Parallel Journeys

I saw Parallel Journeys by Eleanor Aver at my friend's house and borrowed it.  It is the true story of two young people who lived in Germany during WWII and the Holocaust--Helen Waterford, a Jew forced into hiding and then Auschwitz, and Alfons Heck, a fanatic member of the Hitler Youth.  The author uses Helen's and Alfons's real words and experiences, alternating throughout the book, to present a picture of the nightmare of this time period.

This was a very fascinating book.  I love books about the Holocaust because I want to acknowledge what happened and remember those who suffered, even if it's only by reading their stories.  It is unreal to think of all that Helen and the other Jews went through.  It was also very interesting to read Alfons's point of view and see what it was like to have been a teenager brainwashed by Hitler.  I found out in the end of the book that Helen and Alfons ended up meeting many years later in the US and began public speaking together on their experiences. This was a great read.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The 5 Love Languages

I saw The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman on a shelf at my friend's house and decided to borrow it.  The love languages concept is something I've heard about a lot, but I had never read the book.  Gary Chapman, a marriage counselor, outlines in the book why marriages often do not last--that we don't speak each other's love languages.  He explains the 5 love languages (words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, physical touch) and how to strengthen your marriage.

This was a really enlightening book.  The author made a lot of really good points, and I totally believe what he shares.  A love language is basically how you feel love. So if you feel love from acts of service, but your spouse shows his love to you by giving words of affirmation, you won't feel as loved as you would have with acts of service.  The author explains that some people don't feel loved in their marriage, but if the spouse focuses on the correct love language, love returns.  It's simple yet totally makes sense.  I enjoyed the read and the personal experiences he shared and though it was a worthwhile book.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

Dust of Eden

I was looking for a book to read at the library and saw Dust of Eden by Mariko Nagai in the new book shelf in the children's section.  This book is about middle schooler Mina Tagawa whose life gets turned upside down in December 1941 when Pearl Harbor is attacked.  Just because her family is Japanese, her father is arrested, her classmates are calling her "Jap," and her family is eventually sent to an internment camp.  The book follows Mina during the difficult times that follow.

This was a great book and a super quick read. (I finished it during Emmeline's 1-hour dance class.)  This is another novel written in verse, which I've mentioned before is something I really like.  I also really like historical fiction, particularly books from the WWII time period.  The book was interesting and inspiring as I got to know Mina and her different family members and friends and saw how they handled the situations they went through.  Reading about the internment camps and the terrible way the Japanese were treated after Pearl Harbor just reminded me of the importance of kindness no matter what.  This was a beautiful read.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Mockingjay

I re-read Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins in preparation for the movie coming out and really enjoyed it.  I've reviewed it before on the blog, so I'm mentioning it here only for the purpose of keeping track of my reading.

The Lightning Dreamer

I saw The Lightning Dreamer: Cuba's Greatest Abolitionist in a pile of used books for sale at the library.  It caught my eye because (1) it looked brand new, (2) it had a beautiful cover and an "Honor Book" award on it, (3) the summary inside the book jacket looked intriguing, and (4) the book was written in verse.  Needless to say, I paid the $1 and bought the book.  This book is based on the life of Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda, known as Tula, a young woman in Cuba in the 1800s.  She became an abolitionist and poet and spoke up from a young age against slavery and spoke for women's rights.  This book tells her story as she courageously speaks up for the basic rights she feels that she and those around her deserve.

This was a super quick read (like 20 minutes) but a really good book.  I knew nothing about Tula or about Cuba during this time period, so I felt like the book educated and inspired me while also being beautifully written.  (I love books written in verse.)  I think it's great to be reminded that there were times and places where women were not supposed to read or think or make choices; it just helps me remember how blessed we are to live with freedoms.  I also loved that Tula valued books and reading (since she was not supposed to read).  Part of the book reads Books are door-shaped / portals / carrying me / across oceans / and centuries, / helping me feel / less alone. or Each day, after my lessons, the nuns / let me visit their marvelous library, / where I feel as if I have entered / heaven on earth.  Beautiful.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Rain Reign

A month or so ago, I randomly saw an article on cnn.com about a new book Ann M. Martin was writing--Rain Reign--about a girl with high-functioning autism.  I was intrigued, so I put the book on hold at the library.  The book is about Rose, a fifth grader who loves homonyms, rules, and her dog, Rain.  When a big hurricane hits Rose's town, Rain goes missing, and Rose works to handle the change of routine as well as the loss of her dog.

I really liked this book.  I've enjoyed lots of books written from the point of view of children with disabilities or disorders, and this one was another great one.  Rose was a wonderful, likable, believable character, and I liked that the book wasn't completely predictable.  The book was well-written and had lots of good imagery.  A good read.  I got teary-eyed, and I'm not even a dog person--a dog-lover would probably enjoy this book even more.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Gifted Hands

I decided to read Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (written by Ben Carson) after Elder Tad R. Callister talked about Ben Carson's childhood in a talk at my church's General Conference.  In this book, Ben Carson tells his life story--how he went from poverty in inner-city Detroit as a child to the head of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins when he was only 33.

This was a really amazing book.  I loved how Ben Carson showed how his mother's motivation and encouragement gave him the courage to find success against all odds. Ben Carson chose to make something out of his life, and by his choices, he became a world-renowned surgeon who has saved the lives of many, many children. The book outlined some examples of his cases--totally amazing and inspiring. The book was also quite religious, which I had not expected.  Ben Carson is a strong Christian, and he had some amazing experiences in his life that really show how God knows and cares about us as individuals. Overall, I was just really impressed by Ben Carson--he seems like a really good guy. This was a beautiful and inspiring read.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)