Mid-Winter Book Reviews

Mid-Winter Book Reviews


1.)  Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

I am still on my classics kick. Having finished Tom Sawyer I moved right on to Huckleberry Finn. I definitely prefer this novel to Tom Sawyer; as I also prefer the character of Huckleberry Finn to the character of Tom Sawyer.

From Goodreads:

Of all the contenders for the title of The Great American Novel, none has a better claim than The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Intended at first as a simple story of a boy's adventures in the Mississippi Valley—a sequel to Tom Sawyer—the book grew and matured under Twain's hand into a work of immeasurable richness and complexity. More than a century after its publication, the critical debate over the symbolic significance of Huck's and Jim's voyage is still fresh, and it remains a major work that can be enjoyed at many levels: as an incomparable adventure story and as a classic of American humor. 

I am glad that I read this book especially as it is considered the great America novel. I enjoyed it; but I absolutely hated reading all of the n-words. It was jarring and terrible every single time that I had to read it. I could not get past it nor could I reconcile it to the language of another time. That word carries so much pain. I hurt every time that I read it... which was over 200 times. The book is controversial. There are so many differing opinions. Should it be banned? Should it be printed without the n-word? Should it be read in school? These are questions that continue to be asked. I am not a fan of censorship but I had a visceral reaction every single time I read that ugly and demeaning word.

Despite that, I loved the journey that Huck Finn takes and I am not talking about the journey down the Mississippi River. I am talking about the journey that he takes as he comes to know and love Jim, the runaway slave, and begins to see him first as a person and then as a dear and beloved friend. It was interesting to watch him wrestle with his conscience and his choices about what was the right thing to do. Huck's awakening to Jim's plight was both touching and profound.

I loved that this novel was written in first person; unlike Tom Sawyer. Huck is a great narrator. His voice and his perspective were fantastic. I loved seeing the world through Huck's eyes as he traveled down the mighty Mississippi and embarked on fantastical adventures. The novel rings with Twain's biting social satire. I had to keep reminding myself how progressive this novel was for his day.

The part of the plot that I disliked the most was the reappearance of Tom Sawyer. I get that this novel is, on the surface, a yarn and a tall-tale-adventure-story but when Tom Sawyer saunters down the road I groaned. He is atrocious. His meant-to-be-hilarious plans to spring Jim from captivity fell flat for me. I didn't find it at all funny. I kept thinking...we are talking about a man's life here...and then with the final reveal...I just wanted to punch Tom Sawyer in the face. This novel is weightier than Tom Sawyer and multi-layered. The actions of others have real stakes and real consequences. It's not just fun and games in this novel.

My Rating: Memorable.


2.) The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt

This was my book club's selection for January. I didn't know anything about this novel except that it was YA fiction and that someone, at some point, had recommended it to me because it was on my to-read-list. It might have been one of my kids. Anyway, it sounded interesting and it won the 2008 Newberry Award so I was excited to get reading.

From Goodreads:

Meet Holling Hoodhood, a seventh-grader at Camillo Junior High, who must spend Wednesday afternoons with his teacher, Mrs. Baker, while the rest of the class has religious instruction. Mrs. Baker doesn’t like Holling—he’s sure of it. Why else would she make him read the plays of William Shakespeare outside class? But everyone has bigger things to worry about, like Vietnam. His father wants Holling and his sister to be on their best behavior: the success of his business depends on it. But how can Holling stay out of trouble when he has so much to contend with? A bully demanding cream puffs; angry rats; and a baseball hero signing autographs the very same night Holling has to appear in a play in yellow tights! As fate sneaks up on him again and again, Holling finds Motivation—the Big M—in the most unexpected places and musters up the courage to embrace his destiny, in spite of himself.

I really liked this charming book! It's the story of a year in the life of Holling Hoodhood, an awkward seventh grader at Camillo Junior High, in Long Island, New York in 1967. Holling is a delightful, if at times, unreliable narrator. Normally I hate the unreliable narrator trope but Holling was one in the very best possible way! Things are happening to him and around him but he only *sees* them in a oblivious twelve year old way. It was fun to watch his perception of the events and the people around him change as his awareness grew. The book was a wonderful blend of humor and emotion. It was so darn earnest and hopeful. I loved its innocent charm which is something rather lacking in much of today's YA fiction. I've already recommended this book to my middle schooler. It was a great read! Our book club loved it too.

My Rating: Wholesome and satisfying. A wonderful coming of age novel.



3.) Ten Dollar Dinners by Melissa D'Arabian

This is a great cookbook! I made several recipes and they were delicious. I am excited to try several more.

My Rating: Great! If you are into cookbooks like I am.



4.) The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

As a child, I loved the Disney movie version of this book. I thought that I would give this book a read and see how it compared to the movie. I was looking forward to a fun family adventure story to share with my kids.

From Goodreads:

Shipwrecked passengers on a deserted island: how will they survive? After their ship founders at sea, the Robinsons—father, mother, and four sons—find themselves stranded 0n an uninhabited, idyllic island.

This book was at times entertaining and at times read like a how-to-manual. I also needed to have some MAJOR suspension of disbelief. First, the father is a walking encyclopedia. He knew everything about everything. He knew the scientific classification and uses for every plant and animal on every continent. He knew how to make and do everything that needed to be done whether it was agricultural practices or engineering. Often there wasn't much of a plot rather it was the father going from place to place and giving a series of lessons and lectures. Second, every plant and animal on the earth is on this deserted island which is geographically impossible. There were wolves, tigers, lions, elephants, penguins, bears, buffaloes... you name it and it is on this island. Third, if the island didn't provide everything that the Robinson family needed then it was salvaged from their shipwreck. They wanted for nothing. Fourth, they weren't troubled by any real sickness or injuries for over ten years. Not possible.

There were moments of entertainment. I liked that there was an extra Robinson son that does not appear in the Disney movie and he is an enjoyable one. I just wish that there was more plot and more character development. Very little happens besides building various residences and homesteads, creating inventions, finding animals, plants, fruit, vegetables, and grains and finding out how they will be used. The book often read like a how-to-manual as we moved from challenge to challenge. I wanted more from the characters, the story, and more depth. In addition, I wanted to know what happened to the family after they were rescued and two of their sons decided to sail to England. I wanted to know where they all ended up years later. Also, keep in mind that it was written in 1812...over two hundred years ago...so the writing and attitudes of the time and culture reflect that...especially concerning hunting and gender roles.

 I did like that the book showed the value of self-reliance and families working together for the common good. I appreciated the many references to their faith in God, their gratitude to Him, and their constant reliance on Him. We need mores stories like that these days.

My Rating: Okay. Sometimes entertaining and sometimes monotonous. I can't believe that I am saying this but the movie is better.


5.) The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

Every January I am drawn to books about the Danish concept of hygge. I need something to keep the winter from being so dreary. I already do 99.9% of the things that this books suggests so nothing new here. But there is something inherently cozy about reading a book about how to be cozy.

From Goodreads:

Who better than Meik Wiking to be your guide to all things hygge? Meik is CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen and has spent years studying the magic of Danish life. In this beautiful, inspiring book he will help you be more hygge: from picking the right lighting and planning a dinner party through to creating an emergency hygge kit and even how to dress.  He is committed to finding out what makes people happy and has concluded that hygge is the magic ingredient that makes Danes the happiest nation in the world.

My Rating: Okay. A quickly read book of essays.



6.) The Orphan Keeper by Camron Wright

This was our book club selection for February. I actually already had this book on our bookshelf because my mother-in-law gave Tyler it as a gift. He grew up with Taj and had absolutely no idea about Taj's incredible and heart-breaking past.

From Goodreads:

Based on a remarkable true story.
Seven-year-old Chellamuthu’s life is forever changed when he is kidnapped from his village in India, sold to a Christian orphanage, and then adopted by an unsuspecting couple in the United States. It takes months before the boy can speak enough English to tell his parents that he already has a family back in India. Horrified, they try their best to track down his Indian family, but all avenues lead to dead ends. 
From the best-selling author of The Rent Collector, this is a deeply moving and gripping journey of discovering one’s self and the unbreakable family bonds that connect us forever.

What a story! This book breaks your heart...for Taj, his parents, his adoptive parents, and the poor children in India. The circumstances that occurred are so unbelievable. My emotions were all over the place. Reading about the abduction of poor Indian children, sold to orphanages, and put up for adoption to unsuspecting families was horrifying.

Taj's story is compelling and captivating. I couldn't put it down as I followed along with his quest to find his past. His journey of self-discovery, identity, and finding his place in the world was fascinating. Miracle upon miracle. You could definitely see the hand of God working in his life.

While the story of Taj's life was amazing...there were parts of this book that were not. First, I disliked that this is a "novel" based on a true story. Why? I think this book would have been a wonderful memoir or even biography. So many unnecessary details were changed. Why change the city when you are including the actual name of the school? Why say Taj studied abroad in England rather than that he served an LDS mission there. That kind of thing bothered me and there were several instances of it. What did it add to the story? Second, I felt like the middle section of his life that was skipped over left me with a lot of questions. I felt like I knew young Chellumuthu but the jump from being an 8 or 9 year old boy to being an 18 or 19 year old young man left many plot points hanging and unknown. It was disjointed. I was left not really understanding the older Taj and his feelings and motives. Finally, the writing style was at times cringe-worthy. The book could have used a little more editing and tightening up in my opinion. Despite all of that, the story was so beautiful and inspiring that I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

My Rating: Good. It is a beautiful story of miracles, forgiveness, and a long journey home. Our book club really liked it.


7.) Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

I love this book!! This is the best book that I have read so far this year. I heard about it on several book podcasts and thought it sounded interesting and quirky. It was and so much more. Eleanor was a character to root for! I love her.

From Goodreads:

Meet Eleanor Oliphant: She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. All this means that Eleanor has become a creature of habit (to say the least) and a bit of a loner. 

But everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living. And it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.

This book absolutely hit the mark for me. It was the perfect combination of funny, sad, touching, quirky, and absolutely charming. This novel is well written and fantastically character driven. I love that in a book. I want to cheer and root for the protagonist and I did! This is an incredible debut novel! I look forward to reading more of Gail Honeyman's work. The book is a great story of how we impact each other's lives. It is a touching novel with plenty of heart, humor, darkness, and even an interesting twist.

My Rating: HIGHLY RECOMMEND! I loved it!!


8.) Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

I am a fan of Rachel Hollis. I like what she stands for, her outlook on life, her hustle, and her authenticity. I have been following her on social media for about two years now. She is motivating, uplifting, and encouraging. I did her Last 90 Days Challenge and it really helped me to finish out 2017 on a high note despite going through a really scary health crisis in my family and I ended up accomplishing many of the goals that I set that year. This is her first nonfiction book. It is part memoir and part self-help. I couldn't wait to read it.

From Goodreads:

With wry wit and hard-earned wisdom, popular online personality and founder of TheChicSite.com founder Rachel Hollis helps readers break free from the lies keeping them from the joy-filled and exuberant life they are meant to have.

This book is about the lies that we (and the world) tell ourselves. In particular the 20 lies that Rachel (I feel like I know her--ha ha) told herself, how they held her back, and then how she overcame those lies and negative self-talk. It was honest and raw and I respected that. I believe 100% that we connect with others through vulnerability.

"Recognizing the lies we've come to accept about ourselves is the key to growing into a better version of ourselves.❞  ~Rachel Hollis

I am all about personal growth in this season of life. I love learning and growing and becoming self-aware. In this book Rachel Hollis tackles issues like self-worth, body image, expectations, marriage, parenting, complicated family relationships, childhood trauma, careers, goals, hopes, and dreams. She is direct and frank and doesn't sugar coat things. Change is hard...it takes WORK. There is no way around it. She teaches women to not make excuses and to not listen to the lies they are being told or are telling themselves. She encourages and motivates you to take action to make your dreams come true. If you want something...go get it! Show up for your life. Let your dreams be bigger than your fears.

Through her online website and various social media platforms Rachel Hollis does an amazing job of motivating women to become the best versions of themselves while doing it with a mixture of humor and vulnerability which makes her so likable and relatable.

My Rating: Highly Recommend. Especially meaningful if you follow Rachel on social media and if you don't follow her...you should.