Tag: book lover

Posted in Random Thoughts, Uncategorized

“Changes”

Posted on by iefaber

When summer’s sliding into fall,
You hardly notice it at all
Until one day, the meadows nod
With aster-stars and goldenrod:
And in the orchard, thees bow low
With burnished apples all aglow:
Until a starling flock screams by,
Like some dark shadow on the sky
That fills it full, and then moves on,
And when it goes – the summer’s gone.

Taken from “The Golden Book of 365 Stories” by Kathryn Jackson.

My parents read to me from this book every night when I was a child. Recently I’ve dusted it off and have been reading it to my puppy. I started doing it because the first few nights she spent with me were hard for her. She struggled to settle down in her crate. I moved my bed closer and talked to her to let her know I was there. Within a week I noticed the sound of my voice was working to help her calm, but I was becoming bored with my own ramblings. I decided to dig out this old book and it worked like a charm. Within a month, just picking up this book made her snuggle in and settle.

Reading out loud has many benefits as stated on Carnegie Learning’s blog: “Jim Trelease, author of The Read-Aloud Handbook, writes that “every time we read aloud to a child, we’re sending a “pleasure message’ to their brain.” Trelease says that this reaction is partially sparked by feelings of happiness and self-worth caused by someone else investing time in our enjoyment. (. . .) Dr. Keisha Siriboe similarly notes that reading out loud reduces stress and generally makes us feel more appreciative and relaxed.”

Never underestimate the power of reading out loud. Whether to improve your own skills, to soothe a hyperactive child, or comfort a new puppy to sleep. Reading to someone can change you, and them, for the better.

Happy September!

Posted in Book Nerd Stuff

Blind Date with a book.

Posted on by iefaber

If you’re a book lover, you know having a good book to read on vacation is super important. I had a beach vacation coming up and put several beach-themed books on hold at the local Library. As vacation approached, I misread the Library’s open hours and never had the opportunity to get my books.

I was so upset. Almost depressed. I had a beautiful vacation planned, plenty to do, people I love to spend time with, but no book planned. I had carefully selected the books I wanted to bring and put them on hold weeks ago. I was waiting for them all to be ready for pick up. I stopped by the day before I left only to find the Library was closed for Good Friday. The remorse I felt from this was genuine. Please tell me some of you have felt the same.

Continue reading “Blind Date with a book.” →
Posted in Adult Fiction, Book Reviews

Book Review: Women Of the Dunes

Posted on by iefaber

By Sarah Maine

Historical Fiction / Cultural; Scotland

MY SYNOPSIS:

Libby Snow is an archeologist with a passion for a Viking legend her grandmother passed onto her from her grandmother. When work takes her to Scotland to excavate a site believed to hold a body tied to the Viking legend, Libby is excited to unfold the truth. Instead, she finds a Victorian age body from what appears to be a crime scene that may have actually involved her great-great-grandmother or someone who knew her.

The legend, the crime, and Libby’s family history are all tied together in a terrible knot. She tries to untangle her own family mystery, but she is also dealing with the family on whose estate this excavation & crime has taken place. Their dark secrets are blocking Libby from unveiling the truth of both the legend and of her family.

WHY I PICKED THIS BOOK:

I was preparing for a trip to Scotland and brought two books with me: ‘Kidnapped’ by Robert Louis Stevenson, and this book. The idea was to stay in Scotland even as I read, and should I not finish the books by the time I returned, I’d still be in Scotland via the book. Also, I really enjoy historical fiction and certainly love a decent crime novel. This had a lot of my favorite things all tied into one.

WHAT WAS DISAPPOINTING:

My typical complaint; it was too slow to start. I remember saying to my sister one night in our lovely B&B in the highlands, “I don’t know if I’m going to finish this book. It’s just not going anywhere and I’m feeling a lame romance coming on.”  Not to mention it took a while for the story to even get to Scotland. I very rarely am quick to take to a book so this is nothing new for me, but I really did think I was going to stop reading this one. I just didn’t care about Libby or her curiosities. Also, as the story shifted from one age to another telling one of three stories, I (with my short attention span) had a bit of a time keeping up and becoming emotionally attached at all. If I hadn’t been on vacation in lovely B&B’s every night I may not have continued – boy am I glad I did!

WHY I KEPT READING:

The body. Obviously I can’t give anything away, but there is a point when what I thought was going to turn into a lame romance turns into an interesting crime novel (and more). Plus Libby finally got to Scotland. There were more characters, more secrets, I was more emotionally invested, and just like that, I couldn’t put it down. The back and forth between the three stories became more interesting to me as they slowly revealed their connections to each other.

TAKE AWAY:

This is a beautiful novel that not only takes you to Scotland, but it also explores a lot about family more so than it does history. There is mystery and action and plenty of odd twists and turns that kept me involved with so many of the characters. The relationships here are so real, the setting so vivid, Sarah Maine does a fantastic job putting you right there with the other characters to feel their hopes and fears. You finish the story and end up missing their home, their faces, even their voices. Fantastic writing that has me wanting more of this writer’s work.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

I finished this book back here at home in Philadelphia but it was a great way to stay overseas just a bit longer. This book, regardless of what seemed like a slow start for me, kept me in a place for a long time. I visualize the island and the house in my mind more like a memory of somewhere I have been rather than as a fictitious place I read about. I highly recommend this book to lovers of travel, mystery, and family dynamics.

POSTSCRIPT:

I just want to have a cup of tea in that kitchen please.

 

Posted in Book Nerd Stuff, TBR list

GoodReads Monday (November)

Posted on by iefaber

Goodreads Monday is hosted by Lauren’s Page Turners. It’s a great way to talk about a book from your TBR list and just kind of show it off.  Instead of weekly, I do them monthly. Today I choose a picture book because I haven’t talked about one in a while even though that’s what I am currently writing! I read through them so fast I don’t always get to talk about them. This book, however, has been on my list for a while and I have yet to pick it up and it’s too new to be in a library. So here it is, my Goodreads pick of the month.

 

suitcase

The Suitcase  by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros

“At a time when over 65 million people are forcibly displaced around the world, this beautifully illustrated and wise, gentle tale of tolerance and kindness for fellow humans resonates deeply. I hope all parents share The Suitcase with their children.” – Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner

“A simple, powerful way to introduce the idea of kindness to strangers to young children” – Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo

 

Have you read this yet? What did you think about it? And what other new Picture Books are you looking forward to reading? I’d love to know.