist of family abilities that are eventually explained.
The girls are like any other teen except for they have each other, and now these powers. Dealing with having this sort of knowledge is definitely something they are not looking forward to – they are having enough trouble just being teenage girls.
What genre would you consider this?
Paranormal/Family Dynamics, Teen
Overall:
Friday, October 24, 2008
Man of the House
Man of the House by Ad Hudler
What was this book about?
Linc Menner and his wife Jo decided when their daughter was born that he would be the caretaker. Jo has a wonderful job that financially allows Linc to be both mother and father to Violet.
Violet is now a teenager and the family moves to Naples, Florida for Jo’s job. But this move has done more then just change the family’s location. Linc has started to question his “man-ness” and started acting in ways that are not like he used to. Is he having a mid-life crisis? Why is he keeping secrets from his family? What has caused this big change and is it permanent?
What did you think about the book?
From the beginning this book had interesting possibilities. The fact that it wasn’t just a book written about a stay at home dad, but that it was written by someone who actually lived that life made it come from an interesting perspective. It definitely gave me all that I wanted from the book.
I think it definitely hit home for me because my husband thinks he wants to be a stay at home dad. We have no children yet – but the idea has been sitting in his mind for a while. And while it is something that is feasible economically with my job – it is just something that makes me worried. I don’t know that he thinks about the parts of staying home that I do. I know he would be a great dad and that he could definitely take care of the children and the house. I think for me parts that make me worry is the social stigma attached to being a stay at home dad and caretaker. As much as you shouldn’t determine your life from what others think I know that for many your friends, your family, and others in the community have thoughts about the correct place for a man. What happens to a man when he loses what is traditionally thought of as his man-ness?
This book gets into that – covering what it takes to recapture that feeling after living for so long without it.
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
What was this book about?
Linc Menner and his wife Jo decided when their daughter was born that he would be the caretaker. Jo has a wonderful job that financially allows Linc to be both mother and father to Violet.
Violet is now a teenager and the family moves to Naples, Florida for Jo’s job. But this move has done more then just change the family’s location. Linc has started to question his “man-ness” and started acting in ways that are not like he used to. Is he having a mid-life crisis? Why is he keeping secrets from his family? What has caused this big change and is it permanent?
What did you think about the book?
From the beginning this book had interesting possibilities. The fact that it wasn’t just a book written about a stay at home dad, but that it was written by someone who actually lived that life made it come from an interesting perspective. It definitely gave me all that I wanted from the book.
I think it definitely hit home for me because my husband thinks he wants to be a stay at home dad. We have no children yet – but the idea has been sitting in his mind for a while. And while it is something that is feasible economically with my job – it is just something that makes me worried. I don’t know that he thinks about the parts of staying home that I do. I know he would be a great dad and that he could definitely take care of the children and the house. I think for me parts that make me worry is the social stigma attached to being a stay at home dad and caretaker. As much as you shouldn’t determine your life from what others think I know that for many your friends, your family, and others in the community have thoughts about the correct place for a man. What happens to a man when he loses what is traditionally thought of as his man-ness?
This book gets into that – covering what it takes to recapture that feeling after living for so long without it.
What genre would you consider this?
Family Dynamics
Overall:
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