it's been a while.....

So, who would have known that a stay at home mom with two small boys would not be able to find time to write a blog? A blog about reading, no less. *LOL*

I did however, find lots of time to read. This is due to my own perseverance in carving out time, to my husband in helping me preserve that time, and also to the fact that I am a true night owl and can't fall asleep without reading just a little (which usually ends up being a lot).

I just finished an amazing book that I stole from my cousin. And I do mean stole. We were there for dinner, and I saw it on her coffee table and said, "I'm stealing this. I realize you haven't read it yet, but I'm still stealing it." And she was gracious enough to allow me to do so.

Sarah's Key is by Tatiana de Rosnay and is a fictional work that explores the Jewish holocaust from a Parisian perspective. A journalist living in Paris is covering the 60th anniversary of the holocaust and finds a family connection to the main round-up of Jews in Nazi-occupied Paris. A heart breaking journey of discovery follows. I posted the following review on my weRead application on Facebook:


"This is a beautiful book. As I was reading it, I asked myself if it was still necessary for people to write books like this and for other people to read them.

Yes it is!!! We can never forget what was done to the Jewish people in Europe. Firstly, because that would hugely disrespect their history and secondly, because genocide is still part of our world.

Open a box of kleenex for this one!!"

I have read a lot of fictional accounts of the holocaust and other elements of Jewish history. Some of my favourites are The Book of Abraham by Marek Halter, Sotah and Jephte's Daughter by Naomi Ragen and The Hope and The Glory by Herman Wouk. For some reason I am drawn to books about God's chosen people. Historical fiction, books about Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, the holocaust - you name it, I want to read it. I don't have any Jewish background and I am a Christian so don't have any faith ties.

I think perhaps it is because I truly think that we have many lessons to learn from the Israelites - courage, sacrifice, perseverance and faithfulness. Happy reading.

Chapter One -

So... since this is the beginning of my blog, it seems appropriate to begin at the beginning of my reading life.

The first books I remember are the Dick and Jane series in grade one. I remember being the only one in my class able to read multi syllable words. There are folks who would say this was the beginning of my slight tendancy to being pretentious, and they are probably right.

My first memorable solo reading experience has to be Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. It's one of those situations where I'm not sure if my memory of this is actually a memory or the story told by my mom engrained in my head.

My early childhood was spent in a simple Victorian house we rented from some family friends. When I had my own room (this changed from time to time) I had what could be called the "garret" room. It had a bright window that let in the sunshine and I had a cast iron bed frame that I spent a LOT of time sitting on reading. One day I was reading Charlotte's Web (Spoiler alert......). I got to the part where Charlotte died and started balling my eyes out. Considering my penchant for emotional reactions, this is truly shocking I know!

Anyway, the stair case from the first floor terminated right outside my bedroom door. My mom was baking bread in the kitchen which is where the stair case began, and heard my heart wrenching sobs. She came running up the stairs expecting me to have done some dire injury to myself. I was sitting up against my head board and when she came dashing in to see what was wrong I looked at her with tears running down my face and cried, "Charlotte died!"

I'm not sure what it is about this simple book that appeals to so many readers year after year. Is it the fantastical element of talking animals? The spider who can spell and is not creepy? As a major arachniphobe, that is a major element for me, I know. The loyalty between Fern and Wilbur? The agricultural element? I am sure it is a little bit of all of these elements, in varying degrees depending on the reader's personal background.

I've read this book countless times, seen the 1973 animated version, and the 2006 live action version with Dakota Fanning. It still never ceases to move me. Perhaps that is the definition of a good book in my world. Something that gives me a little something every time I read it.

Thoughts?