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My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison
Book Review by Cindy Bohn of Digging up Bohns
This starts off as a pretty standard case for a little magical help here. Jane is pretty and smart, but can't make handsome Hunter notice her. But she gets a makeover and poof! instant happy ending. Except that Hunter is her little sister's boyfriend. Oops.
Now pretty, popular, oblivious little Savannah is the one in need of some help. But instead of a Fairy Godmother, she gets a Fair one, and this one can't even be bothered to listen long enough to figure out what three wishes Savannah wants. Looks like she'll have to get through Cinderella and Snow White on her own before she can find her Prince Charming.
This was a fun and breezy read that had a very satisfying ending, as well as a reminder that Middle Age life was nothing like it is in those Disney movies.
* I reviewed this book, too. You can see my review here. -Emily *
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kambewamba
Book Review by Cindy Bohn of
Digging Up Bohns
In the LDS Church, we are encouraged to fast for two consecutive meals on the first Sunday of every month. It's not just 'going hungry' - we are to ask for spiritual help with something, or to bless someone else, and to pray for an increased measure of the Spirit as we fast. Then we take the money we would have spent on those meals and donate it to the Church for the support of the poor in our area. I must admit that I am not great about following this practice. We have always been faithful in the payment of our fast offerings, donating as much as we could, much more than the cost of the food itself, whenever we can. But the going without food part is hard for me.
This weekend I grabbed a library book that will forever change how I look at the fast. It's called "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind," by William Kambewamba. William grew up in the African nation of Malawi, the son of a farmer. His family would grow maize, or corn, and tobacco every year, milling the food they needed for themselves and using the money they earned to provide for their needs for the year. One year they had planted their maize, as usual, but the rains didn't come. For weeks the crop struggled along, with the seeds barely breaking through the soil. Then the rains came, but all at once. The seeds were washed away in a flood. William's family planted again, but they couldn't afford fertilizer and the crop didn't have enough time to grow before the harvest. The entire nation was affected.
His family got their pitiful harvest of grain milled, one bag at a time, but they had only five bags to last them all year. At first, they hoped that the government would come through with the food they needed. But instead, corrupt officials sold what grain they could and the surplus disappeared. So people starved. When the grain was almost gone, the hungry people took the husks of the corn, the green part I throw away every time I cook corn, and ground that up and ate it. When it began to run out, they mixed the husks with sawdust and ate that. They ate the leaves of the pumpkin vines. They even ate the seed corn, scrubbing off as much insecticide as they could. William's family saved their seed corn, but they were down to a tablespoon of food or so a day. Then it was time to plant. With their bellies aching from hunger, and sometimes too dizzy to stand and temporarily blinded, they found the strength to plant their seeds. And then they prayed. The rains came, and the people had food again.
As I read William's story, and his desperate attempts to gain an education and break this cycle of subsistence farming, I found myself thinking about my cupboard full of food. All those stories of 'children starving in Africa' and how I needed to clean my plate ran through my head. And yet, what would William have done with my breakfast cereal, my mashed potatoes and meat loaf, my tuna casserole? They wouldn't have even known what it was, much less how to cook it. Their special Christmas treat was rice and meat.
Last night I prepared for my fast today with a completely different attitude. It wasn't that by fasting I could somehow bless those who are hungry in tiny nations across the world. It wasn't even that I
Lizzie Martin arrives in London for the first time. As her cabdriver takes her to her new address, they pass a body covered with a shroud. The body turns out to belong to Madeline Hexham, whom Lizzie is replacing as paid companion. Lizzie can't help wondering about Madeline and who could have wanted her dead.
I enjoyed this one. There was some great background about coal mining and life among the working class. Lizzie and the police inspector, Ben Ross, were strong characters.
I have heard that this is the first in a series, with a little hint of romance to come.
ABC news reporter John Quinones profiles several people who are making a difference. From those who rescue people out of burning buildings or floodwaters, to a woman who saved Jewish children during WWII, to a man working to help homeless abandoned children in South America, there are so many stories of people who are heroes.
I liked the 'What Would You Do?' section, with occasions that might call for a little heroism. But my favorite parts were about Quinones himself - his time spent as a migrant farm worker, his dedicated parents to pushed him to get an education.
This book is clean, but some of the stories are that of overcoming violence, which is occasionally described in enough detail that I would be careful of sharing the book with a child. However, there are also great stories in here that children would enjoy. I guess I'm just saying to look through for yourself first.
Before I post today's review, I need to ask a very important question. Have you read any good clean books lately? I have one or two to review myself, but I am completely out of reader reviews...and, you know, I don't read two to three books a week that end up being clean, so I really rely on YOUR reviews. (Thank goodness Cindy has sent some since the blog move.)
Please email me your reviews (or any questions). And now, for the main event...
Dearly Depotted by Kate Collins
Review by Cindy Bohn of Digging Up Bohns
Abby's neurotic cousin, Jillian, is finally getting married and Abby has agreed to do the flowers and be a bridesmaid. She wasn't counting on dead bodies. But when the groom's grandmother discovers one under a table, Abby jumps in to investigate. The police already have a suspect - her friend's new boyfriend. But Abby thinks they are too quick to draw conclusions. Oh, and what's going on with her hottie escort?
This is the third in a fun series. I enjoyed this one and the others, but I just don't enjoy books like this as much as I used to. The idea of a amateur detective gets a little hard to believe after a while. And why can't she figure out what's going on with Marco? This is the third book and there's been an attraction between them the whole time. Then she FALLS ASLEEP when she finally gets to spend an evening alone with him? What's up with that? I'm all for taking things slow, but she hasn't even decided if they are dating or not. How long is that going to take?
If you like cozy mysteries, this is a fun series. There is a little bit of language, but it's otherwise clean. I like the characters, although Jillian is a bit much, and there's not this shove-it-down-your-throat thing that a lot of the 'theme cozies' seem to have. Yes, she's a florist, but it's not a DIY book for aspiring green thumbs. For myself, I would probably read another in the series if I got the chance, but I'm not going to go out and look for one.
This was a fun teen romance that was a neat little twist on Jane Austen. Julie's friend Ashleigh is always having these phases, or 'enthusiasms.' Suddenly Ashleigh discovers Jane Austen, and decides to go all out. Julie finally persuades her not to wear long dresses to high school, but agrees to go along to a boys' school dance, where they can meet their Mr. Darcys.
Like I said, it was a fun book. Ashleigh reminds me of several people I know, but fortunately, not quite so obsessed. And just about every reader will spot where the story is going almost from the beginning. The fun is in seeing HOW we get there.
Julie is a good character, with a complicated family, complicated emotions, and I really wanted her to get what she deserved. Recommended for teens or adults.
Will is an orphan, left to be raised by the Baron and then apprenticed to a skill when he turns 15. He hopes to become a warrior, but his small size means he is passed over. But the ranger Halt offers him an apprenticeship. Despite some doubts, Will accepts, and begins his training.
I think one of the reasons I bought this book is because I have a son named Will. But I also liked the idea of this sort of mysterious group working for the good of the kingdom, despite being misunderstood.
The book wasn't exactly what I had expected, but in some ways, it was better. I really liked Will and his fellow apprentices. That dynamic seems to be something that will be explored even more later in the series. I also liked Halt and the Baron. The setting is good, but could be better, but again, maybe that will develop more later in the series. I am excited to read book 2.
This one is appropriate for kids any age, and is especially a good one for boys. My Will loved it and is a big fan of the series now.
The Long Walk by Slavomir RawiczReview by Cindy Bohn of Digging Up BohnsSlavomir Rawicz was a Polish cavalry officer in World War II. He came home on leave and found himself arrested by the Russians for the crime of, well, being Polish. He was kept in prison but refused to confess. After a few months, he was tricked into signing a confession and shipped off to Siberia for 25 years hard labor.
Today I have a review of These is my Words for you. The review is by Cindy Bohn, who thankfully is still sending reviews despite my blog move. (Hint, Hint...I need more reviews, People!)Anyway, I want to put in my two-cents about this book, too. It's awesome! I am not a huge fan of historical fiction, but some authors know how to bring history to life and make you love the characters and setting.
Beck just can't seem to stay out of trouble. Even after his mother dies and he's sent to live with an uncle he's never met, he finds a way to test the rules. He makes new friends and new enemies at his school on his very first day. On his second day, he gets sent to the principal's office - a new record for him, he remarks. And his uncle can't be bothered to come out of his room to meet him.
Maybe Beck's strange upbringing is the trouble - or maybe it's the weird vibe he's getting from his new home. Suddenly he finds he has new powers. And he can't stop himself from exploring the very places he's forbidden to go.
Beck was a real smart aleck, and I kind of wanted to smack him. Then again, I can see myself behaving in just about the same way. I could sort of guess where the book was headed (Clue: look at the front cover), but once I did get to the conclusion, I was completely wrapped up in the story. I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I had to force myself to read slowly, so I wouldn't miss anything.
This book was a lot of fun. I'm glad I finally got to read it.
Book Review: John Adams by David McCulloughReview by Cindy Bohn of Diggin' Up BohnsJohn Adams is remembered today as the second president. Sometimes he is also remembered because until the Bushes, Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams were the only father-son combination to each serve as president. Sometimes he is remembered as a delegate to the convention in 1776. But this monumental book by
Writer Juliet Ashton has come through World War II more or less intact, although her flat was destroyed by bombs. But she's doing all right and ready to start a new project. Around then, she starts a correspondence with Dawsey Adams, an inhabitant of the tiny island of Guernsey. They've been cut off from all communication with England for 5 years and are desperate to catch back up to what they've missed.
Soon Juliet (and through her, the reader) finds herself completely drawn into the wartime history of this small community. Through letters, she makes friends with people she's never met, and must reexamine what she wants out of life.
It sounds just too heartwarming and sappy for words, but I thought it was great. I actually remembered a little of the history of Guernsey before I read the book, but I found myself horrified at some of the things I read. I kept telling my husband - "Guess what!" and then telling him something I had read.
The characters are wonderful, funny and tragic and pathetic. The setting is so well done. I have to add the isle of Guernsey to another of the places I would love to visit.
I really recommend this book! It's one of those books that as soon as I finished it, I wanted to go back and read it again.
I have read so many reviews of this book. So let me just share my impressions.
I have only read Gaiman's children's books so far, and I have loved everyone I've read. With this book, he has again created something to be proud of. As a retelling of The Jungle Book, he has created something really new and wonderful. The main character Bod, or Nobody Owens, is so well drawn and appealing. In fact, he is really a much better character than Mowgli, because in The Jungle Book, it is the animals which are full and interesting characters. In this one, Bod is definitely the center of the book. I loved watching him grow and develop. The big final scenes were suspenseful and funny. But I admit that the last chapter made me cry.
I would recommend this one for teens or older kids, as long as you warn them that the opening chapter is quite violent. The actual violence takes place 'behind the scenes,' but the sense of danger and evil is very real and shocking, if you are not expecting it. After that, the suspense builds slowly, but it is certainly there. 5 stars!
Greg Melville wants a new truck. His wife wants something greener. Way greener. So he decides to get an old Mercedes with a diesel engine and convert it to run on old cooking oil. Then he gets inspired to take a road trip, using nothing but free recycled oil in his car. He calls up his old buddy Iggy and the two hit the road.
The title alone is a hint that this is bound to have some funny moments. The two friends get on each others nerves and kid each other like teenagers. The car breaks down with alarming regularity. Greg gets peed on by a dog. Stuff happens, and it's pretty funny stuff.
I also enjoyed the 'errands' - side trips that Greg takes to discover what else is being done in the Green Movement to make life on earth a little more sustainable. I felt cheered to see that there are a lot of people dedicated to making a difference, and some of these ideas are practical and affordable.
This was just a fun book and a good clean read that even my 11 year old son enjoyed. Way to go, Greg! Here's hoping that everyone who read this is inspired to make a few changes in their own lives.
By:
Emily,
on 1/14/2009
Blog:
Deliciously Clean Reads
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Lady Mary is a ward of the Macbeths. Yes, those Macbeths. The ones in the play. She is beautiful, rich, and sweet. She has a perfect life. Until her father is captured as a traitor to the king and executed. Her lands are given to Macbeth and she is expected to work in the kitchen. From idle rich to scullery maid in one day.
Lady Mary begins to notice some odd things happening in the castle. First she saw Macbeth speaking with some witches. Then she saw Lady Macbeth reading a letter, something quite out of the ordinary. And then the king himself comes to stay at their castle and his shockingly and cruelly murdered.
I really enjoyed this book for teens. I am a sucker for Shakespeare-based stories, and Macbeth is probably my favorite play. So when I saw this book, I had high hopes. Cooney does an excellent job portraying the customs and manners of the day. The new characters are woven nicely into the original story, and they become so real. Lady Macbeth is especially well done. I wasn't as perfectly pleased with Macbeth himself - I felt that his motivation and his character remained a little mysterious. But overall, I was swept away.
Enter Three Witches has some difficult themes-witchcraft, religion, loyalty, ambition. I would recommend it for any older teen or adult.
I love Janette! I haven't read this yet and reading your post reminded me that I meant to pick up the book. Thanks!