The Strange Tale of Ben Beesley, Part Two

   In 2008, Matt McNeil had a job in London with the U.S. Foreign Service Department, a fantastic wife named Shannon, and two beautiful kids.

                                       Oliver, Shannon, Waverly, and Matt McNeil in 2008

    Both of Matt's children were hearing impaired, but soon it became apparent that something else was amiss. His daughter, Waverly, was experiencing some difficulties at preschool. They made an appointment with a doctor and spent the next few months trying to get to the bottom of Waverly's medical issues.

    Unfortunately, the bottom was a canyon- deep and wide. Matt's wife, Shannon, describes receiving Waverly's diagnosis :

    "That meeting is a bit of a blur. I remember them telling me she had MPS III. They began to explain what that meant and I interrupted. I wanted to know if she was going to die. He told me that yes, children with Sanfilippo die tragically young. I then asked what treatments were available. He told me there was nothing we could do."


    Waverly was missing a crucial enzyme needed to break down natural sugars already found in the body, a condition called Sanfilippo or MPS III .The sugar waste built up and began to accumulate in Waverly's cells, causing damage to her brain and body. As the doctor had already stated, there was nothing they could do.

    The bad new wasn't over. Sanfilippo or MPS III is genetic. Matt and Shannon's son, Oliver, was an adorable one year old with chubby cheeks and a big smile. He liked Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and cuddled with his mom. What about him? When Oliver was born, Shannon and Matt had no idea Sanfilippo even existed, let alone that they already had one child afflicted with the terrible condition.

    Oliver also tested positive for Sanfilippo.

    Here's the cruel thing about Sanfilippo or MPS III; babies start out normal, happy, and healthy. This isn't a condition detected at birth. Parents watch their children grow and thrive just like anyone else. But then their children start to deviate from the parenting books. They become restless and hyperactive. In the second stage of the disease, a snowball effect takes hold and parents begin to see a rapid regression in both verbal and physical capabilities. It begins with small things, like toilet training, and progresses to the complete loss of basic functions like chewing, swallowing, and walking. In the final stage of Sanfilippo, the child eventually succumbs to infection they cannot fight.

    Watching your child slowly lose the battle once must be devastating. Having to watch the same thing happen to your other child, knowing in advance that this is the year his little body is going to start showing concrete signs of breaking down, is absolutely unfathomable.

    Shannon writes, "We are not sure how much time we have with them. The life expectancy for children with Sanfilippo A varies. The doctors have told us between 10-18 years is typical. I am not convinced there is enough time for the current research to save Waverly and Oliver. However, I would  do anything to prevent another family from going through this heartache." 


    Instead of falling into the abyss, Matt wrote The Strange Tale of Ben Beesley. The premise was simple. He wanted to write a scenario in which his kids could win. Waverly and Oliver are featured in the book as the two main characters, who happen to be insects. Ramsey, the deadly spider, is the terrible genetic condition that Waverly and Oliver must defeat.
 
    Being diagnosed with Sanfilippo is a double edged sword. On one hand, there's not millions of children affected by it and that's something to be thankful for. On the other, YOUR child or children do have it and will most likely die unless a cure is found. Because it's not a popular condition, Sanfilippo doesn't get much research funding, leaving parents to the task of finding ways to raise the money themselves.

    When I think about the many things I spend my money on, how could I pass up actually contributing to something worthwhile?  All proceeds from The Strange Tale of Ben Beesley go directly toward supporting research programs that could help Waverly, Oliver, and other children who are also diagnosed with Sanfillippo.

    Matt and his family now live in Virginia. You can read more about Waverly and Oliver's story in Shannon's blog, Exploring Holland. Quotes for this post are in her introduction, with a more detailed account.

    You can purchase The Strange Tale of Ben Beesley by clicking on my link or visiting http://www.benbeesleybook.com/ . There are other links on his site worth checking out as well.

 


    




 





 






    

Book Review- The Strange Tale of Ben Beesley

    Are you looking for an enjoyable book or gift for a younger reader? In The Strange Tale of Ben Beesley, author Matt McNeil takes a magnifying glass to the magical world of insects. It's a perfect summer getaway for kids between the ages of 8 and 11.

    Readers are introduced to young Waverly and Oliver, two brave souls who rail against the merciless and malevolent rule of Ramsey, the flinty and ruthless self- appointed king of the garden. Unlike the glossy Walt Disney versions of bug life, McNeil doesn't sugar coat the barbaric ways in which species are capable of causing harm. Don't let that sway you, however, as most kids in his target reading range expect to be treated a little more grown up. In fact, this is part of the book's appeal. Remember Charlotte's Web?

    Revolutions usually begin with one small, rebellious act and Waverly and Oliver are no exception. Their rebellion begins with a little,white lie told to save the life of a fellow bug destined for the dreaded dung heap. From that moment forward, their lives are transformed. Though Waverly and Oliver first save the mysterious Ben Beesley, it becomes his mission to save them and the three bugs set out on a life or death journey into the very heart of their universe.

    Young readers can enjoy the exciting adventures of Waverly and Oliver, while parents can gain the satisfaction of knowing their children are reading a book that is both age appropriate and has recall questions at the end of every chapter. This would also make a great Teacher's gift in the classroom for both quiet or read aloud time. The book has 22 chapters and is 216 pages in length.

    You can purchase the book via Matt's website http://www.benbeesleybook.com/.
 
 

Book Review- The Book Thief

        The Book Thief by Markus Zusack, tells the fictional story of a young German girl named Leisel Meminger set in Nazi Germany. We've read accounts from this particular time, both fictional and non, from every point of view. Using Death as a narrator, The Book Thief goes off the beaten path to tell the story from an original and compelling perspective.

    Zusack's unique storytelling technique doesn't end with his unorthodox choice of narrator. The entire plot of The Book Thief is centered on a trove of diverse threads, all coming together to tell the story of how everyday, blue collar families in Germany dealt with what was happening in their country and how Leisel and her foster parents unexpectedly came to harbor the most dangerous type of contraband you could possibly possess in 1942; a Jew.

    The novel explores relationships, the written word, and what makes a family. Themes of bravery and courage are interspersed with quiet moments of compassion. Characters are colorful, to say the least. It's hard to read a novel about Nazi Germany without being emotionally consumed by the usual accompanying somber and sober mood. The Book Thief finds a rare balance of respect for the topic at hand and the understanding that we often don't recognize the full impact of daily decisions until they are well behind us.
 
    The Book Thief stands apart from the pack and,for once, is a book that deserves every award. The vast majority of the human population isn't Jewish or even German, but The Book Thief tells a story that could happen in any country (and often does) to any population.

    For young readers, I equate this novel to The Giver, by Lois Lowry, although the former is much more subtle. If you are a seasonal reader, this would make a great fall book club pick, best consumed curled up on the couch with a nice cup of tea.



 

Book Review-Mrs. Kennedy and Me

    Like many Americans, I have a mild interest in the Kennedy family. With the popularity of Mad Men and the renewed interest in the 1950's and 60's era, Mrs. Kennedy and Me is a well-timed release for summer reading.

    Clint Hill, the Secret Service agent assigned to Mrs. Kennedy during her stay in the White House, gives his recollections and personal observations while in her service. It was fascinating to read about the actual logistics of the Secret Service at a time without cell phones and high speed connections.

   The book also offers a brief glimpse at the upper echelons of American society. We learn a bit about Mrs. Kennedy's childhood and the opportunities she had. Mr. Hill goes into detail when describing her various trips abroad. He categorizes the book in chronological order, which is helpful in understanding the culmination of her years as First Lady.

     We read about the fantastic crowds that would form whenever the First Lady would arrive. She received lavish gifts and even animals from foreign dignitaries. Though Mrs. Kennedy didn't spend vast amounts of time in Washington, her motto seemed to be "Quality, not quantity". She hit the mark when throwing a dinner or arranging a party and always showed up in a stunning dress. The press and the people couldn't get enough of her.

    The last year of the Kennedy presidency was rife with tragedy. Mr. Hill doesn't leave out the death of baby Patrick. He treats the scene with dignity and honesty. Nor does he insert himself unduly into the situation. It's apparent he's not a professional writer but just a guy who was just doing his job.

    The last quarter of the book takes us up through the terrible assassination of the President. As Mrs. Kennedy was with him at the time, Clint Hill was there,too. He spends a lot of time describing the preparations of that fateful Dallas trip, the procession of the motorcade, and the awful events that unfolded; always with a careful eye toward Mrs. Kennedy.

    Clint Hill stayed with Mrs. Kennedy for another year following her husband's assassination. He kindly helped aid her in the transition back to civilian life, though we all know there's no going back to normalcy. Again, the book is filled with many interesting insights into that particular time that only Mr. Hill could really provide.

    I usually don't read books that I feel are terribly intrusive. I was hesitant to pick this one up but I was relieved to find out Mr. Hill didn't seem to have any hidden agendas. I got the feeling that this book was cathartic for him to write and his feelings for the Kennedys were genuine and of a very positive nature. As I stated before, he's not a professional writer so there are times when the flow isn't quite right. It's easy to forgive, though, in light of the topics covered.

Book Review- Fifty Shades of Grey

                                                                   


  I was slogging through my usual news feeds a few months ago when Fifty Shades of Grey blew up the Blogosphere. It was the "must read" book of the month. Controversial, sexy, and the term MommyPorn was being thrown into the mix. I immediately downloaded it to my Iphone and began reading. I didn't even preview it first.

    The story felt familiar by chapter two. I did a little researching and sure enough, I'd read that same story a few years back.  The original work was titled,"Master of the Universe" and was written as a FanFic piece back in the heyday of Twilight mania. There were some really fantastic stories that came from that period, but I wouldn't have ever classified this as being one of them.

     Fifty Shades of Grey is nothing more than a mediocre attempt at re-writing Stephanie Meyer's Twilight as "Edward with a Riding Crop". It has all the same plot holes and character flaws. Anastasia Steele is the  mostly vapid, empty- headed lead character who can't decide if she wants to be a chew toy for the sexually sadistic Christian Grey. It takes her an entire book to decide that entering into a contractual relationship with a guy who can't get off without torturing his women first is a bad idea. Anastasia then resolves to turn her little sadomasochistic hook up into a real relationship; the dreaded fixer-upper. That's book two. Book three ends with Christian and Anastasia overcoming a dangerous situation and learning how to love without nipple clamps.

   Fifty Shades is explicit and probably alluring to someone who's never read anything in that genre before. I give E.L. James credit for breaking a few taboos and playing her part in introducing women to erotic fiction. But for all you Fifty fans, do yourselves a favor and read something well-written. Something with a decent plot and real imagery. And let's not forget variety! Pick up a copy of Anne Rice's,The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty. Her set comes as a trilogy,too, and I guarantee it's better written than Fifty Shades of Grey.

    However, if you're really just looking for some extra motivation in the bedroom, there are many FREE fanfic stories that are enjoyable and feature your favorite characters while filling in the blanks that Stephenie Meyer didn't bother with. In many of these, the characters have been written with a more defining pen. Here's my Top Ten List of best erotic or romantic Twilight Fanfic:

1. The Submissive- If Fifty Shades is your thing, read this. Then read the next two. All Human.
2. The Office- (by TBY7890) My personal favorite.You'll need permission to open this link, but it's totally worth your time. It seems harder to get a copy of this, so I included the author code for your search if my link doesn't work.). All Human
3. Wide Awake- If you like angsty, I got your angsty. All Human.
4 .Edward Wallbanger- Hot with humor! All Human.
5. Creature of Habit- Twilight for adults, but really more on the romance side. Vampire Edward.
6. The University of Edward Masen- Edward is a college professor. Need I say more? All Human.
7. La Petite Mort- My friend reminded me of this super hot, one shot. Best Quickie. Vampire Edward.
8. A Rough Start- Heartstrings and violins. Edward is a single father. All Human.
9. Breakfast at Tiffany's- Best Romance Award. All Human.
10. Alphabet Weekends- If erotic fiction makes you giggle uncomfortably, Alphabet Weekends is a nice introduction. It doesn't take itself too seriously. All Human.

 

Book Review- The Red Queen

    The Red Queen, written by Philippa Gregory, is the second book in what is referred to as "The Cousin's War" trilogy. This novel chronicles the life of Lady Margaret Beaufort, who is head of the House of Lancaster, one of two royal Houses vying for the English throne during the turbulent War of the Roses.

    Gregory begins the book during the early years of Lady Margaret's life, where we learn of her devotion to the young heroine, Joan of Arc. While Beaufort feels that she is destined for a holy life, those in authority insist her destiny lies in carrying the next heir in the Lancaster line. The remainder of her life subsists of weaving together carefully constructed threads in the treacherous and often fatal fight to the throne.

    I enjoyed this book. It's fraught with a multitude of names and dates, but don't let that scare you. Once you become enthralled with the story, names begin to stick and dates move along. Gregory manages to bring the past alive in all her books, paying special attention to cultural detail and setting.  Scheming and survival were certainly intertwined in the politics of the 15th century, and the story of Lady Margaret Beaufort is no exception.

Mommy Wars

        Before I ever opened this magazine, I'll admit that I really resented the inflammatory headline.

     Are You Mom Enough? This is exactly what mothers say to each other all the time when discussing feeding choices, while merrily strolling through the park. We feel the need to justify our choices, conditioned to be defensive by those condescending Breast is Best commercials. While breast milk is best for baby,  we've conflated that to mean that the breastfeeding mother is the superior parent. In reality, there's a multitude of reasons why a woman may not breast feed. Maybe her workplace doesn't support it. Maybe her breasts are rebellious and won't do their job. Maybe her kid never detaches (My Aidan) and she can't be a 24/7 diner because she has other kids at home. Maybe she just didn't want to. Who knows?

    What we should be doing, Ladies, is telling the rest of the universe to Fuck Off and support each other. I didn't find breastfeeding to be a magical experience, but I find it horribly offensive on your behalf that others won't allow you to do it in public. Or post a picture of it on Facebook.

     There are so many choices to make and judgement begins well before baby comes home, beginning with a woman's age, marital status, and income. Women who don't get testing done are viewed as incompetent and those who do get it done must only want to abort if problems arise.  Homebirthers are just asking for problems being away from a hospital. However, delivery rooms do not offer the same superior environment of the Superbirther who champions her way through the miracle of childbirth without so much as an Advil.

     The list is endless but the bottom line is that in today's society, choices have become a competition; a chess move in the war to win. Why have we declared war on ourselves when it's possible for everyone to be a winner?

    Women have spent the last 100 years trying to accrue the options we currently have.Think about it. Simply by having choices now, we've won the war. If bickering mommies were to shift focus to bettering public education, we could do amazing things for our children. Even those mommies who prefer homeschool would benefit. We could collectively improve Women's Healthcare. Or shift the war to stop bullying in our neighborhoods, the crime levels of young adults, or suicide prevention. The controversial topics will still be there for us to bicker about, but if we keep our eyes on the prize, we can change several negatives about the systems our children will eventually age in to.

    A woman's superpower is (among others) the ability to open her heart. Love can be shown in a million different ways and it really does impact the world. But first, we have to start with each other.


    Despite the sensationalist headline, I'm glad I opened this article. It solidified my feelings that we've gone too far in the Mommy Wars. The headline alone made me think about my past feelings and re-examine the need to justify my choices. At the very least, I feel compelled to vocally support your choice and encourage Mommies everywhere to do the same. It's time to move on!

The Hunger Games

    Unless you've been living under a rock, the odds are pretty favorable that you've heard about The Hunger Games movie. Hopefully, you've either read the book or are planning to in the near future. This review contains *SPOILERS* so read at your own risk.


    One of the defining aspects to any movie based on a book is how well the scripts adheres to the original plot.  In order to save time, much of the back story is depicted with visual cues. We see the poverty of District 12 in the form of clothing, bare feet, and scenery.  Viewers get the sense that the relationship between Katniss and Gale is a comfortable one, with both characters acting as head of household. Katniss is given the Mockingjay pin by Greasy Sae in The Hob, rather than the governor's daughter, thus eliminating her character totally in the movie. However, Greasy Sae, the pin, and The Hob were all referenced in a very compact twenty minute span, giving the rest of the movie ample opportunity to continue the story line. It was an excellent indication that the movie was going to hit all the high points well.


    The depiction of the yearly Reaping was much more emotional than I anticipated. Viewers are subjected to watching poor, yet proud families of District 12 scrub the dirt from their children's faces and feet. You watch mothers button threadbare shirts with trembling hands and young children feverishly polishing shoes until they shine. Whispers of courage and bravery interspersed with glances full of worry and dread filled the screen. I sat with my hands clenched, knowing what was to come. Even those who hadn't read the book still seemed to understand that these kids weren't headed to a barn dance.


    The selection process really brought home the very definition of a dystopian society. The Wikipedia entry for dystopia reads as follows:

    "A dystopia is the idea of a society in a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian... Dystopian societies feature different kinds of repressive social control systems, various forms of active and passive coercion. Ideas and works about dystopian societies often explore the concept of humans abusing technology and humans individually and collectively coping, or not being able to properly cope with technology that has progressed far more rapidly than humanity's spiritual evolution. Dystopian societies are often imagined as police states, with unlimited power over the citizens."


    Representatives from the Capitol arrive with their festive and colorful costumes, even as armed guards surround the public square. They come with excited greetings, play the required film that plays with the minds of adults yet attempts to indoctrinate children that this Reaping is for their benefit. It is an honor to be chosen. It is an honor to be sacrificed. Death in The Hunger Games means glory for all. The scene culminates with Effie Trinket's memorable,"May the Odds be ever in your favor!" 


    Pacing is quick in this movie. There's always a feeling of desperation nipping at it's heels. As Katniss is whisked away to the Capitol, the audience begins to see the more obvious disparity between it and the rest of the districts. One of the key elements of the book is the outrageous costumes and culture of the Capitol. I was really curious to see how this aspect would play out on the big screen.


    Creators were wise in their choice to make the Capitol and it's inhabitants eccentric and outlandish, yet believable. The correlation between The Hunger Games and reality TV hosted by an exceptionally charming game show host was well made. Cinna's understated glamour came through with the application gold eye-liner. One of the interesting things about Dystopian writing is riding the edge beteen fantasy and what could be reality in a few short steps.


    This is what creators did best with The Hunger Games movie. They hit the high points but you could see how easy it would be for our own culture to meld into that of the Capitol. However, it's not a morality play. Just like Suzanne Collins, the studio took the story and laid it out for the world to see. People can take away their own opinions and insights, but the hamanity (or lack thereof) speaks for itself.


    I was hesitant about the casting, initially, but the actors involved made the roles their own and should be commended for it. Woody Harrelson wasn't my ideal Haymitch but I came to respect the way he chose to play the role and appreciated the art he brought to the screen. Jennifer Lawrence was excellent in her depiction of a very capable, yet unworldy young woman. 


    I'm excited to see the next movie. I hope the series continues to improve. Lots of young girls look up to the character of Katniss and I'm far more happy about that prospect than I ever was about Twilight's Bella. We have a capable heroine in The Hunger Games, who knows her own mind and doesn't dither about waiting to become someone else. As the mother of two young teenage girls, I can't ask for much more than that!

Book Review- The Imperfectionists

    The Imperfectionists, by author Tom Rachman is a New York Times best seller. The book features eleven chapters from the viewpoints of eleven different characters, all contributing to one major story arch. It reads like a short story and takes the reader a chapter or two to figure out exactly what all these characters have in common.

    The story revolves around a newspaper in Rome. The correspondents are largely American, all having found their way to the paper in one form or another. There's a lot of cubicle mentality happening in the book, so if you're a fan of shows like The Office, this might appeal to you. It's written in the third person point of view, with narration happening between every chapter, stingily giving up details as to how we got to the present.

    They say to never judge a book by it's cover, but I'll admit to being intrigued. Words like "Spectacular", "Magnificent", and "Beguiling" appear next to the publications giving this novel such high reviews. It has the New York Times sticker of approval on the lower right hand corner and a smaller Random House Reader's Circle on the upper right. By all accounts, this should be a great book.

    We begin with a character named Lloyd Burko, an aging and defunct Paris correspondent, who's on his way out. His money has gone the way of his charm, fleeting and currently in the back pocket of much younger lover, whom he allows to get sexual satisfaction from another in light of his now diminished libido.

    The next notable story line features Arthur Gopal. He's probably the most likable character in the book and naturally, the one highlights of reading the novel. If Rachman had stuck to writing the story from Arthur's point of view, I probably would have had a more enjoyable reading experience.

    There are nine more chapters in this book and only two of them are really worth reading. It really felt like the author had a bunch of short stories and slapped them together to make a book. I don't know if the book got so many rave reviews because the publications giving them were all newspapers or if I'm missing something. It felt like one of those dour first novels that writers create because they want to be taken seriously. Avant- Garde or something. There wasn't much depth to the book nor was it one of those light and simply entertaining books that we all indulge in from time to time. The writing wasn't bad but it lacked substance. I didn't learn anything from this book, nor was I entertained in any way. It didn't transport me to anyplace I wanted to be. It was absolutely dreary.

    Unfortunately, I bought this book. I thought I would give it away like I did with Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. I can't hardly give a badly reviewed book out so I'll probably donate it to the library. If you'd like to read it, I suggest you get it there.

Books Made Into Movies- One for the Money

    Last night I watched One for the Money, starring Katherine Heigl. The movie is based on the series of books by author, Janet Evanovich.  If you've never read One for the Money, please close this post and go to your local library.

    There are millions of mystery novels but the reason why Evanvich is so successful is her style of using irreverence and humor, while threading together a love triangle that is pieced tantalizingly slow throughout the series of (currently published) eighteen books. Stephanie Plum is a lovable, crazy, down to earth sort of character that women can relate to and the public can root for. Evanovich writes the love interests for Plum's character with a dash of Prince Charming, a pinch of Rascal, and heaping tablespoons of Handsome. You just can't help but to cheer for the Jersey Girl during every novel.

    The first thing that struck me about this movie was that it.wasn't.funny. I counted the number of times people laughed in the theater. Not one guffaw until we were halfway through. Total laugh count=5 and only twice was it really funny. This is the hallmark of the series! The major part of the book's success was humor and the script writer totally missed it. Devastating.

    When I saw Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum, I'll admit to already being skeptical about casting. Stephanie Plum wears spandex and scrunchies. She has this traditional Jersey Girl look, maybe slightly downplayed but she's definitely not hip. Plum's pretty in that every girl sort of way but with an inherited amount of Jersey flash. In the movie, we see no spandex or anything resembling Jersey. Heigl got the brown curly hair right but she looks a bit like she just stepped out of a Tomb Raider game. Wardrobe just took it down a notch by using banana clip and jeans. Heigl's acting isn't bad but the writers didn't give her any of Stephanie Plum's trademark bitchiness or straight on humor.

    Morelli was a bad casting choice, too. He looked too old for the part. Jason O'Mara isn't unattractive by any means but he and Heigl just didn't match up well. He has that rugged look of a 40 year old and she's got that bum college look going on. It all looks a little jail-baitey to me, when you consider that she sold him her cannoli in high school. This could have been overlooked, though, had the writing been better.

    Ranger was decently cast, but not enough attention was paid to him. Grandma wasn't nearly as kooky and fun as I remembered her being in the books and the major scene involving her and Stephanie's gun just didn't play out as well on the Big Screen as I felt it should. Again, the writing sucked. The character of Lulu was really the only shining casting choice.

    The books are funny but One for the Money also has a dark side. They had potential in this movie to display a well rounded story line. Instead, we were shorted. The major scene with Lulu was written off in about two seconds. Ramirez was scary in only one scene and we were left confused as to why he was such a threat. The ending of the movie just appeared. There wasn't this major build up of detail, no big climactic scene. It just kind of happened to you which is the worst kind of ending.

    If another Stephanie Plum movie is made, I'll probably go see it. If the writing is improved, the casting deviations become minor. However, you have to maintain the spirit and style that the book was written in order to make a successful movie based on the book. If I had watched this movie before reading the book, I never would have been tempted to pick it up. As a matter of fact, I probably wouldn't have bothered reading any of the books, which is a real shame and discredit to a wonderfully talented author.

    In short, if you'd like to see another Stephanie Plum movie then you should purchase a ticket. That's literally the only reason I can find to bother yourself to get to the theater. Otherwise, stick to the books. Your imagination will tell a better story.

Friday Give-Away!

This week's book, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet goes to cupsbykim! Thanks to all that entered and I hope you enjoy the read, Kim!

Book Review- Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

  More than just a metaphor, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet takes us on a paper faded journey filled with the subtle sights and sounds of a time long gone.

    It's a love story, a coming of age story, and a historical narrative all wrapped into one. It's also a curious look backward in time, where we meet a young Henry Lee and watch how both small and major events help shape him into the man we come to love by the end of the book.

    The book begins shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor with a young Henry as the only Chinese student at a local school in Seattle. His strict immigrant parents have chosen to send him there, as opposed to the traditional Chinese school, in hopes that Henry might be viewed and accepted as more American. Like many children born to immigrant families, he is still expected to obey the laws and influence of his Chinese heritage. Henry carefully manages to keep a foot in both worlds until he meets Keiko Okabe, a Japanese girl who like him, works in the kitchen as part of her "scholarshipping" agreement.

     As the relationship between Henry and Keiko deepens, so does the anti-Japanese sentiment in Seattle. Homes are ransacked and shops destroyed. Eventually all Japanese , including Keiko, are rounded up and shipped off to interment camps.

     The drama that unfolds for both Henry and Keiko is captivating. Author Jamie Ford manages to insert beauty and humanity into his characters, which are believable and flawed. The plot is woven with care and devoid of the dreaded holes that plague many books.  Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet ended the way it began; full of promise and a tinge of sadness that the story eventually had to come to an end.

Ikea

    There's something about an Ikea catalogue that makes me want to throw thousands of dollars away on a tiny Swedish apartment, toboggan hats, massive amounts of Gevalia, and very cool bicycles.

    The Ikea book is the girl version of Popular Mechanics. Whereas most men really get excited about articles like "How to Fix those Pesky Wobbly Chairs" and pondering such thought provoking scenarios such as " What if a Cruise Ship Wrecked in Alaska?", most of us girls are truly inspired by home organization remedies. There's something very stimulating about seeing a 3,000 square foot home squashed into exactly 750 feet of cool, refreshing, Swedish undertones all for the low,low price of $129.00.

    It's environmentally friendly,too!

    So we lure you utterly capable men to the Swedish Wal-Mart, sticky-noted catalogue in our grubby little hands, with the promise of inexpensive, yet authentic! meatballs and razor sharp cooking knives.Did we mention that woks are also on sale for $6.99? We know how You love to secretly pretend to be the Iron Chef. We somewhat regretfully gloss over the it's going to take your entire weekend "some assembly required" part. You get suspicious when you see that both of our painstakingly selected floor to ceiling bookshelves and two matching couches all come in extremely flat boxes. We appeal to your masculine nature (the part of you that refuses to ask for directions) and assure you that this is not a Big Deal. You endure this ritual once a year or so, even after you discover our treachery regarding that pesky assembly business.

    We keep this yearly Ikea indulgence close to our hearts because You don't do the whole flowers for the Anniversary thing. Watching Your forearm flex as you wrestle with the Ikea Assembly Project is terribly romantic,too. We have thankfully moved past the relationship phase where anything that requires two people putting something together makes them want to kill each other. Most of the time, anyway. Drywall is still on our Never Attempt Again if we want to stay together list,though. I think it's good that we have a list and know our limits, even if it means that our basement will never be finished.

    Really, it's okay.

    Our local Ikea is over two hours away. Thank goodness, because if it were any closer, our entire home would be filled with shiny, metallic magnetic strips and those cute little containers. Knives, spices, and those unruly paperclips would never be an organizational issue again. We could have bookshelves anywhere! On the ceiling,even. I'm absolutely positive I could make our saltbox colonial go from this:

(no, that's not my house but it's close)..to this swanky, upscale Swedish home in no time!

    I know I'm idealizing the Swedish Experience. I can't even ski. I don't like cold weather and am planning a move to California before I die on this gray frozen tundra that is usually an Ohio spring,fall, winter. I have no resemblance to the beautiful Swedish women who inhabit that territory but I clearly have that Elin Nordegren  reaction to cheating. Sadly, a penchant for golf club weaponry and shiny bicycles are not enough to warrant a move to Sweden.

   They say that imitation in the best form of flattery. If I can't have Sweden, I'd best keep up with my Ikea habit.

Book Review- This Beautiful Life

     This Beautiful Life by Helen Schulman tackles the controversial subject of teenage sexuality and the unintended consequences of life with the Internet. A true Molotov cocktail, this book is sure to get the conversation started at your local book club.

    The book begins with an uncomfortable scene involving thirteen year old Daisy Cavanaugh filming a sexually explicit video for sixteen year old Jake Bergamot. It involves nudity, a bat, and a whole lot of chutzpah that I certainly didn't possess at such a tender age. Daisy hits "send" and Jake pushes "forward", each of them making the same mistake in thinking the video will go no further than the one person they each sent it to. While not a tale as old as time, it's certainly one that's become more common in the face of advancing technology.  No more are salacious details contained to some graffiti sprayed walls of a public bathroom. It's immediate and it's everywhere. 

    This Beautiful Life doesn't make you choose between Jake or Daisy's perceptions in the story. It's a narrative that explores the feelings and decisions that the Bergamot family makes when confronted by the school and Daisy's parents over the video. Jake's parents, Liz and Richard Bergamot, have just moved from idyllic Ithaca to the privileged and affluent Upper West Side of Manhattan. We see Liz struggle to keep up with the demands of motherhood and the expectations that go along with posh parenting. Richard is a typical workaholic, delighting in his ability to provide this newer, more lavish lifestyle. We watch as Jake assimilates into an opulent culture of unbridled freedom, alcohol, drugs, and a private school that has Paris Hilton like connotations.

    Readers are left with a sense of deep sadness for both of these kids, who are judged by society and friends. What Shulman portrays so well is the short sightedness that young people all have and their inability to comprehend a world where privacy meant something else, altogether. 

Books Made Into Movies

Over the course of time, many books have made it to the Big Screen. Some have been amazing and others have been dismal failures.

It's difficult to squash all the intricacies of a 300+ page book into a two hour movie. I'm never envious of the poor soul who has to capture all of that in a script. You can't please everyone and rarely is the movie ever as good as the book.

 Let's take a look at two of my favorite and recent successes:

1. Lord Of The Rings Trilogy- Peter Jackson did the impossible. He took a bazillion page Science Fiction Masterpiece and made it into a brilliant work of art. The characters were memorable, the story line was kept very true to the books, and Jackson fought the battle of traditional movie length...and won. This was the first movie I ever went to a midnight showing for and didn't regret staying up. I was mesmerized by the cinematography. I think Jackson broke through a lot of new territory in making this movie (the same can be said of James Cameron's Titanic) This is a guy who didn't sell out and thank goodness he didn't. If you mess up LOTR, the multitude of Tolkien fans will never forget or forgive you.

2. Harry Potter- If you've never taken the time to read a Harry Potter book, please climb out from under whatever rock you've been under and give it a go. J.K.Rowling is probably the most prolific and creative writer of current time. Her contribution to literature will live forever and that's something most writers never get to say. She's the female equivalent to Tolkien and, like him, her writing is universally appealing to all genders and ages. The Harry Potter movies were visually spectacular. It's unbelievably difficult to capture the essence of a House Elf or Hippogriff, but somehow they managed to do it in these movies. This entire, original, and magical world was played out and perfectly paced through 8 movies.

Here are two of  my more disappointing movie experiences:

1. The Time Traveler's Wife was a major reading experience for me. I was surprised by how emotional I was after reading this book. For a week, I wandered aimlessly around. I looked for fanfic, I dreamed about it. I didn't want the story to end. I was captivated by the complex relationship between Clare and Henry.

When the movie came out, I was excited. There were definitely bonus points for staring Eric Bana, who was shirtless many times in The Other Boleyn Girl. Rachel McAdams was fine with  me,too. When the big day came, I hopped over to the movie theater with some friends and ordered a Big Blue Alcoholic Drink, got out my tissue stash, and prepared to be swept off my feet and for poor Henry to tragically lose his own.

At first I thought,"What's in this drink?" because nothing was making sense. Major plot lines were missing and so were characters. Most importantly, they f'ed up the end! I took out my tissues and grieved over the butchering of a great book.

This movie was almost as bad as Niffeneger's follow up book, Her Fearful Symmetry.

 This might be offensive to some of you.

I wasn't a super fan of Breaking Dawn. I felt like Stephenie Meyer jumped the shark, fell into a Mormon Baptismal Pool, and tried to give everyone a happy ending while the rest of us just wanted someone to die. We wanted a big fang fight, a stake through Aro's heart, and Rose should have sacrificed herself for the kid leaving readers fighting the irresistible urge to bombard a brooding, grieving Emmett with cookies and casserole dishes.

Despite my misgivings, I was determined to see this thing through. All the previous Twilight movies had a great soundtrack so the first thing that struck me was the utter campy-ness of the music. It gave the whole thing a B-movie feel, right from the beginning.

I felt sorry for Kristen Stewart, who's character already lacked depth, and was reduced even more in the wailing, writhing CGI Zombie Birth Scene. Edward's character just seemed inept. I kept expecting him to scurry off to a corner somewhere and numbly nibble at his steel fingernails with his diamond vampire teeth.

The one shining moment in this fiasco was the character of Charlie, Bella's father. He always adds those moments of comic relief. The relationship between Jacob and Rose was fun to watch and the wedding night scene wasn't terrible. You know, because having your partner break the headboard and leaving you black and blue whilst claiming your virginity is such an amazing experience. "Don't worry, Edward. I'm totally into the whole S&M thing! Let's do it again!" 


Sadly, I have one more movie to sit through before I can officially put a fork in my Twilight movie experience.

What's Your District?

On March 23, 2012, we will be catapulted into the world of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins. When I originally read this book, I immediately wanted to see a visual representation of it in movie form. The pacing is fabulous and really represents a shift in literature that we've been seeing since the tremendous success of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. A tremendous amount of detail has been paid to the setting in these books and Collins really allows you to mentally visualize what's happening to Everdeen and the other characters in this book.

The Hunger Games leaves you a little breathless, waiting to see if Everdeen survives her ordeal as one of the 24  teenagers selected in a yearly life or death battle against the odds, environment, and other contestants. It's cruel, unusual, and leaves you with the uncomfortable feeling that our own society could easily spiral into the same divided and conquered country as Collins post-apocalyptic version, which she names "Panem".

The Hunger Games Trilogy is exciting and probably the best Young Adult novel I've read in years. I'll admit, I have high expectations for the movie. I can't wait to see Lenny Kravitz as Cinna. I think they really nailed that one. And while I was hoping for Hugh Laurie to play the crotchety Haymitch, I read an interview on Woody Harrelson's approach to playing the character and was impressed.  The special effects are going to be a very necessary component to the movie's success but the portrayal of human relationships in the face of such harsh and unforgiving circumstances will be the determining factor in whether or not we want to see more.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

50 Book Challenge

If I can manage to keep my Pinterest Addiction in check, one of my 2012 goals is to read fifty books. Here's a starter list:

1. The Watery Part Of The World, by Michael Parker
2. The Buddha In The Attic, by Julie Otsuka
3. Rules Of Civility, by Amor Towles
4.This Beautiful Life, by Helen Schulman
5.My Korean Deli: Risking It All For A Convenience Store, by Ben Ryder Howe
6. The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot
7. The House At Riverton, by Kate Morton
8.Notes from Nethers: Growing Up In A Sixties Commune, by Sandra Lee Eugster
9.The Wise Woman, by Philippa Gregory
10. The Biography of Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson
11. Hotel On The Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford
12.The Book Thief, by Marcus Zusak
13. The Marriage Plot, by Jeffrey Eugenides
14.State of Wonder, by Ann Patchett
15. Catherine The Great, by Robert K. Massie
16.The Leftovers, by Tom Perrotta
17. There But For The, by Ali Smith
18. Blue Nights, by Joan Didion
19. The Sense Of An Ending, by Julian Barnes
20. We The Animals, by Justin Torres
21. Blind Sight, by Meg Howrey
22. The Paris Wife, by Paula McLain
23.Before I go To Sleep, by S.J. Watson


I'll save the remainder of my list for new books coming out, book club selections, suggestions,    and casual library browsing.


What's on your reading list for 2012?