PrologueOne of the things we've been doing at home a lot more than normal during the stay-at-home order is cooking and baking. Lancaster Cupcake and many other local businesses are offering carry-out and delivery. They even have take-home decorating kits that would be perfect to battle the boredom with kids. Turning Pages
I have a confession to make. I didn't read this book. GASP!! However, both of my daughters did, and they give it glowing reviews. So instead of my input, I'm going to sum up their review of the first book in this middle grade Wendy Mass series. It's a perfect combination for a blog entry about sweets. I debated using Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as it's an absolute old favorite of mine, but ultimately decided to give my kiddos the opportunity to be the book reviewers. Kid Review Summed Up:
Four kids enter a competition to make their own candy. The winner gets to have their candy creation made for the public. Each of the kids narrates his or her own view of the competition. One kid, Phillip, is really snobby. Daisy is a spy. Logan is the real candymaker's son. Miles is shy and appreciates the way words sound. It's really cool the way it's written because you learn secrets about the characters in each new part. This book is exciting and makes you want to turn the pages quickly.
0 Comments
This is a young adult romance with a contemporary twist. There are tons of books out there with teenagers battling rare and complicated illness while falling in love with someone. This one is a little different so it's nice to see some plot changes within the genre.
Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars Based on the tons of glowing reviews for this book, mine is going to be highly unpopular. I like the simplicity of the title. I love how Isabel writes a column where she asks people questions but offers no advice. I like how the characters are two teens living with chronic illness. Isabel tries hard to repel her feelings for the gorgeous, funny, and completely loyal Sasha but ultimately grows to appreciate finding someone who can relate to the world of illness and chronic pain. I like the message that everyone's pain or problems are relevant no matter how big or small they may seem. They're important and life-altering for that person, and that's all that matters. I can see how high school kids would love this, but I just couldn't get into it. In fairness, I read a lot of YA and am fairly critical. It's not your typical YA romance fluff; there's substance to it. I just didn't really like Isabel, and she carries the story. She's terrible at letting people know her feelings, and it often makes her interact poorly with others. She gets upset when friends and family don't know how to respond to her battle with rheumatoid arthritis but doesn't try to explain what she needs or wants to anyone either. While it's certainly unfair she has to deal with this debilitating condition, it's also unfair that she has set expectations for how others should treat her but doesn't communicate those to the people that care about her. The romance is sweet and slow, a little weird, but lovely and realistic at the same time. I wanted to like this more. View all my reviews
It's been a while since a book has caused me to be so obsessed that I'm unable to complete basic life functions until I finish reading it. All I wanted to do is cuddle up with this book and read until I could figure out why Alicia stopped speaking. And then when the answer is revealed, I just want to talk to someone about it. Please read this book and talk to me about it. There's so much to say, and the irony of this is not lost on me. The hype for this book is real.
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Guys - THIS BOOK!! This has been high on my reading list for a while but I just couldn't get a copy anywhere. Finally got one, and I read it in a day. It's a psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat, and let's face it; right now in the time of COVID-19, there's a lot of couch time. Theo Faber is a psychotherapist who narrates the story of how he came to treat a patient named Alicia Berenson at the Grove, a mental health facility. Alicia is a talented painter, and after she shoots and kills her husband, she refuses to speak again for years. Theo makes it his mission to help her and get her to tell her story. The chapters are short and each leaves you dying to find out why Alicia won't talk. It's agonizing to not know her full story. She's mysterious, and Michaelides' writing makes you crave answers. Theo delves into her story and begins to become more of an investigator than therapist. The ending threw me for a loop and was not what I was expecting, yet it was so so good. Get this book and devour it. View all my reviews
Looking for a middle grade series full of adventure and treasure hunting? Although the 39 Clues is not my cup of tea, my girls, ages 8 and 11, absolutely love them and highly recommend them. If you don't have access to the print versions, look for digital copies in Libby by adding your local public library's digital collection or if in PA, set up a free account at the Free Library of Philadelphia.
One False Note by Gordon Korman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars I really didn't think I could handle another one of these books, but my kids love them. As much as I dislike the characters and dialogue, I can appreciate the adventure. They forced me to listen to another one, and it was slightly more tolerable than the last. This time Amy and Dan Cahill travel with their au pair to Vienna and Venice to continue tracking the clues leading to their family's powerful secret. All of their adventurous locations revolve around the famed composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The interesting thing about this series is that each book is written by a different author. I was hoping they'd get bored with it, but they already begged to start number three. Clearly the series holds major appeal to the younger set. View all my reviews Prologue
Writing a travel blog during a massive quarantine is a tad bit challenging. Yes, I can pull out old material, and I will have to, but I also like to write about current things. So this has very little to do with traveling, but it's relevant for everyone now and technically, we did have to travel to deliver them. Salt dough ornaments are simple and a great way to keep kids busy on these long, endless days. You can dye the dough or paint them after they bake. I've done both, and they always turn out really cute for ornaments or decorations.
Turning Pages
Today was a bad day for everyone. There were lots of frustrated tears from both me and the kids about doing online schoolwork. Sites were crashing, sisters were fighting, the dog was pooping in his crate, the routine is different, and everyone is trying to accept this new normal. So after a really disastrous morning, we decided to deliver some cheer. A few days ago, I found a simple salt dough recipe circulating on Facebook:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt 1/2 cup water *We doubled it because one batch doesn't make enough for three people to paint.
We mixed up our dough and used cookie cutters to punch out Easter shapes. Weirdly enough, I didn't have an egg shape. We grabbed a plastic cup squeezing it into an oval, and that worked just fine. We put our salt dough shapes on parchment paper-covered baking sheets and baked them at 250 degrees for two hours. Don't forget to punch holes in the tops if you intend to hang some. We just used the end of a paint brush to make the holes.
Once they cooled completely, we decorated them with acrylic craft paint and put pipe cleaners through the holes as hangers. They turned out pretty cute and kept the girls busy over a few hours for two days.
My grandma is 87 years old and lives alone. We drove to her house and surprised her with our decorations and also made a stop at my parents' house. We hung some from the trees and put some on the sidewalk. We also decorated their driveways with chalk while we were there. We made sure to stick to strict social distancing guidelines so as not to put them at risk. They all teared up, and I know it meant a lot for them to see us from a distance.
Spreading cheer today helped us heal our own lonely hearts for a brief moment in time. This book is a great complement to this theme. The main character Victoria is unable to connect with people due to her darkly troubled past, but she discovers a way to communicate through flowers. We can't communicate in person during this quarantine, but the human spirit is resilient, and we discover ways to meet our social needs through small things like phone calls, video chats, letters, gifts on porches, chalk pictures, and ornaments in trees.
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars There's a shadow of gray and darkness that lurks along every chapter in this novel and while it stalks the pages, I loved the story even more because of it. As the title may falsely lead you to believe, this is not a light, flowery book with happy endings and tidy resolutions but instead the stark, reality of someone who experiences trauma. Trauma latches it's cold, spindly fingers onto every part of Victoria's life and won't let go just because she has entered adulthood. Victoria spends the majority of her life in the foster-care system, and she is unable to develop connections with people or the world around her except through the Victorian language of flowers. Victoria learns this language of love through one foster mom that she attaches to until tragedy strikes, and she is forced back into isolation. Victoria eventually emancipates and strikes out on her own but meets up with people and secrets from her past that force her to question her place in the world and even the precious language of flowers she so staunchly clings to. Victoria is not a likeable character but she's real. Her push-back against people who are kind to her is also authentic. She's angry, downright mean, and mostly lost. I love reading about the meaning of the various flowers and how they played a role in people's destines. Victoria develops a gift for choosing just what people need in the flower shop she comes to work for, and eventually comes to terms with what she needs in her own life in order to be happy. View all my reviews
Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All by Laura Ruby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars Ruby's young adult historical fiction novel takes readers on a swirling, sweeping flight in and out of various decades, both for the living and the dead. I was a little reluctant to read this because I didn't care for Bone Gap at all with it's heavy-handed magical realism, but this one was more supernatural and bizarre in a way that has some boundaries and eventually an explanation. Frankie, her audacious little sister, Toni, and their big brother Vito have spent much of their childhood living in an orphanage getting Sunday visits from their Father who "temporarily" put them there until he could get back on his feet after riding the wave of the Great Depression. On the eve of WWII, Vito ships off to serve his country along with other boys from the orphanage including Frankie's first love, Sam. As some of the nuns enact brutal punishments on the orphans, Frankie just wants to be free even though she's not sure exactly what that means for her. The entire story is told through the "not-eyes" of ghost, Pearl, who floats aimlessly in and out of people's lives, yearning to find her purpose and what really caused her death in 1918. There are so many sad and eerie secrets revealed in all of the characters' lives that it's clear the author has done a lot of research. The murky line between fact and fiction in this book is blurred in a beautiful, scary, and haunting way. Some of Pearls' chapters in the beginning felt muddled and clunky, but it all came together in the end. This doesn't mean there's necessarily a happy or tidy ending, but there is resolution. I like how one of Ruby's many themes is about women's voracity for creativity, independence, and freedom. No matter what that freedom looks like to each woman, it is her own choice, right, and journey to take. View all my reviews
I can't think of a more fitting title for 9 days of COVID-19 quarantine. I'm fortunate enough to have my husband, two kids, and Hoagie home with me, but if anyone's feeling lonely, I'm always up for chatting about books. Message me on the Gram or Facebook.
The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 3 of 5 stars It's me not you. I feel bad that I'm not crazy about this book. It's just a book with no feelings, yet I want to prop it up and just can't. The writing is beautiful and sets the scene of Alaska's untamed, dangerous, and addicting landscape. There's really nothing wrong with the book. I think part of my issue was that I just didn't have a lot of time and was reading it in such small doses, that I lost my connection with it. I couldn't absorb the setting and characters in the way they deserved. Leni's father, Ernt, comes home from his time as a POW in the Vietnam War, and fights demons that manifest in violence with his family. He's irrational and impulsive and packs the family up to head to Alaska to fend for themselves while retreating from the world. Isolated and unprepared, Ernt forges ahead, quickly making enemies. Leni finds comfort in her newly learned independence and the strength of the local people who show her kindness and compassion. Her coming-of-age arc also includes her mother, Cora, who is the main target of Ernt's rage. Leni finds her first love and a tragic end amidst the formidable allure of the Alaskan backdrop. Kristin Hannah's book paints a raw and emotional picture of domestic violence and the way in which it festers and infects all those involved. View all my reviews Prologue
We're on day five of the COVID-19 quarantine. Knowing that this may be a long, long time being stuck in the house, I was thrilled when my friend mentioned Uncharted Lancaster to me in a text. Uncharted Lancaster is a website that lays out clues to various adventure hikes all around Lancaster County. The hikes teach you some local history, introduce you to new places, and keep you on your toes trying to find treasure boxes. This sounded like the perfect way to adhere to the recommendations regarding social distancing but also allowing us to get some exercise and get out of our house. So far we've done three hikes, and they've captured the girls' attention in ways I'm truly thankful for. We've all been really tense, and the adventure of this special family time helped us take our minds off feeling scared and unsure about the current pandemic for at least a few hours during the day. We made sure to use gloves when opening or touching the boxes, and we wiped down the treasures with Clorox wipes before handling.
Turning Pages
The girls read over the list of adventures on the Uncharted Adventures website.
Haunted Indian Gold Adventure
They were immediately drawn to the Haunted Indian Gold Adventure. After reading the background history about the buried gold and other treasures in the Safe Harbor area, the girls decided this would be the best adventure to start with. This has also been our favorite hike so far. The website rates this hike a 4/5 on the difficulty scale, and I would agree that it's a challenge. It's a little over three miles and includes some steep climbs and declines. The website includes lots of helpful pictures to orient yourself as you continue on the trail.
Romancing the Stone Adventure
The start of this hike is only two minutes from the Pequea Trolley Trail which is why we did it the same day. It's also only a 2/5 on the difficulty scale and is similar in simplicity to the Pequea adventure. While only a mile long, the start of this adventure is a challenge. It's a steep uphill climb followed by a steep downhill trail on a skinny path. It evens out and crosses a rickety bridge following water and little waterfalls for another beautiful scene. This adventure ends up with a single box filled with glittering diamonds. The girls began bickering with each other at this point, and we had to hustle out to avoid the tired afternoon meltdowns. They stopped long enough to admire the waterfalls and climbing rocks, and we thoroughly enjoyed this adventure as well.
Of all the great books out there I've read about unlocking clues to find some kind of fortune or treasure, this one seems to best fit the current vibe with it's sci-fi, dystopian theme. We're all stuck inside our homes waiting out the pandemic while Wade Watts is stuck inside the virtual OASIS trying to unlock the gates that will lead him to Halliday's fortune. Luckily these Uncharted Lancaster experiences gave us the opportunity to treasure hunt outdoors. Check out this book to go down the 80s memory lane and immerse yourself in a virtual adventure.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
My rating: 5 of 5 stars How did I not read this when it first came out?! Oh that’s right- there are too many good books and not enough time. It’s beyond good and a truly unique dystopian experience. So this guy (Halliday) creates a virtual gaming world (the OASIS) and when he dies, it’s revealed that there are Easter eggs hidden throughout the virtual reality. Whoever finds these keys and unlocks the gates will inherit his vast fortune. This sets off years of people clambering to unlock the secrets of the OASIS. Halliday loved the 80s so the clues all revolve around 80s games, movies and music. A huge corporation wants to take over the OASIS and monetize it, so there is also the conflict of single players who are true lovers of the game vs this greed-filled entity trying to take over. I loved the subtle commentary on human immersion in the technology world, and the nostalgia of 80s references was incredibly entertaining. If you haven’t read this yet, I’d highly recommend it. View all my reviews Prologue
I've been lost for an entire month in the inescapable landscape of new puppy. We surprised the girls with a baby Boston terrier, and I can't accomplish anything after work now. I try to type or read, and he diverts all of my attention instead to his cute biting, rolling, napping, snoring, snuffling like a pig, and endless list of other sweet puppy things. He has taken over our family like a little furry tornado, and it's a good thing we all like adventures because this one is wild and adorably distracting
Turning Pages
The obvious connection here is of course, the dog. Pets enrich our lives in ways that can't always be explained. They fill a void. Human to human connections can be marred and muddled by emotions, intent, and circumstance. Human to dog connection is pure and more basic. It's unwavering and devoid of judgement. I loved how Stein's book shows the "human side" of a dog by letting the reader hear his emotions and thoughts about his owner, life, and experiences. This book is a perfect read for all dog lovers or anyone just looking to feel something simple and true.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Enzo is all heart and feels. This book is just adorable. Enzo is a dog who loves his owner and family, and articulately narrates the story of his life. He details how frustrating it is to see and hear everything that goes on but to not be able to communicate with the ones you love - to explain, to warn, to shower with verbal praise, to ask questions. It is what it is, and he believes that one day when his time is over, he will be reincarnated as a man. Enzo talks about his owner, Denny, with such sincere adoration that it makes me want to rush right out and buy a dog this very minute. I'm already having puppy pangs, and this book magnifies the feeling to a fever pitch. Denny talks to Enzo about his passion for auto racing, and this becomes a way for Enzo to understand the world. Lessons in racing become metaphors for the trials that Denny faces including his wife's illness, a life-altering criminal accusation, financial hardship, and in-law meddling to the extreme. My favorite part of the entire book is when Enzo is accidentally left home alone for days with little food and water, and in a fit of hallucination, he recalls the molester stuffed zebra attacking little Zoe's other toys and eventually tearing apart his own seams in a fit of crazed rage. This novel is all parts sad, hilarious, hopeful, and rage inducing. It's also a super, quick read and while the subject matter is heavy, Enzo's take on the world is light and captivating. Although ultimately we can't hear what our pets are thinking, if we slow down and really "listen," we might just find they can teach us more about the wonders of life than a single, audible word could ever convey. View all my reviews |
AuthorTravel All the Pages is inspired by my two loves - travel and reading, a combo I can't resist. Enjoy these little pairings. Archives
March 2023
Categories
All
|