Schuyler's Monster: A Father's Journey with His Wordless Daughter

We read this book for my book club this month after I recommended it. There had been a review in People magazine awhile back and it just sounded like a book I had to read whether or not the ladies in my book club agreed. Now that we have finished it, all I can say is WOW! This is an amazing book! 

This is a memoir written by the dad of a beautiful little 8 year old girl named Schuyler who was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder that has left her unable to speak. Once her parents learned this, they were determined to help her learn and to give her the fullest life possible. But, this book is so much more than the typical book where a parent learns to deal with a child's disability.  Reading this book takes you back to the time before Schuyler was born when her parents, like all new parents, had all the hopes and dreams that all new parents have for their babies. Then reality sets in as she is diagnosed and her parents slowly learn to accept and deal with that reality while doing all they can to help their little girl. It's also the story of a father who learns how to be the kind of dad his little girl needs.

There are parts of this book that will make you laugh, others that will make you cry, and some that may make you a bit angry, but you finish this book feeling like you personally know Schuyler and her family. As I was reading it, I found myself getting drawn into her story and rooting for her to succeed. 

By the way, there's also a blog about Schuyler, also written by her father, so readers can stay updated about her progress.  Check that out too at: http://www.schuylersmonsterblog.com

I have already recommended this book to several friends and may even re-read it myself sometime. It's that good!

Family Tree: Great Book About A Family Crisis

This is another book I came across by chance while browsing at the bookstore again recently.  I initially picked it up because it's by one of my favorite authors, Barbara Delinsky. While I had read many of her books, I had somehow missed this one when it came out in 2007.

Family Tree is about a woman who has just given birth to her first child, a child she and her husband had been really looking forward to. But, as beautiful as the little girl is, everyone soon notices she looks nothing like her parents.  The parents are white and the little girl looks distinctly African-American, which prompts the woman's husband and many others to suspect that maybe she had an affair, perhaps with the single dad and very handsome African-American man who lives next door and is friends with the family. 

In order to prove the child is really hers, Dana must research her family tree and find the father she never knew.

This is a fascinating story because it brings up something I really knew nothing about-the genetics of race.  It's also a great read because it is so well written and the story moves at a quick pace. I found myself rooting for Dana and at the same time, beginning to hate her husband and her inlaws who sided with their son in thinking Dana was hiding something.

I actually have enjoyed almost every  book by this author that I have read and have happily added this to my bookshelf. I think it's a great read and would make a fantastic selection for those of you in book clubs!

Check out Delinsky's site:

http://www.barbaradelinsky.com

Love The One You're With: A Great Read!

For all those women who have pondered the question of whether or not they took the right path in life or chose the right guy, this is definitely one book you'll want to read!

Ellen and Andy seem to have the perfect marriage. They are deeply devoted to each other and their life together seems to be great until one afternoon when Ellen runs into her ex-boyfriend, Leo, who broke her heart and never explained why. Ellen had never forgotten Leo and begins to wonder what life would have been like had she ended up with Leo. She also begins to wonder how can she really love Andy if she cannot forget Leo?

I loved this book, just as I have loved all of Emily Giffin's previous novels. She has a way of creating unbelievably relatable characters that deal with issues many women face in their relationships. When I read this book, I actually began to think about an old college boyfriend-one I had dated a few times on and off before meeting and marrying my husband. While there were definitely no feelings for him laying dormant, I did stop briefly to consider the question, "What if...?"

I won't spoil everything for you, but I will say while this book is a great chick lit read, it definitely has some serious moments like all of Giffin's other novels, but it is such a fabulous book, I know you will not be disappointed.

Visit Giffin's website at:

http://www.emilygiffin.com

Mommy Tracked: A great chick lit read for us moms!

I came across this book one day while wandering the aisles of my local bookstore-one of my favorite pastimes. The cover and title sucked me in and I quickly flipped over to the back cover to read about it. 

The story centers around four women: Anna, Grace, Juliet, and Chloe, who are balancing motherhood with the challenges of their daily lives.

Anna, a divorced mom, is re-entering the world of dating. She meets a great guy, who seems to be just what she is looking for, but Noah has a secret past that may make Anna think twice about getting involved with him. Grace is a stay at home mom with three beautiful little girls and a loving husband. Yet, she is increasingly unhappy with her excess baby weight and will do anything to lose it. Then there's Juliet, an attorney supporting her family while her husband, a former firefighter, stays home with their twins. While at work though, Juliet who is trying hard to make partner, is also finding it hard to say no to her attractive boss. Finally, there's Chloe, a new mom who is overwhelmed and gets no help from her husband. She finds herself slipping back into a bad habit she thought she had broken.

I loved this book right from the first chapter. In fact, I read for about an hour straight the first day when my son was at summer camp. I just could not put it down. I love the well-developed characters and was able to relate to each of them on some level. This is a great, funny read by an author whose books I definitely will be reading more of! In fact, I have already picked up two others by her and placed them in my growing pile on my nightstand.

Visit the author's website to read her very funny blog and to check out her other books!

http://www.whitneygaskell.com

Welcome Bookworms!

I have a confession to make. When you walk in any room in my house, you see books, not just one or two neatly stacked on an end table or coffee table like you see in some people's houses, but there are books EVERYWHERE! On top of my dining room buffet below the hutch are about 15 books. Some are books I refer to frequently like The Knitter's Bible or Knitting for Dummies. Others are there to impress people like Home Rules by Nate Berkus-the interior designer I will give free reign to decorate my home should I ever win millions in the lottery. Then there are the books I plan to read-not just the one or two most people have, but at least 10 at last count. (Note: This does not count the stack of books I plan to read that are stacked on my night table. Okay-there are actually 2 stacks, but each of them is rather small!) Then of course there is the collection of hardcover Harry Potter books that sit up on a high shelf to be read and enjoyed over and over again. And of course I cannot forget the huge stack of books stacked next to my nightstand. This stack-alright it's 2 stacks again! Those stacks are about 3 foot high when I last looked.

So why do I hang onto all these books is what you are probably thinking. Well, I guess it's because I cannot seem to part with a book very often. I may want to re-read it one day or perhaps loan it out to a friend-kind of like a personal lending library. My mother has actually joked with me that before she goes out and buys a book she first looks through my stack. Every time she finds something to read (Of course it takes her a month to read a book where as I can easily read a book in a day or two.)

So my hope for this blog is to let my fellow bookworms know about great books and maybe even inspire a few people to pick up a book.

Since I teach, I will also be including reviews of books for children and teens so bookworms can find some great books for the kids in their lives.