BOOK REVIEW: Shanghai Girls

"Shanghai Girls," by Lisa See is a historical period piece that starts out in 1937 Shanghai and ends on a cliffhanger in 1950s Los Angeles.  This book tells the story of sisterhood, immigration, war, politics, social status, motherhood, marriage, culture, and traditions and how all those things collide and can help and hurt us at times.

The book cover drew me in because of its artsy colorful depiction of the sisters, and then I moved on to read the summary, which had me at, "...sold as wives to some Americans."  I thought that was the ringer, but that's only half of it, which would have been enough for me!  Instead See layers more and more in like a finely crafted Italian lasagna.

Let me tell you, Lisa See knows how to tell a story!  Her research is impeccable, easy to understand and interesting; her characters are multi-dimensional; and she can even create conflict with the unwritten word.  This is the type of writer I aspire to be!

The first chapter is titled, Beautiful Girls, but the first sentence starts out, "Our daughter looks like a South China peasant with those red cheeks," my father complains, pointedly ignoring the soup before him.  "Can't you do something about them?"  Talk about conflict between the title and the first sentence and between a father and daughter.  Lisa See definitely captivates from the very beginning.

If you enjoy a good story with a great plot, characters, and climax, you will enjoy, "Shanghai Girls".  Also, if you are an author or aspiring author, you will enjoy and learn a lot from this book.  I would definitely rate this book in my top ten of all time.

My book club needs more suggestions....what are you reading right now?

Curling Up With a Good...NOOK!

Between maintaining my household, spending quality time with my son and the hubsters, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, teaching Sunday school, teaching Faith Kids, hosting a small group, running this blog and so much more....I am swamped and I have so many different thoughts running through my head at any given time.

We had decided on our book club pick about five weeks ago, but I had yet to go pick it up.  Of course, the library here didn't have it and I have some fines that I need to clear up; please don't give me the side-eye!  We've all been there.  A few weeks ago, I ventured over to Borders, because I figured they would have it for cheap since they're, dare I say, going out of business.  I'm still very unsettled about that!  I like/ed Borders!  By the way, if you haven't been there since they've announced they're closing, head over, because there are great deals on everything from calendars, journals, baby blankets, CDs, DVDs, etc.  Great Christmas shopping items!  Ok, back on topic....Borders did not have what I was looking for and there was no way for them to look it up.

I promise I was going to somehow get the book in the next two weeks and have it read and digested before my book club meeting, when a good friend and book club partner gifted me a brand new Nook!  Stunned, shocked, and amazed do not begin to uncover the emotions I felt when I unwrapped the thick green and white wrapping paper.  Who really goes out of their way to make other people feel special anymore?  I was/am stoked, although I have been avoiding e-readers like the plague up until this point.

I tend to fight technology, because I just don't know when we'll be satisfied.  I'm also very old school in thinking that, the old way was working just fine before "they" came out with the latest widget.  I've resisted CDs and CD players, DVD players, cell phones, smart phones, flat screens.....I just don't get the point; I guess I'm easily content.

Having this Nook has allowed me to read way faster than before; you didn't know fast reading is one of the powers you get with an e-reader???  I've read over 200 pages in three days time, which is highly unusual for me.  Getting free books, also tickles my socks off (I'm a nerd.  I already know)!  I don't care what it is!  If it's free, I'm downloading it!  So far, I'm in love, but I wonder if I'll miss the pursuit of the book, which is one thing that turned me off about e-readers.

The journey of going to the bookstore or library and being part of a community of book worms, intellectuals, and learned folks.  Searching the card catalog (yes, I said it) or walking up and down aisle after aisle, not quite searching for anything in particular but just excited about being surrounded by books.  Will I miss the dank rustic smell of an old book being cracked open for the first time in ages, and the feeling of rediscovering a great book.  Will I miss thumbing through a book, speed reading and getting the whole jist of the book in about 10 minutes.  I don't know, but for now I'm loving my Nook.

What are your thoughts about e-Readers versus traditional books?

Minny's Famous Caramel Cake

By now I'm sure everyone has heard of The Help movie which was released this past Wednesday, August 10, which came in at the number two spot for this weekend's box office sales.  Click here for my review of the movie.

I thoroughly enjoy food, probably a little too much, because I get super involved with my food.  Who doesn't enjoy a great meal that not only tastes good, but also makes you feel good???

In the book and movie, The Help, maid, Minny Jackson, is known all throughout Jackson, MS, for her cooking, especially her caramel cake and the infamous chocolate pie!  I truly enjoyed reading about her masterpieces and my mouth watered each time the author described her cooking.

Although my specialty is a no-fail homemade peach cobbler, I can also throw down on a caramel cake.

Here's my recipe:

1.  Boil one small can of sweetened condensed milk for four hours in a large stock pot on the stove.  You don't have to watch it boil, but definitely don't leave the house with it on the stove.  Let it cool down for about an hour.

2.  Use Betty Crocker's SuperMoist Yellow Cake Mix.  Evenly divide your cake batter into two shallow round cake dishes.  (Feel free to make a homemade pound cake for an even richer taste; I just try to keep it as simple and inexpensive as possible.)  Let your cake cool down completely.

3.  Open the can of sweetened condensed milk and begin to icing the cake.  You will not need the entire can, but remember to be generous with the icing.  You can use the remaining caramel to make caramel apples or some other delectable treat.

4.  Serve with a smile!

What are some of your favorite recipes?

Book Review: Kindred

July's book club pick was Kindred.  I know I'm a little late, but the computer issues really threw me off.  Although Kindred was first published over 30 years ago, somehow, the book has resurged and everyone is raving again.  Essence magazine recently reviewed the book, and a friend casually suggested that it was a great book with so many twists and turns.

In summation, Kindred is a story about a modern day young woman teleporting back to the plantation of her ancestors during pre-Civil War days.  Dana, the main character, has to figure out where she is, what's going on, survival in such a dangerous place, and being careful not to change the events of the past so that she can have the same future outcomes.  All in all, I give it two thumbs up!

I would have liked a little more detail, that's just me though, I love word pictures.  There were also some unanswered questions that you kind of have to over look so that the book can continue to make sense, which is one thing that I loathe about writing.  I don't mind cliffhangers where you have to use your imagination to complete the story.  However, I do not like when there are details that are not addressed that make all the premises of the book look absurd.

Kindred is considered a science fiction book, which I really don't care for, however, I believe it's only claim to sci-fi is that the main character is going back in time.  The book is not heavily saturated with big words and scientific jargon.

In summation, Kindred is a good read, however, it won't be the best book you've ever read.  You will learn some things and it will challenge your thinking about a past that we so graciously missed being a part of.  Thank God!

Enjoy!

We need more book recommendations.  Weigh in!

BOOK REVIEW: Is Heaven for Real?

Is Heaven for real????  YES!!!  Fortunately, I didn't need this book to confirm that for me, however, this is a really amazing book about a family's heart wrenching medical experience with their young son who took a trip to Heaven (yes, for real) in the process.  I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.


"Heaven is for Real" was my book club pick for the month of June.  I am interested to meet and discuss this book and see if my book club (which currently consists of one other lady, don't laugh) has the same ideas about this book that I have.


I will admit that if you are not already a Christian, I personally don't believe this book alone will make you into a believer.  On the flip side, if you are a Christian, this book will definitely increase your faith.  The author, Todd Burpo, who is the father of the young boy who went to heaven, is a very candid, simple, straight to the point writer, and I was able to finish this book in two days, which I haven't been able to do since middle school.  I really enjoyed the Timeline of Events, included in the back of the back, because it helped me keep everything straight.  The months leading up to their son, Colton's, time in the hospital, was filled with several other tragic events.  I also enjoyed all the family pictures included in the book; I just wish I could pinch Colton's cheeks!


The best part about this book, is when Colton began to speak about Heaven and his adventures there, seeing Mary, and Jesus' cousin, his parents....listened.  So often, when kids speak just to talk about what they did that day, we as parents are so wrapped up in our own stuff that we don't even listen and engage them.  The Burpos took the time to listen to Colton, ask questions, and they ran with it.  The parents' response to what Colton had to say, I'm sure strengthened his faith and was a confidence booster that he will benefit from for the rest of his life.


I totally believe Colton's journey to Heaven, I guess I do have that childlike faith that Todd speaks about.  I didn't need a lot of convincing and massaging, however, I felt like the book continued to unnecessarily reiterate that Colton couldn't possibly have known this or that because he was so young.  I feel like most of those parts could have been left out, because let's face it: those that want to believe, will believe, and those that don't want to accept heaven, won't.  Someone trying to verify someone's account to heaven by saying they couldn't have known a certain fact will not personally make me believe the account.


Lastly, there's a point where Todd Burpo says that the Bible doesn't speak on what happens to babies that die.  I'd like to site II Samuel 12:22-23 NLT; David's infant son that he had with Bathsheba had just died in these verses, and he says, "22 David replies, 'I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, 'Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live.'  23 But why should I fast when he is dead?  Can I bring him back again?  I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me."


I am very far from a theologian, however, this passage and my faith in who I know God to be is enough for me to know that I, too, will go to the son that I lost before he was born.


All in all, this is a great book, and I totally recommend it.