Wednesday, September 3, 2014

August Books

August was SUCH a busy month for us. So busy that we hardly read at all. James and I finished one book and I finished my Book Club book and that is IT. I suspect that since we're moving this month, September will be more of the same. My NEW house has a sweet little screened porch, though, and I suspect I'll spend many afternoons right there while the boys nap or play outside once we're organized and it cools off a bit. Hallelujah!

So what DID we read?

The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne
James loves the Pooh books and they are very sweet. The jury is out on them for me. I do enjoy them, but they are HARD read-alouds. Many of the stories have been put into the movies so James knows a bit about them, but they are written from the perspective of a child and some of the things that the child misses in the book, James misses that he misses...does that make since? Like the "Bakson." The Bakson was in the latest Pooh movie. Christopher Robin leaves a note that says he'll be "Back Soon," but spells it "Bak Son." The animals of the Hundred Acre Wood think that he's been kidnapped by a creature called the "Bakson." James totally missed that. He's pretty literal so that may be why he missed it, but I think that will be our last one for a bit. (He gets a little bored with them as well.)

Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project by Jack Mayer
This was our Book Club pick for the month. A friend said it's her favorite book ever. Hmmm...I suppose the story (the TRUE story) was a great one, but the book itself seemed poorly written to me. It's set in the Holocaust and a woman named Irena Sendler, a Polish woman, begins working to save Jewish children. She convinces their parents to let them go with her and finds places for them to hide amongst the Christian community. HER story was excellent. The story flashes back and forth from World War II to the late 90s where a group of high school girls "discover" Irena. Prior to their history project on her, no one knew her name. The author tries his best to write with the voice of a teenaged girl and it just didn't work. I'd say if you enjoy historical books about World War II, try it and press on! It gets good during the Irena Sendler part of the book. Otherwise, pass on it.

I am still slowly picking my way through Gone with the Wind. I have thoroughly enjoyed it, but have not had the time to read it. I also have Gone Girl and To Kill a Mockingbird on my nightstand, a handful on my bookshelf, and plenty on my Kindle to get through! I'm 3 behind on my Goodreads goal for the year, though, so I need to pick up the pace!

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