2013: A Year in Review

My favorite photo of the year.

Two thousand thirteen came with its share of challenges.  It was a heartbreaking year, one in which it seemed like one bad thing kept happening after the other.  There was also much to celebrate, however.  For instance, watching my daughter grow and learn (and just how fun she is!) adopting the amazing Gracie (who is so cuddlicious!), going on a family vacation this past summer, spending time with our families, and just being together.  There is also how grateful I am for this blog, and, most especially for all of you.

I have always believed that my reading coincides with my moods and where I am in life currently.  I did a lot of comfort reading this year, delving deep into mysteries and fantasy novels.  Books are my therapy, in a sense.  I also did quite a bit of soul searching, sometimes without realizing it.  I read a number of books that touched me to the core, helped me through the rough spots, with characters I could see myself in.  It was a good reading year.

I enjoyed answering Jamie's (The Perpetual Page Turner) End of the Year Survey last year and decided to join in again this year.  I did alter some of the questions and subtracted a few to make it my own.

1. Best books read in 2013?

I read some wonderful books this past year, but I think these five stand out the most in terms of books I read in either print or e-book format.  It is impossible for me to put them in any particular order.  Each one was amazing.

The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

The House At the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag

The Illusion of Separateness by Simon Van Booy

Night Film by Marisha Pessl

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

I did not read many nonfiction books in 2013, unfortunately, but I enjoyed the ones I did read.  The one that I had the most fun reading was Peggy Orenstein's Cinderella Ate My Daughter.

Of the six audiobooks I listened to in 2013, Lionel Shriver's We Need to Talk About Kevin was by far my favorite.

2. Book you were excited about and thought you were going to love more but didn’t?

There were a couple of books I was hoping to like more than I did, if only because of all the hype and blogger love the books have already received.  I cannot say I am too surprised about one.  Stephen King's books are hit and miss with me, but rarely have I absolutely loved any of his books that I have read.  The Shining was no different.  The other book that disappointed me was The Memory of After by Lenore Appelhans.  I wanted to like it more than I did.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2013?

I was not sure what to expect going into either Ernest Cline's Ready Player One and World War Z by Max Brooks, but both knocked my socks off.

4. Book you read in 2013 that you recommended to people most in 2013?

I was recommending books right and left last year, and continue to do so.  I even gave several copies of my favorites away as gifts for birthdays and Christmas.  Of them all though, I think Christina Baker's The Orphan Train was the one that I recommended the most.  I also highly recommended the audio version of William Landay's Defending Jacob to whoever would listen.

5. Best series you discovered in 2013?

Juliet Dark's Fairwick Chronicles swept me off my feet this past year.  I fell in love with The Demon Lover and was just as impressed with the other two books in the trilogy,  Water Witch and  The Angel Stone.  I do not often reread books, but this is a trilogy I would like to revisit again one day.

6. New authors you discovered in 2013 and hope to read more by?

While many of the new to me authors whose works I read or listened to last year won me over enough to want to try their other work, a few favorites stand out:

Christina Baker

Cathy Marie Buchanan

Carla Buckley

Alafair Burke

Gail Carriger

Juliet Dark

Gillian Flynn

Mari Hannah

Elizabeth Haynes

Beth Hoffman

Lynda La Plante

Marisha Pessl

John Searles

Simon Van Booy

Menna van Praag

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

When I was a teenager, I devoured romance novels.  I burnt out on them eventually and have avoided them more often than not in recent years.  This year, I wanted to spend more time exploring the genre and its sub-genres.  While I did not read an abundance of romance novels, I did read some that came highly recommended by my fellow bloggers.

Trisha from Tripping Over My Tongue recommended Monica McCarty's Highlander historical romance series and Tasha from Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and Books recommended Kresley Cole's paranormal romance series.  Staci from Life in the Thumb indirectly recommended Jill Shalvis, a contemporary romance novelist, and so I read Simply Irrestible (2010).  These were just a few of the romance focused novels I read this year, and are among the ones that stand out.

My two favorites, however, include Karen Marie Moning's Beyond the Highland Mist and  Juliet Dark's The Demon Lover.  I enjoy urban fantasy novels, many of which contain strong romance elements, and so it really isn't a big surprise I would be so taken with these novels.  I did worry though, given how romance-focused they were, that I might not be easily drawn in.  Boy, was I wrong.

8. Top five favorite covers of a books you read in 2013?

9. Most beautifully written book read in 2013?

By far this would have to be Rebecca Walker's Adé: A Love Story.  The writing was beautiful and mesmerizing.  It was like sliding a piece of chocolate onto my tongue and letting it melt in my mouth.

10. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2013?

Two books in particular stand out: The House At the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag and Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman.  Both books spoke to my heart and soul.  They came into my life at just the right moment.

Another book that had a strong impact on me was Lionel Shriver's We Need to Talk About Kevin.  It was an extremely difficult book to take in, but ultimately one that I am glad I took the time to listen to.

A couple of the books I read caused me to loose sleep at night, including Night Film by Marisha Pessl and Elizabeth Haynes, Into The Darkest Corner.  Both were engrossing reads that kept me on the edge of my seat.  I still find myself tempted to check all the locks again thanks to Into the Darkest Corner.

11.Shortest and longest book you read in 2013?

Die For Her by Amy Plum was the shortest book I read this past year at 60 pages.  The longest was Stephen King's The Shining, which was 672 pages.

12. Book that you most wanted to talk about with someone else? 

There were several, actually.  We Need to Talk About Kevin and Defending Jacob most definitely, both touched on similar issues and provided much food for thought, especially from a parent's perspective.

Night Film is another that just begs to be discussed for much different reasons--probably the book I most would like to talk about.  But maybe that's because I just finished the novel and am still walking around under its cloud.

To a lesser degree, Cline Ernest's Ready Player One and  Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

13. Favorite book you read in 2013 by an author you’ve read previously?

Reading Sue Grafton's T is for Trespass was like coming home.  I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Kinsey Milhlone, and look forward to catching up with her again this year.

14. Genre you read the most from in 2013? 

I would say a good 24 books I read this past year fall into the crime fiction category in some way.  I read 73 books in all.

15. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of 2013?

I utterly failed the year long read-a-long for War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy.  My second attempt to read the book, and I couldn't manage it.  I still want to try.  Just maybe not yet.  

I also attempted the What's In A Name 6 Reading Challenge, but came up short.  I came in strong in four of the categories, but two (3 and 4), well, I did not manage to read books with titles that fit into those, as you can see.  I did not go out of my way to read books that would meet the challenge requirements, I confess. So, I think I did pretty well considering.

1. A book with up or down (or equivalent) in the title.

The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan 

2. A book with something you'd find in your kitchen.

A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea by Dina Nayeri 

3. A book with a party or celebration in the title.

Dancing with the Devil by Keri Arthur (I know, totally doesn't fit--but it's a kind of party in twisted and wrong sort of way.) 

4. A book with fire (or equivalent) in the title.

Damn Him to Hell by Jamie Quaid (okay, so huge stretch--it's hot in Hell, right?)

5. A book with an emotion in the title.

His Majesty's Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal 

6. A book with lost or found (or equivalent) in the title.

The Missing File by D.A. Mishani  

Although I did not commit to reading any particular books this past year, I did make a list of hopefuls.  I only read three of the books on the list. 

1. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy 

2. Garden Spells by Sara Addison Allen 

3. The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan 

4. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

5. Trans-Sister Radio by Chris Bohjalian

6. Nightwatch by Sarah Waters

7. The Blind Assassin by Margeret Atwood

8. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

9. The Road  by Cormac McCarthy

10. The Outlander by Gil Adamson

At the beginning of 2013, I said I would read The Shining by Stephen King at the urging of Trish and Jill who led a read-a-long, and I did.  

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So many book bloggers I love and have followed over the years have stopped blogging or have scaled back considerably.  I am determined to make it to year 10.  After that, who knows.  I was more consistent in posting to this blog in 2013 than I have been since 2011, although I took a number of unscheduled breaks here and there. I don't know that much will change in this New Year. I am less concerned about that as I once was.  

I do not have the time I used to when I first started this blog. Meaning, time spent writing reviews and other posts has suffered as a result.  I have given myself permission, however, to be more free with my reviews, write less if I want to or make them more personal reflections of how a book impacted me (which is what I prefer to do anyway).  It's a constant balancing act, trying to find time to read and blog in between my other priorities.  I am sure many of you can relate.

I have no set goals for this year.  After much thought, I have decided not to participate in any challenges, with the occasional drop in for Carrie's "I've Always Meant to Read That Book!" Challenge.  There are a number of books up for discussion this year that I too have been meaning to read.  Now seems like a good time!  I do want to take part in more of the book discussions in my one online reading group that has monthly group reads.  I already have the first two books we are discussing for this year ready to go (Fast Women by Jennifer Crusie and The Husband's Secret by Lianne Moriarty).  I also want to make 2014 a Year of Re-Discovery.  I want to spend the year reading authors who are old favorites and dive into the back lists of authors who I have only tried once or twice.  I will still be reading new books--I can't help myself--but expect to see some familiar authors and titles popping up too.

I do not know what 2014 will hold, but I am hopeful.  I am looking forward to spending another year with you all, and hope you will continue to visit and comment when you can.  

May 2014 be filled with much love, laughter and happy memories for you all--as well as many good books!

Mouse and Her Grandparents, Christmas 2013

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© 2014, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: The last books of 2013

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.  We had a nice Christmas, even despite all the illness.  We traveled out of town to spend time with my in-laws. Mouse got sick the weekend before Christmas, running a high temperature for three days straight.  It finally started going down on the fourth day and was gone by Christmas.  Her cough is just about gone as I write this.  My husband managed to catch what she had and spent most of Christmas Day and the day after miserable.  He spent New Year's Day in bed too.  So, you can imagine he's not feeling much better than he had been.  My father-in-law was sick during our visit too.  I felt bad for my mother-in-law, having to cater to two sick grown men.  I was only so much help because of my sprained/fractured ankle.  Even so, it was a good holiday over all.  Mouse enjoyed the festivities, and I am sure is sad things are finally starting to return to normal.  She is back to insisting her birthday is just about every day.

We brought in the New Year a little early.  One of the advantages of living on the West Coast is all the East Coast New Year's Eve television coverage.  While we only tuned in for the final 30 second countdown, we were able to join in and celebrate.  We marched around the house and out into the backyard with our pots and pans, banging away.  I am sure our neighbors thought we were crazy.  We toasted with apple cider (Mouse had orange juice, not willing to try the cider), and then went to bed.  Earlier in the evening we enjoyed hot fudge sundaes, a new tradition I hope will stick.  I do not think any of us saw midnight, all fast asleep.

Did you do anything special to bring in the New Year?

I fit in quite a bit of reading the final three weeks of December.  I read Carla Buckley's The Deepest Secret (Bantam, 2014; 448 pgs).  I was selected to preview the book through BookBrowse's First Impression Program.  I will be writing a more formal review of the book come February, when it is officially released.  The novel is about a family, a 14 year old boy with an incurable illness who likes to peek in people's windows at night, a mother who will do anything to protect her son, a wayward teenage daughter, and a mostly absent father.  A girl goes missing in their neighborhood, and they all are impacted in varying ways.  The Deepest Secret was a very engrossing crime fiction novel, unique in some respects, and one I highly recommend.

After reading such a dark novel, I was in the mood for something much lighter and turned to an unusual choice for me.  I have been wanting to read something by Jill Shalvis.  A former fellow book blogger enjoys her books, and I wondered if I might too.  I admit I don't especially care for most contemporary romance. Sometimes though, the formulaic and assured happy ending are just what a person needs.  I selected Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis (Forever, 2010; 311 pgs), the first in the Lucky Harbor series.

The book features Maddie Moore, one of three sister's who has inherited an inn in the beautiful small town of Lucky Harbor.  Maddie has just come off a very bad relationship and was fired from her job.  The last thing she is looking for is love.  In fact, she's sworn off men.  Then she meets Jax, a local contractor, and she finds it harder and harder to stick to her resolve.

Simply Irresistible is pure brain candy.  It's predictable in all the right places.  I liked the interplay between the three very different sisters, and Maddie was a particularly interesting character, especially as she grew over the course of the book.  Jax was a bit too perfect, but then I imagine he was supposed to be.  Even his flaws seemed a bit perfect.  I would be lying if I said I did not finish the book with a little crush on him.  I enjoyed my first experience with a Jill Shalvis novel and will likely read more by her in the future.  These types of books are ones I can only take in small doses though.

From pure fun romance, I jumped into Night Film by Marisha Pessl (Random House, 2013; 602 pgs).

My daughter gave me the book for Christmas, and after all the rave reviews my fellow bloggers have been giving the book, I dove in right away.  This book.  Oh my gosh.  It lived up to my expectations.  It is dark and crazy.  I don't know what to say about it that could do it justice.  The novel follows a disgraced investigative journalist, Scott McGrath, who had been on top of his game until he decided to investigate the mysterious movie producer Cordova.  Scott is drawn back into that old story when the producer's daughter commits suicide.  It sounds simple enough, but what comes from it is hair raising to say the least.  There are so many twists and turns that had me guessing the entire way.  I had no idea what to expect from beginning to end--and that's saying something.

The characters are extremely well written, from the main protagonist, Scott McGrath, to the most minor of characters.  Each one plays a significant role in the novel.  The story goes down a very dark path, which is fitting given the type of movie producer Cordova is.  He produces deeply dark and terrifying horror movies that even the actors who perform in them won't talk about after.

I decided against doing a full review of this novel, which probably isn't fair.  It's such a fantastic book. With the rush to put this past year behind me and start fresh and my non-alcoholic holiday hangover, however, I decided this would be a good way to wrap up this past year's reading.  I recommend you check out Ti's review of Night Film as it sums up my thoughts on the book perfectly: "A completely absorbing literary thriller that's both smart and alluring."

I hope to post my year end summary within the next day or so, and then I will likely be taking a blogging break over the next couple weeks.  

Happy New Year, everyone!

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© 2014, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Books Read in 2013

(Archive of books read in 2013, in alphabetical order)

Appelhans, Lenore - The Memory of After (2013) - Speculative Fiction (YA)
Armstrong, Rachel - The Fairfolk in Knob's End: Book 1: The Daughters of Annwn (2013) - Speculative Fiction (YA)
Arthur, Keri - Chasing the Shadows (2013-reissue) - Speculative Fiction (Paranormal Romance)

Arthur, Keri - Dancing with the Devil (2013-reissue) - Speculative Fiction (Paranormal Romance)

Arthur, Keri - Hearts in Darkness (2013-reissue) - Speculative Fiction (Paranormal Romance)

Arthur, Keri - Kiss the Night Goodbye (2013-reissue) - Speculative Fiction (Paranormal Romance)

Baker, Christina - The Orphan Train (2013) - Fiction

Brooks, Max - World War Z (2006) - Speculative Fiction (Horror)
Brown, Rita Mae - Litter of the Law (2013) - Crime Fiction (Cozy)
Buchanan, Cathy Marie - The Day the Falls Stood Still (2009) -  Fiction (Historical)
Buckley, Carla -The Deepest Secret (2014) - Crime Fiction

Burke, Alfafair - Never Tell (2012) - Crime Fiction

Calkins, Susanna - A Murder at Rosamund's Gate (2013) - Crime Fiction (Historical)
Carriger, Gail - Soulless (2009) - Speculative Fiction (Steampunk)
Child, Lee - Killing Floor (2009) -  Crime Fiction
Clare, Cassandra - The City of Bones (Book 1: Mortal Instruments) (2008) - Speculative Fiction (YA)

Cline, Ernest - Ready Player One (2011) - Speculative Fiction (Science Fiction)
Cole, Kresley - A Hunger Like No Other (2006) - Speculative Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Cole, Kresley - No Rest for the Wicked (2006) -  Speculative Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Cole, Kresley - Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night  (2007) - Speculative Fiction (Paranormal Romance)

Connolly, John - The Wanderer in Unknown Realms (2013) - Speculative Fiction (Horror)
Cook, Claire - Must Love Dogs (2002) - Romance
Cooper, Karina - The Mysterious Case of Mr. Strangeway (2013) - Speculative Fiction (Steampunk)
Culbertson, Judi - An Illustrated Death (2013) - Crime Fiction (Cozy)

Dane, Jordan - Evil Without a Face (2011) - Crime Fiction
Dark, Juliet - The Angel Stone (2013) - Speculative Fiction (Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance)
Dark, Juliet - The Demon Lover (2011) -  Speculative Fiction (Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance)
Dark, Juliet - Water Witch (2013) - Speculative Fiction (Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance)

Finder, Joseph - Paranoia (2004) - Crime Fiction
Flynn, Gillian - Gone Girl (2012) - Crime Fiction
Grafton, Sue - T is for Trespass (2007) - Crime Fiction
Hannah, Mari - The Murder Wall (2013) - Crime Fiction

Harlow, Jennifer - What's a Witch To Do? (2006) - Crime Fiction (Fantasy)
Harris, Charlaine - Dead Ever After (2013) - Speculative Fiction
Harris, Charlaine - Deadlocked (2012) -  Speculative Fiction
Hayman, James - Darkness First (2013) - Crime Fiction
Haynes, Elizabeth - Into The Darkest Corner (2013) - Crime Fiction
Hoffman, Beth - Saving CeeCee Honeycutt (2010) -  Fiction
Holloway, Emma Jane - A Study in Silks (2013) - Speculative Fiction (Steampunk)

Jance, J.A. - Ring in the Dead (2013) - Crime Fiction
King, Stephen - The Shining (1977) - Speculative Fiction (Horror)
La Plante, Lynda - Backlash (2013) -  Crime Fiction
Landay, William - Defending Jacob (2012) - Crime Fiction

Lippman, Laura - And When She Was Good (2012) - Crime Fiction
MacNeal, Susan Elia - His Majesty's Hope (2013) - Crime Fiction
Madison, Shawntelle - Bitter Disenchantment (2013) -  Fiction
McCarthy, Cormac - The Road (2009) - Speculative Fiction

McCarty, Monica - Highlander Unchained (2007) - Romance (Historical)
McCarty, Monica - Highlander Unmasked (2007) - Romance (Historical)
McCarty, Monica - Highlander Untamed (2007) - Romance (Historical)
Melton, Glennon Doyle - Carry On, Warrior: Thoughts on Life Unarmed (2013) - Nonfiction
Mishani, D.A. - The Missing File (2013) -  Crime Fiction
Moning, Karen Marie - Beyond the Highland Mist (1999) - Speculative Fiction (Romance)

Nayeri, Dina - A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea (2013) - Fiction
Orenstein, Peggy - Cinderella Ate My Daughter (2011) - Nonfiction
Pavone, Chris - The Expats (2013) -  Crime Fiction
Pessl, Marisha - Night Film (2013) - Fiction

Picoult, Jodi - Ninteen Minutes (2007) - Fiction
Plum, Amy - Die For Her (2013) - Speculative Fiction (YA)
Plum, Amy - If I Should Die (2013) -  Speculative Fiction (YA)
Quaid, Jamie - Boyfriend From Hell (2012) - Speculative Fiction (Urban Fantasy)
Quaid, Jamie - Damn Him to Hell (2013) - Speculative Fiction (Urban Fantasy)
Schwarz, Liesel - A Consiracy of Alchemists (2013) -  Speculative Fiction (Steampunk)
Searles, John - Help for the Haunted (2013) - Fiction
Shalvis, Jill - Simply Irrestible (2010) - Romance
Shoham, Liad - Lineup (2013) -  Crime Fiction
Shriver, Lionel - We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011) - Fiction
Silver, Elizabeth L. - The Execution of Noa P. Singleton (2013) - Crime Fiction
Slaughter, Karin - Unseen (2013) - Crime Fiction

Van Booy, Simon - The Illusion of Separateness (2013) -  Fiction
van Praag, Menna - The House At the End of Hope Street (2013) - Fiction
Walker, Rebecca - Adé: A Love Story (2013) - Fiction
Zuckoff, Mitchell - Frozen in Time: An Epic Story of Survival and a Modern Quest for Lost Heroes of World War II (2013) -  Nonfiction

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© 2013, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

Pamela Dorman Books, 2010

Fiction; 320 pgs

I know what it is like to grow up in a home with a parent suffering from mental illness.  My father suffered from undiagnosed depression for as long as I can remember.  There were days my mom, brother and I had to tiptoe around him, afraid anything we said or did would set him off.  We did what we could to stay on his good side as much as we could.  My father died suddenly just over two years ago.  While we were on good terms at the time, the scars from my childhood remained.  Memories flooded back.  Admittedly, it was the unpleasant ones that seemed to come in waves at first.  The good memories trickled in later--but they did come.  I know that through everything, my father loved me and wanted what was best for me.  I know too that he was proud of me in the end.

CeeCee's story is quite different from my own in many respects, but her story touched me to the core.  Not only because I could relate to what her character went through on some level, but also because of where I am in my life right now.  I cannot know what it is like to lose a parent as a child, to go to live with an unknown relative, and step into an unknown life.  And yet, this book spoke to me.  Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is one of those books that I chose to read at the right moment in my life.  It's message of healing and hope was just what I needed to hear as this difficult year and the one before it come to an end.

CeeCee Honeycutt is a young girl growing up in the 1960's.  An absent father, a mentally ill mother, and no friends to speak of other than an elderly neighbor, CeeCee studies hard and escapes into books.  When her mother dies suddenly, CeeCee is taken in my her Great Aunt Tootie who she doesn't know, shuffled from Ohio to Savannah, Georgia.  As the story unfolds, the reader and CeeCee are introduced to a huge cast of eccentric and yet strong and beautiful women.  Each have their own story of loss and coming into their own.

My heart broke for CeeCee as her story came out.  She lived a lifetime in her twelve years, dealing with issues that no child should have to.  I liked the depth the author gave CeeCee's character in terms of dealing with her grief and anger.

I loved the author's descriptions of Savannah and the characters she's created.  In a book like this, they could have been too perfect in their roles, but they all seemed so very genuine.  I would be hard pressed to name a favorite character.  They all spoke to me in some way. This is a feel good book in just about every way, but it does deal with the difficult issues of grief, anger, racism, and fear.  Not all the strings are tied at the end--and they didn't need to be.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is full of heart.  It is a book about friendship, forgiveness, and family.  It is also about finding one's inner strength.  I cried as I reached the end of this book.  Happy tears.  I felt warm and like I was wrapped in the arms of CeeCee, her aunt and their friends.  I came away from this book wanting to call my mother, wishing she weren't so far away.  I wonder if she's read this book.  If she hasn't, well, she will.  I will make sure of it.

Rating:  (Outstanding)

You can learn more about Beth Hoffman and her books on the author's website. 

Source: I purchased both a hardcover copy and e-copy of this book for my own reading pleasure.

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© 2013, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

Voice, 2009

Fiction; 320 pgs

I have tears in my eyes as I sit down to write this review.  Cathy Marie Buchanan's novel could not have ended any other way, really.  This book is both beautiful and bittersweet.  This is the type of romantic story I enjoy most--one that is realistic, one that is about falling in love and about life after that initial fall.

Niargara Falls entered my heart the first time I visited when I was a child and again when I was able to visit with my husband.  Seeing beyond the tourist trappings and commercialization, the Falls are one of the most beautiful natural landmarks I have ever seen.  To say it is majestic is not an overstatement.

I am always fascinated by the history of the places I visit, and it was no different when visiting Niagara Falls. I loved hearing and reading about the daredevils who went over the falls in barrels and other contraptions, hoping to conquer the water.  Then there were the whirlpools, the botanical gardens, the history of the power companies harnessing the water.  And, of course, the  fact that to Falls really do stand still.  I continue to get unbelieving shakes of the head and skeptical looks when I mention it to those not familiar with Niagara Falls.

Cathy Marie Buchanan not only recreates the history of Niagara Falls in her novel, but she also gives it a more personal, human face.  This story follows the life of Bess, a young woman whose family was fairly well to do up until her father lost his job with the power company.  Suddenly, Bess's world changes.  Her mother has to go to work, her father drowns himself in alcohol, and her older sister, once engaged to a well-respected man, is wasting away, clearly depressed.

When the book begins, Bess is a naive 16 year old, still full of hopes and dreams.  Her worries are mostly superficial and she knows very little of the world outside.  Over the course of the book, she grows and adapts in ways that she probably couldn't have imagined as she stood looking out her window on her last day of school.  In a way, this book is her coming of age story.  It is also her love story.  The story of how she met a river man, a man far below her station, fell in love, and then had to decide whether or not to pursue him.

Tom reminded me of my husband and I think that is why I fell in love with his character in The Day the Falls Stood Still.  My husband is no man of nature, no river man, the way Tom is, but they have similar natures in other ways.

While I loved the first part of the book in which Tom and Bess get to know each other and fall in love, it was later in the book, after a horrible tragedy, when I was completely swept off my feet.  That's when we really get to see the depth of Bess and Tom's characters.  They both had to make sacrifices that changed them, both for the better and the worse.

It is obvious the author has a special connection to the setting of the novel.  Her love for Niagara Falls comes through in her descriptions of the area and of its history.  Just as I was drawn to the love story and the characters and their troubles, both the major and minor characters, I was also drawn to the historical aspect of the novel.  The politics of the time were not so different than they are now in some respects.  Greed and power are strong motivators; progress is as well.  And yet at what cost to the environment?  I could see where Bess's father was coming from with his viewpoints as well as Tom, although I tended to agree more with Tom.

The novel opens in 1915 and covers the course of several years.  World War I is underway and Canada is feeling the strain of having to conserve and sending her men off to war.  Bess and Tom are not untouched by the war, nor by the after affects of those directly impacted by fighting in the war.  So much death and violence can kill one's spirit. We see it today in our soldiers who have returned home from the battlefield, but I think sometimes we forget it isn't something new.

There is so much more I want to say about this book.  I knew I would like it when I first began reading, and possibly even love it. I most certainly loved it.  The Day the Falls Stood Still is not only a well written novel, it is one that really touched my heart.  It is novel of history, enduring love, sacrifice, and of hope.  I hope you will read it if you haven't already.

Rating:  (Outstanding)

You can learn more about Cathy Marie Buchanan and her books on the author's website. 

Source: I purchased both a hardcover copy and e-copy of this book for my own reading pleasure.

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© 2013, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Cat Thursday: Aren't I Handsome?

Welcome to the weekly meme hosted by The True Book Addict that celebrates cats; their foibles and humorousness and the joy they bring. You can join in by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you made or came across, cat art or share with us pics of your own felines, then post your link up at The True Book Addict.

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© 2013, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts and Personal Reflections: Cinderella Ate my Daughter by Peggy Orenstien

Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein

Harper, 2011

Nonfictionl 256 pgs

I like the princesses. I like Disney.  And I love the movies.  It wasn't until I became a mother that I really began looking closely at the messages my daughter might get from some of the Disney movies. The first time I put in the Little Mermaid DVD for her, I cringed inwardly as I watched the story unfold of a princess mermaid giving up her voice for a man who only throws her over for someone else because that's all he really loved in the first place--her voice.  Sure he had doubts, but it did not stop him from moving on so quickly. That's just one of my maternal gripes with the movie.  Of course, a two year old isn't going to pick any of that up, not really.  My point though is that suddenly what seemed like a cute and romantic movie with great songs suddenly took on new meaning for me.  Just another reason I really need to pay attention to the media and messages my daughter is receiving from what she is watching and listening to--and even reading.

Cinderella is the first princess my daughter ever identified and loved.  Every princess was Cinderella for a number of months, until my daughter met Ariel and then later, in person, Aurora.  She's never seen the movie Sleeping Beauty, and has no interest in it at this point. At the writing of this review, the only other princess movie she has seen is Pocahontas, which she has liked enough to sit through twice so far (yay!).  I haven't been able to interest her in Mulan yet, but that's one I hope she will fall in love with over many of the others. (This is where I confess that my absolute favorite animated film, behind Tarzan is Beauty and the Beast, which has the worst message for girls in terms of love changing a man from beast.)

Mostly though, my daughter is most content with her Jake and the Neverland Pirates and Doc McStuffins (who I am a huge fan of myself).  Oh, and Henry Hugglemonster and the Octonauts.  She adores the Octonauts.  

Still, as she gets older, I am sure she will start paying more attention to the stories of the princesses, and that's something I worry about.  I don't want my daughter to think she needs a man to rescue her.  I don't mind romance in a story, but I like the idea of equal partners.  I hate the message that a woman needs a man.  I have nothing against men, but in my line of work, I see too many instances where women define themselves by their man.  And it irks me no end.  Plus there's the whole issue of beauty being so important. It is, unfortunately, in our society.  Important, I mean.  Too much value is placed on the perfect face, the perfect hair and the perfect clothes.  The perfect body.  I don't want my daughter growing up feeling she has to fit into some pre-formed notion of beauty. 

The author isn't suggesting girls shouldn't play as princesses or play with princess toys.  For many children, it is a natural part of childhood.  Rather, she wants parents to be aware of the influence media and the like have on their daughters and what messages they are receiving. 

It isn't just about the Disney Princesses though (a concept created in 2000 as part of an ad campaign based on the public's marketing trends in regards to the princesses).  Our young daughters are exposed to a myriad of mixed messages from all different directions telling them what they  should want, what they should look like and how they should behave.  As much as I would like to shield my daughter from much of it (the harmful parts), I only have so much control.

The author goes a little into the history of toys aimed at girls, the various doll brands out there.  I found it all very interesting, especially how innocently many of these endeavors began only to become something else entirely in the end.  For example, I knew very little about the American Girl trend before reading this book, but from what Peggy Orenstien describes, however, I can get behind the idea of them--even if not the consumerism and the price tag.

There were other aspects of the book that spoke to me, validating what I already knew.  How parents' behavior and words, even about themselves, influence how are children see themselves.  I am trying to cut the word "fat" out of my vocabulary, although it's been difficult.  On the other side of the coin, I've been telling my daughter she's beautiful since birth.  We all thought it was funny when she, at one, was going around telling everyone, "I"m beautiful."  Have I damaged her irrevocably by constantly telling her how beautiful she is?   Of course not, but the doubt is there.  I know I mean well.  I am talking about beauty on the out and inside.  She doesn't know that though.  Labels themselves can be dangerous, influencing how we see ourselves and how we respond to outside stimuli.

I was really drawn to the work being done by Child Development Professor Carol Martin and her colleague Richard Fabes with their Sanford Harmony Program at Arizona State University.  The two are looking into the play habits of boys and girls, including the way children tend to clump together in play with their own genders.  What influence would encouraging cross-gender play have on children's perceptions of the other sex in the long-term?  As Orenstein writes, the study's "goal, over time, is to improve how boys and girls think of and treat the other sex in the classroom, playground, and beyond: to keep their small behavioral and cognitive differences from turning into unbreachable gaps."  By encouraging play between boys and girls, the hope is to make their goal a reality.  The ramifications overall could impact adult relationships in a positive way.  So, yes, I got excited after reading that section of the book when I saw my daughter playing with a little boy at her daycare that evening.  It also made me think of another incident I witnessed not too long ago in which my daughter wanted to play with a couple of boys but they told her she couldn't because she was a girl. (I liked that one of the boy's dad's spoke up to encourage his son to let her play--girls can do anything boys can, he told his son.)

I have nothing against girls being girls and boys being boys.  I've taken plenty of psychology and child development classes in my day, even a gender studies class.  I just want my daughter to know that her options are open.  I don't like the social messages out there that promote appearance as number one and that girls and boys have to fit one category or the other.  I don't mind my daughter playing with dolls or that she likes to play in her little kitchen or even have tea parties.  I just want her to have a choice and know that she has a choice. I want her to know that trains and fire engines are not just for boys.

I liked when the author talked about being hypocritical, because I feel that way sometimes.  I tell myself I'll never let my daughter have this or that, but I end up giving in.  My daughter is more girly girl than I had initially hoped.  She likes pink despite my best efforts early on to steer her away from it (I finally gave in and now she has so much pink, it's crazy).  I had hoped to guide her away from the princesses, but that, too, seems to be impossible.  I could fight it more, I suppose.  But I want also to support my daughter in who she is and let her make some of her own choices.  Plus, I like to see her happy. That doesn't mean though that I can't or won't step in to guide her and influence her in ways I think will build her good character, help her be confident and stand up for herself and yet generous and compassionate.

There is a section in the book that talks about children and the internet, touching on the dangers and influences that children will come across.  Children are getting online younger and younger, and as much as we want to control and limit their access, they are often more technologically savvy than their parents.  This is the chapter that scared me.  It's not new information, but it is something every parent must think hard about.

Mouse prefers to play with dolls and play in her little kitchen.  She enjoys playing with blocks and building things.  She likes trains and trucks.  She misses her soccer classes in between seasons.  Mouse likes to pretend she is a princess, but she also likes to pretend to be a doctor and a pirate.  At two and a half, I think she is off to a good start even as I fumble through the opening chapters of parenthood.

As I read Cinderella Ate My Daughter, I felt a sense of relief in a way.  Peggy Orenstein had gone through just what I'm going through.  She had many of the same concerns and questions about perpetuated gender stereotypes and the media and how to maneuver in today's culture as a parent.  Because of that, she decided to do a little research and what we have is her book.  Cinderella Ate My Daughter is entertaining, educational, and self-affirming. It offers food for thought, to be sure.  And it also made me realize I'm not alone.

Rating:  (Good +)

You can learn more about Peggy Orenstein and her books on the author's website.

Source: I purchased both the hardcover and e-copy of this book for my own reading pleasure.

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© 2013, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Where is Your Bookmark? (12/17/2013)

In just two weeks it will be the last day of the year.  Usually I am clamoring to finish my best of list and thinking of my goals for next year.  I confess I have only given passing thoughts to both, not quite ready to wrap anything up, much less start anew.  It'll come.  Just maybe not until the beginning of the new year.

I had pretty much given up on reading any of my "must read" books this year, when suddenly I was hit with the desire to dive into Cathy Marie Buchanan's The Day the Falls Stood Still, a historical fiction novel set in Niagara Falls.  And just as I finished that one, I knew I would be reading Saving CeeCee Honeycut by Beth Hoffman next.  Both are very different from my other most recent reads, and both books I have been longing to get to for quite some time.  

What are you reading right now?  Is it something you would recommend?

On another note, I took a spill last week; embarrassing really.  Mouse and I were gathering the packages from our front porch to bring in the house when I stepped wrong and sprained my right ankle, causing a small fracture, and banged up my left knee.  It was a few moments before I could work up enough courage to stand and walk into the house with Mouse.  As I lay there on the concrete, she gave my knee and ankle kisses.  Later when the doctor asked Mouse what happened, she gave a blow by blow account of the incident.  I don't think she's ever said so much in a regular voice (as opposed to super quiet) to a stranger before.  She was so very brave.

I have not been the best at staying off it like I should.  I never am.  I have experienced sprains in both ankles several times over, and so they are nothing new to me.  Just the same, they are never any fun, and are always inconvenient.  Luckily, my Christmas shopping is all done, so that's one less thing to worry about.

Which reminds me!  I participated in The Broke and the Bookish Secret Santa exchange again this year and you will never guess who my Secret Santa was!  Sarah aka Sawcat of Sawcat's Book Blog who lives just down the street from me!  Okay, so not right down the street, but at least in the same town.  We even frequent the same independent bookstore, The Cellar Door.

Her gifts to me included two books that have been on my wish list awhile, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan and Cinder by Melissa Meyer.  She also gave me two beautiful bookmarks.  I'm so very grateful to Sarah for the wonderful gifts!

Are you giving anyone books for the holidays?  Are there any you are hoping to receive?

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Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts 

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where  

participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a 

book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

I thought I'd share the start of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman today:

Momma left her red satin shoes in the middle of the road.  That's what three eyewitnesses told the police.  The first time I remember my mother wearing red shoes was on a snowy morning in December 1962, the year I was seven years old.  I walked into the kitchen and found her sitting at the table.  No lights were on, but in the think haze of dawn that pushed through the frostbitten window, I could see red high-heeled shoes peeking out from beneath the hem of her rob.  There was no breakfast waiting, and no freshly ironed school dress hanging on the basement doorknob.  Momma just sat and stared out the window with empty eyes, her hands limp in her lap, her coffee cold and untouched. 

Would you continue reading?

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© 2013, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: Young Adult Fantasy (Semi) Mini Reviews

The Memory of After (The Memory Chronicles #1) by Lenore Appelhans

(Simon and Schuster, 2013; 304 pgs)

The Memory of After by Lenore Appelhans is a combination of romance and science fiction set in the after life on what is referred to as Level 2 (the original title of the book).  It's not a particularly happy place, Felicia has found, and she wonders if there is more to it or if this is what eternity will mean for her.  When an old friend from her past appears and asks for her help, promising to re-unite her with the boy she loved in life, Felicia agrees.  She soon finds herself in the middle of a rebellion and isn't sure which side she really should be on.

I wanted to like this book more than I did.  I wanted to love it.  Unfortunately, I never completely warmed to Felecia's character, although I did come to care for her and want a good outcome for her.  I wasn't as taken with Neil as one might expect, unusual given his "good boy" status, which is the guy I typically fall for, as rare as that might be of the female species.  He seemed a bit too perfect, really.  I was, however, especially curious about Julian. To me, he was the most interesting character.  There were moments I wondered if the book was meant to have a Christian Fiction edge to it.  Which wouldn't be a bad thing, but it wasn't what I expected.  

That said, I really liked the way the author told her story, sharing the characters' backstories through memories.  The flashbacks never felt forced or out of place.  And the timing was perfect, building the suspense to the climax.  I never lost interest in the story. 

Rating:   (Fair +)

To learn more about the author and her books, please check out the author's website.

Source: I purchased both a hard copy and e-copy of this book for my reading pleasure.

Die for Her by Amy Plum

Harper Teen, 2013; 60 pgs

If I Should I Die by Amy Plum

Harper Teen, 2013; 405 pgs

I was first introduced to the Revenants Trilogy by Marg of The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader, and was instantly taken in by the world Amy Plum had created.

It is next to impossible to review the third book of a trilogy without giving away spoilers, and given the ending of the second book which had a huge cliffhanger, to say much of anything about what this book is about would give too much away.  Therefore, I refer you to my review of the first two books, Die For Me and Until I Die, and will only lightly touch on my thoughts on the final two installments in the trilogy.

Die For Her is a novella, an aside really, in the trilogy. Written from the perspective of one of the major series characters, Jules Marchenoir, readers get to experience the events in the first two books through someone else's eyes.  Jules is an interesting character to begin with.  He is the best friend of our heroine Kate's boyfriend, Vincent.  Jules is a Bardia, a Revenant who fights to save the lives of humans.  I enjoyed getting to know Jules better, but mostly I found this novella a great way to refresh my memory of the first two books which I read last year in preparation for the third.

If I Should I Die is perhaps my favorite book in the trilogy.  Kate still has that too perfect air about her, but she also seems more vulnerable.  This novel is full of tense moments that had me nearly biting my finger nails.  I really wanted Kate and the Bardia to come out on top.  I've come to care for many of the characters.  I shared their disbelief, doubts, pain and victories.  I also shared in their grief.  Should I Die is the big war between good and evil the other books have been building towards, and  it did not disappoint.  I thought the ending was perfect--although I do wonder about Louis.

Rating:  (Good +)

To learn more about the author and her books, please check out the author's website.

Source: I purchased a copy of these two books for my own reading pleasure.

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© 2013, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.