We Won't Forget

This is a day we won't forget.

The Favorites: Old School Edition

I want to preface this post by saying that this list is in no way exhaustive. As mentioned in previous posts, our playroom literally overflowed with movies when I was growing up. After a recent scavenger session in that very room and seeing all of the worn cases, I realized how many of those movies I actually watched over and over again. Those mentioned below are some of the standouts.

I would really love to know who else grew up watching this movie. It's a kid-classic as far as I'm concerned. Who can forget crazy mountain man who made Kid Colter drink skunkberry tea because he said it'd put hair on his legs?! Brilliant writing. This is the story of a nerdy boy from Boston who goes to visit his dad in the Pacific Northwest during a Boston teacher's strike. In the process of being there, he ends up being kidnapped and has to survive in the wild. Very gripping, I'm telling you. I would love to extend an invitation to anyone who hasn't seen this excellent example of filmmaking to come over and view it any time. It'll change your life.

I LOVED the Ewok adventures. I thought Wickit was the absolute most adorable thing ever...the stuffed animal every little girl wants. I do think it's kind of strange that I never saw any of the Star Wars movies but I loved the Ewok movies. Go figure. I really loved this one and another one...can't remember it's name...but do remember watching them over and over.

I recently bought the Faerie Tale Theater on DVD. I was absolutely thrilled when it came in the mail. There are 26 hour-long episodes of different fairy tales from childhood. What makes these stand out is that all of them include award-winning actors and actresses and were made for HBO, I believe. Very quality stuff here, people. My favorites were 'Hansel & Gretel,' 'Little Red Riding Hood,' and 'Rapunzel.' H&G had Joan Collins as the evil stepmother and the witch...she was absolutely horrifying. LRRH has Mary Steenburgen as RRH as she is great. Rapunzel has Gena Rowlands as the witch and let me tell you, I STILL have nightmares after I watch that one. Her voice is insanely creepy!!!!

Now, most everyone that is of our generation has seen ET (ET phone home!), but not everyone has witnessed the brilliant product placement alien film of 'Mac & Me.' The choreographed dance in the McDonald's is worth watching the entire film for. I will warn you that if you watch this movie, you will immediately begin craving Coca Cola, Skittles, and McDonald's. I told you...brilliant product placement. Gets me every time...

Oh, this movie. I love this movie. I think alot of that love is directly related to my love of Fred Savage, but regardless, I remember watching this movie over and over as a kid. Centered around playing the original Nintendo, which was all the rage back then, this is a crazy unbelievable story about a mute boy who is a wizard at Nintendo running away from some random social worker of something. Strange. For those of you who have seen this, please tell me you remember the power glove scene! Oh, how dramatic...

No list of mine would be complete without this movie. All of you who know me well are laughing right now because you know my love of this ridiculous film. This is the French cover of a movie called 'Here Comes Santa Claus.' Oh yes. I know that you're probably thinking, "Oh, there must be 2 versions that they made and she had the English one." No. Not really. They just overdubbed the French version with English so the moving mouths don't match the words. :) I love this movie. It is a musical Christmas tale that is completely irrational and 100% cheesy. And I. don't. care. I have watched this movie every single Christmas since I was 4. I promise. We have a home video of me as a 4-year-old sitting on the couch singing along to this movie, heard very prominently in the background. I believe I even took it to school for us to watch in 4th grade. Oh, the shame. But hey, it's just not Christmas without 'Here Comes Santa Claus.'

Were any of these your favorites? What would you have added to the list?

The Favorites

Continuing on with the lists of favorites, this is the list of my all-time favorite movies. Let's just dive in...

I first saw this movie when I was about 12 years old. I was laying in the floor of our living room and I remember absolutely falling in love with it. I loved how they talked, I loved how funny it was, and I loved seeing the relationships built between the women. This movie such an honest portrayal of female relationships, as well as including just about every emotion imaginable. I will tell you that it's not much fun to watch this movie with me, as I quote all the lines along with the characters. Just a fair warning. I also found out in college that my roommate's grandmother was the real life version of one of the characters, as this was written based on a true story. Unreal.

I remember the day we got this movie. My uncle sent it to my mom for her birthday and my love affair with 'The Sound of Music' began. This movie is a classic, recently being named in the top 10 of the American Film Institute's Top 100 movies. There is singing and dancing set to the historical backdrop of WW2. If you know me at all, you know why that is the perfect movie for me.

I saw this movie on a whim with my mom in the theater and proceeded to return two more times following to see it again. It is a magical experience. Baz Luhrmann's direction is impeccable and Nicole Kidman shines in this modern musical. I'm still upset she didn't win the Oscar she was nominated for in this movie. She deserved it. I love the movie's tag line: "The greatest thing is just to love and be loved in return." Beautiful.

Seriously, what twenty-something girl doesn't LOVE 'Anne of Green Gables'? We all love this movie. I think it has alot to do with Gilbert Blythe and the love story between he and Anne. It's a classic one. I just love the wholesome nature of this film, the high value placed on friendship, and the high-spirited personality of Anne. It also helped me on a college English exam since I memorized 'The Lady of Shalot' after watching this movie over and over.

One thing is for certain: Sandra Bullock has the ability to make me laugh at any given moment during any possible mood. She's hilarious and this film is the quintessential example of her hilarity. No female does physical comedy like Sandy. She is fearless in her willingness to make a fool of herself for the sake of a laugh and I love her for that. This movie will forever make me want to start chanting, "You think I'm gorgeous. You want to date me, love me, and marry me..."

I.LOVE.THIS.MOVIE. Simple as that. Meg and Tom are a classic coupling and the real darling of this film is New York City. It is absolutely impossible to not want to visit after you see this visit. Essentially, this movie is a love letter to the city that America is known for. That mixed with the oh-so-delightful chemistry of Tom and Meg makes for one extremely pleasant and warm movie experience.

"You can't handle the TRUTH!!!!!" I mean who doesn't know that line. That's a great line. With a great cast, a great director, and great writing, 'A Few Good Men' is a classic American film. This is easily my favorite film of Tom Cruise's. He take on Daniel Caffey is pitch-perfect and the supporting cast around him of the brilliant Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon, and Keiffer Sutherland creates a cast that is absolutely fantastic. The legal maneuvering exhibited is extremely entertaining to watch as well as the interactions amongst Cruise and Moore.

There you have it. My all-time faves. There are quite a few more that would serve as runner's up, but this is the winning list. What are your favorites?

Addiction

I wanted to share this video with you, the reader, for 2 reasons:

1) This is an incredibly moving performance and a great example of how art serves as a healing tool.
2) To support my statements and promotion regarding the show 'So You Think You Can Dance.'

Dance: Addiction
Dancers: Kayla & Kupono
Choreographer: Mia Michaels

Meaning: Kupono is the addiction and Kayla is the addict. This is a visual representation of the pervasive power of addiction and the hold it places upon those who are stuck in it. Kupono is the utter personification of evil as the addiction with his malevolent grins and piercing eyes. Kayla represents the completely addiction-ravaged girl that is so common in our society, held captive by the claws of her addiction.

Shows of Yester-Year...

This post is dedicated to the shows of my childhood that I loved. As I was beginning to write this, I realized those shows all had something in common: theme songs!! I bet I can still sing the theme songs for each of these. Why don't shows do that anymore?! Ah, the nostalgia of a day gone by...

Okay, here we go!

Ah, The Wonder Years. I LOVED this show. I was in love with Kevin Arnold and wanted my hair to look like Winnie Cooper's. I am very frustrated that you still can't get this show on DVD. It has something to do with all the licensing rights due to the amount of popular music they used within the show. Apparently it's still going to be years before Joe Cocker is crooning "What would you do if I sang out of tune..." from my DVD player. Oh well, I guess there's always TVLand and re-runs...

Isn't this the classic favorite show of our generation? Didn't we all race home after school to see what antics Zack would pull, what outfit Lisa was wearing, and how long Slater's mullet had gotten? I did. I am proud to say I have seen every episode of this show far more than once and can perform Jessie's "I'm SO excited, I'm SO excited, I'm....SO...SCARED" with the best of them. Classic television, ladies and gentlemen. While most have gone on to do other things, I think in our minds they will always be Zack, Kelly, Slater, Jessie, Lisa, and Screech.

This image is representative of the show 'Family Matters' and my favorite character on the show, Steve Urckel. At the age of 10, I would walk around leaning back at the waist, plugging my nose, and asking in my best Urckel voice, "Did I do thaaaaaaaat?" I'm sure I drove my parents crazy. I loved this show. I loved the family dynamics, the drama, the incessant breaking of things that Steve was doing, and the relationship between Steve and Carl Winslow. Again, classic TGYF night at my house.

"Everywhere you look, there's a heart, there's a heart...." I was recently in San Francisco and for sure sang this theme song to myself as I was riding the BART line to the airport. Who doesn't love the show that's known for making the Olsen twins famous, Bob Saget one-liners, and Uncle Jesse proclaiming, "Have mercy!"? I propose that on some level, everyone loves this show. I used to, again, walk around impersonating Stephanie Tanner, saying, "How rude!" all the time. It's amazing that I didn't grow up to be an impersonator, because let me tell you, I did this type of thing all the time with ALL the shows I watched. I know. Bless my mom.

"Camp Onawanna, we hold you in our hearts..." I was a Nickelodeon child growing up, so shows like 'Salute Your Shorts', 'Hey Dude', and 'Are You Afraid of the Dark' were apart of my repetoire as well. There were also those show like 'Legends of the Hidden Temple', 'Guts', 'What Would You Do', and 'All That' that I loved as well. During those long summer days at home from school, Nickelodeon provided quite the respite when it was too hot to be out jumping on the trampoline. Thanks, Nick!!

This final show is actually my favorite show of all time. It wasn't something I started watching until the 8th grade, but it was a show that I watched growing up and is no longer in production, thus the reason for it being on this list. For me, 'Friends' was an escape. During those challenging high school years of peer pressure, feeling awkward, pressure regarding sports I was participating in, and all the other challenges of high school that I wasn't emotionally intelligent enough to handle, 'Friends' was my outlet. It was 30 minutes that I could escape and go to another world of coffee shops and cool apartments in a city far away from my own. Over the years, I really did grow to love these 6 characters. I will always remember where I was when I watched the series finale, crying as I said goodbye to the 6 that had provided laughs on so many hard days.

Disclaimer: You can choose to make fun of me here. I know I'm being a bit sappy. Now I am emotionally intelligent enough to handle tough situations without a cast of characters on a television show, but at the time I wasn't and I needed something to serve as an escape. I would propose that on some level we all do that when things are hard. We go running, some resort to destructive vices such as mass alcohol consumption, etc. I chose a TV show. I was already running up to 60 miles a week for school. Running wasn't going to help me...

There you have it. My favorite shows of childhood. I bet they're pretty similar to many of yours. What are some others you would have added?

'Tennessee calls my name from the horizon...'

I will be returning to the city my heart deeply loves in 2 weeks. Nashville, here I come!

Stops will be made at: Fido (best coffeeshop in the entire world), The Phunky Griddle (where you make your own pancakes), Whole Foods (because I want to see Nicole & Keith like my sister's friend did), The Village Chapel (sister's church), Merridee's Breadbasket (best sandwiches...ever), and Athens (go Greek!).

Home is where the heart is.

**The title to the post is a lyric from my friend Zach Hendricks' song 'When She Sings'. Download his album on iTunes...you'll love it!

Don't get 'Lost' in the 'Fringe' and be sure to study 'Grey's Anatomy' before going into 'Private Practice'....

This post is to shamelessly plug the television shows that I love. If you've known me long at all, I'm sure I've initiated some form of conversation with you regarding pop culture, more specifically television shows. I love pop culture. I really do. And always have.

I have very clear memories and nostalgic feelings related to the movies and television shows I watched as a kid. I think it had something to do with the fact that my uncle worked for a video distribution company and we were constantly getting HUGE shipments of all these movies. Literally, movies overflowed out of our "playroom" when I was younger. And I, the young impressionable child, was forever addicted to the medium of the talkies, both the big and small screen versions.

I like this idea of a list because it allows for multiple posts. This post will be dedicated to the current television shows I love. Posts to come: back-in-the-day favorite shows, current favorite movies, and back-in-the-day favorite movies.

*Disclaimer: These are not in any particular order. I just can't decide which I like better.

LOST

One word: ridiculous. This show is incredible. It's like watching a giant puzzle be put together while you're all the while trying to guess the next move. The theological overtones are so fun to think through, the character development is smart and thorough, and the plotline is always surprising. Excellence, folks.

Grey's Anatomy

While I can't say that I'm very fond of the moral road taken by most of the characters on this show, I will say that their character development is equally excellent. I also have to give props to GA for the vast array of surprising medical knowledge I've acquired. I'll never forget the day my sweet labor & delivery nurse friend, Meredith (see previous post), was shocked by the fact that I knew what 'pushing rounds of epi' meant. Shocked. She was even more shocked to find out that I'd learned it from a TV show. Who says you can't learn anything from television?

American Idol

I've been a faithful follower of this show since season 4, the season in which Carrie Underwood ruled the stage. I think I was officially hooked the night she belted out 'Alone' by Heart like it was no big deal and absolutely NAILED every note. I thought to myself, "Oh okay, these people are serious." I'm pretty sure I re-watched that performance about 127 times. Ever since, I'm pretty much an AI trivia machine. Go ahead...try to stump me...

Private Practice



















The only reason I watch this show is because Addison, played by Kate Walsh, was my favorite character on Grey's Anatomy (see above). When she left to have her own show, pulling a Seinfeld, I had to follow. Watching the character of Addison makes me want to be very, very good at my job. The girl straight up dominates the neo-natal scene. It's very fun watching a woman have utter authority in her profession and owning every second of it...or at least pretending to on screen...

24

It is all about Jack Bauer. You're in a burning bus. Who do you want around? Jack Bauer. You're being held hostage. Who do you want scouting the situation? Jack Bauer. Terrorists are attacking. Who do you want in charge? Jack. Bauer. The man is unstoppable and it is oh-so-fun to watch!

Fringe




















This is my newest favorite. I really didn't get into it until this summer (thank goodness for Hulu!) and was absolutely sold after about 3 episodes. Creepy weird parapsychology mixed with cute Joshua Jackson...who doesn't want to watch that?!

So You Think You Can Dance

Now that everyone else if finally beginning to understand the brilliance of this show (it's won 2 Emmy's!), it has been moved from the summer line-up to the fall, essentially becoming Fox's fall version of American Idol. The dancers are absolutely phenomenal and the choreography is out of this world. Seriously. It will blow you away. This past season saw the triumph of Jeanine, with my favorite Brandon taking second. We saw issues such as breast cancer and addiction addressed. 2 more Emmy awards...mark my words. And Cat Deeley, the host, makes Ryan Seacrest look like an awkward schoolboy. Her genuine connection with the dancers is so endearing and very pleasant to watch.

Those are some of my current favorites. What do you love?

A Seperate Peace

Okay all, back to a book review. Next up: 'A Seperate Peace' by John Knowles.

For some reason, ever since high school I had always wanted to read this book. In freshman engligh we were assigned a differenct classic in group of 3 or 4 to read and discuss together, then present to the class. I, unfortunately, was assigned 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley. I will not be reviewing that book on this blog. I hated it. For my 14-year-old mind, reading about babies being mass-produced in test tubes was not appealing. However, when my friends who read this book by John Knowles presented, my interests were drawn.

This book is about 2 boys at a boarding school during WW2. (I know you're starting to sense the theme, here...) I don't what it was about their presentation of the storyline, but it always seemed interesting and I made a mental note to read it at some point in my lifetime. Well, that point has now come and gone.

I read this last month and thought it was pretty good. I'm certainly not going to do it justice after the many reviews it's received. After all, it's a classic. If I'm being honest, there were definitely times that I was bored. I know that I was supposed to be soaking in all the literary elements that I am sure were used masterfully by Mr. Knowles, but I just wasn't diggin' on it. For me, there was too much description of landscape, too much of the psychological elements occurring being left up to interpretation by the reader. I don't want to interpret, John. I want you to delve into the deep psychological issues you're hinting at and really give me something gripping to think through. I don't want to have to guess at what your alluding to. Sorry.

I'm sure that's very anti-literature appreciation of me, but that's kind of how I felt as I read along. Don't get me wrong, the story was great. There were just some things I felt like yelling at the author in the process of reading it. All in all, I will say that this would be one that would be better read alongside other people. I feel discussion would greatly aid in one's appreciation of this work.

Bookmarks: 3 out of 5

Perils of the Job Search

Well folks, the perils of the job search continue. I must admit that either hearing 'no' or actually never hearing back from anyone at all has left me feeling a bit like this little girl: upset, crying, and in general wondering what's going on.

Now, I understand that I'm trying to find a new job at something that I'm new at in some of the worst economic times in recent history, perhaps in my own lifetime. I get that. Many people have felt it necessary to remind me of this fact. But, let me just say this: it's not really that comforting. Why is that, do you ask? Because peeps won't even call me back. Because of this, my lack of new job status can't be about me blowing an interview, offending the interviewer, or royally putting my foot in my mouth. I haven't even been given the chance to do any of those things and I'm still without a job with the word 'counselor' or 'therapist' in the title. And all this because of the stupid economy? Not comforting.

Did that sound a little bitter? I do apologize. I don't mean to be. I'm just blowing off a little steam. It was just this morning that yet another position that I applied for was filled. A position that I applied for, followed up regarding, and yet never even spoke to an actual person about. The little robotic lady at their HR number and I had fun little conversations, but at the end of the day, she's not the one giving out the jobs.

I do trust that one day the Lord will provide a job in the field that I attended school for, but until that day, maybe I'll go learn how to be a scuba instructor or something...

Something New, Something Different...

My dear, sweet friend Meredith informed me yesterday that when I would start writing about something other than books, she might start reading my blog. Now, if you know Mer at all, you know she hasn't got one malicious bone in her body, and that she was quite obviously joking because of the following reason. She's not a fan of reading, much preferring to do anything and everything related to engaging with people as opposed to sitting quietly engrossed in paper with words on it. Because of this, reading a bunch of blog posts about books, regardless of how much she loves her friend, is about as fun as having, oh, a root canal or something. Therefore, in an effort to both a) attract more readers and b) break up the repitition of the book reviews, I've decided to do something new, something different. Mer, this post is for you, girl. No book talk in sight.

The beauty of doing book reviews is that it allows me to think creatively in how to craft the sentences without having to actually generate creative ideas. Because my life for the last 3 months or so has been a great deal of monotony and boring routine, I struggle to find any life events that are really very blog-worthy, if you will. So, I decided to make a list. Lists are fun. Lists allow for the witty.

Here goes. List numero uno. (See Mer, I know a little, or un piquito, of spanish...)

Top 10 Places I Want to Travel to Now That I Am No Longer A Student...

10. Nashville
If you have ever had a conversation with me regarding future life plans, you know that this is where my heart is. The only reason it's number 10 is because I've been many times and it will remain a constant on the list, no matter how many times I go. I'm always asked, "Why Nashville?" and "What's so special about Nashville?". My answer: I have no idea. It just feels like home to me.

9. Greece
This is for 2 reasons: the food and the white washed houses on the cliffs. I mean, seriously. Who doesn't want to eat some awesome lamb while overlooking the beautiful Mediterranean from one of those white-washed restaurants?! This girl most certainly does.

8. Ireland
The movie P.S. I Love You is to blame for this one. The panoramic shots in that movie of the beautiful Irish countryside were so breathtaking that I cried during the movie. I want to go there, go to one of the pubs, get a glass of Guinness (although I probably won't like it, but hey! you're in Ireland!), and take alot of pictures. And maybe learn the accent...

7. Jerusalem
Quite simply, I want to see it. I want to see all the places that I've spent years studying and reading about. I want to understand the significance of things to a more fundamental level by seeing these places with my own eyes. I want to see the garden, I want to see the road He carried the cross down...I want to see it.

6. London
London, baby!! Many things here are appealing in the land across the pond. I want to have English tea, go see if I can find Diagon Alley because I'm sure the Harry Potter people really do exist, go to Notting Hill and take my picture with the scenes from the movie, see Buckingham Palace, Big Ben...the list could go on. I've heard London's awesome.

5. Milan
I have roots in Italy (laugh it up, Mer :) ) and would love to see the Motherland. I'm jealous because my sister has already been on a tour of Italy and I've yet to place on toe in the place. I don't know why Milan first...I kinda want to see all the fashion stuff too...

4. Austria
"The hills are alive with the sound of music...." The Sound of Music tour. Easily one the things I want to do most right now. I was just telling my mom the other day that I remember the day she got "The Sound of Music" in the mail as a gift from my uncle. I think I might have been 5 or 6. No lie, ever since then, my love of that movie has remained a constant. There were many days in college spent studying to the backdrop of Julie Andrews singing "Doe, a deer, a female deer, Ray, a drop of golden sun..." I just want to be there and soak it all in. And I also want to see WW2 spots, but more on that later.

3. St. John
I will say that I have already been to the number 3 spot, but it was that wonderful to be named again on the list. I was 13 the last time I went and I think now at 25 I would have a much greater appreciation for the relaxation potential encapsulated in that tiny island. And you won't find better seafood. I mean, whoa! It is right outta the water good. The freshness of the fish mixed with the bursts of flavor in the fruit make for an unmatched combo.

2. New York City
I literally could go on and on and on and on.....about all the reasons why I want to visit this fantastic city. I feel like I've been there already since NYC has become a character in and of itself in pop culture. I want to go see musicals on Broadway and be moved to tears, go eat at restaurants by Bobby Flay and Gordon Ramsay, visit places that were in movies like 'You've Got Mail', '2 Weeks Notice', and 'Sleepless in Seattle,' go to the Empire State Building, Ellis Island, the Twin Towers Memorial. The list could continue. I've heard NYC is a magical place unlike anywhere else and I can't wait to experience it for myself.

And now, for the #1 spot, the spot that if someone just gave me money and said "Go anywhere" I would choose.....

1. Amsterdam
If you read my previous post or if you know me well, you know of my life-long fascination with the Holocaust, most specifically the Frank family and the Secret Annex in Amsterdam. The Frank family, the Van Pels family , and Fritz Pfeffer all hid in an attic of Otto Frank's office building in Amsterdam. That attic has been turned into a museum, containing memorabilia from the Frank family and still boasting Anne's original wall hangings of all her favorite film stars of the time. Ever since I was a little girl, I have wanted to see these small crowded rooms in person. One day I'll go and see it. And I might buy some wooden shoes. And some pretty tulips. Holland's famous for them and they're my favorite!

There you have it. My top ten. Just thinking about all these places makes me anxious to travel. Soon and very soon.

So I'm curious. What are your top 10?

The Hidden Life of Otto Frank

If you know me well, you know that I have an intense fascination with the Holocaust, particularly the story of the Frank family. I remember as a young girl in elementary school reading Anne's diary and any other book I could find about her. I think it was hard for my little 10-year-old brain to comprehend that a girl just like me had to hide in one room with her whole family for 2 years, only to die in a concentration camp 3 weeks before the Allies liberated their camp. At this point, my 25-year-old brain is still captivated by the story and will read anything that will shed more insight into the lives of these extraordinary people.

Next up: 'The Hidden Life of Otto Frank' by Carol Ann Lee.

I happened upon this book one day on one of my random Barnes & Noble stops. I don't remember what I was looking for, but I just happened to see this one. I pulled it off the shelf and was instantly mesmerized by the claim that was made on the back of the jacket. This book was going to reveal the name of the person that had betrayed the Frank family, something I had been curious about for 15 years. Naturally, I immediately went to the cash register and bought it. Due to the crazy work load of my last semester of seminary, I was only just able to read this book a few weeks ago, but it was well worth the wait.

From the moment I began reading, I was completely engrossed. I hadn't ever read much about Otto, Anne's father, seeing as most of the literature about their family is focused solely upon Anne. However, this book proved to be an absolutely fascinating read, providing much needed background and insight into family dynamics from an adult perspective that helped to understand significance of events that I had read about previously in other books. The book begins with Otto's childhood in Germany and follows him through his life at a rather quick pace, slowing to really dig in after the family moves to Amsterdam in the 1930's when Hitler was rising to power in their native Germany.

The story follows Otto through his entire life, including very closely detailed accounts of his time in Auschwitz and his journey back to Holland after the war was over. Through all of it, a man named Tonny Ahlers plays a very key role, as it seems he blackmailed Otto Frank from very early on in the war until seemingly the day he died. Ahlers was a well-known anti-Semitic and friend of the German occupiers in Holland, well know in Amsterdam for betraying Jews he knew to be in hiding. Throughout the book, it would seem that Tonny Ahlers was the man who betrayed the Frank family, knowing early on about their hiding place and only letting them stay in order to continue to blackmail Otto. However, the final chapter in the book drops a starting bombshell, revealing that the person that called the SS that day in August of 1944 to betray the Frank family was actually a woman. That woman was Tonny Ahler's wife.

If you are at all interested in WW2, the Holocaust, or history in general, read this book. It's fantastic.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 bookmarks

The Book of Fred

Interesting story, this book. This interesting cover has been on my bookshelf for no less than 4 years and quite possibly many more. I bought in on one of my many Barnes & Noble binges (one of my very favorite things to do) and have just never gotten around to reading it. I must admit...there are many books in my bookcase with a very similar history. Let's just say I'm working on it.

Next up: 'The Book of Fred' by Abby Bardi.

This book was not at all what I expected. With a cover like this, I expected some quirky, loveably odd book about...I don't know...fish? And possibly fish named Fred. Wrong. Believe it or not, this book is about religious cults and the effect they have on people. I know, I know....seriously?! Yes, seriously. Let's just say the jacket illustrator took some of the most random elements in the story and put them together to make a catchy cover...regardless of if is insightful into the storyline. Whatever.

The book is about a girl named Mary Fred. Her last name isn't really Fred, but everyone in their cult has to have the name of Fred somewhere in their own name, as it was the name of their founder. The book begins with Mary Fred and her many siblings being taken away from their parents as their parents are incarcerated for neglect after 2 of their children die. All of their children are then put into the foster system. The bulk of the story from this point is about Mary Fred adjusting to life outside a cultic atomosphere, including watching television and shopping for the first time at 14 years old.

The family she lives with consists of a sweet woman who works in the library, her daughter who is the same age as Mary Fred, and the mom's drug-addicted brother. The chapters are broken up to be taken from the point of view of each of the different characters, producing a very well-rounded perspective of the events taking place. This is where the real charm of this book is located. Observing the relationships built between Mary Fred and each of the members of the household is both endearing and intriguing as Mary Fred slowly assimilates into the life of a normal 14 year old girl.

The end of the book provides some real suspense as Mary Fred's mother is released and attempts to take her to the new cult she has joined, but comes full circle back to the foster home that has officially become Mary Fred's home. In the end, I was surprised by this book. It was far different from what I had expected and raised some good questions about needing to know why we believe what we believe.

I'm going to implement a new rating system, if for no other reason than my own entertainment.

'The Book of Fred': 3.5 out of 5 bookmarks

Fall On Your Knees

i think that ann-marie mcdonald is a brilliant writer. i eagerly await her next publication, as i have allowed myself to get lost in the two worlds she has created thus far. her character development is extraordinary. her dialogue, pitch-perfect. in short, a literary haven.

next on the list: 'fall on your knees' by ann-marie mcdonald.

i struggle to know where to begin describing this book. it completely caught me off guard, drew me in, and shocked me in the end. i will say that i feel i'm a rather perceptive reader and find that i am rarely shocked by an ending that is smart and actually makes sense. this one, although extremely shocking, was one that definitely threw me for a loop.

what i love about mcdonald's writing is that it attains the perfect balance. there is never any superfluous information that you have to skim over and yet you never find yourself clamoring for more detail either. i love that and it is a rare find.

this book is a story of 4 sisters, the piper sisters, in nova scotia at the turn of the 20th century. their dad is caucasian, their mom is persian, and that balance during that time period often causes the girls to struggle knowing where they fit. they are cut off from their mother's side of the family, as they disown her when she marries a white man. their dad's family is dead. so it is their family unit alone that makes up their family. with a father who is obsessed with his oldest daughter's vocal talent and a mother who has become almost mute due to her husband's abuse, this is a story of how the girls struggle to grow up apart from any real guidance other than what they give one another.

the relationships between the sisters is what drives this book, especially the relationship between the two middle sisters, mercedes and frances. as their mother's death forces mercedes to conform to the mother role and frances continues to feel the need to protect the youngest in any way possible, the heart and drama of the story unfolds.

the pages turn themselves in this story. there is a driving pulse that is motivated by absolutely incredible character development that is addictive. the end is quite shocking, so i wouldn't recommend this to everyone, but will say that if you can get past some of the controversial subject matter, this book is one that will keep you thinking for a few days.

and hey, oprah recommends it, so it's gotta be good, right? :)

Murder on Lenox Hill

i will admit this up front. i only bought this book because it was on sale for 1 dolla' and i wanted a light mystery read. i thought a buck a book was a good deal.

next on the list: 'murder on lenox hill' by victoria thompson.

this book was okay. if you want a murder mystery for a semi-engaging beach read, i MAY recommend this one. it wasn't my favorite. it was really hard for me to get in to and then once i sorta did, the ending is extremely predictable. so much so that you keep thinking, surely, surely, that's not going to be the ending. oh, but it is, my friends!

this book takes place in new york city back in the day. like horse and buggy days. hence the series name of 'the gaslight mysteries'. sara brandt is from a well-to-do family of money in the early days of new york city. a widow, the tale of another book in the series apparently, sara strays from her society ways to work as a midwife. this was apparently not an occupation that was well respected in those days.

in this particular story, there are 2 plotlines woven together. one being the obvious...the murder on lenox hill. the other, the impregnation of a mentally challenged 17-year-old girl. how, you might ask, are these 2 plots woven together? not very well, i would answer. i won't go into the details because i don't think i'd recommend this book to anyone. but, because i read it and i'm sticking to my new "writing about every book i read" blog kick, i felt obligated to write a post about it. however, YOU should not feel obligated to read this book. save yourself the time and yo' dolla'!! go buy yourself a 1 dolla' hot fudge sundae at mcdonald's instead!! :)

Cold Tangerines

okay, next on the list: 'cold tangerines' by shauna niequist.

this summer, you need to read this book. simply put, it's wonderful. in reading it, i felt like i was being hugged by a friend. it spoke deeply and directly to my heart. read it. it's delightful.

this book is shauna's first and it is an absolutely wonderful collection of essays about life, celebration, and finding joy and significance in the little moments, the everyday moments of life. there are stories that will have you lauging out loud, as shauna's wit is spot on. there are stories that will have you crying, identifying with deep moments of pain and tender memories shared with the reader. there are stories that will inspire you as shauna gets to the root and the heart of what truly matters in life.

in reading this book, it feels like you've made a new friend. shauna writes in such a way that reading her stories makes you feel as though you're sitting at a table with her, drinking good coffee, and learning from the immense wisdom this woman possesses. her writing comes off as though you're having a conversation with her and let me tell you, it's one worth having.

'cold tangerines' is the only book i've ever cared to read more than once. in fact, i've read it many times and am reminded of something new each time. it is refreshing, wise, funny, and real. read it. you'll love it. once you read it, you'll want to share it. it makes a great gift. go buy it, wrap a ribbon around it, and share the wonderful warmth of 'cold tangerines' with a friend.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

wow. it's been so long since i've blogged. i think i was creatively worn out from all the writing i was doing at school, BUT i'm feeling rejuvinated and have been creatively inspired with an idea.

i love to read. it is one of my very favorite pastimes. i lose myself in the stories and characters and their lives. i feel i've been a million places, not because i've traveled extensively, but because i dive into books as often as i can.

once i finish a book, i find that i always want to talk about it with someone and share in the wonderful story together. i'm not one for book clubs. i don't like being confined to a schedule. solution? write about the book on my blog. perfection.

with that being said, i have a few books to catch up on, as i've been reading like a crazy woman this summer after having graduated from seminary and have the freedom to read fiction again.

the first book to start this new creative outlet: the vanishing act of esme lennox by maggie o'farrell.

let me start off by saying this book is heartbreaking. working within the mental health field, i felt especially connected to the story line of this book, both from the viewpoint of esme and of iris. esme has spent her life in a mental health institution in scotland and iris is her relationally distant family member a few generations removed. upon the closing of the hospital where esme has spent most of her life, the lot falls on iris to determine the best course of action and living situation for this family member she barely knows and in many ways is fearful of. the relationship between the 2 women is what makes the book worth reading, as are the confused wanderings through the psyche of esme.

i gobbled this book up. seriously, within 3 days i think i had it finished. o'farrell's writing style is addictive and her character development causes such empathy that the reader is immediately invested in the storyline.

with beautiful descriptions of the scottish landscape coupled with the social commentary of the mental health systems of the past, this is a read for anyone who likes a good character piece.

and, as i read this about 4 books ago, that's all the detail that comes to immediate memory. :)