Chasing Harmony

If my life was to be just a single note in an endless symphony, how could I not sound it out for as long and as loudly as I could?

I refuse to watch the news.  The headlines are replete with haunting examples of hate and divisiveness.  Makes me wish for the ghosts of Beatles past to appear and give us another heartfelt round of All You Need is Love. Imagine. Maybe that’s our challenge as human beings—to figure out how to stop judging because in the end, we’re pretty bad at it most of the time. Maybe we have to get our childhood eyes back? That’s what Lauren Wolk has me thinking after reading her moving debut novel Wolf Hollow.  

While I may be a coward when it comes to the news, I am a brave reader. Wolf Hollow revolves around serious themes like cruelty, bullying, injustice, and persecution. Sounds heavy I know, but at the heart of this story is a persistent hope and an admirable empathy. Readers have the good fortune to grow with eleven-year-old Anabelle who quickly learns about the impact of a lie, the necessity of looking at somebody’s heart in lieu of their outward appearance, and the power friendship has to transcend life itself.  I agree 100% with New York Times best selling author Sarah Pennypacker (who wrote Pax, a book I’ve been eyeballing that Rae instinctively gave me for my birthday): “The honesty of Wolf Hollow will just about shred your heart, but Annabelle’s courage and compassion will restore it to you, fuller than before. This book matters.”

P.S. Like The Book Thief, this novel is important not just for young adults but for everyone with a heart in their chest.  Both boast lovely prose. 

Posted by Tracy

In Search of Silver Linings

I slipped my hand into hers. A strange and unfamiliar feeling ran through me. It felt like the ocean, like sunlight, like horses, like love. I searched my mind and found the name for it: joy.

Yesterday, Book Riot posted an article entitled How to Read When the World is Terrible, and then today, things got even more terrible. What do you read when the news gets heavy? Maybe it's the silver-lining girl in me, but I tend to reach for books that lift. Reads that remind me the good still outweighs the bad in this sometimes weary world. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's The War that Saved my Life is such a book. And one that I can't recommend loudly enough.

Make no mistake, this book is hard to read at times. Bradley took Madeleine L'Engle's advice to heart: "You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children." Like any children's book worth its salt, there's no sugarcoating here. Don't let that scare you or your children off though, because this story is hope. You'll cry, you'll cheer, you'll shake your head in anger and then in wonder. And you'll fall in love with Ada, Jamie, and Susan. I guarantee it.

Posted by Rachel

Whatever Your Problem Is, I've Got It Too

“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” Confucius

Zilch, Zero, Nada, Zippo, Null, Nothing: that’s the number of posts we put out last week.  We’re impressive, aren’t we?  The sad truth is we’re all work and not nearly enough play these days. Boo Hoo. I told Rachel I’d have this post written yesterday—right after I admitted, “I don’t know what my problem is.” To which she perfectly replied, “whatever your problem it is, I’ve got it too.”   We laughed and life felt immediately better.  

So today I’m writing to say don’t give up on us readers. (I can use a plural there, right?)  We love to write. And we love to read.  But we have children who have to eat.  And fill their heads with college dreams. Not to mention, I worked half a dozen hours to buy my birthday boy a Razor Ground Force Drifter to effectively blow his 9-year-old mind! Should be good folks.  Should be good.  

Rest assured, you’ll be hearing from us this week.  Here’s what you’re in store for: Rachel will review The War that Saved my Life and The Princess Bride because she’s on fire like that.  And I’ll be sure to gush over Wolf Hollow. My boys and I have nearly finished reading The BFG—just in time to head to the drive-inn to watch Roald Dahl’s creativity on a giant screen under a sky full of stars.  That’s a lot to look forward to I know. Should be good.

Posted by Tracy

Weekly Wrap-Up

The suffragettes didn't starve themselves for the vote so that you girls could starve yourselves for a man. —Liane Moriarty, The Hypnotist's Love Story

WHAT WE LOVE THIS WEEK

Brainy beach reads. And no one does them better than Liane Moriarty. Her newest, Truly Madly Guilty, is being released on July 26th. Pre-order now and plan your next beach trip accordingly.

Bookriot's Themed Reading Challenge. Maybe it's the English graduates in us, but we're all about a great theme.

Outdoor reading nooks.

This list of the world's most beautiful libraries has us wanting to plan a tour. First stop: Trinity College. I do owe Tracy that trip to Ireland, after all. Who's with us?

The BFG. Perfect family movie for this holiday weekend.

COMING NEXT WEEK

Reviews of The Princess Bride and Wolf Hollow. Perhaps we'll throw in one of The War that Saved my Life for good measure.

July Book Club Selection

One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by. —Jeannette Walls, The Glass Castle

Yes, it's July 1st, and we're just now announcing July's selection, instead of mid June like good, responsible bloggers. If there's one thing we've never claimed to be it's responsible. Or punctual. Thankfully, one click on Amazon and you'll have Salt to the Sea at your doorstep in a matter of days. They're such enablers.

The minute we read this review we were sold:  "perfect for fans of Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning All the Light We Cannot See, Erik Larson's Dead Wake, and Elizabeth Wein's Printz Honor Book Code Name Verity, this masterful work of historical fiction is inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff—the greatest maritime disaster in history. As she did in Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys unearths a shockingly little-known casualty of a gruesome war, and proves that humanity and love can prevail, even in the darkest of hours."

*Reviews of May and June's book club selections coming next week.

Posted by Rachel

Are We There Yet?

In America there are two classes of travel: first class, and with children. —Robert Benchley

Summer means family road trips and the best cure for the "are we there yet" blues is a great listen. Here are some picks sure to take the Griswold out of your summer vacation:

My current listen is one the whole family will love. I had read raving reviews about The War that Saved my Life but when I heard Jayne Entwistle was narrating I was sold. It only took a few chapters to stop thinking of her as Flavia and lose myself in Ada's world.

This new full-cast version of Newberry-winning The Graveyard Book will keep everyone on the edge of their seat (as far as their seat belt will let them, anyway) and may cause you to miss an exit or two.

My friend Monica (aka: family-audio-book guru) says The Book Thief is one her whole family loved (from her preschooler to her high schooler). I've always thought this book wouldn't be the best listen due to the drawings inside but once I heard Allan Corduner's voice, I changed my mind. My advice? Have the book handy in the car with you to follow along.

Harry Potter + Jim Dale = Audio Heaven.

Kenneth Branagh reading C.S. Lewis. Need we say more? The entire Narnia Series is narrated by fabulous British actors, in fact.  If you want to read/listen to the books chronologically in Narnian time, begin with The Magician's Nephew.

For a more comprehensive list of family-friendly audio books, read here. Happy listening!

Posted by Rachel

In Honor of Friends

“Why did you do all this for me?” he asked. “I don’t deserve it.  I’ve never done anything for you.”
“You have been my friend,” replied Charlotte. “That in and of itself is a tremendous thing.”

I’m speechless after Rae’s last post.  Haven’t dared to write a word in lieu of savoring her kindness, as rare as it is big-hearted.  It makes me wish this: if Rachel lives to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one so I never have to live without her.  She has been a halcyon joist that has unquestionably held up the house of my existence.  I depend on her.  Always. That fact alone should warrant more vacation days for her. 

There I go getting greedy.  Rachel is here on a little Park City vacation, so I got to see her today.  And I’ll get to see her tomorrow too.  By day 3, I’ll be petitioning her to stay for good, offering all sorts of incentives.  The blog should be motivation enough, right?  It’s always the logistics that speedily drag our plan to live near each other down, down, down to the ugly netherworld.  But, even if proximity is unkind, I have to remember that I’m so lucky to have her. (Lucky doesn’t even cut it…what can I say, my brain is tired.) 

So in honor of friends, the kind that understand your tears and your laughter, the ones who say nice things behind your back, and that help you live your story, here are a few reads that celebrate mutual attachment of the very best kind. 

Little Women

This is one of Rae’s all-time favorite reads. (I’m sure she’ll write a rave review at some point about this pearl.) Suffice it to say that Louisa May Alcott reminds all of us that some of our very best friends should be our blood relatives if we’re doing it right. After all, they’re the people who have known us well the longest.  

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Laila and Mariam’s friendship is the heart and soul of this novel.  Because they live in a society where women are not meant to participate in the public sphere, the importance of friendship as a means of escape is especially apparent.  These women also validate and dignify one another in the face of oppression.  I love the loyalty that exists between the two—their lives are nowhere near ideal, but their friendship’s close.   

Charlotte’s Web

Even if you’ve outgrown kid lit (is that possible?), this book is “just about perfect.” It’s a sweet reminder that friendship requires loyalty and sacrifice, and taking care of one another.  Maybe more importantly, we walk away with the idea that friendship endures—it’s bigger than life itself.  That’s right E.B., that’s exactly right.    

Posted by Tracy

Everyone Needs A Tracy

The older we get, the more we understand that the women who know and love us—and love us despite what they know about us—are the joists that hold up the house of our existence. Everything depends on them.

It's Tracy's birthday and I'm down with the flu. No matter. Ain't nothin gonna keep me from celebrating my Tray. When it comes to her, I will always show up. Always. I'm getting old and let's face it, I may die from this flu—okay not really, the fever is making me melodramatic—but surely I've reached the age where I can dispense a little advice? Humor me. I'm on my deathbed after all. So here they are, three simple words that will change your life: Find your Tracy.

Let's face it, life can be hard. Maybe you've been spared the big stuff so far, but rest assured it's coming. That's not the melodramatic fever talking either, that's just the cold hard truth. And when that phone call comes in the middle of the night or you get bad news from the doctor, you're going to need a Tracy to cushion your fall and pick you back up. Real friendship doesn't come easy. It takes work and time. Most of all time. And in the words of our imaginary BFF, Anna Quindlen, "To be a good friend and to appreciate the value of friendship requires honesty and concentration."

Oh but it's worth it. Especially if you find a friend like Tray. Trust me when I say that life has hurled some significant wallops our way these past several years and I can't imagine going through any of it without Tracy. She is the definition of a once-in-a-lifetime friend: loyal, encouraging, providing much needed laughter when all looks grim, and crying with me in my darkest moments. And light. She is full of light. Most of all, she's got the words of Henry James written on her heart: "Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind, the second is to be kind, and the third is to be kind." Happy Birthday to one of the kindest people I know. Here's to years filled with lots of candles, plenty of cake, and loads of laughter (the wrinkle-inducing kind). And just more time spent with you, one of my life's greatest gifts. Love you Tray.

*PS: Anna Quindlen's Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake makes a perfect gift for your own once-in-a-lifetime friend.

Posted By Rachel