Unbroken

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am reluctant to admit how little I have read this year. It's a combination of shifting priorities, decreasing attention span, and perhaps less-than-ideal book choices. As this year was closing out, I finally delved into Unbroken and found everything I need and want in a book. It is, without question, the best book I read in 2014 and a book that I would recommend to anyone (a rarity with my usual choices). It is compelling and a story that focuses in on the triumph of the human soul - it is honest, unflinching, and careful. Hillenbrand is one of the best chroniclers of her time - she captures things so vividly that even pictures or film cannot overshadow the narrative she tells.

Louie is a new hero - not because he was extraordinarily good or even because he was an Olympic athlete. I admire him because he endured to the end and he enabled others to do the same. I love people who are not content to accept the status quo. They make me want to aspire for more. Hillenbrand does the same for me. She is a woman with difficult challenges in her personal life, but she still works so hard at her craft. After reading this book, how can I not try to be at least a little bit better?!

Happy 2015 and happy reading!

Yes, Please

On Sunday, Seth and I were sitting down to dinner and getting ready to start a movie when he turned to me and said, "Would you like to send out a Christmas card together?" Yes, Seth. Yes, I would. How cute is he?

Oh, how I love the start of holiday season. Happy November!

The Time Keeper

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I know people think that Mitch Albom is cheesy or cliche, but I love him. Part of my inspiration for finally telling my parents that I was indeed going to be a teacher came from "Tuesdays with Morrie". "The Time Keeper" is probably just a three star book, but the discussion of time and how we measure it, obsess over it, and freak out over the lack of it, etc really spoke to me and made me evaluate my own obsession with time. And maybe I loved this book extra because Seth and I spent a Saturday afternoon at Apple Hill reading together and sneaking bites of apple donuts between chapters.

Albom's books are perfect short reads. They require little effort, always give you something to think about, and make you feel better about the world. Sometimes I need a break from how dark typical fiction can be, and instead spend time thinking about something uplifting and inspirational.

Happy reading!

All Hallow's Eve & Us

Seth and I have a Halloween tradition of doing dinner and a movie to escape the madness of trick-or-treaters and having to dress up. Don't get me wrong. I love the fall, and I love Halloween candy. But my perfect Halloween includes yummy food with my handsome Mr. Mann, previews (oftentimes the best part of the movie), a movie with that candy we didn't share with those cute kids in costumes.

Last night was not our best of our Halloween outings because the movie choice ended up being so dark and horrifying (not a horror movie, by the way - we chose a World War II epic that ended up showing only the worst of humanity), but I do love this tradition. Seth joked that we won't be able to keep this up once there are little people involved. Maybe when that is the case, we'll move our date to Dia de los Muertos.  Happy (belated) Halloween!

Grand Plans

Remember that idea of writing once a month. Oh yeah - not quite. Crazy days, good days, all sorts of days - either way. I've hardly written. I've thought about it and haven't done it. I'll work on it. There are so many good things happening that I'd love to another type of record to document life.

Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began

Maus, II: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I finished this book and just wanted there to be more. I love that even though it's told in an unconventional format, that it manages to be so genuine. It doesn't trivialize or glamorize the Holocaust. It doesn't make out the men and women that lived through it to be heroes. Maus II just tells their story. Incredibly written and drawn.

Allegiant

Allegiant by Veronica Roth
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Simply put, I am not a fan. I really liked Divergent. I mostly liked Insurgent. But I cannot endorse this one. I told my students this week that I would suggest reading the first one and stopping there. I still think Tris and Tobias are great characters. I just did not like the choppy narration and the convoluted plot lines that Allegiant seemed to serve up in every chapter. And the ending...I don't dare start that rant, so I'll stop here and save it for an in-person conversation where you can remember that I am actually a positive human being.

Happy reading!