Fireflies in December

I love books that teach me something about humanity. This book is definitely one of these books. I really loved that Jennifer Erin Valent showed that during the period after the Civil War to the establishment of equal rights for all men, that there were good white people in the South who disagreed with the Jim Crow Laws and the KKK. I will admit to two things: one, I am not African-American and two, I can never understand the oppression and hardships that African-Americans face. That said, I also cannot be blamed for said oppression and hardships. Maybe it is that I live in the South, but just as all black people are not the same, neither are all white people. And this book demonstrates this perfectly.

Title: Fireflies in December

Author: Jennifer Erin Valent

Length: 352

Genre: Fiction, Historical

How long will it take to read: 4-5 days.

Fireflies in December takes place in Virginia in 1932. So not only is the nation dealing with racism and segregation, but it is also dealing with the Great Depression. Jessilyn Lassiter, who is the narrator, and her family own a farm and the Teague family work as farm hands. The Teagues have a daughter, Gemma, who is a close friend of Jessilyn. When Gemma's family is tragically killed, the Lassiters, a white family, take Gemma in as one of their own.

The Lassiters are immediately austercized. Jessie goes from a 13-year-old who is idealistic to a 13-year-old who realizes that the world is not all sunshine and roses. She is exposed to the horrific acts of the Klu Klux Klan and the disgusting ways that human beings can treat each other. But she also sees the beauty in others, Luke Talley, Mrs Cleta, and her parents. She learns that there are people out there who will sacrifice all to help others.

This is an excellent read.

Favorite Character: Mrs. Cleta. I love Mrs. Cleta because she has the gumption as an old woman to stand up to those people she disagrees with. I love when she takes Gemma and Jessie into a restaurant and raises a big stink because they won't serve Gemma. Awesome.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

Published by Tyndale House Publishers 2008

The Lost Hero

If you haven't seen or heard of Percy Jackson, let me take a minute to introduce you. Percy is the main character in the first series of books about Mount Olympus and the Greek gods. The series is called Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Fabulous books. You must read this series before moving on to the next series, The Heroes of Olympus. I first heard about these books from my then 10-year-old daughter. Yes, these are kids books but a lot of fun. Think Harry Potter meets mythology.

Title: The Heroes of Olympus Book One: The Lost Hero

Author: Rick Roirdan

Length: 576

Genre: Fiction, Mythology

How long will it take to read: 4-5 days. This is an easy but very fun book to read.

If you have read the Percy Jackson series, many of the characters that you love do continue to show up in this series. Chiron, Annabeth, and Thalia are not only mentioned, but are vital characters. As is Percy. But the new characters, and the characters that this series is set around, are Jason, Leo, and Piper. And yes, they are all demi-gods.

The story begins with Jason appearing on a school bus with no memories of who he is or where he came from. Piper and Leo are on the same school bus and convinced that they have known Jason for months, thanks to the Mist. After an attack, Jason, Piper, and Leo are rescued by Annabeth and taken to Camp Half-Blood where they learn of who they are and what they need to do. This all goes along with the prophesy that Rachel, the oracle, gave at the end of Book 5 in Percy Jackson. Which is why you need to read that series first. It explains a lot. The really intriguing part of this story is that Jason knows the gods by their Roman names and he speaks Latin, unlike the other half-bloods who speak ancient Greek.

Jason, Piper, and Leo are sent on a quest to free Hera. They experience many hardships and road blocks on the way. And the quest ultimately ends in a epic battle. Of course, right? I mean, it is mythology.

Rick Roirdan writes in such a way that you do not want to put the book down. He makes mythology, dare I say, FUN! It has been several years since I learned about Greek Mythology, but he writes it in a way that makes it easy to understand and remember. The only down side of this book-it is the first book in the series. The next one is due out in the fall. I really hate waiting which is why I got into the Hunger Games, Twilight, and Harry Potter towards the end of the series. Well, not so much Harry Potter, but the first four books were done so I could just keep reading at first.

If you find you love Percy Jackson and The Lost Hero, Mr. Roirdan also has a book out called The Red Pyramid. I have yet to read it, but it is on my list. I am sure it is just as wonderful as his other books. And he also has written adult book. These I haven't read either.

Favorite Character: Piper. I love her because she completely underestimates herself and her power over others until she realizes that it is a blessing.

Rating: 5 stars

Published by Hyperion Book CH 2010

Me Talk Pretty One Day

After hearing my French teacher rave about David Sedaris, I figured I would give him a chance. I like autobiographies that aren't completely serious. They type that make you feel like you are reading from a diary or log book. This one certainly didn't disappoint. I laughed out loud, a lot, to the point that my husband questioned, "what the heck are you reading?" If you want a good laugh that will make you examine your own life, this is it.

*Warning-if you are easily offended by crude speech, do not read this book. There is one chapter in particular that I skipped because the f-word was used way to often for my liking.*

Title: Me Talk Pretty One Day

Author: David Sedaris

Length: 272

Genre: Autobiography, Humor

How long will it take to read: One week.

Me Talk Pretty One Day is about the life of David Sedaris. From his exploits with his speech therapist to learning French, from his dad being a food hoarder to his fear of the computer, you will find yourself laughing your guts out. Here are to synopses of my favorite parts in the book.

Amy Sedaris is David's sister. He describes her as very attractive. Their dad has long taught his girls to watch their figures because he is old school and thinks a woman can only be happy if married. And the only way to get married is to be thin. Anyway, Amy and David fly to NC to see their dad and Amy spots only the bottom half of a fat suit. Hilarious! I could not stop laughing. Maybe it is the idea that a person loves to dress up so much that she wears a fat suit until her legs are all chaffed or that at a photo shoot she asks the make-up artist to make her look like someone beat the crap out of her, but this is someone I want to meet.

My second favorite part of the book is when David is describing his fear of the computer. He takes a typewriter on the airplane and his description of the ordeal it is a security is so funny. That and when the people in the next hotel room complain that he is making to much noise. Seriously, I laughed my guts out.

This is a great book to just sit back and laugh. Highly recommend it.

Favorite Character: Amy Sedaris. If you can wear half of a fat suit on an airplane to freak out your dad, you have to be one amazing person.

Rating: 4 stars

Published by Back Bay Books 2001

To Kindle or Not to Kindle

That is the question.

Obviously I love books otherwise I wouldn't blog solely about the joys, and sometime misses, of reading. But it isn't only the story I love. I love to feel the weight of the book. The smell of the pages can be intoxicating in both old books and new books. I love the feel of the spine. Hearing it crack and bend, especially in a new book. I love books. The actual book.

So, for my birthday this past December, my wonderful husband bought me a Kindle. Apparently he bought it a while before my birthday and he became really nervous about my Kindle purchases when he saw my stack of books from the library on my night stand. He wondered how long it would take to get through the 4 books, to which I responded, "a few weeks." So back to the Kindle, I opened it and became concerned that I wouldn't like it because of my love of the book. After reading my stack, I downloaded my first few books. They are mostly free classics, but a few newer books also. My first book was Jane Eyre. Let's just say, I LOVE my Kindle. It is easy to read in bed. It is easy to put in my purse and take everywhere with me. I can read it and hold my kids, such a novelty. I love that I never need a book mark. I simply love my Kindle. And I love my cover with the little pull out light. I can read all night and not bug my sweet husband.

So, if you ever considered a Kindle, or Nook, or any form of electronic book, go for it. You won't ever look back.

The Puzzle Lady vs The Sudoku Lady

I had such high hopes for this book. Why? Well, I love puzzles. Both Sudoku and crossword so I thought, hum, this should be entertaining. So that guess wasn't necessarily right, but it also wasn't wrong either.

Title: The Puzzle Lady vs The Sudoku Lady

Author: Parnell Hall

Length: 309

Genre: Fiction, Mystery

How long will it take to read: One week, tops.

The Puzzle lady is Cora, an older woman who is habitually getting married then divorced. She lives with her niece and her new husband. Her niece, Sherry, is actually the puzzle lady. Don't worry. I didn't ruin anything there. You find this out almost immediately. The puzzle lady make crossword puzzles. Cora is also known as being a great sloth. She helps the local police solve murders.

The story revolves around the Sudoku lady, Minami, coming to town to meet Cora because Cora's Sudoku books have out sold Minami's Sudoku books in Japan, her home. While there, a murder occurs. Minami also helps the police in Japan, so she challenges Cora to a duel. The duel is who can solve the murder mystery first. During the investigation, Cora unknowingly frames Minami who is arrested for not one, but two murders. I guess the excitement should be in how Cora clears Minami's name, and that part is actually quite funny, but that is about it.

There really isn't much to this book. I know, some of you out there say the same thing about the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer which is on my guilty pleasures list, but at least she can include suspense, romance, and some good old sexual tension. You will get none of that in this book. And it isn't even that funny.

Favorite Character: Is it fair to say no one? Okay, I guess I would pick Michiko because she has attitude and can't stand her aunt, Minami. One thing that we have in common.

Rating: 1 star. Only get this if your library has run out of all other books.

Published by Minotaur Books 2009

Jane Eyre

I must admit it, I have never been one to fall for a classic. Well, unless you count my love affair with Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, but I am saving that for another day. I have tried to love these "classics" but I really struggle. Emma just about killed me. Same story with Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Well, Charlotte Brontë has caught my eye. Jane Eyre is fabulous! My mom told me that I must read this one after we saw a preview for the upcoming movie.

Title: Jane Eyre

Author: Charlotte Brontë

Length: 352

Genre: Fiction, Classic

How long will it take to read: One week if you get absorbed like I did. It could take a little longer, or it might be a quicker read, especially if you know French.

I love a book where there are crazy people involved. And there is no shortage in this book. Which is also why I love Wuthering Heights. Something must be up with those sisters!

The story begins with Jane as a 10-year-old child who is an orphan and a benefactor of her aunt. The aunt, cousins, and, for the most part, servants, are all cruel and show little to no love for Jane. Jane is sent away to a boarding school. The boarding school not only educates Jane, but it also provides many references for the rest of her life. After finishing school, and teaching there for a few years, Jane decides to leave for a position as a governess. This is where things really pick up. Mrs. Fairfax hires Jane to teach Adele. Adele belongs to, or is the benefactor of Mr. Rochester. How I love Mr. Rochester. And you will to.

Life is life which means it changes. Because of some of these changes, Jane leaves Thornhill, Mr. Rochester's estate. She meets a family that takes her in only to discover more about herself.

You will stay riveted once you get involved with Mr. Rochester. He is not necessarily crazy, but everything around him seems to be.

I can't wait to see the new movie to see if they do Miss Brontë justice.

Favorite Character: Since this is called Jane Eyre, it would be said if Jane wasn't my favorite character. But I was also intrigued by St. John also.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars. If you haven't read this, you should. It is an easy one to grab from the library.

Published by Tribeca Books December 2010

*Confession: For my birthday my husband bought me a Kindle, which I am going to post about separately. That said, I read the Kindle version but felt that some publisher some where deserved credit for this book. Also, I thought that since the Kindle doesn't tell you actually pages, you might all find it helpful to know this.