The Invisible Wall, A Love Story That Broke Barriers

This is the author's debut and he wrote it at the age of 96. It tells
the story of his youth in poverty stricken England before and during
WWI. Everybody on his street is poor, if you're Christian you work in the mill, if you're Jewish you work in the tailor shops. The Christians and Jews live on the same street but on opposite sides of the invisible wall. The only school available to the Jewish kids is a Christian school where they learn about Easter the same week they prepare for Passover at home. There's so many things gong on in this story, the mother who tries to hold the family together and dreams of going to America, and the father who drinks, gambles and is an abusive stranger to his family. Eventually, one of his older sisters falls in love with a Christian boy and the family and neighborhood fall into chaos.

This story is heartbreaking and sweet. It's both a personal memoir and a love story seen through the eyes of a young boy. The author has written a sequel, The Dream, which he wrote at the age of 97. I loaned this out to my mom, but I'll bring it when I get it back...or you can just pick it up at Target like I did.

The Year of Pleasures by Elizabeth Berg

This is one of those stories that sounds so small and colorless and really depressing when trying to explain what it is about. However, this is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

From the back cover: "Bette Nolan moves to a small town after the death of her husband to try to begin anew. Pursuing a dream of a different kind of life, she is determined to find pleasure in her simple daily routines. Among those who help her in both expected and unexpected ways are the ten-year-old boy next door, three wild women friends from her college days, a twenty-year-old who is struggling to find his place in the world, and a handsome man who is ready for love.

In this rich and deeply satisfying novel, a resilient woman embarks upon an unforgettable journey of adventure, self-discovery, and renewal and comes to appreciate the solace found in ordinary pleasures."

So, it sounds awful right? This poor woman loses her soulmate and has to move on with her life. But it is not awful, it is a beautiful story about this graceful, strong woman who has promised her husband that she will live after he is gone. She isn't perfect, she is sad and grieving but little by little, day by day she enjoys whatever she can. I thought it was a remarkable, inspiring, and beautifully written story.

Out Stealing Horses

This is one of those books you pick up at Costco, read the back, put it down, pick it up the next time you're there, thumb through the pages, put it down, then about your third time through at Costco, you finally put it in your basket along with the dog food and toilet paper. This book is not an easy read, but not quite as heavy as The Road that burpykitty read, think The Road "light".

BN.com says, "Out Stealing Horses...panoramic and gripping, it tells the story of Trond Sander, a sixty-seven-year-old man who has moved from the city to a remote, riverside cabin, only to have all the turbulence, grief, and overwhelming beauty of his youth come back to him one night while he's out on a walk. From the moment Trond sees a strange figure coming out of the dark behind his home, the reader is immersed in a decades-deep story of searching and loss, and in the precise, irresistible prose of a newly crowned master of fiction. "

It is beautifully written, but I was a little disappointed in the story...I felt like there was so much left to learn about the character, his father, his childhood and what happened in between. I almost want to read this again to see if I missed anything. I'll bring this along to our next meeting.

True Happiness

You all know how much I like to feed people. It is one of the great pleasures of my life, feeding people good food and knowing they have enjoyed a good meal in my home.

I opened the library to students this week at school; my second home. It has been so enjoyable to watch the kids in the library and hear the comments from students and teachers. I have heard, "It looks like a real library", "Wow! They got alot of new books over the summer!", "It looks so nice in here". Today Nick's teacher told me that she is so excited about the libraries that she might be willing to give up some of her classroom collection because she knows the students would be able to find and use the books. I felt like my heart would burst from happiness. This is why I have worked so hard. The kids love the library. I have "fed" them books and knowledge in a place where they feel comfortable and happy. Does it get any better than this?

The Other

I am a fan when it comes to David Guterson novels. It started with "Snow Falling on Cedars" which I think of as the Northwest's answer to "To Kill a Mockingbird". A worthy runner up in American novels about social justice. Then "East of the Mountains" told of personal explorations of life's important questions. Both thought provoking books. And now his new novel, "The Other", focuses on the common humanity in us all. A book about two teen boys who are so different but, some how find so much in common. John William Barry is the only child of a wealthy Seattle family. Neil Countryman has grown up in an extended family of Irish-American carpenters. Their meeting in the half-mile event at a high school track meet reveals a shared tendency toward earnestness and suffering. The two become friends and eventually blood brothers. But then high school ends and they choose very different paths. Neil a struggling author teaches high school English. John William renounces his wealth and lives a rugged life in the woods. But then John needs Neils help to disappear from his family. This may sound like a small quirky story but, one that questions what would you be willing to do for 'your friend/your blood brother'?

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK!


I had very little expectation of liking this book because of the reviews of everyone I know who has read it, maybe that is why I was able to enjoy it. I devoured this book in 3 days. I really liked it. I remember what it was like to be a teenager and how awkward and insecure I always felt. I loved that this bubble-gum vampire series had a feel-good bubble-gum ending. I love that she married Edward and got to have her human honeymoon. I liked the twist about the baby. I was happy when she finally became a vampire - I was expecting it at the end of the 3rd book. I wanted Jacob Black to come back and I was glad when he imprinted on Renesmee so he wasn't heartbroken over Bella anymore but he still got to be a part of her family. I was especially pleased that Bella was not only beautiful but ended up being the strongest, most talented vampire in her new family.

Bella got to have her cake and eat it too in so many ways. She had Edward (the one she belonged with), she had Jake in her family, she was able to have a child, she was strong and beautiful, she even got to maintain contact with her original human family. What better ending to this teenage trilogy-plus? The teenage girl inside me rejoiced at her good fortune. Like I said, maybe I went in to it with very low expectation so I was free to just enjoy the story. But whatever the reason, I really, really liked it.

Love is a Mix Tape

This was one of our finalists for our memoir month selection and I was intrigued so I went ahead and read it anyway. This may be best for somebody who is more music minded as each chapter has a list of songs from a mix tape from the authors collection. He uses these tapes as a timeline for his life, from dorky jr high dances where he made the tape for the dance, to when his wife of 5yrs suddenly dies and his grieving afterwards. In this day of ipods and cd's, I don't know if people in their 20's will appreciate the music nostalgia in this book and one of the icon's of our youth, the mix tape, that us more mature ladies would. I'll bring this along to our next meeting.

Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl

This trilogy of books: Tender at the Bone, Comfort Me With Apples, and Garlic and Sapphires was like peering through a window into a completely different world. It is amazing to me the power that food critics have in the restaurant scene. What an insight into the culture of fine food. Worth reading but I am glad to be in my relatively anonymous world, eating regular food, not caring how many stars the regional restaurant critic has bestowed on the restaurant I am eating in.

Mistress of the Art of Death by Arianna Franklin

Book Club: As always, the food was excellent! Our host made a beef stew to die for!! Haha, pun totally intended! She also has these amazing infused waters, lemon/rosemary and lemon/cucumber. We also had ham/aparagus roll-ups, breadsticks, about 6 different kids of cheese and crackers, grapes, honey beer and a delicious fruit tart for dessert. Once we were all fat and happy, we talked about the book. I think we all agreed that the idea for the story was good and we all loved the main character. However, the actual writing was rough and certain aspects of the story were so implausible they actually bordered on ridiculous. I still thought the book was worth reading though. I personally would give this author another chance simply because I liked the main character so well.