Book Review - There's No Such Thing as Monsters by Michael Yu

There's No Such Thing as Monsters

by Michael Yu

 

Rating ***(3 stars)

There's No Such Thing As Monsters is a Kindle children's book about a mother tucking her young boy into bed, continually contradicting him when his imagination runs wild thinking of monsters. Except the mother is wrong, there are monsters. The monsters are big, furry, and friendly. They just want to be friends.

This book is deserving of the three stars because of the beautiful computer animation. The pages are vibrant, colorful, and detailed. This is rare in self published kindle books for children. However, the writing is not all that great. The book tries to rhyme, but does not come close. The book would have been better served with a simple prose style.

I am also not sold on the plot. It starts out as a mom telling her child that he is wrong for believing in monsters then goes on to show that the mom was in fact wrong. Then the book moves in the direction of the world is such a safe and wonderful place because even the monsters are friendly. Maybe I am over thinking it a bit. . . but I can not see using this as a book to help with nighttime fears.

I purchased this book when it was free on Kindle. I can see L flipping through it when she is being stubborn about reading chapter books. I did really enjoy the pictures and could see the book being enjoyed for that purpose. However, I would not recommend buying it based on the words.

Book Review - Charley and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Charley and the Chocolate Factory

by Roald Dahl

Rating *****(5 Stars)

Right before the holiday I was talking with a coworker about Charley and the Chocolate Factory. Although she loved the original movie she had never seen the newer version. I highly recommended that she view it. One point of my recommendation was that it was suppose to be closer to the book.

Only I had never read the book. It has been on my list of books to read forever. However, it never worked out to read it. Until now.

I was delighted to see three works by Roald Dahl on the 100 BBC Books list. Matilda was one of my favorite books as a child! To make it even better Amazon offered a Kindle deal after Christmas discounting both Charley and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda. I was excited to finally read this book.

Charley and the Chocolate Factory is written for a younger audience. The children are all around the age of nine. I could easily see having L (who is in third grade) read this book (if I can get her to read at all). I also think J will enjoy reading it also, when he wants a break from middle school reading.

I hate to write a book review based upon the movie. However, it is rare that I have actually seen the movie before reading the book. I think this will tend to be the case for most everyone.

The book is different from both movies. It is simpler. This is not surprising when you consider the reading level of a nine year old. This is not to say that the book does not give you more then the movie. For one it gives you a way to picture the children and parents in which ever way you see fit. I also enjoy Willey Wonka in the book. He is not as over the top as Johnny Depp, but his is a bit more eccentric then in the original movie.

If you have not read Charley and the Chocolate Factory you should. Better yet, you should pick up the book and read it with (or to) a child.

Book Review - Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares

Sisterhood Everlasting

by Ann Brashares

Rating - *****(5 stars)

It has been many years since I have read Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and I am not even certain that I finished that trilogy. However, when I received Sisterhood Everlasting  for Christmas I picked the novel up and finished it the same day.

Sisterhood Everlasting reunites us with the Septembers ten years after the end of the trilogy. They are all approaching their 30th birthday and are in a state of hold since Tibby headed to Australia two years earlier and still has not returned.

The novel presumes that you are familiar with the main characters, the four Septembers who have been friends since birth as well as the main love interests that were mentioned in the original trilogy. However, I was able to pick up on the relationships and piece together what I think I missed or had forgotten.

This novel is a coming of age novel welcoming women into the role of adulthood, motherhood, and wife hood (is that even a word?). Despite all the challenges these young women have experienced they continue to find joy in life and each other. This novel is about joy, even in the face of tragedy. I will admit it had me crying in several places (this is not an easy feat) and I stayed up until two in the morning to finish off the story.

If you in any way love chick literature, well written fiction, or remember the traveling pants then I would highly recommend that you check out this novel! I am not big on giving a book five stars, but the writing is wonderful, the characters are beautifully human, and the plot flows well even if it is a bit predictable.

2014 New Year Resolutions

Last year I went a bit over board when making resolutions. While a good many of those resolutions were accomplished - like finishing my MS in Psychology - the year was a challenging one for my family. As 2014 startes to make its way I have decided to stick with only three resolutions, for my body, my mind, and my spirit.

My Body

While I understand weight isn't as important as fit I would like to end 2014 in at least as good as shape as I begain 2013. This means I would like to shed the fifty pounds and six sizes I put on in one year. I have a good start on this resolution. Since the new job I am much less stressed. I also begain to focus on how our eating habits had spiraled out of control. I have already lost eight pounds since we started eating Paleo.

My Mind

I love to read. I read when others would watch TV. I read when I need to relax after the kids have gone to bed. I will read on my lunch break or if I have a few minutes. In 2013 I have read about 110 books. However, with the stress of the year most of the books were light reads, and many were Paranormal Romance. While I enjoy Paranormal Romance books I also want to continue to learn and expand my horizons. For 2014 this will have a two part goal. The first part of the goal is to read at least 100 books. (Of course I will review them as well). The second part is that I will read, or reread, fifty books from the BBC list of 100 must read books.

My Spirit

My family are members of the LDS church. One aspect of our church is to have what are called family home evenings. This is where your family meets for an hour or so each week and discuss the gospel. This is also a great time to connect as a family. When we first joined the church we tried to hold family home evenings. When life was too overwhelming I gave up. My spiritual goal in 2014 is to hold family home evening every week.

Book Review - Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Treasure Island

by. Robert Louis Stevenson

Rating: ****(4 stars)

It surprised me that I have never read Treasure Island. That is why it is one of the first books I picked up for my BBC List Challenge. The fact that is also a free Kindle book doesn't help any at all. I was afraid that the book was going to be written in the fashion of long drawn out narration that has nothing to do with the actual plot of the novel. I had no reason to worry. Treasure Island is not too far off from a modern male coming of age story. 

The main character is Jim Hawkings. While is age is not specified I pictured him to be around 13 years old - probably because that is J's age. He could easily be 13-16 years of age. In the beginning of the story Jim is just an inn keepers son. While his inn is playing host to a rough sailor, who is in hiding, Jim's father dies. The sailor is found and subsequently dies. It is during this period that Jim finds a treasure map to a fortune left by a dead pirate. With the help of the doctor and a Squire they take off to discover the treasure, then all the adventuring truly begins. 

Treasure Island is the ultimate adolescent fantasy novel. Every time the boy makes a wrong turn he ends up saving the day. He ends up, nearly by himself, besting over eleven sea worn sailors. It is truly fantasy at its finest.

Why did I not give Treasure Island five stars? The feminist in me can not overlook how the one woman in the novel, Jim's mother, is portrayed. After the sailor dies in their inn both Jim and his mother run away to the village to get help. None of the villagers will come do their aid. So, Jim's mother bravely goes back to the inn to collect the money that is owed them by the sailor. She is risking her neck to provide for her family! Yet, it is all turned around on her. While they are at the inn the bad sailors come back and the mother is cursed for her greed. Once Jim and his mother run out of the inn the mother faints away and Jim has to get them to safety. To make it worse the doctor and the Squire basically kidnap Jim to accompany them on this voyage, and their is not one word of asking the mother for her permission. This alone looses this classic one star.

Overall, if you haven't picked up Treasure Island you should. It is well written and fast paced. Since it is an adolescent novel you don't have to worry about getting to lost in dialogue if you are not big on reading older novels. Their is a reason why this novel has been recreated in so many different fashions.

Book Review - The Paleo Kid: 26 recipes that will transform your family

The Paleo Kid: 26 Recipes that will Transform your Family

by. Kate Evans Scott

Rating: ****(4 Stars)

 

This is one of those books that the rating will depend greatly on the reader. If you are a parent starting to transition your child to the Paleo diet then this book would be a great starting point. However, if you have been eating Paleo as a family for an extended period of time then there will be little new to discover in this cookbook.

The book starts with a brief introduction to the Paleo diet, including some shallow history of eating. It then continues to provide a list of food acceptable, unacceptable, and questionable while on the Paleo diet. Perhaps the most worth aspect of the introduction is the authors ideas on how to get your children involved in their diet change, as well as give them the skills to continue throughout their life. I have found that L is more likely to eat the new foods I have made if she helps me to cook them. 

The recipes are then divided into breakfast, lunch, dinner, desert and condiments. There is between five to seven recipes for each section except for condiments. The condiments section contains a recipe for catsup and honey mustard. Some of the recipes are very simplistic, such as poached eggs, omelets, or asparagus wrapped in lunch meat. 

However, other recipes are very useful. We are planning on using the almond cookie recipe for our Christmas cookies this year. L has also been asking for honey mustard, so I foresee me creating that soon as well. I am also excited about incorporating some new vegetables into our diet by using these child friendly recipes. It is a less daunting introduction for myself as well as my children.

Possibly the best part of this book is that the Kindle edition only costs $2.99 - well worth the recipes even if you don't use more then half of them.