The Secret Garden OR A Guide to Building a Family

~ Tell us the title: The Secret Garden
~ Who penned this work?: Francis Hodgson Burnett
~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: It was my Grandmother's favorite book.  I felt a great connection to her by reading it and could easily place her as one of the characters in the book.
~ Number of pages: 234
~ Time passed from start to finish?: Don't remember. It didn't take long.
~ Describe the cover: A young girl (Mary Lennox) stooping in front of an ivy-covered wall, inserting a key into a lock.
~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: Classics Maybe?
~ Summary of the basic plot: Mary's a spoiled rotten brat forced to move into her uncle's house when her parents die of cholera.  What unfolds is an unexpected welcoming of love and care from a family that is not her own (aka - not her uncle).
~ Background information on the story/author:  Hodgson Burnett was a woman born in England than started writing for journal publications to help her family make money.  Her writing earned her money and later fame as she moved to writing novels.
~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):  I loved it.  Even though its target is children, its still a novel with lessons and themes that can be applied at any stage in life.  The reading flowed smoothly and lacked slow moments and extraneous details.
~ Choose your rating:
          - Changed. My. Life. It really was a great connection to my grandmother and helped me reconcile her passing.  She was a fantastic woman that treated everyone as family and her love and companionship will always be missed.
          - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
          - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
          - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
          - A disgrace to paper everywhere

True Crime, Nothing More

~ Tell us the title: Serial Murder 101
~ Who penned this work?: Bridget DiCosmo
~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: Borders went out of business, I got it for 60% off I think.  There was probably a reason it was still on the shelf.
~ Number of pages: 294
~ Time passed from start to finish?: 10 daysish
~ Describe the cover: Two pictures of Krajcir, a man that reminds me of Dr. Death, perhaps fitting;  There are also three pictures that I'm guessing belong to victims of his.
~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?:  True Crime
~ Summary of the basic plot:  Timothy Krajcir (I don't know how to say that either) was a serial killer that went out with a whimper.  This book follows his escapades in a very matter-of-fact manner while attempting to draw personal connections within the story and to the reader.
~ Background information on the story/author: Krajcir is/was (don't care if he's still alive) a rapist and murderer.  And, from the back page, "Bridget DiCosmo is an award-winning crime reporter for the Southeast Missourian, a daily newspaper in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  She pursued a graduate education at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and holds an undergraduate degree in history from St. John's University in Queens, New York.  When she is not digging into the world of crime, Bridget relaxes by riding horses and spending time at home with Bandit, her King Charles spanieal, and Natalie, her cat."
~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):  I felt like the whole thing was a long, drawn out bore of a story.  I love true crime, which is likely the only reason I was able to finish this book.  On numerous occasions I found myself frustrated by repetitive metaphors and elaborate descriptions of simple events.  It reminds me of the writing in A Date with Death, which I'm working on reviewing currently.  Coincidentally (or not so much) both DiCosmo and A Date with Death's  author are reporters.  The tie between them seems to explain the struggles they both had in creatively telling a true story.  If you're writing a paper article, you've got three lines to express three paragraphs.  In Serial Murder 101, DiCosmo fails to increase the juicy details of the story, while expanding on the three line articles she writes day-to-day.  Furthermore, any personal connection misses wildly while over-emphasis on certain "connections/coincidences" runs rampant.  
     Overall, it was a frustrating read.
~ Which page was your favorite? Share why:  I made it through the whole book without a single dog-eared page, so I'm not sure I was intrigued much.  However, I did find it interesting that someone was convicted and died while in prison for "committing" one of the crimes that Krajcir confessed to committing.
~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?  I wouldn't make a movie out of it, there was nothing spectacular about it.
~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why: "The current Mount Vernon police chief suggested that the confession was a phony and should cast serious doubt on Krajcir's credibility" (pg. 287)  Very interesting that a police official, whom the public trusts, is unwilling to even consider they may have made a mistake.  Pointing the finger at someone else never helps, it will catch up with you.  
~ Choose your rating:
          - Changed. My. Life.
          - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
          - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
          - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
          - A disgrace to paper everywhere
~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page.  "About a half hour north loomed the Pocono Mountains, a coal-mining region marked by several large ski resorts and scenic lakes."

History, Science, Personal Triumph

~ Title: The Immortal Life of Herietta Lacks


~ Penned by: Rebecca Skloot


~ How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: Kevin (my bro) gave it to me for Christmas.  Thank You!


~ Number of pages: 328


~ Time passed from start to finish?: A week


~ Describe the cover: Orangish-red cells with a picture of Henrietta in the top corner


~ In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: Biography, Science, Bestsellers


~ Summary of the basic plot: A background on the what are probably the most important human cells in biomedical history.


~ Background information on the story/author:  Henrietta Lacks was a woman that died much too young of cervical cancer.  A researcher at Johns Hopkins developed a cell culture using her cancerous cells which led to countless discoveries which have saved millions, probably billions of lives.  The author is a science writer whose articles have appeared in The New York Times Magazine; O, The Oprah Magazine; Columbia Journalism Review; and in numerous other publications.  She has taught non-fiction in the creative writing departments at the University of Memphis and the University of Pittsburgh, and science journalism at New York University.  This is her first book.


~ What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it): Awesome!  This book combines science, history, family, and incredible writing.  It reads like a novel (though non-fiction) and I couldn't put it down.


~ Which page was your favorite? Share why: There's a page (somewhere) that Zakariyya receives a gift from his sister.  It moved me reading about a hardened, embittered individual softening, if only for a moment.


~ If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters? Henrietta - Viola Davis, Rebecca - Erin Cummings, Deborah - Octavia Spencer


~ Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why: one of many, this is a book that I could see myself reading a number of times: "In February 1954, Southam loaded a syringe with saline solution mixed with HeLa.  He slid the needle into the forearm of a woman...then pushed the plunger, injecting about five million of Henrietta's cells into her arm."  

In today's world where everything must receive informed consent, it is appalling to me that this ever happened.

~ Choose your rating:
          - Changed. My. Life.
          - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
          - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
          - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
          - A disgrace to paper everywhere
Definitely one of the best books I've ever read, in this case the rating is more of a, "I laughed, I cried, You HAVE to read this"




~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page.  (Page 2) "I first learned about HeLa cells and the woman behind them in 1988, thirty-seven years after her death, when I was sixteen and sitting in a community college biology class." A book 22 years in the making is destined to be great.

The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

Tell us the title:

Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

Who penned this work?:

Mary Roach

How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?:

I picked it up at Barnes & Noble after reading 3 pages in the store and laughing hysterically.  To be forewarned: If you buy this in person in a small conservative town, the clerk will look at you like you are a heathen. 

Number of pages:

303

Time passed from start to finish?:

About a week and a half

Describe the cover:

Light blue background with a microscope looped through the word "bonk" in bright yellow letters.  There are also two small people making out in the tray of the microscope. 

In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?:

Ooh good question!  Non-fiction... science, humor, relationship advice? (sort of kidding on the last one)

Summary of the basic plot:

An in-depth look at the science of sex, essentially.  Mary Roach covers a variety of topics, many of them common arguments or misconceptions, and uses science to try to gain answers.  She provides references from a wide variety of texts and interviews, and even volunteers for a study or two herself!

Background information on the story/author:

Roach is also the author of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers and Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife.

What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):

I really loved the author's open and blunt honesty, as well as her use of wit and humor to make it easier to discuss topics that typically make people rather uncomfortable.  Roach uses a tremendous amount of footnotes to sneak in her humorous tidbits, which makes me feel like we're watching a film about the topic and she keeps leaning over to whisper her thoughts.  She's a great writer, so the whole things flows smoothly.  I laughed a lot, but I also learned a lot and didn't have to feel awkward about it.  

Which page was your favorite? Share why:

Impossible to choose!

If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?

Yeah...not that much of a relevant question here, but I guess that the plot line of her researching all of this could be made into a pretty funny movie.  I'd cast Cameron Diaz as the author. And Jason Bateman as her husband, who continues to get roped into her experiments. Actually that would be a great movie!

Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why:

"Unattached hiccuppers were advised that 'masturbation might be tried.' *Or, if they are followers of sixteenth-century naturalist Li Shih-chen, sun-dried, powdered wolf epiglottis.  Li's hiccup remedy, found in the Chinese Materia Medica, is probably quite effective, for in the time it takes to track a wolf and sun-dry its epiglottis, even the most stubborn case of hiccups will invariably have passed."

            Choose your rating:
          - Changed. My. Life.
          - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
          - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
          - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
          - A disgrace to paper everywhere

 Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page: 

"My point is that if you want to understand human sexual response, then studying animals is probably not the most productive way to go about it."

Before Liz Lemon...

Tell us the title: Bossypants

Who penned this work?: Tina Fey

How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: While listlessly roaming through Costco, I saw this book and snuck it into the cart, under some bread.

Number of pages: 275

Time passed from start to finish?: About 3 seconds

Describe the cover: A lovely picture of Tina herself with hairy man-arms and a nice blue background.

In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: Biography, humor

Summary of the basic plot: Tina Fey's life story, essentially... told with the tone you would expect...utter hilarity.  On a more serious note, however, I was actually really impressed with the honesty she presented in terms of herself as a mother and a woman in the showbiz industry, an industry where it is hard to be either of those.

Background information on the story/author: Bossypants essentially explains how Tina Fey got to where she is, the dues she paid, the awkwardness of who she really is, and the underlying reasons why we all love her :)

What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it): I loved it!  Except maybe for the outbursts of laughter in public places while reading it, but that's just because I don't like when people think I'm crazy.  It provided a good amount of *dishing* that we all desire from celebrity biographies, plenty of humor, and a nice dose of honesty that was refreshing.  Also, I'm just fond of women who curse a lot, because it makes me feel less alone in that tendency.

Which page was your favorite? Share why: Actually, the entire 3-page chapter entitled "The Mother's Prayer for Its Daughter", including the stanza: 

"And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, 

Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends,

For I will not have that Shit.  I will not have it."

If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?: Sarah Palin clearly would have to play Tina Fey.  Otherwise, since most of her friends are celebrities anyway, let's just have them play themselves.

Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why: Oh please, where do I begin?  

1. "As weird as the night's events had been, I couldn't help but be excited by the fact that I had climbed a mountain.  I never would have thought I could do that.  I think someone should design exercise machines that reward people with sex at the end of their workouts, because people will perform superhuman feats for even the faint hope of that."

2. "So my unsolicited advice to women in the workplace is this.  When faced with sexism or ageism or lookism or even really aggressive Buddhism, as yourself the following question: 'Is this person in between me and what I want to do?' If the answer is no, ignore it and move on.  Your energy is better used doing your work and outpacing people that way.  Then, when you're in charge, don't hire the people who were jerky to you."

3. "I feel about Photoshop the way some people feel about abortion.  It is appalling and a tragic reflection on the moral decay of our society...unless I need it, in which case, everybody be cool."

Choose your rating:
          - Changed. My. Life.
          - I laughed, I cried laughed some more, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
            -Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
            - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
            - A disgrace to paper everywhere

Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page: "Did we dare disappoint Frank the Doorman and Robert De Niro?"

A memoir of survival in Darfur

Tell us the title: 

Tears of the Desert

Who penned this work?: 

Halima Bashir (with Damien Lewis)

How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?: 

It was a Christmas gift from my lovely sister

Number of pages: 

313

Time passed from start to finish?: 

About a week

Describe the cover: 

An earthy deep red frames a pensive and reflective picture of the author.

In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?: 

Memoir/Biography

Summary of the basic plot: 

This is the memoir of a young woman and her unique childhood and life experience with the war in Sudan.

Background information on the story/author:

Halima was the daughter of a cattle herder in the Zaghawa tribe in the Sudanese desert.  Her family was relatively wealthy, and she therefore had the opportunity to receive a formal education and become a doctor.  Having to flee the country because of her involvement in the conflict, she now lives in England with her husband and son. 

What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):

You can't read a story like this and not be moved by it, in my opinion.  This woman was born the same year as my sister, and in her lifetime she experienced a brutal war, vicious rape, discrimination, the loss of family, isolation, and the emotional trauma of being a refugee.  I'm constantly amazed at the way people like Halima, who have experienced such intense situations at such young ages, continue to persevere, and their ability to present their stories without self-pity.  She is many things worth admiring and standing in awe of: a woman, a doctor, a mother, a survivor... 

Apart from this, there were a few things I found interesting.  First, as always surprises me, is the way that the local people from these small villages and remote areas treat each other.  Halima's father had a vehicle, and as he was driving her to town to attend school, he *of course* gave as many people as possible a ride so they would not have to walk.  This seemed to be pretty customary, to offer help like that.  On one such trip, they got a flat tire.  Halima tells how before they could even make a move, the male passengers were removing the tire and replacing it.  They wouldn't even allow Halima's father to help.  I always have to wonder: would that happen here?  I'd say no for the US as a whole, but yes for the town/state where I'm from.

Another fascinating part of Halima's story was her journey to become a physician.  In her village, people believed very strongly in traditional medicine, spiritual healing, and medicinal herbs and plants.  It was very interesting to read about her experience in blending these traditional treatments and beliefs with the traditional hard science of modern medicine.  There were things she realized weren't valid, and other beliefs she held to very strongly.  I can see how the combination of these approaches could make her a very good physician both in her home country but also abroad.  Medicine in the US is very hard, angular, and ruled by logic and science, leaving little room for the spiritual, natural, mystical.  Perhaps that is a pitfall? 

Which page was your favorite? Share why:

I didn't appear to mark the page or pages involved with this part of the story, but when Halima was in school in the city she experienced a lot of discrimination for being a black African in a school primarily filled with Arab girls.  One particular instance, she was punished unfairly for something another girl was responsible for.  Despite extreme punishment, verbal attacks, physical lashings, and much condescending talk, she stood up for herself.  I loved the visual of this young girl standing up for herself in the face of adults, with no one to back her up at the time.  That took amazing strength and resoluteness of character, and perhaps those traits helped prepare her for survival later in life.  

If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?

I have No. Idea.  Stories like this I can't really make those calls.  The only person I see as the main characters are the people themselves.  It's hard to cast a person in the role of a real individual.

Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why:

I have two of them:

 "'If it wasn't for us black Africans the Arabs couldn't feel so superior,' I fumed.  'They need us -- they need someone to keep down, to keep under them.'"

This is something Halima said, and I was struck by the truth of it.  Not just in the context of the conflict in Sudan, but world-wide.  Go to any country and you will see groups of people cast into conflict over superiority of one race or religion or appearance or background over another.  Why humans do this I'm not sure, but it happens the world over, in every different dynamic possible.  We appear to feel some need to not only define ourselves by different groups we fit into, but then to rank those.  Is it possible we're all just horribly insecure? 

[upon returning to her village after it was suddenly raided and her family members were either killed or had fled]  

"I returned to our yard as if I were in a dream.  I dug up the valuables from where I knew they were hidden and stuffed them into my pocket.  I took a black plastic carrier bag, loaded into it a handful of dried dates, a spare tope, and a thick robe.  Then I said my goodbyes to Kadiga's uncle.  I took one last look at my childhood home, turned away, and started walking.  I knew in my heart that I would never be returning to this place again."

This is all Halima took with her as she said goodbye to her childhood home for the unforeseeable future.  I felt it was such a striking moment, as she set off all alone, with no idea where she would end up or if she would ever see her family again.  It makes that bad day at work not seem like such a valid complaint.

Choose your rating:

Changed. My. Life.

I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it

A definite page-turner
  Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
Why did I waste my weekend on this?
A disgrace to paper everywhere

~ Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page. 

"There's no way we're leaving empty-handed."

Aspergers, patient mother, and murder. Dun dun dunnn

The title: 

House Rules

Who penned this work?:

Jodi Picoult

How did this piece find it's way to your nightstand?:

I'd heard she was a good author.  That's all there is to it.

Number of pages:

532

Time passed from start to finish?:

Two weeks, maybe?

Describe the cover:

A boy crouching near a lake, writing in the sand.

In what section of the bookstore would a reader find this?:

Fiction  

Summary of the basic plot:

Jacob is an 18 year old with Aspergers, he has a 15 year old brother, and his mother who works from home.  He's obsessed with forensic criminology, and likes to crash crime scenes to tell the police what happened to the victim.  It's all harmless until a victim is someone he's close to, and the crime scene makes every clue turn into making him into a suspect.  So most of the book is finding out what really happened to the victim.  Each chapter is from the perspective of a different character, which I thought was neat.

Background information on the story/author:

She is also a #1 bestselling author, who lives in New Hampshire with her husband and three kids.  Is that good enough?  

What did you think of it? (your general response, what you liked or didn't like, what you learned, anything else you want to share about it):

I actually liked it.  I wanted to turn the pages to find out what happens next! I didn't know much about aspergers, so it was neat to learn about something. 

Which page was your favorite? Share why:

I need to remember to keep track of that kind of stuff when i'm reading. because i couldn't tell ya. 532 pages is a lot to go back and find out which was my favorite.

If the story was made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?

i bet leonardo dicaprio, back in the day when he was in gilbert grape, would have been good as jacob.  I don't know many 18 year old actors that could pull off that right now.  

Share a quote that was worth reading twice. Explain why:

Again, i forgot to take notes, but looking one up online, here's a good one:

"I don't know what he means by that, but I nod and smile at him. You'd be surprised at how far that response can get you in a conversation where you are completely confused."   It shows how Aspergers works in his mind.  The line before that was most likely a metaphor, and Aspie's take everything 100% literally.  

           Choose your rating:

          - Changed. My. Life.
          - I laughed, I cried, I want you to read it
          - A definite page-turner
          - Good to check out but don't spend the cash.
          - Why did I waste my weekend on this?
          - A disgrace to paper everywhere

Flip to page 2, 22, or 202. Share the 7th sentence on the page. 

It's the child who's supposed to cry, and the mom who makes it all better, not the other way around, which is why mothers will move heaven and earth to hold it together in front of their own kids.