Gone with the Wind Book Flight

I first heard of a "Book Flight" via Modern Mrs. Darcy's blog a year or so ago.  Since then, I've wanted to give one a try. 

Basically, a book flight is a collection of books your read that follow a common theme.  They are different genres, different authors, etc. but have something tying them all together.

When I came across Ruth's Journey last fall, I decided to do a Gone with the Wind book flight consisting of the following:

• Ruth's Journey
• Rhett Butler's People
• Gone with the Wind
• Scarlett

I have previously read the last two (GWTW several times) but probably not either in the last decade or so.  Perfectly acceptable for a reread at this point. 

Since I began Ruth's Journey mid-April, I have expanded my flight list.  It now also includes (in no particular order)

• Road to Tara:  The Life of Margaret Mitchell
• Scarlett Rules:  When Life Gives You Green Velvet Curtains, Make a Green Velvet Dress
• Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind Letters
• Vivien Leigh:  A Biography
• Gone with the Wind as Book and Film
• Stars Over Sunset Boulevard

The flight is off to a rocky start.  I did not love Ruth's Journey.  I liked Rhett Butler's People even less.  (Reviews on those to come).  I already quit one biography that seemed promising but ended up being dry and confusing and slow reading.  But I'm determined to push through.  If nothing else, I have the original GWTW to look forward to.

Dad Is Fat - Jim Gaffigan

From Goodreads:  In Dad is Fat, stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan, who’s best known for his legendary riffs on Hot Pockets, bacon, manatees, and McDonald's, expresses all the joys and horrors of life with five young children—everything from cousins ("celebrities for little kids") to toddlers’ communication skills (“they always sound like they have traveled by horseback for hours to deliver important news”), to the eating habits of four year olds (“there is no difference between a four year old eating a taco and throwing a taco on the floor”). Reminiscent of Bill Cosby’s Fatherhood, Dad is Fat is sharply observed, explosively funny, and a cry for help from a man who has realized he and his wife are outnumbered in their own home.

My Review:
I started this books by Jim Gaffigan after reading about it on my library's blog. I had been looking for something unstraining to my intellect yet entertaining for reading during baby girl's middle fo the night feeding sessions. And this book (which I read as an ebook) initially fit the bill. It was so funny I recommended to my husband he get it on audio (his preferred "reading" method).
However, somewhere towards the middle and onward, the reading became redundant and no longer entertaining. I had to force myself to finish it.
I will say the husband thoroughly enjoyed the full audio.

2/5 stars (just okay)

Shakespeare Is Killing Me…And Most of His Characters

Some of the ladies in my book club and I have decided to read through all of Shakespeare’s works in 2016.  I guess full disclosure would include that this brilliant idea was mine.  And it is fitting we chose this year to do so; it’s the 400 year anniversary of WS’s death.

Two months into reading, and I can definitively say it’s been brutal – even though I’m currently three plays behind.

There is good reason (several) only a few of William’s plays are deemed acceptable for student consumption.  The Bard was bawdy…and violent.  Boy, was he violent.

This week I’m on familiar ground reading Romeo & Juliet, that freshman year of high school English class staple.

However, I started with Two Gentlemen of Verona.  Trust me on this – they were NO gentlemen.  And the women – yeesh! – insipid, flat characters.

Comedy of Errors was next.  I actually quite enjoyed that one.  The confusion and mayhem of it was entertaining.

Then came Titus Andronicus.  Ugh.  Death, rape, murder, deceit, plotting, wickedness.  And flesh pie.  Spoiler:  I’m fairly certain everyone died by the end.  Although I could have missed a lone survivor.  I was more than ready to be down with it by the time I turned the last page.

Next came two poems:  “Venus and Adonis” and “The Rape of Lucrece.”  I’m the first to admit a lot of poetry goes over my head.  So I didn’t enjoy these much at all (although better than Titus).  I found Venus long and drawn out.  A lot of imagery and nonsense.  Rape was easier to understand but the subject matter left much to be desired.

At this point (while I’m sure it would be sacrilege), I really wish Goodreads would allow *zero* stars for their ratings.  Yet I’ll soldier on and hopefully even get caught up soon.  Because…at the end of the year I’ll be able to say I’ve read everything of Shakespeare, even if I didn’t enjoy it. 

Two Is Better Than One

You know, I am so glad J and I ended up having two little people instead of just one. 

If you haven’t heard that story, it’s a funny one.  We went through some infertility processes to get pregnant with Little Boy (our now 2.5 year old).  Our fertility doctor (who was fabulous and we highly recommend) said if we wanted more kiddos, just to give her a call.  We said we’d discuss it once Little Boy turned one.  And so we did. 

One Friday night shortly after Little Boy turned one, we sat down to talk.  J was fully on board with trying for number two/four (two for us; four with his girls from a previous marriage).  I was more hesitant.  Little Boy flipped my whole world upside down.  His delivery and my recovery from it were not fabulous.  I wasn’t sure I was cut out to mother more than one.  Honestly, the mommy guilt oftentimes was (is) such that I didn’t feel I was doing a great job as it was.  But since I was on the fence, we decided to go ahead and look into the insurance piece before I called the doctor to get things rolling.

However, that Sunday I was as sick as I had been in a long time.  Couldn’t keep food down.  No energy.  Just awful.  I suffered through the day.  When getting ready for bed that night, I started shaking uncontrollably in my arms and legs.  It freaked me out.  You couldn’t see the shaking, but I could feel it.  Terrifying. 

So I did something I hadn’t done since probably middle school – headed to the ER.  Where, low and behold, we found out baby number two was already on her way…I was two weeks pregnant.  Still scared and nervous?  Yes!  But excited and knowing beyond a doubt that expanding our family to six was God’s plan?  Absolutely!

Anyway, so back to having two. 

I did wonder if I could handle two little ones – mentoring, loving, giving each the time and attention individually needed.  Having the energy to keep up with both.  Having the wisdom to balance it all.  (I know…you friends of mine who have 4…6…8 kids are laughing at me now.  That’s okay.). And sometimes I don’t do any of that well.  Sometimes Little Boy is screaming and wanting attention while I need to be feeding Baby Girl.  That’s also his prime time to get into whatever he knows he’s supposed to leave alone.  Sometimes Baby Girl wants held while Little Boy needs some Mommy time.  Sometimes Mommy counts the minutes until nap time or shuts herself in the bathroom for a few minutes to regroup.

But I LOVE it.  Yes, it’s more work (despite the fact my sister told me two is no more work than one).  However, it’s absolutely worth it.  They are such completely different personalities.  And to watch them interact is so much fun.  To see Little Boy “read” to his little sister.  Or to watch Baby Girl's eyes light up and a grin come to her face when brother enters the room. 

I wouldn’t trade it for the world. 

The Wedding Chapel - Rachel Hauck

Title:   The Wedding Chapel 

Author:            Rachel Hauck

Publisher:        Zondervan

Market:           Christian

Genre:             Christian Fiction; Christian Romance

Length:            384 pages

Pub. Date:       November 17, 2015

Description (from Amazon):

An old, forgotten chapel holds the key to love and forgiveness.

Retired hall-of-fame football coach Jimmy Westbrook never imagined anything would come of his labor of love—building a wedding chapel for Collette Greer, the woman he fell in love with in 1949. But now a realtor wants the land the chapel sits on, and he sees no reason to hang onto the past.

Photographer Taylor Branson is trying to make a life for herself in New York. Leaving her hometown of Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, she put a lot of things behind her, including her family’s string of failed marriages. When she falls head-over-heels for Jack Gillingham, a top ad man, their whirlwind romance and elopement leave her with doubts. Jack, while genuine in his love for Taylor, can never seem to find the right way to show her he really cares.

When a post-mortem letter from Taylor’s Granny Peg shows up, along with an old photo, she is driven to uncover family secrets and the secret to her own happiness, starting with an assignment to photograph an unknown, obscure wedding chapel back in Heart’s Bend.

Taylor begins a mission to convince Jimmy that the chapel is worth saving—and that forgiveness and healing might happen within the chapel’s walls . . . for both of them.

My Review:

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy via the publisher at NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I requested this book because I have read and enjoyed several of the author’s books previously.  So when I saw she was releasing a new one, I started stalking NetGalley until it was available.  I went into the reading expecting a sweet romance on the lighter side.  While that’s not what I received, I wasn’t disappointed.

This book has more depth and tackles weightier topics than the others I had read by Hauck.  The narrative travels back and forth between present day and the generation past.  Telling the stories of newlyweds, lost love, family dysfunction, and lies alongside first love, hope, and redemption.  The romance was realistically handled in all relationships. 

The characters were decently developed.  Their actions were a bit more predictable than I like, but I did still feel like I could connect with them and understand their motivations.  The narrative is told from multiple points of view.  So it was a very well-rounded tale.

I was confused at the start of the book and was sometimes startled out of the story by a switch in time and point of view.  However, once I got into it the pacing was great; I had no issues following the flow.  There was a lot of conflict in this book – both internally and between the characters.  The conflict and the processing of it is what moved the story along. 

There were several grammatical errors and issues.  Those grated on my nerves.  However, I’m hoping and assuming they were fixed between the Advanced Reader Copy and the final book printing. 

My other slight gripe was the heavy spiritual content towards the end of the book.  The God content and spirituality was there throughout.  But more as another character and in an incorporated way for most of the book.  However, towards the end it got a bit preachy.  Which, I realize that sometimes in our lives we just need to hear the Word clear and straight.  So it’s only a minor complaint that it didn’t all stay smoothly integrated.

While I don’t think there is any graphic content, there are some trigger topics for sensitive readers:  premarital sex and infidelity being two of the larger ones. 

I think this book appeals to women who like books about complicated relationships but still enjoy a happy ending.  I certainly enjoyed the reading of it.

***This review is also posted on The Christian Manifesto

Pros:

·       Interweaving of various stories past and present

·       Interesting characters

·       Dealt with delicate topics in an appropriate way

Cons:

·       Predictable

·       Spiritually heavy handed towards the end

·       Wanted more from the ending

·        

My Rating:      3.5 out of 5 (Good)

Goodnight, Ark - Laura Sassi

Summary from Goodreads:

The padded board book edition of Goodnight, Ark tells the story of Noah and the animals as they try to sleep through the storm that is raging outside. But when the storm gets louder boars, quails, elephants, snakes and a few other furry friends join Noah in bed, creating quite the commotion! Author Laura Sassi brings a new dimension to one of the Bible’s most popular stories, giving a delightful glimpse into the emotional bond between Noah and the animals in his care. With sleek, buoyant verse and eye-catching illustrations by New York Times bestselling illustrator Jane Chapman, this read-aloud bedtime tale is sure to become a favorite of children and parents alike.


I ran across this book in the book section of Sam's.  After flipping through it briefly (while trying to keep Little Boy from grabbing all the books within reach), I decided to see if our library had it.  I like to check out books from there before I make the commitment to buy.  

This one is definitely buy worthy.  Such a cute story.  Little Boy has requested it at nap and bedtime for the last three days.  The prose has a nice rolling, rhyming rhythm.  It is easy and fun to read with all the animal noises.  While he doesn't get the funny surprise towards the end, I chuckle each time.

And the illustrations by Jane Chapman - amazing!  They add to the fun and feel of the book as a whole.  Sometime we just flip through and look at the pictures, naming the animals while I admire the artistry.  

If you have a little one, I highly recommend this read.

Swift Summaries

This Is What Happy Looks Like

Jennifer E. Smith            YA

Synopsis from Goodreads:

When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?

THIS!  This is what YA romance should be like.  No sex.  No grit.  Not chock full of foul language (Actually, there was none). Instead, a sweet, fun story of first loves.  I couldn’t help but like Ellie and Graham from their first email exchange.  They are funny and sarcastic and just cute.  I enjoyed the story that developed and was excited to know there was a novella sequel.  Which I promptly read.

Happy Again (This Is What Happy Looks Like #1.5)

Jennifer E. Smith            YA

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Ellie O'Neill and Graham Larkin fell hard for each other when a misspelled email address unexpectedly brought them together. Now, over a year has passed since they said goodbye with the promise to stay in touch, and their daily emails have dwindled to nothing. Ellie is a freshman in college and has told herself to move on, and Graham has kept himself busy starring in more movies, as well as a few tabloid columns. But fate brought these two together once before—and it isn't done with them yet.

While I didn’t love this one as much as the original, I did feel there was better character development.  I liked checking in on Ellie and Graham while I felt the reconnection scenario was a bit far-fetched.  A fun follow-up.

Between the World and Me

Ta-Nehisi Coates             Non-Fiction; Social Commentary

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In a profound work that pivots from the biggest questions about American history and ideals to the most intimate concerns of a father for his son, Ta-Nehisi Coates offers a powerful new framework for understanding our nation’s history and current crisis. Americans have built an empire on the idea of “race,” a falsehood that damages us all but falls most heavily on the bodies of black women and men—bodies exploited through slavery and segregation, and, today, threatened, locked up, and murdered out of all proportion. What is it like to inhabit a black body and find a way to live within it? And how can we all honestly reckon with this fraught history and free ourselves from its burden? 

Between the World and Me is Ta-Nehisi Coates’s attempt to answer these questions in a letter to his adolescent son.

I’m going to be honest.  I didn’t make it far in this book.  Not because it wasn’t interesting or because I didn’t desire to read it.  The reason is simple:  I have two little ones who aren’t affording me much sleep these days.  My brain is fried.  And this is definitely a book you need your brain sharp and engaged for. 

So I gave it a shot.  And now it’s back on my To Read List.  My hope is that I can try it again in the new year.  I think it’s relevant and important.

Help, Thanks, Wow

Anne Lamott                   Non-Fiction; Self-Help; Spirituality

Synopsis from Goodreads:

New York Times-bestselling author Anne Lamott writes about the three simple prayers essential to coming through tough times, difficult days and the hardships of daily life.
It is these three prayers – asking for assistance from a higher power, appreciating what we have that is good, and feeling awe at the world around us – that can get us through the day and can show us the way forward. In Help, Thanks, Wow, Lamott recounts how she came to these insights, explains what they mean to her and how they have helped, and explores how others have embraced these same ideas.

  

Completely irreverent with some good nuggets tucked in.  I think I would have enjoyed this book infinitely more had I read it as opposed to reading it.  The author reads on the audio, and I found her voice rather grating. 

I do like the overarching theme that the only prayers we need are “Help!,” “Thanks!,” and “Wow.”

God, I need help with something.  Be it a health issue or a job issue; relational or world encompassing.

Thanks, God!  For all of those things that we should be appreciative of in our lives as well as His grace and forgiveness.

And then “Wow!”  For those moments when we are bowled over by the majesty He has created and sustained. 

Help.  Thanks.  Wow.  Good foundation for your personal communion with God.