Friday, August 1, 2014

July Books

I posted twice yesterday so go catch up if you need to. Nothing life altering, but two posts anyway. I did get a few books read in July. I never read like I want to when we go on vacation (I used to, but not since I've had children!), but I did get four books completed. James and I are almost finished with another of his and I have a few that I'm close to completing, too.

Grace by Richard Paul Evans
This one was a good read. It's about a boy who befriends a girl that's run away from home. As he learns more about her, he realizes that she needs protecting even though she has a tough outer shell. The story has plenty of twists. This wasn't my favorite Richard Paul Evans book, but it was a good one!

Life of Pi by Yann Martel
I thought that Life of Pi was a good read. I found it on a list of "100 Books to Read Before You Die." I don't know that it would be on my Top 100 list. I had it a little bit ruined for me, though. I was getting my hair cut one day and another girl that works at the salon said, "OMG. I haaaaated how that ended." Um. Excuse me, please. I'm not even halfway through. I hate when people do that. The book was good. It reminded me a lot of Castaway (some of you may be really, really hating that I compared it to that). Pi is an Indian boy whose parents decide to move to Canada. They own a zoo in India so they sell all of their animals and arrange transport for them when they move. They all board the ship (animals and people) to head to Canada, but on the way the ship is wrecked and only Pi and a handful of animals survive - trapped on a lifeboat together. Pi is on the boat with an orangutan, a tiger, a zebra, and a hyena. The story is about his journey as a shipwreck victim trying to survive the elements but also trying to survive these animals. It wound up being one of those books that at the end I thought, "Hmmm...I need to re-read that now that I know how it turns out." I did buy the DVD but I haven't watched it yet.

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
I would definitely pick this book as my favorite for the month. FOR SURE. The story flashes back and forth from present day to the 1930s. The present day story follows Molly, a Penobscot Indian whose father died and whose mother was not able to care for her. She's wound up in the foster care system and is just surviving. She steals a book - Jane Eyre of all things - from the library and has to do community service for her crime. Her boyfriend, Jack, helps her find work with an elderly woman named Vivian and they strike up an unlikely friendship over a common bond. It's something no one else can understand. The flashback story is that of a young Irish girl whose family is killed in a house fire after they've moved to the U.S. The landlord of the building takes her to an orphanage and the people there put her on what's known as the Orphan Train. {This part is based on true stories...I had no idea that a real Orphan Train existed.} She is adopted but winds up moving through several different families before finally being raised by a couple who is caring, but not compassionate. Her story intertwines with Molly's in ways we wouldn't expect. I really enjoyed the two stories in Orphan Train and would LOVE to read more about the children on the real Orphan Trains. 

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
This was James' pick and he LOVED it. Seriously, that kid loves Roald Dahl. We enjoyed this book about a young boy, James Henry Trotter, who is orphaned and living with his wretched aunts. One night he is visited by someone who gives him magic but he spills it all on the ground outside his aunts' home. The next morning a huge peach begins to grow in the tree. The aunts rejoice and begin selling tickets to see the marvel in their garden. James winds up climbing inside the peach and living with a group of insects as the peach travels the world. Like most Roald Dahl, it is WEIRD, but fantastic. It's definitely a good read for young children.

I'm hoping that I'll get more read in August, but it may not happen considering how busy we are lately and will continue to be once school begins. Here's hoping, though! What's on your nightstand? Anything I need to add to my own list?

No comments: