Whatever Your Problem Is, I've Got It Too

“It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.” Confucius

Zilch, Zero, Nada, Zippo, Null, Nothing: that’s the number of posts we put out last week.  We’re impressive, aren’t we?  The sad truth is we’re all work and not nearly enough play these days. Boo Hoo. I told Rachel I’d have this post written yesterday—right after I admitted, “I don’t know what my problem is.” To which she perfectly replied, “whatever your problem it is, I’ve got it too.”   We laughed and life felt immediately better.  

So today I’m writing to say don’t give up on us readers. (I can use a plural there, right?)  We love to write. And we love to read.  But we have children who have to eat.  And fill their heads with college dreams. Not to mention, I worked half a dozen hours to buy my birthday boy a Razor Ground Force Drifter to effectively blow his 9-year-old mind! Should be good folks.  Should be good.  

Rest assured, you’ll be hearing from us this week.  Here’s what you’re in store for: Rachel will review The War that Saved my Life and The Princess Bride because she’s on fire like that.  And I’ll be sure to gush over Wolf Hollow. My boys and I have nearly finished reading The BFG—just in time to head to the drive-inn to watch Roald Dahl’s creativity on a giant screen under a sky full of stars.  That’s a lot to look forward to I know. Should be good.

Posted by Tracy

Weekly Wrap-Up

The suffragettes didn't starve themselves for the vote so that you girls could starve yourselves for a man. —Liane Moriarty, The Hypnotist's Love Story

WHAT WE LOVE THIS WEEK

Brainy beach reads. And no one does them better than Liane Moriarty. Her newest, Truly Madly Guilty, is being released on July 26th. Pre-order now and plan your next beach trip accordingly.

Bookriot's Themed Reading Challenge. Maybe it's the English graduates in us, but we're all about a great theme.

Outdoor reading nooks.

This list of the world's most beautiful libraries has us wanting to plan a tour. First stop: Trinity College. I do owe Tracy that trip to Ireland, after all. Who's with us?

The BFG. Perfect family movie for this holiday weekend.

COMING NEXT WEEK

Reviews of The Princess Bride and Wolf Hollow. Perhaps we'll throw in one of The War that Saved my Life for good measure.

July Book Club Selection

One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by. —Jeannette Walls, The Glass Castle

Yes, it's July 1st, and we're just now announcing July's selection, instead of mid June like good, responsible bloggers. If there's one thing we've never claimed to be it's responsible. Or punctual. Thankfully, one click on Amazon and you'll have Salt to the Sea at your doorstep in a matter of days. They're such enablers.

The minute we read this review we were sold:  "perfect for fans of Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning All the Light We Cannot See, Erik Larson's Dead Wake, and Elizabeth Wein's Printz Honor Book Code Name Verity, this masterful work of historical fiction is inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff—the greatest maritime disaster in history. As she did in Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys unearths a shockingly little-known casualty of a gruesome war, and proves that humanity and love can prevail, even in the darkest of hours."

*Reviews of May and June's book club selections coming next week.

Posted by Rachel

Are We There Yet?

In America there are two classes of travel: first class, and with children. —Robert Benchley

Summer means family road trips and the best cure for the "are we there yet" blues is a great listen. Here are some picks sure to take the Griswold out of your summer vacation:

My current listen is one the whole family will love. I had read raving reviews about The War that Saved my Life but when I heard Jayne Entwistle was narrating I was sold. It only took a few chapters to stop thinking of her as Flavia and lose myself in Ada's world.

This new full-cast version of Newberry-winning The Graveyard Book will keep everyone on the edge of their seat (as far as their seat belt will let them, anyway) and may cause you to miss an exit or two.

My friend Monica (aka: family-audio-book guru) says The Book Thief is one her whole family loved (from her preschooler to her high schooler). I've always thought this book wouldn't be the best listen due to the drawings inside but once I heard Allan Corduner's voice, I changed my mind. My advice? Have the book handy in the car with you to follow along.

Harry Potter + Jim Dale = Audio Heaven.

Kenneth Branagh reading C.S. Lewis. Need we say more? The entire Narnia Series is narrated by fabulous British actors, in fact.  If you want to read/listen to the books chronologically in Narnian time, begin with The Magician's Nephew.

For a more comprehensive list of family-friendly audio books, read here. Happy listening!

Posted by Rachel

In Honor of Friends

“Why did you do all this for me?” he asked. “I don’t deserve it.  I’ve never done anything for you.”
“You have been my friend,” replied Charlotte. “That in and of itself is a tremendous thing.”

I’m speechless after Rae’s last post.  Haven’t dared to write a word in lieu of savoring her kindness, as rare as it is big-hearted.  It makes me wish this: if Rachel lives to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one so I never have to live without her.  She has been a halcyon joist that has unquestionably held up the house of my existence.  I depend on her.  Always. That fact alone should warrant more vacation days for her. 

There I go getting greedy.  Rachel is here on a little Park City vacation, so I got to see her today.  And I’ll get to see her tomorrow too.  By day 3, I’ll be petitioning her to stay for good, offering all sorts of incentives.  The blog should be motivation enough, right?  It’s always the logistics that speedily drag our plan to live near each other down, down, down to the ugly netherworld.  But, even if proximity is unkind, I have to remember that I’m so lucky to have her. (Lucky doesn’t even cut it…what can I say, my brain is tired.) 

So in honor of friends, the kind that understand your tears and your laughter, the ones who say nice things behind your back, and that help you live your story, here are a few reads that celebrate mutual attachment of the very best kind. 

Little Women

This is one of Rae’s all-time favorite reads. (I’m sure she’ll write a rave review at some point about this pearl.) Suffice it to say that Louisa May Alcott reminds all of us that some of our very best friends should be our blood relatives if we’re doing it right. After all, they’re the people who have known us well the longest.  

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Laila and Mariam’s friendship is the heart and soul of this novel.  Because they live in a society where women are not meant to participate in the public sphere, the importance of friendship as a means of escape is especially apparent.  These women also validate and dignify one another in the face of oppression.  I love the loyalty that exists between the two—their lives are nowhere near ideal, but their friendship’s close.   

Charlotte’s Web

Even if you’ve outgrown kid lit (is that possible?), this book is “just about perfect.” It’s a sweet reminder that friendship requires loyalty and sacrifice, and taking care of one another.  Maybe more importantly, we walk away with the idea that friendship endures—it’s bigger than life itself.  That’s right E.B., that’s exactly right.    

Posted by Tracy

Everyone Needs A Tracy

The older we get, the more we understand that the women who know and love us—and love us despite what they know about us—are the joists that hold up the house of our existence. Everything depends on them.

It's Tracy's birthday and I'm down with the flu. No matter. Ain't nothin gonna keep me from celebrating my Tray. When it comes to her, I will always show up. Always. I'm getting old and let's face it, I may die from this flu—okay not really, the fever is making me melodramatic—but surely I've reached the age where I can dispense a little advice? Humor me. I'm on my deathbed after all. So here they are, three simple words that will change your life: Find your Tracy.

Let's face it, life can be hard. Maybe you've been spared the big stuff so far, but rest assured it's coming. That's not the melodramatic fever talking either, that's just the cold hard truth. And when that phone call comes in the middle of the night or you get bad news from the doctor, you're going to need a Tracy to cushion your fall and pick you back up. Real friendship doesn't come easy. It takes work and time. Most of all time. And in the words of our imaginary BFF, Anna Quindlen, "To be a good friend and to appreciate the value of friendship requires honesty and concentration."

Oh but it's worth it. Especially if you find a friend like Tray. Trust me when I say that life has hurled some significant wallops our way these past several years and I can't imagine going through any of it without Tracy. She is the definition of a once-in-a-lifetime friend: loyal, encouraging, providing much needed laughter when all looks grim, and crying with me in my darkest moments. And light. She is full of light. Most of all, she's got the words of Henry James written on her heart: "Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind, the second is to be kind, and the third is to be kind." Happy Birthday to one of the kindest people I know. Here's to years filled with lots of candles, plenty of cake, and loads of laughter (the wrinkle-inducing kind). And just more time spent with you, one of my life's greatest gifts. Love you Tray.

*PS: Anna Quindlen's Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake makes a perfect gift for your own once-in-a-lifetime friend.

Posted By Rachel

The Great Escape

Literature is the most agreeable way of ignoring life. —Fernando Pessoa

It’s time to pull out my old 45’s—the ones I played throughout braces and badly feathered hair.  Although I’d be tempted to spin “Blinded by the Light” or “Pinball Wizard,” I’d definitely play David Soul’s “Don’t Give Up on Me Baby” for Rachel and all of you.  (Am I dating myself or what?)  Man these times have been hard. Work has been all-consuming and some of my closest family members have been hospitalized.  Never mind I’m still mourning Prince and now, the Golden State Warriors’ loss.  What’s a girl to do?

Escape comes to mind. Vacation is always a great escape. But since the sand and sea are far from me, I’m gonna have to read to get away from the rigor.  I’m good with that.  The boys and I just finished Wolf Hollow—loved it, every one of us.  So what’s next?  I got 4 books in the mail today.  Yep, F-O-U-R books! (My fab friends forget I’m a vampire; in lieu of birthdays, I’m opting for aging more slowly.)  So here are a few reads on deck that you might want to check out:

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks

One of my dearest high school friends, who’s a prolific reader, sent me this novel with a note that said, “It’s divine to be 29!”  I’ve still got a cheesy grin on my face. In the spirit of Crenshaw, this creative and clever novel shows how we get by with a little help from our friends, even those of the imaginary sort. One Amazon reviewer raved, “I cannot give this book too many stars! It’s a unique treasure.  Read it.”  That’s what I’m gonna do.  Thanks K.P.

Gilead by Marilyn Robinson

Rachel and Ted both love Marilyn Robinson.  I’m ashamed to admit I haven’t read the prize-winning author. So this gift felt particularly thoughtful.  In the words of Kirkus, this is a novel “as big as a nation, as quiet as thought, and moving as prayer. Matchless and towering.” Matchless sounds good to me right about now.  How bout you?

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

In our semi-frenzy to choose June’s book club pick, Rachel and I settled on this promising read.  Until I realized I already had a winner in my amazon cart.  Is anyone afraid for me? (We laughed about my absent-mindedness…better than crying, right?)  But I’ve had my eye on this young adult read ever since.  It’s a fictionalized story based on a true tragedy.  Steve Sheinkin, author of Newberry Honor and National Book Award finalist Bomb, ballyhooed with “a rich, page-turning story that brings to vivid life a terrifying—and little known—moment in World War II history.

Posted by Tracy

Literary Dads We Love

"We're the safest folks in the world," said Miss Maudie. "We're so rarely called on to be Christians, but when we are, we've got men like Atticus to go for us." —Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

When it comes to dads, Tracy and I hit the jackpot. Big time. We could each write an ode to our fathers' gentle strength, immense kindness, larger-than-life hearts, and their way of being the calm in every storm. They've set the bar high, so it takes quite a man, fictional or not, to impress us. Here are a few literary dads who made the cut:

Atticus Finch. Of course. The Atticus of To Kill a Mockingbird, that is. Hopefully you skipped Go Set a Watchman and spared yourself the heartache of seeing one of literature's greatest father figures besmirched. Clearly, I have strong feelings on the subject. You can read them here.

The Book Thief's Hans Hubermann, whose love for Liesel proves fatherhood is not bound by flesh and blood. This passage about Hans appearing each night to chase Liesel's demons away says all you need to know about him: "Trust was accumulated quickly, due primarily to the brute strength of the man's gentleness, his thereness. The girl knew from the outset that Hans Hubermann would always appear midscream, and he would not leave."

Jeremiah Land from Peace Like a River. “Many a night I woke to the murmur of paper and knew (Dad) was up, sitting in the kitchen with frayed King James - oh, but he worked that book; he held to it like a rope ladder.”

The Bartender's Tale's Tom Harry. "...he added up to be the best human being there ever was. [And] the absolute best father of all time, in ways I could count....[As] peculiar a pair as we made, the bachelor saloonkeeper with a streak of frost in his black pompadour and the inquisitive boy who had been an accident between the sheets, in the end I would not have traded by involuntary parent for a more standard model."

I'm sure there are more. I'm already fretting about leaving out Jean Valjean and Ordinary Grace's Nathan Drum. Did I forget one of your favorites? And of course the moment calls for a shout out to some of literature's worst: King Lear and Harry Wormwood immediately come to mind. Happy Father's Day! (I sure miss you, Dad.)

Posted by Rachel