Hilarious Read

Ok.  Do me a favour.  Wait...actually do me two favours.

1. Go to your nearest Library.

2. Sign out this book.

IT’S SO HILARIOUS! 

I’m not ashamed or embarrassed to say that I may have peed in my granny panties a few times reading 'I Heart My Little A-holes' because honestly it was sooooooooooooo worth it (note to self, continue with the Kegels).  But seriously, it is one of the most humorous books I have ever read.  If you’re a mommy and you’ve had a rough day, or week, or month, you absolutely will connect with this book…more than once.  It’s not even actually a book, it’s more of a quick skim through of a book.  It has a ton of really quick ‘chapters’ that have lot’s of bullets and lists to make you think that you’re accomplishing something when you notice you’re on page 150 in like a single sitting.   (I totally think the author did this on purpose).

Anywho, this was my in-between book until I get my next few from the Library (which are annoyingly on ‘hold’ so it may be a while) but really, this was EXACTLY what I needed at this point in my pregnancy and mommyhood - to pee in my undies from extreme laughter.  

GO GET IT!!!

Kate

XOXO

The Apple Orchard

Beautiful.  Beautiful and predictable - but in a good way.  

It’s funny, I seem to always want a story to go a certain way and when it does, I’m all; ‘yup, saw that coming from a mile away’.  But when it doesn’t, I get pissed.  

Regardless, The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs was a nice little getaway.  It took a week or two to read which is an appropriate time frame for a pregnant wifey with a 1.5 year old, and it was somewhat of a page turner, but as far as literary depth - not so much.  However, I’m not complaining.

This is the summary that drew me in prior to reading the book:

Tess Delaney makes a living returning stolen treasures to their rightful owners. She loves illuminating history, filling the spaces in people’s hearts with stories of their family legacies. But Tess’s own history is filled with gaps: a father she never met, and a mother who spent more time traveling than with her daughter. Then Dominic Rossi arrives on the doorstep of the San Francisco shop Tess hopes to buy, and he tells her that the grandfather she never knew is in a coma. Tess has been named in his will to inherit half of Bella Vista, a hundred-acre apple orchard in the magical Sonoma town called Archangel. The rest is willed to Isabel Johansen. A half sister she hadn’t heard of.

The author has a lovely way of painting a picture of a gloriously warm and sunny small Sonoma town that piqued this pregnant woman’s interest just ever so slightly into considering taking a sip of a light white (even with 7 weeks to go).  The characters are believable and interesting and the recipes at the beginning of most chapters also heighten taste buds interest and kitchen skills.

But perhaps the best part of the novel lies in the flashbacks of a 1939 world when German soldiers were ransacking homes and terrorizing families in countries like Poland.  These awful situations are given hope and life when we are introduced to one character - Magnus - who possesses quick witted thinking and sharp skills.  He easily gets his own skin out of trouble on a regular basis with the Germans, but also by chance, he saves the life of a young woman.  Fast-forward 60 plus years to current relationships that will be effected by this small act of kindness that happened so long ago.

‘Shop girl’ (a blog that I follow) recommended this read so I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised or disappointed that it wasn’t a full on Pillars of the Earth or The Alchemist type.  I’m just hoping The Drums of Autumn (next book I’ll be diving into) stimulate and satisfy my reading needs.  It’s been a little bit of a while since I’ve had that book rush.

Thanks for all of the book suggestions and please keep them coming!  I’ve got three waiting in the wings thanks to you guys!  Finding Alaska is next in line after Drums of Autumn and four different girls recommended this one to me!  Really excited.  Time to get my read on!

Steve Jobs cried...a lot.

Although this biography is extremely well written (Walter Isaacson’s talented writing flare was what continually drew me back for more), I need to give this book a little break and come back to it in a few weeks.

Now halfway through it, I find I need something a little ‘lighter’.  I love learning and really appreciate all the new technology terms and ideas that I’ve come across, but I’ve been a little bit turned off concerning Steve Jobs and the type of person he was according to family, close friends and foes. 

 Not to be disrespectful, but he was a major whiner, with a capital ‘W’.  Crying on cue, begging, pleading, and then pouting when he didn’t get his way.  Yes - a grown adult behaving like a three year old.  I just can’t handle people like that.  It also states that he claimed other people’s ideas as his own and bawled in front of top professional executives and business people to get his way…on a regular basis!  That doesn’t jive with me.  He was known as calling his employees ideas ‘shitty’ rather than constructively suggesting a change and his compulsion for control was unmatched to the point he literally lived in a reality all of his own - for the betterment of himself.  For example, disregarding the fact completely that he had fathered a daughter named Lisa, who he did not ever acknowledge as his, even after a paternity test had been done with a 99.999999% chance that she was his.  He still claimed that there was a small percentage that she wasn’t in fact biologically from him.  (Cue major sigh and eye roll from me here…)

I’ll give it to the guy though - he revolutionized six different industries: personal computers, animated movies (Pixar), music, phones, tablet computing and digital publishing out of his need for perfection, I personally just have a hard time with the way it was done.  In my opinion, you can make all of that happen by working smarter rather than nastier and still get the same if not better results.  Inspire people into creating rather than scare them.  

Now, I say all of this as I sit and write on my new MacBook Pro (that I love) which is obviously slightly ironic; but, until I finish the book, I know I need to reserve FULL judgement of him and his motives.  Also, I say this as a student who would move mountains for people like Steven Jobs as I grew up.  I loved when a teacher expected more of me and gave me little positive feedback.  It always pushed me to do more.  So, maybe my conflicted thoughts about Steve are just that - conflicting.

(Halfway and needing a break)

In the meantime, I’ve had two very lovely ladies suggest the book: 'Looking for Alaska’ (which is on hold at the library for me) and another girlfriend suggested ‘The Apple Orchard’ that I’ll be starting tonight.  Never judge a book by it’s cover, but I gotta say that the latter looks nice and light and fun - a welcome break from all that talk about gigabytes and microcodes.  ugh...

PLEASE keep the suggestions coming here in the comments section below or Instagram or Facebook (even though I'm not on FB often).  I'm always hungry to learn more.  #thesmarterthebetter ;)

More summer reading

The Angels of Morgan Hill is a novel from the New York Times Bestselling Author Donna VanLierre

1940’s.  Coloured individuals begin to integrate into a small town ‘white’ Christian community.  Some are welcoming, some are not.

‘Angels’ is a satisfactory read.  Although the story, setting and characters are appealing at first glance, the author chose to highlight one of the only climactic moments about 50 pages into the book.  From that moment on, the story seems to slither and dodge past potentially wonderful gems of possibilities which never occur.  It was clear that the author chose to keep the story ‘safe’ by allowing the predictable.  The courageous choices made by certain characters saved the storyline and assisted in making the novel readable.  But, the reality of those times was lost by merely skimming the surface with intent to wrap up and create a tight and pretty ‘package’.

The majority of characters are well-developed; however, there was a total lack written about the one and only antagonist that we the reader ever found out about.  This character could have been much more entwined in the story - why was this person causing trouble?  What was the history behind chosen actions?  Where did they come from?  Why did they hate so badly?  Major hole.

Perhaps the 228 pages was a factor in the author’s absence of literary development?  

Thankfully, one of a few redeeming qualities of the novel rests with the protagonist Jane and her spit-fire and feisty personality.  The majority of the novel is from her perspective but occasionally and jarringly the author switches to a third person narrative.  This allows the reader to understand scenarios of the story that Jane has not seen or experienced, but makes for a fairly bumpy path while reading.  

I should mention for anyone who comes across this post, this ‘review’ is simply my thoughts and not derived out of malice towards the author.  I should also note, I am NOT a professional reviewer.  Please don't forget to hashtag or comment on your favourite summer reads below!  I'd LOVE to see what you're reading and really need to get some 'greats' under my belt.

Kate

xoxo 

Not so bad...

‘Bed rest’ isn’t sooooo awful when you have a good book and this little number to help you keep track of time.  I was so excited and surprised to receive this gorgeous watch from Nate for my birthday this year.  It’s gold which is something that I’ve just started to collect (so he really listens).  I just find I have a ton of white gold and silver that I wear all the time so it’s nice to be able to change things up a bit.  I feel like the gold is also extra summery and beachy and really brings out a tan!  As for the book - well, it is a page turner that’s for sure but it is also quite unsettling.

The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters was given to me by my Mother-in-Law to read as one of my summer novels.  I won’t lie though, some moments are definitely suspenseful and dare I say scary, but, it’s more of a suspenseful, gothic drama than a horror.  I don’t usually DO these types of books, but this one kept me turing pages which was a good sign.  Yes - it’s gripping.  If you’re wanting a quick and fun read keep this baby on the back burner. The themes of the book are two strong and obvious ones: Evil and Class.  The protagonist is a male doctor who sets out to assist a once very wealthy family in a postwar England setting.  Romantic, edgy, freaky and a little addicting.  I’d say read it if you’ve got a week or two to kill this summer.

On another note, how fun would it be to start a book club?  My mom has been a part of one for nearly 15-20 years!  Awesome.  Anywho, just an idea.  I’m just putting it out there into the universe, I’d love to be a part of one too or when the time is right even start one!  Ahhh, the possibilities with the time I have right now...

I Am Malala is a MUST READ

I’ve been affected.  

This book is haunting me, in a wonderful way.

I am Malala has rattled my beliefs and my comforts and has broadened my understanding of how many luxuries I have taken for granted.  I didn’t know I would be so obsessed.

You must, MUST read this book.  It is shocking what this sixteen year old young woman has experienced in her life thus far.  Unimaginable even.  You may have heard of her - she was the girl who stood up for education and was shot POINT BLANK IN THE FACE by the Taliban and then lived to tell the story.  Just so cruel and unbelievable.  I’m embarrassed to admit how totally different my life has been in comparison.  Embarrassed, because what I have had to do to receive the normalcies of everyday life: wearing what I want, the right to free education, choosing who I want to marry, not living with the fear of having acid thrown in my face on a daily basis, pales in comparison to what Malala Yousafzai and many other women have to do to even be able to learn how to read.  Going to school was a must, and then became an occasional hiccup in my social life during high school.  How could I be so selfish and blind?  I didn’t know what a gift, a luxury this was.  Can you imagine having to fight for the right to learn how to read and write?  To wear the clothing you want?  To walk the streets alone without a male family member escorting you around?  

If there is one book to take in this summer it would be this one.  Heck, I will drive to your house and lend it to you if you like or let you borrow my library card to take one out for a few weeks.  It will change your world when you take a look at how good we have it.   What some people are still dealing with in this ‘modern’ world that we live in is ridiculous.  Malala thought so too, and she spoke out in a very big way.  

I LOVE this kid!  Check out her interview with Jon Stewart on the daily show.

Just click on the dark purple/red link below:

Jon Stewart Comedy Central

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjGL6YY6oMs&feature=kp