THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS by Katrina Kittle was read for the New Authors Challenge.

From the back of the book:

A young widow raising two boys, Sarah Laden is struggling to keep her family together. But when a shocking revelation rips apart the family of her closest friend, Sarah finds herself welcoming yet another troubled young boy into her already tumultuous life.

Jordan, a quiet, reclusive elementary school classmate of Sarah's son Danny, has survived a terrible ordeal. By agreeing to become Jordan's foster mother, Sarah will be forced to question the things she has long believed. And as the delicate threads that bind their family begin to unravel, all the Ladens will have to face difficult truths about themselves and one another - and discover the power of love necessary to forgive and to heal.

I really knew nothing about this book when I bought it. I had put 2 books into my Amazon.com shopping cart and needed another $5 or so to get free shipping. I found this book as a bargain book; it sounded interesting so I added it to my cart.

This is a very well written book about a terrible subject - sexual abuse of children. Although not graphic, enough information is given for the reader to discern what was going on in Jordan's life. Sometimes it's worse to picture in your mind what is happening than to read the words.

I felt the author provided a depiction of Jordan's responses to his situation and to others that seemed very plausible. Not being familiar with any cases of this type of child abuse, I can only go on a gut feeling that this would be how a child would react. The story was told in a very to-the-point manner without a lot of "fluff" to soften the harshness of the situation, which made the frightening aspects even more so.

Things like this should never happen to children. NEVER.

MID-YEAR REPORT CARD

Today's MUSING MONDAYS post is about mid-year reading...

Now that we've come to the middle of the year, what do you think of your 2009 reading so far? Read anything interesting that you'd like to share? Any outstanding favourites?

2009 has been a pretty good reading year, so far. I set up a spreadsheet of the different challenges I've entered and a listing of which books I want/need to read each month to keep the challenges current. So far, that's worked for me and I'm up-to-date on all of them.

In January, my favorite book was SARAH'S KEY by Tatiana deRosnay. This book stayed with me for a long time. Another good book read that month was TIME AND CHANCE by Sharon Kay Penman.

February's stand-out book was THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, with THE RED SCARF by Kate Furnivall coming in as a runner-up.

March had a few good books including LIVING DEAD GIRL by Elizabeth Scott, THE SECRET LIFE OF CEECEE WILKES by Diane Chamberlain, and NEFERTITI by Michelle Moran.

May was a slower reading month but LOOK AGAIN by Lisa Scottoline topped my best-book list. I also enjoyed GALWAY BAY by Mary Pat Kelly, BENEATH A MARBLE SKY by John Shors and IN A GILDED CAGE by Rhys Bowen.

I've spent a lot of time sewing in June, so my book count is pretty low. My favorite this month is an 1100 page book, WORLD WITHOUT END by Ken Follett, which took more than a few days to read. I just finished SHANGHAI GIRLS by Lisa See which was another really good book.

So overall, I'd say that 2009 has been pretty good, book-wise. There have been a few that weren't as good as expected, and I did give up on a couple books that just weren't doing it for me. I'm looking forward to the next six months, finishing all my challenges, and reading some excellent books.

Stop over at Just One More Page for more Musing Mondays responses.

SHANGHAI GIRLS

SHANGHAI GIRLS by Lisa See was read for the Pub 2009 Challenge.

From the book jacket:

In 1937, Shanghai is the Paris of Asia, a city of great wealth and glamour, the home of millionaires and beggars, gangsters and gamblers, patriots and revolutionaries, artists and warlords. Thanks to the financial security and material comforts provided by their father's prosperous rickshaw business, twenty-one-year-old Pearl Chin and her younger sister, May, are having the time of their lives. Though both sisters wave off authority and tradition, they couldn't be more different: Pearl is a Dragon sign, strong and stubborn, while May is a true Sheep, adorable and placid. Both are beautiful, modern, and carefree ... until the day their father tells them that he has gambled away their wealth and that in order to repay his debts he must sell the girls as wives to suitors who have traveled from California to find Chinese brides.

As Japanese bombs fall on their beloved city, Pearl and May set out on the journey of a lifetime, one that will take them through the Chinese countryside, in and out of the clutch of brutal soldiers, and across the Pacific to the shores of America. In Los Angeles they begin a fresh chapter, trying to find love with the strangers they have married, brushing against the seduction of Hollywood, and striving to embrace American life even as they fight against discrimination, brave Communist witch hunts, and find themselves hemmed in by Chinatown's old ways and rules.

At its heart, SHANGHAI GIRLS is a story of sisters: Pearl and May are inseparable best friends who share hopes, dreams, and a deep connection, but like sisters everywhere they also harbor petty jealousies and rivalries. They love each other, but each knows exactly where to drive the knife to hurt the other the most. Along the way they face terrible sacrifices, make impossible choices, and confront a devastating, life-changing secret, but through it all the two heroines of this astounding new novel hold fast to who they are - Shanghai girls.

I had read an earlier book by Ms. See - SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN - and enjoyed it. This book, I think, is even better. I knew just about nothing about life in China before the Japanese invasion. And I knew nothing about how the Chinese were treated in this country or the troubles they endured just getting into this country. They were kept on Angel Island and interrogated for days, weeks, or even months before they were allowed into the United States. I had never heard of paper-sons or the process of buying a son to bring into the country. I enjoy books from which I can learn something new.

Ms. See obviously did a great deal of research when writing this book, as some of the characters were actual people as were some of the events. I think she did a great job of blending fact and fiction.

FINGER LICKIN' FIFTEEN

FINGER LICKIN' FIFTEEN was read for the Pub 2009 Challenge.

From the book jacket:

Recipe for disaster: Celebrity chef Stanley Chipolte comes to Trenton to participate in a barbecue cook-off and loses his head - literally.

Throw in some spice: Bail bonds office worker Lula is witness to the crime, and the only one she'll talk to is Trenton cop Joe Morelli.

Pump up the heat: Chipolte's sponsor is offering a million-dollar reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the capture of the killers.

Stir the pot: Lula recruits bounty hunter Stephanie Plum to help her find the killers and collect the moolah.

Add a secret ingredient: Stephanie Plum's Grandma Mazur. Enough said.

Bring to a boil: Stephanie Plum is working overtime tracking felons for the bonds office at night and snooping for security expert Carlos Manoso, aka Ranger, during the day. Can Stephanie hunt down two killers, a traitor, and five skips, keep her grandmother out of the sauce, and solve Ranger's problems and not jump his bones?

Warning: Habanero hot. So good you'll want seconds.

I got this book yesterday and read it so fast I didn't have time to list it on my sidebar as Currently Reading!

This one was fun, showcasing Lula for a change. There were at least 4 cars and an apartment burned up, unusual dinner guests, and lots of food. Add a little Ranger and Joe dilemma. And a touch of Joyce Barnhardt,a turquoise cocktail dress-wearing fireman, and lots of barbecue. Typical Stephanie excitement.

And the title actually fits the story!

GIVE-AWAY WINNERS

Yes, that says WINNERS. I was planning on giving away a $50 gift card for Amazon.com. Then I looked at my bank account and realized I'm going to have a little more at the end of the month than I had expected, so I'm picking 2 more names for $25 each.


Random.org says the first number is: 36. That would be Daphne from Tanzanite's Shelf and Stuff. I have your e-mail address - check for the e-mail from Amazon shortly.

Random.org says the next number is: 14. Congratulations to Jo-Jo from Jo-Jo loves to read!!!. Check your e-mail soon.

Random.org says the last number is: 51. That's Bonnie from ~Redlady's Reading Room~. Check your e-mail too.


Thanks to all who entered and left such nice comments. I love writing this blog and I hope you all enjoy reading about my not-so-special life. Keep coming back!

THE TORY WIDOW

THE TORY WIDOW by Christine Blevins was read for the New Authors Challenge.

From the back of the book:

On a bright May day, Anne Peabody receives an unexpected kiss from a stranger. Bringing news of the repeal of the Stamp Act, Jack Hampton, a member of the Sons of Liberty, abruptly sweeps Anne into his arms, kisses her - and then leaves her to her fate of an arranged marriage...

New York City, 1775

Anne, now the Widow Merrick, is struggling to survive in a city on the brink of war. In a time when Loyalists are tarred and feathered, Anne continues her late husband's business, printing Tory propaganda, not because she believes in the cause but because she needs the money to survive. When her shop is ransacked by the Sons of Liberty, Anne once again comes face-to-face with Jack Hampton. But he is no longer the optimistic youth she remembers. Despite her better judgment, Anne finds herself drawn to both the ardent patriot and his rebel cause.

As shots ring out at Lexington and war erupts, Anne is faced with a life-altering decision: Sit back and watch her world be torn apart, or take a stand and fight for both her country's independence and her own...

I enjoy reading historical fiction. Usually I'll read books set in Medieval England, ancient Rome and/or Egypt, or the Civil War period. This is, I believe, the first time I've read historical fiction set in the Revolutionary War time frame.

This was an interesting book to read. It gave an idea of what life was like for those not involved with the actual fighting of the war, the ones left at home trying to survive in a difficult time. Sometimes people have to change their appearances and pretend to be what they're not in order to make it through the days, which is exactly what Anne had to do in this book.

It took a long time (for me) to read this book, not because it was overly long (384 pages - not long at all) or uninteresting, which it wasn't. I just had gotten out of a reading mood - too much sewing going on at the same time. Hopefully, now that the sewing machine has been put away for a short time, I'll be able to start reading in earnest again.

Check the post below for a give-away - it's open until 8:00 PM tonight!

1000TH POST - AND A GIVEAWAY!

This is my 1000th post! When I started blogging 2 1/2 years ago, I never thought I'd last this long!

I've talked about my family. I've told you all about my children, grandchildren, and what I refer to as my "new" family. You've been with me through Shelby's high school time living with us, weddings, and trips. You've helped me deal with problems and illnesses. BTW, my sister Anne just had surgery - please remember her in your thoughts and prayers. The report on my dysfunctional family- still dysfunctional, but parts are getting better. There's hope.

I've shown you different sewing and home projects. And stories and pictures of my dogs Maggie and Teddy. And I've told you about the only "sport" I'm involved in - bowling.

I've told you all about the pandas at the Atlanta Zoo, Mei Lan and Xi Lan. The Atlanta Zoo needs to raise $500,000 by the end of the year in order to keep the pandas here. Mei Lan has to go to China soon per their contract, but we need to keep Lun Lun, Yang Yang and Xi Lan here for another 5 years. You can go here to donate - please!

And you've read all about the books that I read and the challenges that I've entered. You even joined in a challenge that I hosted - the I Heard It Through the Grapevine challenge. I know that some of you have read books based on my recommendations - how neat is that!

So now, I'd like to say THANK YOU to all who have read this blog through the years. I'm going to give away a gift certificate to Amazon.com - $50. I wish it could be $1000, but times are tough all over!

To enter the contest, just leave a comment. One to a customer. I'm not doing the "extra entries if you do such-and-such" - just a straight one comment, one entry. Makes it a lot easier on this old brain!

So just leave a comment (make sure I have an e-mail address to reach you) before tomorrow night at 8:00 PM (June 25). I'll pick a winner then.

Thanks again to all who read my blog on a regular basis. And any new readers, please follow me. (Right now, it looks like the Followers box isn't showing up if you use Firefox, but it does show up if you use Internet Explorer or Opera browsers.) Lurkers, leave a comment so I know that you're out there. And please come back!

ONE MORE DRESS

Just finished this one. Now Barb, Avery and I can be triplets!

That's it, I'm done for a little while.

2 DRESSES DONE

Here's the pink dress with the too-snug sleeves. The dress is completely lined, and with the way the sleeves are constructed, I'd have to rip out the sleeves completely to make them a little looser. Not worth the trouble. I'll just lose a couple of pounds.


This is the purple one that I just now finished. I like the contrasting trim and the loose sleeves. The next time I use the pink dress pattern, I'll leave the sleeves big and floppy like this one.

I still have 4 pieces of material to use (I bought some more fabric last night). I have another pattern that I really like that I used years ago. I'll have to cut it a little larger this time, unfortunately.

So out of 6 dresses, I have 2 that I really like, one that I like (pink) with tight sleeves, and 3 that I'm not thrilled with. But now I know where the problems are and how to correct them, so the next ones should be OK.

A TEMPORARY SNAG IN THE SEWING

Yesterday I made a dress. It's like the one on the left with the yellow band at the bottom. Except I used the sleeves from the green dress on the top. The material is a light pink tiny pattern (sorta like little tiny flowers) with a deeper pink border.

It turned out really cute. There's just one problem. The sleeves. They're not made for arms like mine - you know the kind you get when you get older, the ones that flap in the wind. The sleeves fit, but they're snug. Oh well, when I lose a few more pounds it should fit perfectly.

Today I cut out another dress. I used this pattern (because the sleeves are nice and loose):

This one is a light purple - the same fabric as the pink one. This time I made the trim around the neck deep purple and added a purple band to the bottom of the dress.

So I'm humming along, finished everything except the sleeves. I'm finishing sewing the side seam when my needle breaks. Now this shouldn't be a problem as I just bought new needles last week. But a few days ago, the little do-hickey that holds the needle broke off. I got out my trusty tube of Super Glue and glued that baby back on - working fine. Now I need to change the needle. Unfortunately, when I glued the do-hickey back on, I also managed to Super Glue the needle into the do-hickey. I tried pliers and still couldn't get the needle out. Then the do-hickey fell off the machine again. There's no fixing it this time.

I had to take a little sewing break to run up to our friendly Wal Mart - and I bought a new machine. Nothing fancy - just a simple little Singer that will do what I need it to do. Brought it home, set it up, and I'm back to sewing. I'll have that dress finished tomorrow morning and I'll post pictures of both dresses then.

Now, instead of 2 dresses costing about $5 each, the total cost of 2 dresses is approximately $125. So much for saving money!

2 DADS

I had 2 fathers. One was my biological father, one the father who raised me.

My biological father, Lou, and my mother divorced when I was just a baby. I never met him. My mother only told me a few things about my father - his name, his home town, the fact that he had been married before and after her, had 3 sons, and he never wanted me because I was a girl. That last thing - it hurt a lot.

My mother remarried when I was 5 and Harry, my stepfather, became Daddy. He taught me how to ride a bike, he took me sledding in the winter and to Phillies baseball games in the summer. He provided a good home for us and was always there for us. And he loved me. And I loved him. A lot.

After my mother died, I decided to search for Lou. I had spoken to him once briefly on the phone years before, so I knew where he was. Or had been, as he had died years before. I found my stepmother, and through her, my sister Anne and my brother Paul.

If you've read my first post, you already know about my wonderful "new" family. Anne and Paul have told me a lot about my father. He had been on a Navy ship in the North Atlantic during WWII - a ship that had been torpedoed and sunk on Christmas Eve. My dad was one of the lucky ones that night. He was a musician and had his own band. He was a good father to his 5 other children. And he loved me. No matter what I had been told, he did love me. And although I never met him, I love him too.

My dads are gone now. But I just want to let them know that I think about them and still love them both.

Happy Father's Day, Dad and Daddy.

HOW'S YOUR SATURDAY?

I went to a Pampered Chef party last night.  Have you ever been to one?  I wanted to get a new chopper, but wound up getting a few more things in addition.  I felt sorry for the woman doing the show.  It seems all the guests were more interested in talking to each other than listening and watching.  The food she prepared was tasty.

I just got back from WalMart.  I bought some more material for a couple dresses - one pink and one purple.  I think I'll work on them tomorrow.  Dom will probably be watching the NASCAR race.  I think we're going out for lunch for Father's Day.

It's so hot here.  We lost our power yesterday afternoon - probably too much of a demand on the county's electrical system.  It was only out for about an hour, so the house didn't get too hot.  We keep the blinds closed and we have a termal blanket in the attic and tinting on all the windows, so it doesn't usually get hot in here anyway.  But it was an inconvenience.

I'm still reading THE TORY WIDOW - it's a good book, but I'm just not in a big reading mood right now.  I'll get back to reading more when I finish the sewing I want to do.

Hope you're all having a great day!

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY - THAT OLD CAPE MAGIC

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Breaking the Spine, highlights books that are soon to be released.  Here's one I'm looking forward to reading:

 

THAT OLD CAPE MAGIC by Richard Russo

From Amazon.com:

Following Bridge of Sighs—a national best seller hailed by The Boston Globe as “an astounding achievement” and “a masterpiece”—Richard Russo gives us the story of a marriage, and of all the other ties that bind, from parents and in-laws to children and the promises of youth.

Griffin has been tooling around for nearly a year with his father’s ashes in the trunk, but his mother is very much alive and not shy about calling on his cell phone. She does so as he drives down to Cape Cod, where he and his wife, Joy, will celebrate the marriage of their daughter Laura’s best friend. For Griffin this is akin to driving into the past, since he took his childhood summer vacations here, his parents’ respite from the hated Midwest. And the Cape is where he and Joy honeymooned, in the course of which they drafted the Great Truro Accord, a plan for their lives together that’s now thirty years old and has largely come true. He’d left screenwriting and Los Angeles behind for the sort of New England college his snobby academic parents had always aspired to in vain; they’d moved into an old house full of character; and they’d started a family. Check, check and check.

But be careful what you pray for, especially if you manage to achieve it. By the end of this perfectly lovely weekend, the past has so thoroughly swamped the present that the future suddenly hangs in the balance. And when, a year later, a far more important wedding takes place, their beloved Laura’s, on the coast of Maine, Griffin’s chauffeuring two urns of ashes as he contends once more with Joy and her large, unruly family, and both he and she have brought dates along. How in the world could this have happened?

That Old Cape Magic is a novel of deep introspection and every family feeling imaginable, with a middle-aged man confronting his parents and their failed marriage, his own troubled one, his daughter’s new life and, finally, what it was he thought he wanted and what in fact he has. The storytelling is flawless throughout, moments of great comedy and even hilarity alternating with others of rueful understanding and heart-stopping sadness, and its ending is at once surprising, uplifting and unlike anything this Pulitzer Prize winner has ever written.

Richard Russo is one of my favorite authors, and this book sounds like a winner.  I've already added it to my wish list.

Check out Breaking the Spine for some other Waiting on Wednesday books.

LOOKING FOR SALVATION AT THE DAIRY QUEEN

LOOKING FOR SALVATION AT THE DAIRY QUEEN by Susan Gregg Gilmore was read for the New Authors Challenge and the Southern Reading Challenge.

From the back of the book:

Sometimes you have to return to the place where you began, to arrive at the place where you belong.

It's the early 1970's. The town of Ringgold, Georgia, has a population of 1,923, one traffic light, one Dairy Queen, and one Catherine Grace Cline. The daughter of Ringgold's third-generation Baptist preacher, Catherine Grace is quick-witted, more than a little stubborn, and dying to escape her small-town life.

Every Saturday afternoon, she sits at the Dairy Queen, eating Dilly Bars and plotting her getaway to the big city of Atlanta. And when, with the help of a family friend, the dream becomes a reality, Catherine Grace immediately packs her bags, leaving her family and the boy she loves to claim the life she's always imagined. But before things have even begun to get off the ground in Atlanta, tragedy brings her back home. As a series of extraordinary events alters her perspective - and sweeping changes come to Ringgold itself - Catherine Grace begins to wonder if her place in the world may actually be, against all odds, right where she began.

I loved this book. Catherine Grace was so real. Thinking only of her own dreams, she didn't consider what her leaving would do to those left behind. Only when she came home after a short while and met a mysterious stranger did she realize that running away wouldn't solve her problems. And that maybe, living in Ringgold with those she loved, was exactly where she needed to be.

I'm looking forward to more books by this author.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAGGIE

Happy 10th birthday to my sweet Maggie girl.

She loves sleeping in her bed.

And on "her" blue couch in the office.

We were given Maggie as a gift by a former neighbor. She was about 8 weeks old at the time and cute as could be. Tiny with a round tummy! Within a few weeks, she started growing taller - she still had the same size body but her legs looked like stilts. In time, her body caught up with her legs.

She's had a lot of skin problems caused by allergies. She's been tested, and she's allergic to most proteins, wheat, wool, cat dander, dust, tree and grass pollens - you name it. She's taken weekly allergy shots, dose after dose of Prednisone, medicated shampoos, antihistamines - anything we can do to make her more comfortable. She eats a special prescription diet; I have to find special treats for her that don't contain wheat or animal protein. Now she 's been diagnosed with Cushing's disease and has to take medication for that.

But she's worth every penny.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS STORY?

I read this online a little while ago:

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte' Stallworth is going to serve 30 days in jail after pleading guilty in Florida to a DUI manslaughter charge.

The plea deal announced Tuesday calls for the 28-year-old Stallworth to also serve 10 years' probation and do 1,000 community service hours for killing a pedestrian he hit with his car. Stallworth had faced up to 15 years in prison.

Police say Stallworth was drinking at a hotel bar before the March 14 crash that killed 59-year-old construction worker Mario Reyes. Tests showed Stallworth's blood-alcohol content was .126.

30 days for killing a person? Is that all a life is worth any more? I guess it is - if you're a football player. How do you go from a possible 15 years to 30 days? Money talks.

And just when does football practice begin? Could it be about 30 days or so from now?

BOOK CROSSING

Has anyone done Book Crossing?

This is a really great idea. You conveniently leave books in public places where other people can find them and read them. Each book is given a unique number which is pasted inside the book. When someone finds a book, he/she can go to www.bookcrossing.com, enter the number and find where the book has been. Then after reading it, it can be released it again.

I had a big pile of book left after our garage sale. They've been sitting in my living room, waiting for me to take them to the library or Goodwill. I thought I'd do Book Crossing instead. So today, I'm leaving 24 books around town. And I'll do more later this week.

One book I released a couple of years ago wound up in Shreveport, LA. I'd like to see where these books go.

4 NEW DRESSES

I just finished my 4th dress. And I finally got one just right!


This one is a dark brown with pink polka dots. The material was a bit heavier than I thought it would be, so the dress doesn't "flow" the way it should. But I'll probably wear it sometime.


This one I really don't like much. I like the material, it's soft and the colors are nice, but it's the wrong style. I should have used this on a more loose type of dress. Probably would be OK for running to the store, but that's about it.


This is the one that made me want to quit sewing altogether. The sleeves wouldn't fit correctly, so I wound up making it sleeveless. But I have to wear a T-shirt underneath it because bra straps show in the back. Will probably be OK in the cooler weather. Looks a little like a muu-muu, but that's OK because right now I'm kinda shaped like a muu-muu!


Finally, success! This one is perfect. I love the print and it works perfectly for this style. The sleeves went in without too much trouble. It pays to transfer the markings from the pattern onto the material and to actually READ the instructions!

I still have 3 pieces of material, but I think I'm going to take a little breather. I just ordered a new pattern and I think I'll wait to see what it looks like before I start cutting out another one.

I NEED BOOK SUGGESTIONS

I need to fill this box from Amazon. com.

I just won a $25 gift certificate from Kathy at Bermudaonion's Weblog and I need some suggestions. I'm looking for trade paperback books only.

Tell me the names of some "must read" books. I have a slew of books on my wishlist, but I'm looking for some new titles. Since I don't want any hardcover books, the titles don't have to be just released books, but maybe ones that you've read in the past year or so.

Leave some suggestions in the comments then stop over to wish Kathy a Happy Blogiversary!

STILL FRUSTRATED

This is the pattern I was using yesterday. I wanted the style with the short floppy sleeves, but I just couldn't get the sleeves to set in correctly. So I made it without the sleeves. And the pattern is still confusing as all get out. It looks OK, but it's not what I wanted.


Then I pulled out this pattern for an extra easy dress. I managed to finish 2 dresses, and I hate them both. The neckline seems a little too high, and I've decided that I really don't like sleeveless dresses any more. The material for one that I made is too heavy - on the bolt it didn't feel that heavy, but finished it is. It doesn't flow like it should. And the other one, I just don't like.

So now I'm back to square one. I have 4 pieces of material left and one or two other patterns that I've used before. But before I cut, I'm looking for other patterns.

Now that I think about it, it's probably not the patterns. It's me - I really need to lose some weight - then maybe these dresses would fit the way they're supposed to fit.

THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN

THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN by Mark Twain was read for the Read Your Own Books Challenge and the Every Month is a Holiday Challenge (National Go Barefoot Day).

From the back of the book:

Huckleberry Finn - rebel against school and church, casual inheritor of gold treasure - is the archetypical American maverick. Fleeing the respectable society that wants to "sivilize" him, Huck Finn shoves off with the runaway save Jim on a rhapsodic raft journey down the Mississippi River. The two bond themselves to one another, becoming intimate friends and agreeing that "there warn't no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don't." As Huck learns about love, responsibility, and morality, the trip becomes a metaphoric voyage through his own soul, culminating in the glorious moment when he decides to "go to hell" rather than return Jim to slavery.

Mark Twain defined a classic as "a book which people praise and don't read"; HUCKLEBERRY FINN is a happy exception to his own rule. Twain's mastery of dialect, coupled with his famous wit, has made ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN one of the most loved and distinctly American classics ever written.

THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN is listed as #5 on the American Library Association's "100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-1999." Many schools have banned it from their libraries and curriculum. Because it uses the "N" word and deals with slavery and race relations. Because Huck Finn sets a bad example for children.

Phooey! Granted, I can see this book as not being appropriate for young children, but for high school students - who generally are not as impressionable - I don't see any problem with it.

I never read the book in high school. I don't think it was "banned" - I think we probably had enough other books to read. I'm glad that I didn't have to read it then - I can see where this book could be "analyzed" to death.

I read it for fun. And it was fun. I didn't think it was degrading because of the "N" word - that was the term that was used freely during the time frame of the book. To use that word now would be inappropriate, and I recognize that fact. I'd like to believe that people reading the book would be able to understand that.

Are we expected not to read books that depict a way of life that is different from what we know now? Are we not to watch TV shows or movies that show a different lifestyle?

Read this book for the sheer enjoyment of a young boy's adventures. Don't try to place it and the relationship between Huck and Jim into current times. Yes, slavery was a terrible thing, but it was a part of our history and that fact can't be changed. Read this as a piece of American history. Lose yourself in the carefree life that Huck lived on the river. Enjoy the scoundrels that traveled with him. Laugh at the gullibility of people. Read it for what it is - fun - and don't destroy it with deep thought.

F IS FOR ...

No, not that! Though I'm tempted right now...

F is for FRUSTRATED.

I started making a dress last night. I had the material all cut out and about half of the sewing done. Then I broke the needle on the sewing machine. And of course, I didn't have another one.

So early this morning, I went to WalMart and got more needles. Came home and went back to sewing. This dress has a square neckline in the front and sorta-puffy sleeves. I cannot get the sleeves to fit correctly without messing up the neckline. So I decided to make it without sleeves - no problem. I put the dress on and the neckline in the front and the back gaps. I took it off and threw it in a ball onto the bed. Luckily it was made from some old material I had here, so I haven't wasted money on this one.

I just cut out another dress - different pattern. I should have this one finished later today. Maybe then I'll go back to the first one and try to make it work.

And just when I had gotten myself in the mood for sewing!

V IS FOR ...

The letter V. Not a very (V-word!) common letter. But I had a couple of "V" moments today.

V stands for Victoria's Secret. I've never bought anything there before, but Shelby told me they were having a sale, so I went over to check it out. See, I'm not the Victoria Secret type of girl. Imagine 2 fried eggs, with the yolks broken, stuck in the middle of your chest. That's me. But lo and behold, I went in the store and was measured - and all of a sudden, the yolks aren't broken anymore. In fact, the fried eggs might even be hardboiled! I measured a size I had only imagined in my wildest dreams. Oh yes, I spent some money in there today!

Another V is for Vonage - the internet phone service. It's gone. Ever since we signed up with AT&T U-Verse, our phone connection has been terrible. It seems the two just aren't compatible. But when I called to cancel the account (AT&T is active now), I got a big surprise. It seems I had a 2-year commitment that I don't remember anything about, plus they were charging me for the Vonage device since I hadn't had it a year. Along with a $40 cancellation charge, which brought the total to $93 and change. I had paid on the 1st of the month for the month of June, and they don't refund unsued time. Even though AT&T might cost a little more each month, I think it will be worth every penny - better service and no hidden fees.

This post has been brought to you by the letter V and the number 93!

ALL DONE

Dom had his colonoscopy this morning and got a clean bill of health. No polyps, no sign of any cancer. He's OK for the next 5-10 years.

I just took Maggie to the vet to have her anal glands expressed. She's been "scooting" all over the place for the past week or so. Whenever her allergies get bad, she scoots. Now I won't have to put her on prednisone again for a while.

While I was waiting for Dom, I was able to read about 150 pages of THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKELBERRY FINN. I can't believe I never had to read that book when I was in school. Though I understand it's been banned by a lot of schools.

Nothing of interest going on down here. I think I'm going to start cutting out material for a dress. I have a stack of fabric and need to get started.

WORLD WITHOUT END

WORLD WITHOUT END by Ken Follett was read for the Chunkster Challenge, the Read Your Own Books Challenge, and the Celebrate the Author Challenge.

From the back of the book:

In 1989, Ken Follett astonished the literary world with THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH, a sweeping epic novel set in twelfth-century England that centered on the building of a cathedral, and on the men, women, and children whose lives it changed forever. Critics were overwhelmed - "it will hold you, fascinate you, surround you" (Chicago Tribune) - and readers ever since have hoped for a sequel. At last, it is here ...

Two centuries after the townspeople of Kingsbridge finished building their exquisite Gothic cathedral, four children slip into the forest and witness a killing ... an event that will braid their lives together by ambition, love, greed, and revenge.

I loved PILLARS OF THE EARTH, and I was one of those who wanted a sequel. This book took a while to read but it was worth every minute.

There was lust, jealousy, murder, rape, inventions, building, medicine, illness, dying, war, rivalry, secrets, religion, hypocrisy, and forgiveness in addition to the above-mentioned ambition, love, greed, and revenge. The book followed the lives of the four children and their families through good times and bad, through the times of the deadly Plague and times of wealth.

Don't let the size of this book put you off. It was filled with action from the first page to the last. It's definitely a keeper for me.

WELCOME LITTLE ONE

I found out last night that my niece Lora had a baby boy yesterday. I don't have all the information yet, but I think the name they had picked is Camden.

I'm expecting to hear from my brother or sister-in-law soon with details. I know Lora wasn't due until the end of the month, but I feel sure that she and the baby are just fine.

I'm sure Paul and Joann are thrilled to be grandparents!

On another note, Dom is scheduled for a colonoscopy tomorrow. His father died of colon cancer, so Dom needs to have these done every 5 years. I don't foresee any problems. He's on a liquid diet today and then the dreaded "prep" tonight. Better him than me!

I'm off to finish WORLD WITHOUT END - only about 100 pages to go!

SATURDAY SOMETHING

It's a little on the cloudy and cool side today. A good day to sit in the house and read. I'm on page 800 and something in WORLD WITHOUT END - the book is 1000+ pages, so I'm getting near the end. I'll finish it tomorrow, I hope. It's a really good book - don't be put off by the size of it.

I had acrylic nails put on yesterday. Every time I've had them in the past, they always did the thumbs too short. So this time I specifically told the girl to leave the thumbs longer. In addition to the thumbs, she left all the nails long. So I've spent this morning filing them down to an acceptable length. Other than the length, the girl did a great job.

I have another killer headache. Not a migraine this time, which (for me) affects only one side of my head, above my eye. This one is across my entire forehead and hurts whenever I move my head. I've tried some Tylenol but it hasn't worked yet. Maybe a little nap will help.

I have to pick Dom up at work later this afternoon then take him to pick up his car. Susan was using it while hers was in the shop. We'll probably eat dinner out somewhere.

So it's a quiet day here. How are things where you are?

STICKY

This week's question is a great one!

"This can be a quick one. Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes."

Here are my 15 in the order I thought of them:

1. CASHELMARA by Susan Howatch
2. ...AND LADIES OF THE CLUB by Helen Hooven Santmyer
3. THE GALWAY CHRONICLES (4 books) by Brock and Bodie Thoene
4. HANNAH'S DREAM by Diane Hammond
5. SARAH'S KEY by Tatiana deRosnay
6. GONE WITH THE WIND by Margaret Mitchell
7. PILLARS OF THE EARTH by Ken Follett
8. THE SUNNE IN SPLENDOUR by Sharon Kay Penman
9. IDA MAE TUTWEILER AND THE TRAVELING TEA PARTY by Ginnie Siena Bivona
10. THE TEA ROSE by Jennifer Donnelly
11. THE MEMOIRS OF CLEOPATRA by Margaret George
12. THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING by T. H. White
13. THE GRACELIN O'MALLEY TRILOGY by Ann Moore
14. IRELAND by Frank Delaney
15. THE MITFORD BOOKS by Jan Karon

I noticed that a lot of books that came to mind were chunksters or books in a series. I guess big books tend to make more of an impression on me. The one real exception is IDA MAE, which was a short book but one that I absolutely loved.

Check over here for more lists of books. This is fun!

SOME OF THIS, SOME OF THAT

My life is so full of routine things. Monday - bowling practice in the morning. Tuesday - laundry. Wednesday - bowling league in the afternoon. Friday - cards in the afternoon. See?? But did you notice I didnt' include cleaning or grocery shopping or cooking? Those are thrown in as needed, and as infrequently as possible.

So today is Wednesday and I bowled this afternoon. Didn't do too badly - my last game was a 190 and all my games were above my average. Our team took only one game, but we bowled against a really good team. They had three 200+ games (out of 12 games). We're still in 2nd place with 6 weeks left in the season.

I'm still reading WORLD WITHOUT END by Ken Follett and loving it. It's a chunkster - over 1000 pages - so it will take a little while to finish. I've been reading outside on our screened porch. I replaced our fan's blades - the ones that were on there weren't for an outside fan and they were all warped. The new ones are a heavy plastic and will hold their shape perfectly. It's so nice out there, expecially in the early evening.

We're back to one car for a few days. Dom lent his Jeep to Susan while her car is being fixed - she needed a new water pump and timing belt. So I have to take him to and pick him up from work. Thank goodness he works only 6 miles away from the house. It's a little inconvenient but we can handle it. Tomorrow I plan to break out of my routine and go down to our pool for a little while. Nobody uses it in the morning - it's like my own private pool.

We've decided to get rid of Vonage phone service. Ever since we switched from cable to U-verse, we've had problems with the phone cutting off and messing with the TV. For some reason, they don't seem to be compatible. We're switching back to normal AT&T phone service sometime in the next week or so.

So that's what's been going on in my little corner of the world. What's happening in yours?

STICKING WITH IT

Today's Musing Mondays question is a good one:

How much time (or how many pages) do you give a book that you aren't really enjoying before you'll set it aside? If you're reding it for a book group discussion, or for review, will you give it more of a chance than, say, a book you're reading for your own interest? Why, or why not? (courtesy of MizB)


A very timely question, considering the fact that I spent almost 2 weeks struggling with THE HISTORIAN.

I try to finish all the books that I start. If I'm reading a book for a challenge or it's a book that was sent to me by an author, I'll do my best to finish it, even if it's not keeping my attention. But if it's a "just for fun" book, I'll give it around 50 pages before closing it for good. There have been very few books that I've not finished.

THE HISTORIAN - I really tried. It was for a couple of challenges and had been sitting on my bookshelf for ages. I really wanted to be able to get through it. But I had gotten to the point where I would do anything - even dusting! - to avoid picking up that book and reading. Once I put it aside, I actually liked reading again!

Check out Just One More Page for more answers.

MAY BOOKS

May started terribly for me - reading-wise - but I did manage to finish a meager 8 books during the month. I spent almost 2 weeks trying to read THE HISTORIAN, finally giving up about half-way through. Here's a list of the books that I did finish:


FIRST FAMILY (David Baldacci) - Pub 2009 Challenge, Support Your Local Library Challenge

HANDLE WITH CARE (Jodi Picoult) - Pub 2009 Challenge, 9 Books in 2009 Challenge, Celebrate the Author Challenge, Chunkster Challenge

GIRLS IN TRUCKS (Katie Crouch) - New Authors Challenge, Southern Reading Challenge

THE 8TH CONFESSION (James Patterson and Maxine Paetro) - Pub 2009 Challenge, Read Your Name Challenge

TEACHER MAN (Frank McCourt) - Read Your Own Books Challenge, What's in a Name 2 Challenge, Every Month is a Holiday Challenge, Non-Fiction Five Challenge

MISS JULIA PAINTS THE TOWN (Ann B. Ross) - Southern Reading Challenge

WHEN OUR GROWN KIDS DISAPPOINT US (Jane Adams, Ph.D.) - New Authors Challenge, Non-Fiction Five Challenge

SUMMER ON BLOSSOM STREET (Debbie Macomber) - Pub 2009 Challenge


Now I'm up to 51 books for the year. According to the books I have planned, June looks like an interesting month. I'm starting with a biggee - WORLD WITHOUT END by Ken Follett - around 1000+ pages.

What did you read in May?