July Book of the Month - 2012

Hello dear readers,

Summer is here and is there dancing in the street?  Not here but there is golfing with gorgeous views of the mountains and concerts in the meadow!  Wherever you are - enjoy the weather.  Hopefully with so much of the country suffering with over 90 degree days (some of you over 100) we hope you all have AC.  Here in Vermont we are without AC for the next week or so.  We ran into some hot temps back a few weeks and discovered that our 25 year old fan on the 25 year old furnace is not replaceable.  That fan circulates the AC.  In the meantime we are thankful that we haven't exceeded 95 degrees yet and we are thankful for cool evenings and nights.  The sky has be so clear and the stars so beautiful.

I thought of making July a 'Beach Reading' month but maybe that will wait until August - what is your favorite summer reading.  I know Ethel loves to indulge in Janet Evanovich.  Let us know - maybe August will be a selection of easy beach reading.  

July's book of the month will be:

The Shoemaker's Wife by  Adriana Trigiani

As I have said many times before - I do not pre-read any of these books and take the recommendations from many people.  I try not to read the reviews too thoroughly because it spoils the book for me and I want to enjoy it right along with all of you.  

Keep watch in a week or so for the review of Half Broke Horses. 

Happy reading and Happy Fourth of July!  

Barbara

What color is water anyway?

Hello Readers,

Here it is the 11th of June and I am just getting around to my review and questions on The Color of Water.  DH birthday & celebration in Quebec City got in the way.  BTW DH - you may take a vacation from the blog if you want but I know myself too well, if I let go of this for 3 months my aged memory will let go of it forever.  Besides, it is really the only time I sit at my computer leaving my IPad on the sidelines!  All of you may take a break, as I said in the beginning - no pressure!


First off I want to say about The Color of Water, I found it refreshing, true to life, impossibly possible and inspiring.  For me the most poignant  idea is that this book is the way for James McBride to come and really know his mother and her life experiences.  Since I have been working on the stories my own mother has written, fictional and historical, this has struck a chord with me.  Now I have questions to ask her!  James is a lucky man to have his mother available.  The balance of that is that our children do not know our history and experiences.  Will it ever be important to them and will it be too late for us to respond? 


This book covers so many issues of society.  A few of my favorites follow:


When Ruth was having the tryst with Peter - they knew the risk of black & white together and I hesitate to add that in some areas of the country, in any decade,  this would be a hair raising event.  Ruth states: 'I always felt that was about the South, that beneath the smiles and southern hospitality and politeness were a lot of guns and liquor and secrets'.  My hope is that we have come further in this time and then I hear someone using the 'N' word and I cringe and wonder.


When Ruth's grandmother died (since it seems that Ruth was most likely shunned in the family) she was notified:  'we have three rooms worth of furniture.  Do you want it?'   Just like some families with horrible communication that lasts for generations.  Do you think it would be interesting to read this same story from the perspective of Ruth's cousins or aunts?  I think that is really where conflict comes in to play since everyone would have a different perspective on this history.  Just think how you were reared in the same house and have differing opinions about important events.


The McBride children's struggle with their identities led each to his or her own "revolution".   Is it also possible that that same struggle led them to define themselves through professional achievement?


"Our house was a combination three-ring circus and zoo, complete with ongoing action, daring feats, music, and animals." Does Helen leave to escape her chaotic homelife or to escape the mother whose very appearance confuses her about who she is?  Do you think the world would be a better place if we answered those 'hard' questions with 'what color is water'?


While reading the descriptions of the children's hunger, did you wonder why Ruth did not seek out some kind of assistance?  Is knowing hunger how the children had the impetus to fight their way to success?  

In closing I want to add this quote from the author at the end of the 10th anniversary book:

'Hard line intellectuals have already had a field day with this book, using it to promote every sort of sociopolitical ideology.  But at the end of the day, there are some questions that have no answers and then one answer that has no question, love rules the game.  Every time.  That's what counts.'

I say 'Amen' to that.  Thank you all for reading along with me and see you in a bit!

Happy Beach Reading,

Barbara

Hi everyone, This note just came in from Eileen via email. So glad that you picked Half Broke Horses.  I've been wanting to read it since reading The Glass Castle but haven't gotten to it.  I haven't read The Color of Water yet.  Will get to it though.  I seem to always be a month behind for some reason.  I just started The Great Bridge by David McCullough.  We went to the Roebling Museum with Sonshiners the other month and I found it so interesting that I decided to read the book (which I had gotten for Bob many years ago).  So far it's very interesting but not a fast read. I just finished I Never Promised You A Goodie Bag.  I thought it was really good.  Mother didn't like it much.  Also read Unorthodox - that was so interesting and informative re: Haisidic Jews (sp.).  There were so many comparisons with Amish Grace.   I  finally got Defending Jacob.  I enjoyed it.  Mother didn't like the ending.  I can't think of any better way for it to have ended.  Take good care.  :)

Jeez it's Jumpin' June!

Already June is here and the book blog writer is a day late.  I guarantee you that I do much worse with birthday cards & gifts!

The Book of the Month for June is:


Half Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls.  Some of you will recognize the author of Glass Castle.  I highly recommend Glass Castle to everyone.  It was not only a story of family but the complete leniency and opposite of the 'helicopter parents' of today. If you read those books I am sure you could classify both as being child abusive.

I am halfway through Half Broke Horses so I won't give away any of that book at this point.

A review of The Color of Water will be forthcoming in the next week.  I know that Murray Rider abandoned us for the month of May. He is so busy with golfing and working and .....  I do have so much to say about the last two books but with golf and quilting and....   Is anyone else out there?  I know Maria queried whether I had blogged in a while therefore --- here I am!  If anyone has book suggestions please post them.   We all know how life can get busy so in the meantime, happy reading.

Have an awesome day,
Barbara