Tag Archives: Book Review

The End Of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe

This month my book club read a heart warming book, by Will Schwalbe, called “The End of Your Life Book Club“. This a love story about books; about life and death; about living in the moment; about giving as much as you can to the world around you; about selflessness; and most importantly about family. The story takes place over the course of 2 years in which Will’s mother, Mary Anne, battles pancreatic cancer. The story is told by Will about his mother’s life, past and present and about their shared love of books.

The children grew up surrounded by books. Instead of watching tv and playing video games, the kids were encouraged to read books. Will describes that if you looked into their home on any given weekend, you would find the entire family immersed in books. The book club arose when Will accompanies his mom to her doctor’s appointment and they begin to discuss the books they are reading. They soon swap books and realize that they have formed a small, person of 2, book club. The title is explained in the book as each book we read may be the last book we ever read, which is definitely the case for Mary Anne.

I love the relationship Mary Anne has with all her children, especially the one with Will. It reminds me of my relationship with my son and what I wish for us to have in the future. My husband, myself and my son all love to read and I only hope that some day my son and I can sit down and share with each other the books we are reading, just as Mary Anne and Will do.

I especially enjoyed when Will refers to the book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl. It is my absolute favourite children’s book. I’ve lost count on how many times I’ve read that book. I also have both movies, the old version and the new one.

Will discusses a book called “Suite Francaise” by Irene Nemirovsky. I’ve had this book for 3 years but haven’t had time to read it. Will explains how the author, during WW2, was sent away to a concentration camp and was killed, but before that, she had given her daughter a book containing this manuscript. At the time, her daughter had no idea what was in the book, not until years later did she discover a beautiful story written by her mother. After I read this, I’ve decided that it’s going to be the next book after the one I’m currently reading. I enjoyed how Will gave a brief history of the books and detail without giving away too much of the book. There is a list at the back of the book of all the books Will and his mom read and referred to. Gotta say, I’ve got many of them flagged :).

Will describes in the book how they, the children, could get out of anything, well almost, if immersed themselves in a book. He called it the “do not disturb me, I’m completely absorbed in the book” trance. I love it! I find myself in those trances many times and I hate being disturbed. I get so involved in a book that I literally think about it all the time. I absolutely love their love for books. I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this aspect of the book.

Although this story takes place mostly during Mary Anne’s struggle with pancreatic cancer, there are so many beautiful and happy moments. Mary Anne continues to live after her diagnosis. Although she refuses to give in to the disease, she is realistic and does make preparations for when she is no longer around. She tries to make her death on her family easier.

I think I’ll leave it at that as I don’t want to give away any more details. It’s a beautifully written book, that will warm your heart, make you laugh and make you cry and make you appreciate your life.

May this post inspire you to purchase this book and share your favourite books with the people in your life.

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Happy Tuesday Everyone!!!!!

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

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I recently read this amazing and, yes, bittersweet novel by Jamie Ford called “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet“. The story goes back and forth between 1942 and 1986. It takes places in Seattle after Japan attacks Pearl Harbour and when the US collects all US Japanese citizens and places them into internment camps. In 1986, Henry finds himself back at the Panama Hotel, where he discovers that in the basement of hotel remains the belongings of many of the Japanese families that were forced into internment camps. This triggers memories of a once lost love.

The story begins with Henry recounting how his wife died and how he is sort of estranged from his son. Henry goes back and forth between 1942 and 1986 to recount his upbringing and a love story, between himself, a Chinese immigrant and a beautiful Japanese American girl named Keiko. It’s interesting to see how a current and past love bring the Henry and his son closer together.

What I find remarkable is how not only does the the author, Jamie Ford, immerse the reader into 1942 Seattle, but how he leaves you feeling like you are part of it. While I was reading it, I felt like I was watching Henry’s story, rather then reading it. I felt like I was there with him. I’m such a romantic at heart and I loved how “love” transcended race and prejudices. To Henry Keiko wasn’t Japanese, she was just a pretty girl. At first he was terrified of what others would think, especially his family, but by the end he didn’t care. He loved Keiko.

This is much more than a love story. It’s about overcoming prejudices and loving a person for who they are. One of my favourite quotes from the book comes from Keiko when she explains to Henry why her parents like him: ” …they don’t define you by the button you wear (Henry’s parents made him wear a button that said “I am Chinese” so that he wasn’t mistaken for being Japanese). They define you by what you do, by what your actions say about you… They don’t see you as the enemy. They see you as a person“(p.227). Such poignant, honest, real words from a young lady. I wish we could just all see one another as people and not define each other by gender, race, sexual orientation or religion!!!! Why does someone have to defined as a Jew, for example??? Why can’t they be seen as the person they are, instead of their race and religion.

I cried at the end of this book, because it is a bittersweet tale of love and of not letting convention define you. We are more than our race, gender, religion and sexual orientation. WE ARE ALL PEOPLE!!!!!!! This book also gave me a great history lesson.

May this blog inspire you to purchase this book. It’s a quick read and will leave your heart full of hope and happiness.

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Happy Monday Everyone!!!!!!

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, The Rosie Project & The Book Thief: 3 Must Read Books!!!!

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I recently finished reading 3 funny, bittersweet, heartbreaking yet hopeful books. Each in their own way, immerses the reader from the first words, captivates you and takes you on a life changing adventure.

Let’s start with “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry” by Rachel Joyce. The story begins with Harold receiving a letter from an old friend/co-worker, Queenie, who tells him that she is in the hospital dying. What begins as a simple walk to mail his letter to Queenie, quickly becomes a walking pilgrimage to Queenie.

As one of the reviewer’s mentioned, Harold Fry is extremely infuriating and frustrating to the point where you want to yell at him and shake him out of his dullness. As the story progresses it becomes clear to the reader that although Harold begins his pilgrimage to save his friend’s life, the pilgrimage quickly shifts to become about Harold’s journey. This is a story that all of us can relate to. You become almost hypnotized in your day to day life, to the point where you don’t make an effort, you just go through the motions, which is exactly what became of Harold. Through his journey, Rachel Joyce reveals Harold’s story, his past, his history, she explains to the reader why Harold has become the way he is. Once it becomes clear to the reader why Harold’s life has turned out the way it has, you empathize with him, you become less judgemental and more understanding.

The end of this amazing tale will leave you thinking about your life, will make you examine why are in the place where you are and gives you hope that no matter how lonely and down you feel, you can change things around.

“The Rosie Project” by Graeme Simsion is a sweet story of a man looking for love. This man is not ordinary. Picture Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory and mix that with Dr. Brennan from the tv show Bones and you have Don Tillman. Don is a scientist who decided to approach finding a wife as one would a science experiment. Don constructs an in-depth 16 page questionnaire to find the perfect wife. What he soon discovers is that no women will give him 100% of the answers he seeks.

Although Don is extremely anal, which is putting it mildly, some of his questions/answers are also deal breakers for me. For example smoking is definitely a no in my books. Punctuality is also very important. I hate it when people are late, especially when they are chronically late. It’s rude and disrespectful; my time is just as valuable as yours. I also agree that enjoying a food is a must, although this is where Don and my similarity ends. I do not think that enjoying eating brain and other stomach churning organs is what I would define as enjoying good food. For me a foodie is someone who enjoys a good steak, or amazing pasta, an aromatic glass of wine, etc. I know that that is very subjective as evidenced my Don’s definition and women’s reaction to this question.

The story takes an interesting turn when Don meets Rosie. Rosie is looking for her biological father and enlists Don to help her find him. Through their experiment in finding Rosie’s father, Don and Rosie quickly develop a relationship. Rosie in no way fits into Don’s questionnaire, idea of his “perfect wife:, but in the end it doesn’t matter. Love conquers all, or does it??? You’ll have to read it to find out what happens.

Graeme Simsion writes a sweet tale of the journey to finding love. Isn’t that what we are all searching for?!?!?! I believe there is a bit of Don in all of us. We all have deal breakers when it comes to finding the qualities we want in another person. In the end, we all just want to find someone who loves us for us, idiosyncrasies and all!!!!

“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak is a story that will break your heart, bring tears to your eyes, and question life and death. The story takes place right before WW2, before Hitler becomes a monster and kills millions of innocent men, women and children. It was a very hard story to read as although the story itself is a work of fiction, the events that lead to the massacre of millions of innocent people isn’t. I kept having to remind myself that this happened, that people were killed for their race, and for that matter, people are still being killed for it.

Markus Zusak immerses the reader into the life Liesel Meminger and her adoptive family in pre and post WW2 Germany through the narrator, who is death. As the title suggests there is a book thief, which is the main character Liesel. She accidentally steals a book that has fallen to the ground at her brother’s grave and that begins her life of crime: stealing books. She picks it up and with the help of her adoptive father, learns to read. This book is not about stealing books, it’s about Liesel’s love to read, to tell a story. It’s about life and death, it’s about strength and determination, it’s about seeing the beauty in an otherwise atrocious situation.

The Meminger family takes in a Jewish man and hides him from the Nazi’s. Liesel and he develop a bond over books and story telling. Through the horrific events that encompass Liesel’s world, there is this beautiful, bittersweet story.

I’ll end this by saying that it’s a very hard book to read, to imagine all the atrocities that happened, yet there is love in this book, there is life, there is light where there is death and darkness. From tragedy Markus Zusak shows that there is beauty, that in the depths of hell one can still see light, smile and love.

May this blog inspire you to read all 3 or just one. I promise that you won’t be disappointed.

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Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!!!

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Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

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I’ve had this book, Unbroken from Laura Hillenbrand, on my must read books for over a year and finally I was able to read it. I didn’t know anything about the book, but the reviews were amazing and it did not disappoint.

This is a true story about Louis Zamperini, who overcomes unimaginable obstacles and hardship. From childbirth, Louis was not a child to be contained. He did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted to. It wasn’t until his older brother, Pete, convinced him and basically forced him into running, did Louis change. He became disciplined and determined. Through his determination, Louis became an Olympic hopeful. He broke numerous records despite his fellow competitors jealousy. His Olympic dream was cut short when he enlisted into the Army. Soon he was headed into WW2 as a Bombardier. The story takes a turn for the worst when Louis and 2 other crew men get stranded in the Ocean for 47 days. The story continues with absolute atrocities committed agains Louis and the other survivor in a Japanese POW camp.

This story is unbelievable and painful to read at times, but Laura shows the reader how Louis is determined to survive and head back to his family. Louis survives absolute vile and inhumane conditions. He eventually gets back to his family where he has to adjust to living back at home. He has to adjust to living in the real world, with no one to torture and torment you. He has an extremely difficult time adjusting as no one wants to discuss what happened and truthfully no one can understand, unless they were there themselves.

This book review is timely considering Monday Nov 11 is Remembrance/Veteran’s Day. While reading this book I couldn’t help thinking about what Louis and the other men endured. I also thought about what our current soldiers endure and witness and it breaks my heart. I lost a good friend who was killed by an IED on Dec 30, 2009 and I can’t begin to imagine what he saw.

Louis reminds us all that you control your life, your future; that your past doesn’t define you. Yes our past is our history, but it’s just that, history, we shouldn’t let it define us. We should move past it to become the person we want to be. When you find yourself down, overwhelmed and just ready to quit, think about Louis and how his determination saved his life.

His story reminds me of something Oprah said. When you find yourself down and so low that you can’t keep going, remind yourself to be grateful for your breath, the ability to breathe. I know it sounds a bit odd, but I’ve found myself doing that. When I’m so overwhelmed that I can’t even breathe, I think about my breath and that fact that I can breathe and it helps.

I hope that you put this book on your Christmas list for not only yourself but for the people if your life. This book is a story of survival, of never giving up, of change, of never becoming a product of your environment. Louis could have succumbed to depression, to alcoholism, to despair, but he didn’t. It took him a while, but he found a way to overcome his past, to not be a victim of his circumstances or of his past.

May this blog inspire you to not only read this book but to try and be grateful for your breath when you find yourself overwhelmed. Louis is a great example of survival and what humans are truly capable of.

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Happy Friday and Weekend Everyone!!!!!

Autism: Tapping Into Every Child’s Potential

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I read the most amazing book, “The Spark” by Kristine Barnett. My husband and I were in a little bookstore in Penticton and the title caught my eye. I read the first page and was hooked!!!!! I basically read the introduction within minutes and told my husband that I was going home with this book. Even though my son is not Autistic I felt like Kristine wrote this book for every mother and father. The book resonated with me for two reasons:

1. In her dedication, Kristine writes “For Michael, who makes the impossible possible every day And for everyone who’s ever been told they can’t”.

2. Kristine ends her introduction by saying “But for me, more than anything it is about the power of hope and the dazzling possibilities that can occur when we keep our minds open and learn how to tap the true potential that lies within every child”.

After reading this, I had tears in my eyes. As a child, I always felt like I had to do things for my mom, because it would make her happy. I felt like instead of listening to what I wanted to do, I had to do things in order to appease her. When I had my son, I made a promise to myself that I would not force my son to do things in order to make me happy; that I would listen to what he is telling me. A great example is that we realized quickly that Aiden had not only a huge interest in dancing, thanks to Angelina Ballerina, but that he had a natural aptitude. The thought never crossed my mind that my son would be interested in dance but he totally is. My husband and I listened and watched and last year we put him into dance. He absolutely loved it!!!!!! We listened to him and what he was telling us and instead of forcing him into something he didn’t want to do we followed his lead. I know too many kids who are forced into things that they didn’t want to do because their parents want it. Rather then looking at what your child is good at, the parents don’t care, the child has to do what they want them to do. It ends up being about the parent instead of being about the child!!!!

One of Kristine’s main points in this book is for parents to foster what their kids are good at. She shares a story about when Jacob first goes to school after his diagnosis and how the therapists are focusing on all the things Jacob can’t do, therefore not only does Jacob not respond well to the therapy, he doesn’t respond at all. Kristine explains that if people around us only focused on what we couldn’t do, we wouldn’t want to do anything either. She realized that if for part of the time she did what he wanted to do, she was able to do some therapy with him and make some progress. Focusing on the positive allowed Kristine and Jacob to work on the things he needed to work on.

Kristine runs a daycare and she always fostered and focused on what the kids were good at. A little boy got frustrated playing blocks and Kristine realized that he was frustrated because he didn’t have enough. She filled her car with as many blocks as she could find and the boy built an amazing structure. Today that boy is studying at a world renowned school for architecture. Kristine didn’t have to listen to that child, she could have just passed his behaviour off as a tantrum, instead she really listened to the boy and realized he was frustrated. How many times do we get frustrated??? We have to give our kids the benefit of the doubt and enable them rather then label them and forget about them.

This is a beautiful story about a mother who never gave up on her child; who helped her son overcome insane obstacles to now be known to have an IQ higher than Einstein’s. And this is the boy they said would never learn to tie his shoes or the boy who was told not to bring his alphabet cards to school because he would never learn his alphabet let alone learn to speak. I hope those people read Kristine’s book and changed their way of behaving and treating Autistic children. If we always approach children with what they can’t do, what hope do we give them??? Kids can sense what we are feeling and feed off of our energy, so if we aren’t optimistic how can we expect them or their parents to be?

Jacob’s story will melt your heart and make you cry. You can see every child in Jacob. Every child has obstacles they have to overcome and it’s our jobs as parents to help them overcome them. Kristine went with her gut, defied conventional treatment and fought for Jacob.

This is a book that should be in every syllabus in College for anyone taking any courses that involve working with children, should be a must read for every one that has kids or who has ever taken care of kids. Our jobs as parents and teachers is to foster the potential in every child.

I want to leave you with a quote from Kristine: “If a child who was never supposed to talk or read can rise to such improbable heights, imagine what children without such challenges might achieve, and how far they might soar if we encouraged them to unfurl their wings- past any horizon, past even our wildest expectations. By sharing our story, I hope that will happen”.

Thank you Kristine for your honest, thoughtful story about you and your families journey. Thank you for also giving hope to thousands of mothers out there struggling with children that are Autistic.

For more about Jacob’s story, click here.

May this blog inspire you to read “The Spark” by Kristine Barnett and to foster the children in your life to achieve anything they want.

Happy Friday & Weekend Everyone!!!!!!

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Thank You Sheryl Sandberg!!!!!!!!

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I recently saw an interview that Oprah did with Sheryl Sandberg. Before the interview all I knew about Sheryl was that she had written a very controversial book and that she was getting lots of flack for it. After watching the interview, I was intrigued and inspired to read her book “Lean In”.

During the interview Sheryl addresses her critics and discusses many salient points. She talks about being called a “feminist” in college and how she shied away from being defined as one. When we think of feminists, many of us think of bra burning, granola eating, breastfeeding hippies. But the reality is that a feminist is just someone who wants a better world for women. In that case I am a feminist and so is almost every other woman out there. There’s nothing wrong with being a feminist.

I want to thank Sheryl for addressing many key issues that plague modern day women:

1. Can you have it all?

2. What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

3. Working together to create equality.

4. Leaning in. Sitting at the table with the big boys!!!!

5. Can a woman be successful and likeable?

6. Careers are no longer a ladder, but a jungle gym!!!

7. Importance of mentoring.

8. Being honest with yourself and others.

9. Focus on your career; don’t leave before you leave!!!

10. Make your husband a real partner: 50/50!!!

11. You can’t have it all (not at once, anyways!!!!!)

12. Working together for equality.

This book really resonated with me because we as women struggle every day to try and juggle a work life balance. I’m so glad that she was honest in acknowledging that a work-life balance doesn’t exist; that you can’t have it all, at one time. Something does have to give and that we can’t do it all at once. She explains that at different times in our lives, different things are important. When our kids are little for some women that means cutting back their work hours and taking care of them, for others their careers are what takes front seat. She explains that we need to stop focusing on trying to have it all and to realize that we can only do what we can do and that some things will have take the back burner. That doesn’t mean, though, that in our entire life time we can’t have it all, it means that at one point in time we physically can’t do it all and that we shouldn’t be expected to.

Sheryl discusses her own struggles with doing it all. She says she tries to be home at 5 pm for dinner every night and then she works after she puts her kids to bed. She acknowledges that it’s challenging and that at times she does miss recitals, bed times and soccer games but then there are times when she isn’t working and doesn’t check her phone. She says it’s a work in progress. Sheryl is honest and admits that she is not perfect and that she too is a work in progress; that at times it’s hard for her to take her own advice. I appreciate that candor because many people write books, stating that you should do things this way and that way and they aren’t able to do it. It’s nice to have someone be honest for a change and admit that it’s not easy and it takes a lot of effort.

Another point of hers I really liked was “what would you do if you weren’t afraid?” I thought about that and I still don’t have an answer. It’s a very important question and she talked about how different our lives would be if only we lived like we weren’t afraid. It’s easier said than done when we have bills to pay and need to support a family and she does acknowledge that point. What would you do if you weren’t afraid??? I wish I had an answer for that.

The one that really hit home was the point about 50/50: women working more and men helping out more at home. Sheryl explains that studies have shown that women who work are happier, in turn their marriages are better. Husbands who help out more at home equals a happier marriage and happier kids. I know from personal experience I am a much happier person, woman, mom and wife now that I’m back to working part time. Don’t get me wrong juggling everything is hard, but I feel like I got a bit of myself back. I also see that my son is happier when my husband is home taking care of him. Sheryl explains that everyone benefits when the roles are more equal. I couldn’t agree more, but the problem is achieving this. She completely acknowledges that it’s not easy and that it requires lots of hard work and communication.

This is something that my husband and I have struggled with for years, establishing more equal roles. I know that my friends and I complain a lot about juggling everything and feeling like it’s one sided. I agree with Sheryl that it’s a discussion that must be had between you and your husband. The biggest problem is that we, men and women, see things differently and have different expectations, which is why it’s so important to communicate with one another. For my husband and I it’s a work in progress. I think it’s helped that I’ve gone back to work and my husband works from home.

I could go on and on about this book. I definitely think that it’s a book that everyone should read. Our world would be a better place if there was more equality, more acceptance and support for women. It is definitely a work in progress but the only way things will change is if we women and men take the bull by the horns and make it change.

May this blog inspire you to read Sheryl’s book “Lean In”. I would love to hear your thoughts.

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Happy Friday Everyone!!!!

White Tee, Jean Skirt & The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

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I hope everyone had a good weekend. I had to work all weekend, but my boys managed to have some fun. My son and I did manage to get out and enjoy some of the sunshine on Friday. We had a play date the park and it was quite cloudy. The kids were playing and we moms were chatting and then all of a sudden it started to rain. We sought out shelter up on the covered portion of the playground. It brought back childhood memories. It was actually really nice. As we were leaving that’s when the sun decided to come out. Murphy’s Law!!! Regardless, we had a fantastic time. It’s to get together with a group of moms where we get along so well and the kids play so well together.

This is what I am wearing today: jean skirt, simple white tee, wedges, a military inspired jacket and my white cross body bag. It’s the perfect mom-on-the-go outfit: comfortable yet stylish. Definitely one of my go-to outfits is a white tee with jeans and dress it up with a blazer, statement necklace or cardigan. What’s your go-to outfit?

Jacket (Jacob). Jean Skirt & T-Shirt (Gap). Wedges (Steve Madden). Purse (Banana Republic). Bracelet (Gigglosophy). Watch (Michael Kors). Necklace (My Name Necklace).

We recently read the fantastic novel “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot for our mom’s bookclub. I don’t even know where to begin describing this book. Let’s start with who is Henrietta Lacks? Henrietta Lacks, also known as HeLa, was a black woman who’s cancer cells helped scientists develop important vaccines like the Polio vaccine; helped scientists discover the etiology behind cervical cancer, helped develop Invitro fertilization, helped develop gene mapping and much, much more. Henrietta was a poor black woman who developed cervical cancer in the 50′s. She was being treated at John Hopkin’s Hospital, where they unethically, without informed consent, took her cells and grew them in a lab. There they discovered that Henrietta’s cells were special and an anomalous. Her cancerous cells were able to grow outside of her body in a mind bogglingly rapid way, which was an amazing scientific discovery. Scientists nicknamed her cells HeLa and sold them to other scientists through out the world. The scientists then used her cells to conduct research, where they subjected her cells to all sorts of experiments from nuclear, to taking them up to space, to radiation, etc.

This is where it gets tricky and where the ethical debate comes into play. They did this all without the consent of Henrietta Lacks. Henrietta died of her cancer and although her husband allowed them to conduct an autopsy, they did so without giving him the proper information. Her husband never made an informed decision nor did he give informed consent to allow them to do an autopsy. The problem back in the 50′s was that black people didn’t have the same rights as they do now, nor were there ethical rules and laws in place to protect people like Henrietta. Since then they have developed laws to protect people and doctors/scientists and other medical professionals have to give you all the information regarding any tests/procedures so that you can make an informed decision and give informed consent.

Where things remain tricky is who do the cells belong to once removed from a person? That is the debate that Rebecca Skloot brings to light. Is it unethical to take someone’s cell and profit from them? That’s exactly what happened to Henrietta. Her cells were taken and grown millions of times and her family still lives in squalor. Her family was never compensated for Henrietta’s contribution to science. Here lies the question: Do your cells belong to you after they are removed? And should you be compensated if your cells do end up helping others?

Henrietta’s cells are truly a miracle and an anomaly. No cells since hers have contributed so much to science. I feel as though her family is at least owed free health care, if nothing else. Through out the novel, Rebecca Skloot states that all the family ever wanted was for someone to apologize for how they were mistreated. Pharmaceutical companies have Henrietta and HeLa to thank for their billions of dollars in revenue each year and it wouldn’t kill them to give back to her family. So then do we do you do that for everyone?

There have been a few cases that have gone to court to get monetary compensation and the court has not ruled in favor of the individual. This book raises very important questions: Who owns your cells once they are removed from your body and should you be compensated if someone profits from your cells? What do you guys think?

For me personally I don’t like the idea of pharmaceutical companies making billions off people and not compensating them. But on the other hand, without people’s cells, we wouldn’t have vaccines, IVF and made many other discoveries. In short, I don’t have the answers and that’s what the book concludes with. We have a lot more work to do in this area.

I would definitely recommend this book. It’s easy to follow, very nicely organized and it really personifies HeLa and who HeLa really is. I think we all should read this book because we are here today because of Henrietta Lacks.

I thank you Henrietta for your cells and for what they have done for science and medicine. I’m ashamed at how they treated you and your family and I truly hope that people have learned from their mistakes.

May this blog inspire you to purchase “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” and to really appreciate what Henrietta has done for us.

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Happy Monday Everyone!!!!

Burgundy, Chambray, Boyfriend Jeans and Book Review of Freakonomics

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I have a busy week ahead of me. We just did a family birthday party for my son yesterday. I’m attending my first blogger conference tomorrow and our son’s birthday party with his friends and his actually birthday is on Saturday. So in light of all that, this post was written last week. I knew I would be too busy after the weekend to get anything written.

Click here to see the winner of the Stella & Dot giveaway. Congrats!!!!

This is what I am wearing today: a chambray top layered under a burgundy sweater, boyfriend jeans and my favorite flats. Perfect outfit to take my son to gymnastics in.

Jacket (R W & Co.). Jeans (Gap). Sweater (J Crew). Top (American Eagle). Shoes (Aldo). Purse (Fossil c/o The Bay). Watch (Michael Kors). Bracelet (The Bay). Necklace (Stella & Dot).

Book Review of Freakonomics

We recently read the book Freakonomics for my bookclub. I have to say I would have never picked up this book, had I not been in this bookclub, but I’m glad that I did. The book is written by a journalist and an economist. Rather than it being a dry book, which is what I had envisioned, it was enlightening and funny at times. It definitely makes you rethink the way you think about things, especially the way you absorb what the media says.

I found it to be a quick read and was well laid out. I especially liked the title of the chapters: Chaper 1: What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? Chapter 2: How is the Ku Klux klan like a group of real-estate agents? Chapter 3: Why do drug dealers still live with their moms? Chapter 4: Where have all the criminals gone? Chapter 5: What makes a perfect parent? and Chapter 6: Perfect Parenting, Part 11; or: Would a Roshanda by any other name smell as sweet? You must be thinking what do Sumo wrestlers and teachers have in common? Well according to the authors, cheating is what they have in common. More specifically, cheating to help the greater good. My other favorite chapter is the one about why drug dealers still live at home? I never thought about how they run their businesses and according to this book, they run the drug dealing business like one would run a McDonalds. I won’t go into further details. I’ll let you guys read it for yourselves!!!

The idea of this book isn’t to convince you that the author is right. The point is to get you to change the way you take in information; to question what people say and to not take things at face value. He discusses how when people give you stats, they are exaggerated on purpose to get people’s attention and how stats are always influenced by the person giving it. The message is question what people are saying and make up your own ideas of things.

They bring up some very interesting points such as the real reason the crime rate went down. They attribute it to Roe v. Wade and the fact that abortions became legal in 1973. They suggest that because those children, who otherwise would have been born to poor parents, would most likely become criminals, were now aborted, the number of potential criminals went down. It definitely is a very controversial statement and conclusion. I’m not here to argue whether I agree or not, I’m simply stating what they say. It certainly is something to think about.

I would recommend this book to read as it gives you new insights into what you believed and makes you rethink the way you take in information. Have you read this book? What are your thoughts?

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May this blog inspire you to try and see things in a different and perhaps more open way.

Happy Monday Everyone!!!!

Grey, Gingham, Boyfriend Jeans & Book Review: The Secret Keeper By Kate Morton

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This is what I wore yesterday: my pink gingham shirt, layered under a grey sweater and my boyfriend jeans. It was raining a bit, but I thought what the heck, I’ll put on my pink trench and scarf and that will keep me warm. Yesterday while my son was a preschool I ran a marathon. I swear once I drop him off, the stop watch starts and I have almost 2.5 hrs to try as get as much done as possible. I was quite efficient yesterday, got everything done on my list. Do you find yourselves in the same shoes???

Shirt (H & M). Jeans (Gap). Sweater (Jacob). Flats (Aldo).

Last night, I headed out to a Stella & Dot event, showcasing their Summer collection. A night out is rare for me during the weekdays and since my bootcamp was cancelled this week, I thought I would be all gussied up and head downtown for some food, drinks and some jewelry!!!! I’ll post pictures on Friday.

Book Review: Kate Morton’s The Secret Keeper

The Secret Keeper

I recently finished reading Kate Morton’s newest book called The Secret Keeper. I became spellbound with her books a few years ago, when I discovered her at the bookstore in the mall. Her first book, The House At Riverton, engaged me from the first few pages and I have been a fan ever since.

Why I like her books so much is that it engages you within the first few pages. There are similar themes in all of her four novels. There is always a mystery that shrouds a family, a twist that you don’t see coming and the story moves back and fourth from the past into the present. I am huge fan of mystery, loved Nancy Drew as a child, and that’s what drew me to pick up her first book.

I like that she develops her main characters and she tells the story from not just the point of view of one character. She likes to tell the story from different points of views and uses different characters to narrate the story. Although she does jump back and fourth between past and present, you don’t get confused. By going back and fourth you get an accurate understanding of what is going on, why the characters did what they did.

This story takes place in two different era’s: the present 2011 and the past, before and during WWII. As a child, the main character, Laurel, witnesses her mother kill a man. She never really discusses the incident with her parents nor gets closure and now that her mother is dying she determined to figure out why? She begins a journey to discover who her mother really is and why she committed such a heinous act. Laurel discovers a sad and troubling story of three young people just trying to survive and make a better life for themselves.

Kate Morton does a fantastic job of developing the characters and enveloppes you right into the story. The story is engaging and will leave you satisfied once you are finished. I would definitely recommend this book.

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a $300 gift card to Old Navy/Gap/Banana Republic. Click here to enter.

Don’t forget about my link up tomorrow, Thursday April 11. Show me your favorite Spring trend. Click here for details.

May this blog inspire you to purchase a fabulous gingham top and to read one of Kate Morton’s books. I promise you won’t regret it.

Happy Hump Day Everyone!!!

Oprah!!!! & Book Review: “Before I Go To Sleep” by S. J. Watson

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This is what I am wearing today: a white tunic, with a pink cardigan, skinny jeans and my boots. As you can see I’m wearing a hat again, I’m finally going to get my hair done tonight. I can’t wait. My favorite part is the scalp massage. I could sit in the chair for hours :).

Cardigan & Jeans (Gap). Top ( H & M). Boots (Browns). Necklace (Stella & Dot). Hat (R W & Co.).

Guess what????? I’M GOING TO SEE OPRAH, AGAIN!!!! I’m so excited :). I saw one of her last shows 1.5 yrs ago, here is my post from my visit. I didn’t even know she was coming to town. Thank God for Facebook. Merry Christmas to me :). Is it wrong of me to already be planning my outfit??!!! I think my sequin polka dot top will be very appropriate for this special occasion.

Book Review: “Before I Go To Sleep” by S. J. Watson

I just finished reading the book “Before I Go To Sleep” by S. J. Watson. It’s a phenomenal read. I finished it in two extremely busy days. I basically read like a fiend.

The premise of this book is similar to that of the book “The Pilot’s Wife” by Anita Shreve and the movie “50 First Dates” with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. The story is about a woman, named Christine, who has both short term and long term amnesia. She loses her memory after a “horrific car accident” and every time she wakes up, she doesn’t remember where she is, how old she is or what happened to her. The story parallels Anita Shreve’s book “The Pilot’s Wife”, in that all is not what it seems. It makes you question your life and whether you can truly trust the people in your life.

S. J. Watson captures your attention from the first paragraph: “The bedroom is strange. Unfamiliar. I don’t know where I am, how I came to be here. I don’t know how I’m going to get home.” (p.3) The reader is immersed in the story from the beginning. There is no unnecessary introduction, it catapults you right into the action. As a busy, working mom, this is the perfect book. It’s a page turner and a very quick read. Like I said, I finished it in two days.

I like how descriptive the author is. I love how he describes Christine, the main character, seeing herself aged for the first time; examining herself in the mirror and seeing all the scars, bumps, and wrinkles. “The face I see looking back at me is not my own. The hair has no volume…; the skin on the cheeks and under the chin sags; the lips are thin, the mouth turned down.” (p. 4-5) You can visualize Christine seeing herself for the first time. He uses adjectives effectively to immerse the reader into the story. You feel as though you are voyeur into Christine’s life.

The story though is not without its faults. Her cell phones are always charged, her husband never catches her with Dr. Nash, she doesn’t have any friends in her life, and she doesn’t inquire what the pills are that she finds (don’t worry I’m not ruining any storyline here!!!) There are other issues that I found with the story, but then I really would be revealing key parts of the story.

Bottom line is that I would totally recommend this book to read. Keep it in mind for a stocking stuffer for a friend or loved one. Great book. Definitely a must read. S. J. Watson does an amazing job for his first novel.

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Happy Hump Day Everyone!!!!

Vodka Infused Lemonade

I blog about life, motherhood, fashion, recipes and anything and everything that inspires me.

Tag Archives: Book Review

The End Of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe

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Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

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Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

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Autism: Tapping Into Every Child’s Potential

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White Tee, Jean Skirt & The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

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Burgundy, Chambray, Boyfriend Jeans and Book Review of Freakonomics

Book Review of Freakonomics

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Grey, Gingham, Boyfriend Jeans & Book Review: The Secret Keeper By Kate Morton

Book Review: Kate Morton’s The Secret Keeper

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a $300 gift card to Old Navy/Gap/Banana Republic. Click here to enter.

Don’t forget about my link up tomorrow, Thursday April 11. Show me your favorite Spring trend. Click here for details.

Oprah!!!! & Book Review: “Before I Go To Sleep” by S. J. Watson

Book Review: “Before I Go To Sleep” by S. J. Watson

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